Akathist Hymn to the Holy Great-Martyr Marina
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things with Thy grace, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
Glorious in wonders among the saints and radiant in piety among virgins, great martyr Marina, accept our hymn of praise, and by thy fervent intercession before God deliver from every trial and sickness us who sing thy praises: Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
When the Creator of the angels kindled in thy heart the divine fire of godly grace, thou didst count as nothing the wrath of thy father and didst dispel all the darkness of delusion; for thy father disowned thee, but thou didst not deny the true faith, but gavest wings to thy mind by the surpassing of virtues and becamest a partaker of divine glory; therefore give our tongue strength to adorn thy struggle:
Rejoice, thou who wast adorned from youth with the love of virtue; rejoice, thou who didst live in holiness and unshaken among unbelievers; rejoice, thou who wast filled with hope in the Lord and the courage of piety; rejoice, thou who wast kindled sevenfold like fire with divine love; rejoice, thou who didst excel in every goodness; rejoice, thou who wast enlightened by the good working of grace; rejoice, thou who wast chosen by God out of the heathen; rejoice, thou who didst shine with purity and faithfulness; rejoice, wondrous maiden, shown mightier than the mighty; rejoice, thou who didst shine forth for the consolation of the Church and the adornment of Antioch; rejoice, star that showeth the way to those who seek salvation; rejoice, thou who givest an example to the faint-hearted and the heedless; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
When the darkness of polytheism had covered this world, thou didst shine with comeliness of body and beauty of soul in the house of thine idolatrous father; and the Christians, seeing thee of a mind not childish but understanding, taught thee the worship and glorification of the all-holy Trinity: Alleluia.
When Olybrius the eparch, a persecutor of Christians, was drawn by thy beauty, an impatient desire was kindled in his heart, and he firmly promised thee the highest honour of being his wife if thou wouldst forsake thy Christ; but thou didst boldly expose the design of the tyrant, and fearlessly didst glorify before the idolaters the Lord made man in two natures; therefore we rejoice in thy grace, O martyr, and cry to thee with one voice:
Rejoice, thou who discernest the better from the worse and the good from the evil; rejoice, thou who lovedst Jesus Christ from childhood; rejoice, thou who desiredst to serve Him alone; rejoice, thou who didst make true wisdom thine own; rejoice, hater of the delusion of idolatry; rejoice, preacher of the glory of God; rejoice, thou who amazedst many by the beauty of soul and body; rejoice, thou who didst keep well thy purity and virginity; rejoice, thou who didst forsake the uncleanness of thy fathers and forefathers; rejoice, thou who didst take upon thee struggles and the trials that came upon thee; rejoice, maiden persecuted by thine earthly father for the faith of Christ; rejoice, honourable daughter of the heavenly Father; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
When that crafty and lawless one again threatened and terrified thee with torments of many kinds, thou, longing to be adorned with the crown of the martyrs, wast not shaken by the torments or by the glories promised, but didst reprove the idolaters and glorify God: Alleluia.
The tyrant marvelled at thy courage and was greatly moved to anger, for his design had come to nothing; and he commanded that thou be beaten with whips and shut in prison, that he might turn thee by manifold torments; but thou didst courageously endure the bitter wounds of the cruel blows as though in another’s flesh, and didst boldly expose the godlessness of the tyrants; therefore we honour thee, all-wise Marina, and extol thee with hymns:
Rejoice, thou who lovest the world above more than the earthly; rejoice, thou who didst count fleeting beauty as nothing; rejoice, thou who desiredst no bridegroom but the heavenly; rejoice, thou who didst most fervently give thyself up for Christ and didst shatter craftiness; rejoice, thou who didst endure torments for Him of thine own will; rejoice, thou who bringest wrath upon the abominations of Egypt; rejoice, reprover of the delusion of polytheism; rejoice, shamer of the worshippers of falsehood and haters of truth; rejoice, spotless one, invisible protector of young maidens; rejoice, deliverer from soul-destroying teachings; rejoice, planter of honour and courage; rejoice, candle that enlighteneth the wise and burneth the foolish; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
When they led thee into the prison, a dark place, the prince of darkness appeared to thee as a dreadful dragon and swallowed thee; but thou didst make the sign of the cross upon his belly, and when it burst open thou camest out and no harm was with thee; yet that horrible devil came to thee again and seized thy feet and said: “O woman, enough for thee now”; but thou didst swiftly seize his hair, and throwing him to the ground didst set thy right foot upon his neck, and striking his forehead with a stick didst say in faith: “Cease from me and fight not against me, for Christ, the Son of God, is my helper, and Him alone I praise at all times: Alleluia.”
When thou hadst trampled on him who terrified thee, behold, a light shone in the prison, O true handmaid of Christ, and seeing the Cross of Christ high even unto heaven and a dove upon the Cross, thou didst hear a voice from heaven: “Rejoice and be glad, daughter of the heavenly Sion, who hast slain the dragon and overcome the enemy, for the crown of glory is prepared for thee, and the holy virgins await thee at the gates of paradise to go to the bosom of Abraham.” Then divine help came to thee and healed thee of all the torments; therefore we rejoice, O blessed one, that the devil was overcome by a young maiden, and we extol thee according to our strength:
Rejoice, thou who with the seal of Christ didst shatter the weapons of the demons; rejoice, overthrower of the opposing powers who didst cast down merciless Beliar; rejoice, thou who soothest sorrows and trials; rejoice, thou who by the power of the Crucified makest the enemy’s snares vanish; rejoice, thou who by divine grace didst trample on the prince of the world; rejoice, thou who by unceasing prayer drivest away the temptations of the devil; rejoice, thou who didst valiantly expose idolatry; rejoice, thou who makest fragrant the filth and stench of godlessness; rejoice, protector of inexperienced and very young maidens from passionate desires; rejoice, thou who by firm faith art conqueror and crusher of evil spirits; rejoice, thou who didst receive from the Lord authority over unclean spirits; rejoice, defender from the snares of Satan and from the invasion of foreigners; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
Behold how blind were the eyes of the mind of that foul and lawless idolater! For seeing thee whole and radiant of face, he was wickedly enraged and commanded that thou be nailed to a board with red-hot nails and thy limbs burned with flames of fire; but beholding those dreadful and most terrible torments, he was greatly shaken and covered his eyes, while thou didst bless Christ the King and in godly beauty didst sing the song of the three youths: Alleluia.
When they took thee down from the tree, worn out by torment, thou didst lift up thine eyes to heaven and cry: “O Lord, as Thou hast made me worthy to pass through fire for Thy name, so now make me worthy to enter the font of baptism and through it to receive grace in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”; but when the eparch heard thee speak of water, he at once commanded the executioners to put thee to death by drowning thee in water; therefore we rightly honour thee, O martyr Marina, and call thee blessed with longing:
Rejoice, thou who by enduring torments didst reprove thy tormentors; rejoice, thou who by valour and courage puttest to shame the faint-hearted and the slack; rejoice, thou who by the stream of thy blood didst quench the flame of delusion; rejoice, thou who didst boldly undo godless teachings; rejoice, planter of the right faith; rejoice, thou who stoppest the mouth of all unbelievers; rejoice, protector from the attacks and harms of invisible enemies; rejoice, thou who settest on the path of truth and virtue those maddened by false wisdom; rejoice, thou who kindlest our hearts with divine fire; rejoice, swift hearer of those who entreat thee; rejoice, thou who puttest wicked enemies to flight; rejoice, physician of those held by evil diseases; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
When they cast thee bound into a great vessel full of water, thou didst ask in thy heart for the seal of the Holy Spirit, and He who sent the Comforter to the apostles poured out upon thee the Spirit of truth; and behold, a pillar of light and a cross too bright to behold stood over thy head, O blessed one, and the Spirit, coming in the form of a dove, set on thee a crown of gold; and thou wast not drowned in the waters, O Marina, wondrous among the martyrs, but, made wise by grace, thou didst sing to God the Giver of light: Alleluia.
Then from on high a longed-for voice was heard: “Peace be to thee, invincible bride of Christ; receive now the invisible crown from the hand of God and rest in the heavenly Jerusalem”; and an angel of the Lord at once set thee free from all thy bonds and healed again the manifold wounds of thy flesh; therefore, standing in prayer, we fall down before thee with compunction and tears and entreat thee, O worthy martyr, be the intercessor of those who sing to thee:
Rejoice, for the Lord God heard the voice of thy supplication and sent down upon thee the Spirit in the form of a dove; rejoice, for the grace of God was made manifest before all peoples; rejoice, for the seal of the Holy Spirit was set upon thee, spotless and undefiled; rejoice, for that water was given the grace of redemption and the blessing of the Jordan; rejoice, for it appeared as water of holiness, cleansing souls and bodies; rejoice, for that water became the washing away of the old corruptible man and a garment of incorruption; rejoice, for thou wast enlightened by the light of the uncreated Trinity; rejoice, for the second birth by water and the Spirit was granted thee; rejoice, for thou wast guarded and adorned by baptism; rejoice, for Christ wove for thee a heavenly crown; rejoice, for thou didst put on the garment of righteousness; rejoice, for thou wast renewed and didst increase that pledge of grace; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
O how great a glory thy valour won for thee, O blessed one! For thou wast enlightened by the Spirit and didst cast down the power of the devil with the help of Christ; entreat Him, honourable virgin, that we too may come to dwell in the heavenly Sion, and with the assembly of the righteous sing to the Creator of all: Alleluia.
When they saw the wonders of God made manifest in thee, a multitude of women and men confessed Christ and received a martyr’s end, baptised in their own blood; so look upon us too with mercy and deliver us from a faith that is lifeless and lukewarm, that we may call thy valour blessed, holy martyr Marina, and praise thee with longing:
Rejoice, thou who by enduring blows didst wound the invisible enemy; rejoice, hater of a vain life; rejoice, thou who didst strive in the good fight with toil and blood; rejoice, thou who didst purchase the blessed life; rejoice, thou who turnest back apostates and deniers; rejoice, thou who leadest unbelievers onto the path of righteousness and truth; rejoice, giver of courage and unshaken steadfastness; rejoice, reprover of slanderers and blasphemers; rejoice, shamer of the proud and the haughty; rejoice, thou who strikest terror into sorcerers and soothsayers; rejoice, thou who exaltest the manner of life of Christian virgins; rejoice, thou who mightily tramplest down every kind of evil ways and vices; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
The godless one had exhausted his devices of torment, O blessed one, and like a sacrificial lamb he condemned thee to be slain; but armed with prayer and faith thou didst bow thy neck to the sword, and with a voice of song didst commend thy soul to God: Alleluia.
When the evil beasts slew thee with the sword like a sheep, thy all-radiant soul, which had dwelt in thy much-suffering body, went forth and was received by the hands of the Almighty and made its dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem among those invisible good things; but thy incorrupt body, O blessed one, poured forth an abundant fragrance of wonders for those who praise thee:
Rejoice, thou who wast persecuted by tyrants for righteousness’ sake; rejoice, thou who wast strengthened by the power of the life-giving Cross; rejoice, thou who didst receive in thy flesh the wounds of thy Lord; rejoice, holy and spotless lamb, who didst shed thy blood for Christ; rejoice, sanctified lamb offered on the heavenly altar; rejoice, thou who by thy blood didst put on the wedding garment; rejoice, thou who instead of passing glory didst receive the light that passeth not away; rejoice, thou who with the choir of the bodiless in the heavens hast attained and workest wonders; rejoice, thou who art numbered among the camps of the valiant martyrs of Christ; rejoice, virgin who hast drawn near to the Virgin Queen; rejoice, thou who art glorified by incorrupt relics and through them madest fragrant first Antioch and afterwards Constantinople; rejoice, thou who for thy holy and incorrupt hands didst choose the lands that are the lot of the Mother of God, Iberia and the Holy Mountain of Athos; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
Ever praising the multitude of thy struggles and wonders, we remember what was spoken prophetically by David the psalmist: “We went through fire and water, and Thou broughtest us out into a place of refreshment”; for thou didst fulfil it in deed, being tried by fire and water, and, adorned with the crown of martyrs, thou criest boldly with the martyrs of Christ: Alleluia.
God did not hide thy labours, O holy one, but by signs and wonders He proclaimed the brilliance of thy struggles and made thy memory beloved among all, O Marina, glorious among the martyrs; therefore we glorify Christ who glorified thee, and fleeing with hope to thee as to a physician and intercessor we cry with one voice:
Rejoice, thou who art made a dwelling with the saints and art the intercessor for our souls; rejoice, God-given helper of virgins and women; rejoice, intercessor for the poor and their benefactor; rejoice, intercessor for widows and orphans; rejoice, comforter of those grieved by torment and of those who mourn; rejoice, thou who bringest persecutors and oppressors to their senses; rejoice, haven and hearer of all the oppressed and imprisoned; rejoice, reprover of the false and the crafty; rejoice, humbler of the envious and slanderers; rejoice, gladdener of the angels and shamer of the demons; rejoice, swift hearer of all who hasten towards the truth; rejoice, unsleeping guardian of those who call thy name to mind; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
Thou who didst take upon thee manifold pangs of pain and didst receive from God the grace to drive away pangs and pains, show now upon us also the sign of thy wonders, O holy one, and heal the infirmities of those who revere thee and keep the feast of thy memory with longing, that, filled with gratitude, we may call thee blessed and ever sing to the immortal King and God: Alleluia.
Having received from on high, through the endurance of sufferings, the grace to drive out unclean spirits and trample on the harms of invisible enemies, thy incorrupt relics heal a multitude of diseases, put demons to flight and gladden the whole world; therefore we are moved with zeal, O thrice-blessed one, and, running swiftly to thy church, we cry eagerly:
Rejoice, wise virgin, bearer of a shining lamp; rejoice, thunder of the divine preaching; rejoice, temple of innocence and purity; rejoice, myrrh offered as ointment to the immortal King; rejoice, incense burned upon that divine altar; rejoice, thou who art firmer and more precious than diamond; rejoice, fair branch of the divine vine; rejoice, true plant of the holy and apostolic Church; rejoice, fragrant flower of paradise; rejoice, way of unerring life; rejoice, rational sheep of the holy flock of Christ; rejoice, meek and innocent dove that hast flown up to heaven; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
The assemblies of the faithful know thee by thy spotlessness, O martyr, and call thee a manifest monument of ascetic struggle, and fervently entreat thee: enlighten now us who are darkened by the storm of sin and wholly sunk in the turmoil of the world, and grant us courage and honour, and bring to nothing the snares and stumbling-blocks of the enemy, that with purified lips we may all say this divine hymn: Alleluia.
Having appeared as a radiant luminary, O victorious martyr of Christ Marina, according to the teaching of the apostles thou didst scatter the darkness of polytheism and enlighten a countless people; so now also quench the designs of the wicked stirred up against our people, and deliver our daughters and sons from all-destroying passions and shelter them from shamelessness, that, guarded by the right faith, we may ever sing to thee and praise thee with longing:
Rejoice, radiant lamp that scatterest the darkness of godlessness; rejoice, thou who with the dawn of wonders enlightenest those who revere thee; rejoice, thou who by thy divine struggle didst amaze the bodiless ranks; rejoice, thou who strengthenest a weak and wavering will; rejoice, healer of diseases and sicknesses of many kinds; rejoice, swift banisher of fierce afflictions; rejoice, deliverer of those held by evil spirits; rejoice, thou who washest away the stain of superstition; rejoice, thou who settest free from the yoke of the love of money; rejoice, deliverer from the nets of the devil; rejoice, thou who deliverest the young from every uncleanness and vice; rejoice, guardian of those who journey by sea and from turmoil on dry land; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
Radiant is thy name and glorious thy memory, O Marina, glorious among the martyrs, for in the weakness of woman’s nature thou didst courageously take up the contest like a man, and, adorned with the crown of martyrs, thou didst attain the glory of heaven, where the companies of the apostles rejoice, the assemblies of the prophets exult, the ranks of priests and fathers reign, and still more the martyrs shine, and all together sing to the Lord: Alleluia.
Now the monastery of Vatopedi is filled with joy and boasteth, and with it Odishi, which hold in their bosom thy incorrupt hands, for they pour forth grace and mercy ungrudgingly, and those who kiss them receive healing of souls and health of bodies; therefore we hasten eagerly to the dwellings of thy relics and to thy fair churches, that we who love thee and praise thee thus may draw up healing:
Rejoice, glory of martyrs and radiance of virgins, for thou didst flash forth on earth like a shining star of heaven; rejoice, most fair divine bride, for thou becamest a champion of piety; rejoice, thou who shinest with invincible struggle, for thou hadst Christ crucified as thy wall and strength; rejoice, thou who boastest in Orthodoxy, for thou didst well arm thyself with the courage of the ascetic struggle; rejoice, thou who art called blessed by the prophets, for thou didst cast the pride of the enemy down to the earth; rejoice, thou who art praised by the hierarchs, for thou didst utterly overthrow the foul sacrifices of the idols and the altars of demons; rejoice, thou who art sharper than a sword, for thou didst mightily pierce the serpent fallen from heaven; rejoice, thou who wast sanctified by the heavenly font, for the all-crafty demons fled from thee and angels drew near to thee; rejoice, thou who wast given without trial to a merciless death, for thou didst finish well the divine course by thy struggle; rejoice, spotless turtle-dove, for with thy sisters the martyrs thou rejoicest for ever in eternal glory; rejoice, helper of all the despairing, for all the faithful have thee spiritually as a river of healing and a treasury of wonders; rejoice, consolation and hope of grieving wives, for thou grantest their petitions; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
O truly wondrous and valiant martyr Marina! Turn not thy face away from us, but by thy prayer guard us from the many snares of enemies visible and invisible and deliver us from passions of the soul and diseases of the body, that we may be made worthy of the blessedness of the kingdom and with thee sing to the Trinity one in essence: Alleluia.
This kontakion thrice, then
When the Creator of the angels kindled in thy heart the divine fire of godly grace, thou didst count as nothing the wrath of thy father and didst dispel all the darkness of delusion; for thy father disowned thee, but thou didst not deny the true faith, but gavest wings to thy mind by the surpassing of virtues and becamest a partaker of divine glory; therefore give our tongue strength to adorn thy struggle:
Rejoice, thou who wast adorned from youth with the love of virtue; rejoice, thou who didst live in holiness and unshaken among unbelievers; rejoice, thou who wast filled with hope in the Lord and the courage of piety; rejoice, thou who wast kindled sevenfold like fire with divine love; rejoice, thou who didst excel in every goodness; rejoice, thou who wast enlightened by the good working of grace; rejoice, thou who wast chosen by God out of the heathen; rejoice, thou who didst shine with purity and faithfulness; rejoice, wondrous maiden, shown mightier than the mighty; rejoice, thou who didst shine forth for the consolation of the Church and the adornment of Antioch; rejoice, star that showeth the way to those who seek salvation; rejoice, thou who givest an example to the faint-hearted and the heedless; Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
Glorious in wonders among the saints and radiant in piety among virgins, great martyr Marina, accept our hymn of praise, and by thy fervent intercession before God deliver from every trial and sickness us who sing thy praises: Rejoice, great martyr Marina, all-praised bride of Christ God!
O virgin and martyr Marina, valiant among the saints, radiant lamp of the Church of Christ, fervent suppliant before God and swift helper of all who flee to thee in faith!
O holy virgin and great martyr Marina, entreat Christ God who glorified thee to guard our fatherland from the snare of the enemy and from enmity among brothers, and to look with mercy on our people, the lot of His Mother, Orthodox and rightly confessing. Heal our many wounds by thy God-accepted prayer, and grant us divine zeal for the fatherland, love of righteousness and courage of spirit. Fill us with divine watchfulness and grant us unshaken faith, purity of life and the fear of God, that all who dwell in Georgia may be established in Orthodoxy and in oneness of mind and with one mouth and one heart may sing to Christ the true God. Strengthen in their ministry the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, the great lord, our father Ilia, the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, the honourable priests, the deacons in Christ and all the monastic orders, the members of the Orthodox Church and all right-believing Christians. Magnify those who bear thy name and those who entreat thee. Entreat, O all-radiant martyr, the sweetest Jesus whom thou didst love, to forgive us our apostasies, the destruction and defilement of churches, the murders of the servants of God, betrayal, envy and disorders, the killing of our infants in the womb and the multitude of our other sins.
O crowned Marina, martyr and bride of Christ God! Intercede before Him, that He may grant glory to the churches, honour to the clergy, good shepherding of the people to rulers, courage to soldiers, sinlessness to the laity and chastity to women; and to us a life of good conduct, adornment with works of mercy, enlightenment through holy prayer, cleansing through confession, radiance through communion, an honourable departure, the inheritance of the kingdom, singing with the angels, reigning with the saints, and with thee glory and thanksgiving; for to Him befitteth all glory, honour and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
It is truly meet that we should magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art ever-blessed and all-immaculate and the Mother of our God. Thee, more honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the only Theotokos, we magnify in song.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of the all-glorious and greatly praised virgin-martyr Marina and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Author and compiler: Tinatin Mchedlishvili
