Paraklesis to the Iveron Icon of the Theotokos on Athos, called the Keeper of the Gate (Portaitissa)
Priest: Blessed is our God…
If a layman, he says: 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.
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.
The insolence of those who hated the icon of the Lord and the violence of the impure and godless dwelt without mercy in Nicaea, and they came to torment a widow who piously honoured the icon of the Theotokos; but she with her son gave the icon to the sea and cried thus: Glory to thee, O holy one; the stormy sea hath become thy helper; glory to thy journey, O incorrupt one.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
From thy holy icon, O Lady Theotokos, healings and health are given abundantly to all who flee to it with faith and love; so visit my infirmity also, and have mercy on my soul, O good one, and heal my body by thy grace, O all-immaculate one.
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 most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
Accept now this supplication offered by me, as of old thy Son, my God and Lord, accepted the widow’s two mites, and grant me deliverance from my sins, that I may ever magnify thee, O Virgin, Keeper of the Gate.
O most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
Athos hath shone forth and Iviron rejoiceth, for thy wondrous icon came over the sea by the angels, flashing with ineffable light and enlightening all with the radiance of thy mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Pressing thine all-honourable icon to his breast, Gabriel cried to thee, O Lady: O sweet Mother of Christ the King, be the protector of thine abode, the joy of all Christians and the pledge of eternal life.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou wast a helper and protector, O Virgin, of the abode of the Iberians, when thou didst drown in the sea the soldiers of the emir together with their ships; now drown in the abyss of the mercy of thy Son all my passions and countless transgressions.
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 most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
Thou who didst give thy much-honoured icon to Iviron, leave not comfortless the dwellers of thy lot either, O Virgin; and until the time cometh, in its stead we kiss its wondrous copies, glorified by thy protection.
O most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
As of old thy fiery icon, which came from Nicaea to Athos over the Pontic sea, worked all-glorious miracles, so also through the holy copies of the icon thou pourest out upon us miracles of many kinds and quenchest the furnace of the passions.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The image of thine all-holy and incorrupt face is the healing of the whole world; drawing near to it and bowing down to thee with reverence, O all-immaculate one, we are filled with the grace of healings and set free from infirmities.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Make my barren mind fruitful, O blessed Virgin, born of barren parents, for thou makest all things yet more fruitful in good by the sending of thine icon.
Deliver, O most holy Theotokos, from every harm, affliction and distress those who with all their soul fall down before thy wonderworking icon, called the Iveron Keeper of the Gate.
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.
Today the radiant feast of our protectress hath come; all the Orthodox rejoice and the assemblies of men leap for joy, for our holy Theotokos calleth us to behold her fiery icon, which enlighteneth all with the radiance of mercy; and we, rejoicing at this, cry: Deliver, O Lady, from famine, fire, the sword and afflictions those who honour the appearing of thine icon.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The abode of Iveron rejoiced on the feast of thine appearing, for such a wonder was shown for the help of the people allotted to thee and for love of it, when thy radiant icon, guided over the sea by the angels, went to no other monastery, but deigned to dwell with the Iberians, by the hand of Gabriel the Georgian, and thereby thou didst bless the newly built abode of the Georgians in the wilderness of Athos.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou art a fervent intercessor, a great refuge, a firm protector, a fellow-fighter and an overseer, O Keeper of the Gate, for those who seek thy help; therefore deliver them from every snare, as thou didst promise thy servants, O all-immaculate one.
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 most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
Behold, the most beautiful likeness of the Keeper of the Gate came from Athos to Tbilisi and was enthroned with great honour in the church of the Theotokos, the glorious Sioni, as a help in afflictions, a consolation in sorrows, a healing of sicknesses and a deliverance from passions.
O most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
As the flocks of the abode of the Iberians were adorned by the grace of thine icon, so also our people is enlightened by thy grace more than by the light of the sun, for this wondrous copy of the icon becometh as a fountain of immortality for the sick and infirm and a giver of great mercies to all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Willing to give grace to our people, thou hast shown us thine image again, and, drawing near to it, we bow down before thy likeness and entreat thee: come now and gather together our scattered lands, and show us a border undisputed by all men.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou art my strength and my power, O Theotokos, for in the day of my sorrow I shall find rest through thee, and through thee I shall be lifted up from this world into the heavenly inheritance and rejoice with the King and God, my Deliverer.
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 most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
Knowing the multitude of thine intercessions and mercies, O Virgin, Keeper of the Gate, we commit ourselves wholly to thy divine protection, for besides thee we have no helper and comforter.
O most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
The abyss of unworthy transgressions hath surrounded me, and my soul is drowning; but give me, O Lady, Keeper of the Gate, thy mighty arm, and as thou didst Gabriel, keep me also unharmed, who flee to thine icon.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As the surety and true guide of our deliverance, entreat thy Son with the heavenly powers to drive away from us the enemies of the truth who have risen against us and to deliver us from the assaults of the wicked, that we may stand firm and unshaken on the way of the commandments of Christ.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou art my strength and my power, O Theotokos, for in the day of my sorrow I shall find rest through thee, and through thee I shall be lifted up from this world into the heavenly inheritance and rejoice with the King and God, my Deliverer.
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 most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
We have unfailing faith in thee, O Virgin, Keeper of the Gate, and we entreat thee: give us the hand of help and keep the land which thou didst choose and deliver from the bondage of the demons and from idolatry, that our enemies may be put to shame.
O most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
Hasten to help us, O holy and ineffable Mother of the Son of God, and until the end of the age keep Iberia and the people of Iberia, that our countless enemies may not say: Where is the Theotokos, in whom they hope?
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Look now, O sweet Mother of Christ the King, upon the people chosen by thee, and be pleased to make us flourish and multiply and to fill us with the spirit of wisdom, of mutual love and of divine understanding.
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, O most holy Theotokos, from every harm, affliction and distress those who with all their soul fall down before thy wonderworking icon, called the Iveron Keeper of the Gate.
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.
Though thy holy icon, O Theotokos, was cast into the sea by the widow, who could not hide it from the enemies, yet it appeared as the protector of Athos and the keeper of the gate of the abode of the Iberians, a terror to enemies, and for the Orthodox Christians who honour thee a deliverer from all passions and assaults.
When the assembly of monks saw the icon of the Mother of God within a pillar of fire, they cried out: O Master, make us worthy to touch the icon of Thy Mother; and thou, Gabriel, didst go into the sea and receive into thy bosom the treasure revealed to us, that it might be for us an unsleeping guard, and for all Christians a protection and a joy.
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.
Choir: 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: Come, ye people of Georgia, let us draw the inexhaustible grace from the icon of the Mother of God, which shineth like fire, and let us embrace it with faith and love, for it hath been given with glory to our people as a wall and guardian, and it shall be our protector from enemies visible and invisible.
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 father among the saints Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the wonderworker; of the holy, glorious and victorious martyrs: the holy great-martyr George the Trophy-bearer and 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 great virgin-martyrs Barbara and Marina; our holy and blessed fathers Lucian, Dodo, Damian, Onuphrius and Simeon of Gareja; our holy and venerable father John of Zedazeni and his twelve disciples, the second enlighteners of the Church of Georgia and her ever-protectors, and among the disciples our venerable father David of Gareja; the holy priest-martyr Neophytus of Urbnisi and the holy great-martyr Abo of Tbilisi; the God-wise and blessed fathers Hilarion the Georgian, Serapion of Zarzma and Gregory of Khandzta; our venerable Athonite fathers John, Gabriel, John-Tornike, Euthymius and George; the holy glorious martyrs David and Constantine, princes of Argveti; 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; the holy hundred thousand martyrs slain in Tbilisi by the Khwarezmians; the holy six thousand martyred monks of Gareja; holy Ilia the Righteous; the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna (and of the saint to whom the church is dedicated); of the icon of Anchiskhati, of the most awesome incarnation of the Face of God; of the Iveron icon of the most holy 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 most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
A radiant and many-shining lamp, the holy icon of the Mother of God, set over the gate of the monastery of the Iberians, enlighteneth our minds and driveth away the darkness of sin.
O most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
The divine fire that goeth forth from thine icon, O Mother of God, burneth the camp of the iconoclasts, and poureth upon the faithful the sweet light of victories and strengtheneth us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As a radiant crown, O all-incorrupt Lady, the Church of Christ God holdeth thy wondrous icon, the Keeper of the Gate of Iveron, and delighteth and rejoiceth in divine radiance.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou art the joy of those who dwell in the wilderness of the Holy Mountain, and the consolation and boast of this royal people also, O Virgin Mary, to whom we sing and whom we exalt unto the 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 most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
The glorious church of Sioni, like paradise, poureth out from thine icon a spiritual fragrance upon those who flee to it, and maketh fragrant our souls and minds.
O most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
The appearing of thine all-radiant image poureth out joy upon all the faithful, and giveth our land an unsleeping guard and a deliverer from afflictions.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The faithful people of Georgia radiantly keepeth the feast of the coming of thy precious icon, and with supplication asketh of thee, O immaculate one, to direct what is to come according to thy will.
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 most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
Accept these supplications which we offer thee with reverence, and be a fervent mediator for us sinners before thy Son, that He may deliver us, O immaculate one, from all the nations gathered together to fight against us, and from strife among the Georgians.
O most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, guard and shelter us.
Now still, O all-holy and immaculate Virgin, the assault of the wicked and bring their designs to nothing, and establish peace and love among the peoples of right confession, that we who have set our hope on thee may never be put to shame.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With divine hymns, O holy Keeper of the Gate, Virgin Theotokos, we venerate thy divine icon, asking forgiveness and salvation for our souls from thee, the surety of our salvation.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The prophets proclaimed thee beforehand, O immaculate one, and prefigured thee as the ark, the rod, the table and the closed gate, as the unhewn mountain, the ladder raised up to heaven and the sealed fountain, as the light cloud and the Mother of Emmanuel.
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.
The priest censes.
Come, O lovers of the Theotokos, lift up your hands, offer supplication before this wondrous icon and cry out: Look upon the sorrows that surround us, O compassionate Mother, and heal the infirmities of our souls.
Behold the grace that overfloweth from thy precious icon, O merciful Lady, for everyone with a contrite heart draweth from the divine streams that flow ungrudgingly, and receiveth his petition with faith. Now also cease not to deliver us all from the fierce afflictions and sorrows that surround us.
Fulfil in thy mercy the words thou didst speak, O incorrupt one, concerning those allotted to thee, and give not our inheritance over to be a reproach to our enemies, that all may know that we, the Georgian nation, are thy portion.
As of old thou didst show thy wondrous protection to our people, so forget us not now, O blessed among women, Theotokos Mary, and bring to nothing the terrible devices of those who with wicked and vain designs strive to harm our people, chosen by thee as thine own.
The assemblies of the heavenly powers, the choirs of the apostles and all the nations magnify thee, O holy Bride; and we with defiled lips proclaim thee Mother of God, O good Lady, all-immaculate one, and with the thrice-holy hymn 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, this supplication do we sinners offer unto Thee as Master: have mercy on us. Glory…
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…
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 most holy Theotokos, Keeper of the Gate, true guide of our life, protector and champion of the Georgian people! Look down from heaven with mercy and remember this land, allotted to thee by the Lord thy Son, and thy cherished people, for thou hast promised to guard and shelter us in the time of affliction.
O thou who alone art blessed among women, holy and immaculate Virgin Theotokos! Bless and sanctify us who ever fall down before thy motherly grace and help, by the dawning light of thy wonderworking icon, and be ever our fellow-fighter, as thou didst promise us, against the enemy who rageth against us; for the fighters against the truth have conspired with crafty design against the Orthodox and strive by power and lying signs to corrupt the people of the Lord and to make them a people of darkness. But we, trembling, seek a way of deliverance from countless trials and entreat thee: O Virgin, Keeper of the Gate, by thy mighty power keep us from the devices and snares of the crafty devil, who desireth our destruction, that we may not receive the seal of the Antichrist nor bow down to him; but may a Christ-loving king be anointed and crowned upon the throne of all Georgia, to govern well and care for the land chosen by thee as thine own, and to exalt and restore our strength from the land of forgetfulness, that we may be one flock and the Lord may be our Shepherd. Strengthen our great lord, 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. Enlighten the Christ-loving authorities and their armed forces; keep by thy precious intercession all the peoples of the land allotted to thee. Entreat thy Son and our Lord God Jesus to forgive us the laying waste of churches, the defiling of holy things, the smashing of icons and crosses, the murders of the servants of God, treachery, envy, slander, the killing of our infants in the womb and the multitude of our other transgressions.
O Theotokos, blessed Mother and Virgin! Raise us up from the depths of sin, and deliver us from famine, pestilence, earthquake, fire, the sword, the invasion of foreigners, civil war, sudden death, the assaults of enemies, destructive winds, every deadly plague and every evil; grant, O Lady, peace and health to these thy servants, Orthodox Christians, and enlighten our minds and the eyes of our hearts, that we may be saved; and make us, thy sinful servants, worthy of the kingdom of thy Son, Christ our God, for His dominion is blessed and glorified, with His unoriginate Father and His all-holy and life-giving 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 only Theotokos, we magnify in song.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.
Choir: Glory… Both now… Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) Bless.
The priest gives the dismissal.
A layman: Glory… Both now… 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.
All the peoples of heaven and earth are moved to praise thee and sing to thee; and we, though we have multiplied sin before God and God hath justly brought this wrath upon us, yet trusting in thy mercy, venerate with longing this icon of thy holiness and ask of thee with supplication, O Virgin, Keeper of the Gate: deliver us from sufferings, afflictions and distress, and bring to nothing the assaults of our enemies and adversaries, invisible and visible.
Of our own will we have sinned and angered thee and forgotten thy mercies; but do thou deliver us from evils and at the time of judgement keep us uncondemned, O Mary, blessed among women, for with all our soul we fall down before thy goodness and protection.
Author and compiler: Tinatin Mchedlishvili
