Supplicatory Paraklesis to the Didube Icon of the Theotokos
Priest: Blessed is our God…
And if a layman, he says: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and of all the saints, 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, 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.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom…
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.
O Lord, attend to my prayer: hearken to my supplication in thy truth; hear me in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark place, as those that have been long dead. Therefore my spirit was grieved in me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old; and I meditated on all thy doings: yea, I meditated on the works of thine hands. I spread forth my hands to thee; my soul thirsts for thee, as a dry land. Pause. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has failed; turn not away thy face from me, else I shall be like to them that go down to the pit. Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in thee; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to thee. Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to thee for refuge. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; thy good Spirit shall guide me in the straight way. Thou shalt quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake; in thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction. And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy mine enemies, and wilt destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Verse 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever. Verse 2: All the nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I withstood them. Verse 3: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. Verse 4: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
Let us, sinners and poor, fall down with compunction before the Theotokos, and with warm tears let us cry from the depth of our heart: O Lady, be our helper in thy mercy; O hope of the faithful, make haste to help us, for we perish under the multitude of our sins; turn not away these thy servants empty, for thou art our hope and intercessor before thy Son and our God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Let us, sinners and poor, fall down with compunction before the Theotokos, and with warm tears let us cry from the depth of our heart: O Lady, be our helper in thy mercy; O hope of the faithful, make haste to help us, for we perish under the multitude of our sins; turn not away these thy servants empty, for thou art our hope and intercessor before thy Son and our God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We will never cease, O Theotokos, we the unworthy, from speaking of thy mighty acts; for hadst thou not stood before us to intercede, who would have delivered us from so many dangers? And who would have kept us free until now? We will not depart from thee, O Lady, for thou ever savest thy servants from all misfortunes.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
Irmos: Pharaoh who rode in the chariot was drowned by the rod of Moses, which once worked wonders when it struck crosswise, traced the figure of the Cross and divided the Red Sea; but it saved Israel, the fugitive going on foot, singing a hymn to the Lord: for gloriously hath He been glorified.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
Thy holy icon, O Lady, called “of Didube”, pours forth for us abundantly the healing of souls and bodies, and they that kiss it lovingly and with longing are swiftly healed of their sicknesses.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
As a shepherd tended his flock in the region of Didube, an angel appeared to him in his sleep and told him where the icon of the Theotokos lay, and said: Venerate that most precious treasure, and it will grant thee great mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The shepherd was struck with awe at the divine vision, and when he had quickly brought the good news to his household and the people, all lifted up their hands and offered thanksgiving and glory to God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Glorious things have been spoken of thee from generation to generation, O Virgin, who didst receive the Word of God in thy womb and remain incorrupt, O Theotokos Mary; therefore we all magnify thee, who after God hast been found our deliverer.
Irmos: O Lord, who didst fix the vault of heaven and art the Builder of the Church, establish us in Thy love, Thou summit of all joy and strength of the faithful, who alone lovest mankind.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
Setting out on the second day, a Monday, they sought thy royal icon, O Lady, and they marvelled, for thou didst hold the sceptre of dominion in thy right hand, while thy Son and God held in His hands a golden orb with a cross, as the Sovereign of all.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
They took up that most precious treasure and laid it in a church that stood nearby, and all the infirm were granted healing through thee; and all understood that this thine icon was given for victory over the enemy, for the putting to flight of demons and for the healing of the infirm.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
When they told a certain blind man of the swift help of the icon, his heart was filled with hope, but he found no guide to lead him to this wondrous icon; and with tears he prayed to the Mother of God and said to her: Rejoice.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst dwell in the womb of the Virgin and didst appear to men in the flesh, as Thou wast well pleased, and didst show her forth as truly the Theotokos, O Thou who alone lovest mankind, and as the helper of all the faithful.
Deliver us, O all-holy Theotokos, from every harm, affliction and distress, who with all our soul fall down before this icon of thy holiness.
Look down with favour, O all-praised Theotokos, upon the grievous infirmity of my body, and heal the pain of my soul.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for our God-protected people and its sovereignty (for its Christ-loving authorities and armed forces).
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, the great lord, our father Ilia, and for the most reverend (the local bishop is commemorated), and for all our brethren in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again let us pray to the Lord our God that He may have mercy on the servant or handmaid (here name those for whom you are praying). Multiply, O Lord, the days and years of their life, and deliver them, O Lord, from every affliction, wrath and distress, and from every wound of soul and body, and forgive them every transgression, voluntary and involuntary.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for all Orthodox Christians.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: For Thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Choir: Amen.
This thine icon, O Theotokos, called “of Didube”, was given to us by providence, O immaculate one; it quenches the embers of affliction with the dew of thy goodness, and, brighter than the sun, it makes the gifts of thy help shine upon us.
Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power, Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, who didst not leave the bosom of the Father and didst visit our poverty; therefore with the prophet Habakkuk I cry to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
“Disdain not this my supplication made with compunction,” the man cried fervently, “and intercede for me before thy Son and my God, that with His light He may enlighten me also, who am darkened by sin, and count me worthy to behold and venerate this glorious icon of thine.”
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
As thou art an abyss of healings and a fountain of unfailing good things, so thine icon too had power and grace of healing from thy Son; for thou didst show thy swift help to that blind man and didst open his eyes at once.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The man blind from birth was filled with joy when he beheld the light of day; and hastening at once to the church to venerate the icon, he fell down before it and, moved by divine longing, gave thanks to thee, O Virgin, and glorified Christ.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst take away the reproach of our mother Eve when thou didst conceive God thy Creator beyond human nature and ineffably bear Him for us, O immaculate Mother of Christ the Saviour; intercede for us who entreat thee.
Irmos: Why hast Thou cast me away from Thy face, O Light that never setteth, and why hath the impenetrable darkness covered me? But look upon me and direct my ways to the light of Thy commandments, I pray Thee.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
When the Georgians heard of this awesome power of thine icon, they raised a shrine of prayer to it, and, enriched by thy graces, O Virgin Mary, they ceased not to praise thee and to sing unto thee.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
Seeing thy glorious icon, the multitude of the faithful and the countless miracles wrought by thy grace, they built a beautiful church and laid thy holy icon there, O Lady, and named it “of Didube”, and appointed that Monday as the feast of the icon.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
When thine icon, radiant with beauty, was enthroned in the house of God, that church was filled with brightness; and the hierarchs and the people with the priests served litanies and sought thy protection and mercy.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou hast gained a mother’s boldness before thy Son, O all-immaculate Theotokos; cease not, we pray thee, to entreat Him for our help.
Irmos: I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him will I declare my sorrows; for my soul is filled with evils, and my life hath drawn nigh unto hades; and like Jonah I cry: Bring me up, O my God.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
When thou didst send thy wondrous icon to the people of thine inheritance, in thy sweetness thou gavest it to drive away the gloom of sorrows and to enlighten all with the radiance of thy mercy.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
The kings of Georgia honoured thine icon, and having built their palaces on the field of Didube, they gathered their hosts there and committed them to thee, as the Champion Leader and intercessor of the Georgian people.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The holy and blessed King Tamar, hastening to the church of thy Nativity as to a quiet haven, committed herself to thee and hymned and extolled thee, who without stain didst bear Christ God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Cease not to entreat for us, O Virgin, all-holy Theotokos Mary, for thou art the firmness of us the faithful; by hope in thee we are strengthened, and with faith we magnify thee and thy Son and bow down before you.
Deliver us, O all-holy Theotokos, from every harm, affliction and distress, who with all our soul fall down before this icon of thy holiness.
Look down with favour, O all-praised Theotokos, upon the grievous infirmity of my body, and heal the pain of my soul.
Priest: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: For Thou art the King of peace and the Saviour of our souls, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Thy holy icon of Didube thou hast wondrously given to the Iberians as a wall and protection, and through it thou workest glorious signs: thou healest the sick, drivest out demons and deliverest them that entreat thee. Cast not away us who trust in thee with faith, but receive our supplication and offer it before thy Son and our God, for thou art our hope, O good Mother.
Priest: Let us attend. Wisdom. Prokeimenon before the Gospel, Tone 4
I will remember thy name in every generation and generation.
Verse: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For holy art Thou, O our God, who restest in the saints, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
Verse: Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Priest: And that He may make us worthy to hear the holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord our God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be unto all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Priest: The reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
In those days Mary arose, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By Thy mercy, O most merciful God, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression, and have mercy on me, O God.
Sticheron: Be glad, O land of the Georgians, and keep festival, O chosen people, for the Mother of God hath looked upon you with mercy and granted you her wonderworking icon, as a help in afflictions, a consolation in sorrows, a healing of sicknesses and a deliverance from passions.
Priest: O God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; visit Thy world with mercy and compassion; exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians and send down upon us Thy rich mercies, through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, by the power of the Cross of the vine; through the protection of the honourable bodiless Powers of heaven; of the honourable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy prophet Elijah the Tishbite and righteous Enoch; of the holy, glorious and all-praised foremost apostles Peter and Paul; of the holy apostle Thomas and the apostles who enlightened Georgia, Andrew the First-called, Simon the Canaanite and Matthias; of our holy mother, the virgin Nino, equal to the apostles; of the holy King Mirian and Queen Nana, equal to the apostles; of our fathers among the saints, the great ecumenical teachers and hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; of our fathers among the saints Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, and Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous; of our holy and venerable father John of Zedazeni and his twelve disciples, the second enlighteners of the Church of Georgia and her ever-protectors; of the God-wise and blessed fathers Hilarion the Georgian, Serapion of Zarzma and Gregory of Khandzta; of our venerable Athonite fathers John, Gabriel, John-Tornike, Euthymius and George; of the holy, glorious and victorious martyrs: the holy great-martyr George the Trophy-bearer and the holy great virgin-martyrs Barbara and Marina; the holy priest-martyr Neophytus of Urbnisi and the holy great-martyr Abo of Tbilisi; the holy glorious martyrs David and Constantine, princes of Argveti; the holy great-martyr Shalva of Akhaltsikhe, the holy great-martyr Bidzina and the holy glorious martyrs Shalva and Elizbar, eristavis of Ksani; the holy hundred thousand martyrs slain in Tbilisi by the Khwarezmians and the holy six thousand martyred monks of Gareja; our holy, pious and great kings Vakhtang Gorgasali, Ashot the Kuropalates, David the Builder and Solomon; the holy and pious King Tamar; the holy victorious kings and queens Archil, Demetrius, Shushanik, Ketevan and Luarsab; holy Ilia the Righteous; the holy and righteous parents of the Theotokos, Joachim and Anna (and of the saint to whom the church is dedicated); of the wonderworking Didube icon of the Theotokos, and of all Thy saints and holy things: we entreat Thee, O most merciful Lord, hearken to the supplication of us sinners, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (12 times)
Priest: Through the mercies and compassions and love for mankind of Thine Only-begotten Son, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Irmos: The Hebrew youths walked in the furnace, boldly trampling the fire, and, bedewed, they cried out and said: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, unto the ages.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
As thine icon, brighter than the sun, made the gifts of thy help shine upon those who venerated it, so now we too who fall down before it with faith, O immaculate one, receive through thy sweetness the healing of souls and bodies.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
The grace of thy wonderworking icon, O Lady, healeth sicknesses of many kinds and driveth away unclean spirits, and shelters with its protection all who flee to it.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O immaculate dwelling of the never-setting Light, we the faithful magnify thee and sing thy praise, for this thine icon of Didube is healing for everyone who believes in Christ.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Walking in the light of the Lord, come, let us sing unto the spiritual royal city, the immaculate Virgin, the Theotokos in truth, for she is the hope and intercessor of our souls unto the ages of ages.
Irmos: He who spoke with Moses on the mountain through the bush showed forth an image of the birth without harm from the Virgin; Him let us all bless and supremely exalt unto the ages.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
With hymns let us adorn the wondrous icon of the foremost intercessor of the Georgians; and, hastening to bring our lowly supplications, let us venerate it and ask once more to dwell beneath the shelter of its grace.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
Let us hasten, O people of Kartli, to venerate and fall down before the wondrously renowned icon, which was given to the land of Iberia as an indestructible wall and an unsleeping guardian.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou art our hope and our boast and our protector after God. Now accept these hymns which we offer unto thee with reverent fear, and enlighten us by the countenance of thine icon.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thee who didst receive the word from the angel and didst bear for us the only God, who made light shine upon the world, we all bless and exalt unto the ages.
Irmos: Heaven was amazed at this, and the ends of the earth marvelled, that God appeared bodily to men, and thy womb became more spacious than the heavens; therefore, O Theotokos, the ranks of angels and of men magnify thee, as is meet.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
Now hear our supplication, O all-holy Mother and blessed Virgin, and shelter us who flee to thine icon from every assault of the adversary and from tormenting mishaps; for apart from God we know none other but thee.
O wondrous icon of the Theotokos, preserve and shelter us.
Behold, our chosen people is once more beset by a multitude of temptations and afflictions; but do thou help us and guide me in the paths of God; for were it not for thine intercession, how should we escape drowning in the torrent of lawlessness that has swelled in these last times?
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O thou who art higher than all generations, all-incorrupt Virgin Theotokos, thou art the hope of the faithful; with doxology we magnify thee and entreat thee: deliver me from infirmities and afflictions of soul and body.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The prophets foretold thee of old, O immaculate one, and depicted thee as an ark, a rod, a jar, and a closed gate, a mountain unhewn, a ladder set up to heaven, a sealed fountain, a light cloud, and the Mother of Emmanuel.
It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and all-spotless, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
The priest censes; a reader or a layman reads:
Come, all ye faithful, into this holy church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, truly the tabernacle of the glory of God, which was raised for the icon of Didube, and let us fall down before her protection, that through it we may receive blessing and grace and offer glory to God.
O unwedded Bride, Virgin Mary! As thou art an abyss of healings and a fountain of unfailing good things, so thine icon too hath power and grace of healing from thy Son, whose Mother thou becamest in purity; and from it we too receive the gifts of thy loving-kindness.
O Mary, unwedded Theotokos, beholding thy wonderworking icon as the radiant sun, the faithful people rejoice together, for it makes healing and grace spring forth ungrudgingly, like an unfailing fountain.
Knowing the multitude of thy mercies, O Mother of Christ, we fervently entreat thee: remember this land, given thee as thy portion by the Lord thy Son, and remember our nation; for thou hast promised ever to guard and shelter us in the time of affliction.
O all-sweet Mother and immaculate Virgin, open the door of mercy to thy people of Iberia, lest all the heretics and heathen say: Where is the Theotokos in whom ye hope?
The assemblies of the heavenly powers, the choirs of the apostles and all the nations magnify thee, O Bride of God Most High; and we with defiled lips proclaim thee Mother of God, O all-immaculate Theotokos, and in Orthodox faith we cry to the Lord:
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.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom…
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for, at a loss for any defence, we sinners offer to Thee, our good Master, this supplication: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have put our trust in Thee; be not exceeding wroth with us, nor remember our iniquities; but look upon us now, as Thou art compassionate, and deliver us from Thy just wrath; for Thou art our God, and we are Thy people; we are all the work of Thy hands, and Thy name is called upon us; and have mercy on us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Open unto us the doors of compassion, O blessed Theotokos, that hoping in thee we may not perish, but through thee be delivered from our adversaries, for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, O Lover of mankind, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, long life, salvation, enlightenment, forgiveness, prosperity and quiet for the servant (or handmaid) of God, that the Lord our God may preserve this our royal city and this holy monastery (or church) and all the cities and villages of Iberia from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of foreigners, civil war and deadly plague; that God, in His goodness and love for mankind, may be merciful to us so that we may stand well, and may turn away from us the wrath that daily cometh upon us, and deliver us from His righteous judgement that is laid upon us, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (40 times)
Priest: Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of them that are far off upon the sea; and be gracious, be merciful unto our sins, and have mercy on us; for Thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
O all-merciful Queen, Theotokos of Didube, higher than the heavens and brighter than the sun, Bride, Handmaid and Mother of the Deliverer, protectress and champion of the Georgian people and invincible Champion of Georgia!
O Queen, Mother of God the Lover of mankind, all-spotless Virgin Mary! We have this thy holy icon of Didube, adorned in many ways with a purple robe and a veil woven with gold, as truly an unmercenary physician of bodies and healer of souls, and with uplifted hands we entreat thee before it: be for us sinners a fervent intercessor before thy Son, that He may bring to nothing the dread devices of those who labour at wicked and vain things to the harm of our people, chosen by thee as thine own, and may keep us from every affliction and temptation, renew again our faith and grant us unfailing love for God, for our neighbour and for our fatherland. By thy mighty power strengthen the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, our father Ilia, and the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, and all the priestly and monastic orders, the pious, the commanders and governors of cities, and all the Christ-loving army and our benefactors, and all Orthodox Christians.
O blessed among women, our boast, O Theotokos, entreat thy Son, the Saviour of the world, to 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 restore to us godliness, love of righteousness, many children, and mercy towards widows and orphans. May He grant us love for a life of holiness, hatred of unseemly deeds and contrition of heart, crowns with the saints and the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, that we too with thee may glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: Wisdom! O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Choir: More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the true Theotokos, we magnify thee.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.
Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Bless. Priest: The dismissal…
Choir: Amen.
A layman: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, 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 and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
With love we venerate and with longing we kiss thine icon, “the Theotokos of Didube”, which has appeared as the guardian and refuge of the Iberians; and with a contrite heart we pray thee: O blessed Mother and Virgin, bless us and protect us, and deliver us from all afflictions and sorrows.
Now we the faithful stand with compunction before thine icon, falling down with all our soul before thy protection, and we cry: Turn not away thy face, but heal us, O Mother of loving-kindness, and bring to nothing the snares of our enemies and adversaries, visible and invisible.
Compiled by Tinatin Mchedlishvili
