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The Akathist Hymn is one of the most loved services in the
Orthodox Church. It was composed in the imperial city of Constantinople, "the
city of the Virgin," by St. Romanos the Melodist, who reposed in the year 556.
The Akathist Hymn has proved so popular that many other hymns have been written
following its format, These include Akathists to Our Lord Jesus Christ, to the
Cross and many saints.
The word "akathistos" means "not sitting," i.e., standing;
normally all participants stand while it is being prayed. The hymn is comprised
of 24 stanzas, alternating long and short. Each short stanza (kontakion) ends
with the singing of "Alleluia." Each longer stanza (ikos) ends with the
refrain: "Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded."
The majority of the hymn is made up of praises
directed to the Mother of God, always beginning with the salutation of the
Archangel Gabriel: "Rejoice." In each of them, one after the other, all the
events related to our Lord's incarnation pass before us for our contemplation.
The Archangel Gabriel ( in Ikos 1) marvels at the Divine self-emptying and the
renewal of creation which will occur when Christ comes to dwell in the Virgin's
womb. The unborn John the Baptist (Ikos 3) prophetically rejoices. The shepherds
(Ikos 4) recognize Christ as a blameless Lamb, and rejoice that in the Virgin
"the things of earth join chorus with the heavens." The pagan Magi, (Kontakion
5) following the light of the star, praise Her for revealing the light of the
world.
As the hymn progresses, various individuals
and groups encounter Christ and His Mother. Each has his own need; each his own
desire or expectation, and each finds his or her own particular spiritual need
satisfied and fulfilled in Our Lord and in the Mother of God. So too, each
generation of Orthodox, and each particular person who has prayed the Akathist,
has found in this hymn an inspired means of expressing gratitude and praise to
the Mother of God for what she has accomplished for their salvation.
In the same way, may the readers of this
booklet find the Mother of God to be a help and consolation for their souls as
well.
Sources: Fathers Michael Carney and John
Whiteford.
The
First Stasis
(Chanted on the First
Friday of Great Lent)
Ikos 1
An archangel was sent from Heaven to say to
the Theotokos: Rejoice! (Thrice) And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking
bodily form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood crying to
Her such things as these:
Rejoice, Thou through whom joy will shine
forth:
Rejoice, Thou through whom the curse will
cease!
Rejoice, recall of fallen Adam:
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!
Rejoice, height inaccessible to human
thoughts:
Rejoice, depth undiscernible even for the
eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for Thou art the throne of the King:
Rejoice, for Thou bearest Him Who beareth
all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear:
Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation!
Rejoice, Thou through whom creation is
renewed:
Rejoice, Thou through whom we worship the
Creator!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 2
Seeing herself to be chaste, the holy one
said boldly to Gabriel: The marvel of thy speech is difficult for my soul to
accept. How canst thou speak of a birth from a seedless conception? And She
cried: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
Seeking to know knowledge that cannot be
known, the Virgin cried to the ministering one: Tell me, how can a son be
born from a chaste womb? Then he spake to Her in fear, only crying aloud
thus:
Rejoice, initiate of God's ineffable will:
Rejoice, assurance of those who pray in
silence!
Rejoice, beginning of Christ's miracles:
Rejoice, crown of His dogmas!
Rejoice, heavenly ladder by which God came
down:
Rejoice, bridge that conveyest us from earth
to Heaven!
Rejoice, wonder of angels sounded abroad:
Rejoice, wound of demons bewailed afar!
Rejoice, Thou Who ineffably gavest birth to
the Light:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst reveal Thy secret to
none!
Rejoice, Thou Who surpassest the knowledge of
the wise:
Rejoice, Thou Who givest light to the minds
of the faithful!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 3
The power of the Most High then overshadowed
the Virgin for conception, and showed Her fruitful womb as a sweet meadow to
all who wish to reap salvation, as they sing: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Having received God into Her womb, the Virgin
hastened to Elizabeth whose unborn babe at once recognized Her embrace,
rejoiced, and with leaps of joy as songs, cried to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, branch of an Unfading Sprout:
Rejoice, acquisition of Immortal Fruit!
Rejoice, laborer that laborest for the Lover
of mankind:
Rejoice, Thou Who givest birth to the Planter
of our life!
Rejoice, cornland yielding a rich crop of
mercies:
Rejoice, table bearing a wealth of
forgiveness!
Rejoice, Thou Who makest to bloom the garden
of delight:
Rejoice, Thou Who preparest a haven for
souls!
Rejoice, acceptable incense of intercession:
Rejoice, propitiation of all the world!
Rejoice, good will of God to mortals:
Rejoice, boldness of mortals before God!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 4
Having within a tempest of doubting thoughts,
the chaste Joseph was troubled. For knowing Thee to have no husband, he
suspected a secret union, O blameless one. But having learned that Thy
conception was of the Holy Spirit, he said: Alleluia!
Then the Choir chants the Kontakion:
(Tone 8)
To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy servants
dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving as ones rescued out of
sufferings, O Theotokos: but as Thou art one with might which is invincible,
from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, that we may cry to Thee:
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Then the Trisagion is read, after which is
read the Kontakion of St. Theodore Tyron:
Having received the Faith of Christ in thy
heart as a breastplate, thou didst trample upon the enemy hosts, O great
champion; and thou hast been crowned eternally with a heavenly crown, as
thou art invincible.
Lord, have mercy
(forty times).
Then the service of
Small Compline continues, until after “O Theotokos
and Virgin…” is sung, and then, the Gospel is read thus:
If a priest is serving:
Priest:
And that He will vouchsafe unto us the hearing of the holy Gospel, let us
pray unto the Lord 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 is from the holy Gospel, according to Saint John.
Choir:
Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Priest:
Let us attend.
If a priest is not serving, the
reader simply announces the reading:
“The
reading is from the holy Gospel, according to Saint John,” and then reads
the Gospel in a normal voice.
(John 15:1-7)
The Lord said unto His disciples: I am the
true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth
not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth
it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word
which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye,
except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth
in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye
can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and
is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are
burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you.
Choir:
Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
The prayer:
“Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O
Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
RETURN TO TOP
The
Second Stasis
(Chanted on the Second
Friday of Great Lent)
Ikos 4
While the angels were chanting, the shepherds
heard of Christ's coming in the flesh, and having run to the Shepherd, they
beheld Him as a blameless Lamb that had been pastured in Mary's womb, and
singing to Her, they cried:
Rejoice, Mother of the Lamb and the Shepherd:
Rejoice, fold of rational sheep!
Rejoice, torment of invisible enemies:
Rejoice, opening of the gates of Paradise!
Rejoice, for the things of Heaven rejoice
with the earth:
Rejoice, for the things of earth join chorus
with the heavens!
Rejoice, never-silent mouth of the Apostles:
Rejoice, invincible courage of the
passion-bearers!
Rejoice, firm support of faith:
Rejoice, radiant token of Grace!
Rejoice, Thou through whom hades was stripped
bare:
Rejoice, Thou through whom we are clothed
with glory!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 5
Having sighted the divinely-moving star, the
Magi followed its radiance; and holding it as a lamp, by it they sought a
powerful King; and having reached the Unreachable One, they rejoiced,
shouting to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
The sons of the Chaldees saw in the hands of
the Virgin Him Who with His hand made man. And knowing Him to be the Master,
even though He had taken the form of a servant, they hastened to serve Him
with gifts, and to cry to Her Who is blessed:
Rejoice, Mother of the Unsetting Star:
Rejoice, dawn of the mystic day!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst extinguish the
furnace of error:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst enlighten the
initiates of the Trinity!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst banish from power the
inhuman tyrant:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst show us Christ the
Lord, the Lover of mankind!
Rejoice, Thou Who redeemest from pagan
worship:
Rejoice, Thou Who dost drag us from the works
of mire!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst quench the worship of
fire:
Rejoice, Thou Who rescuest from the flame of
the passions!
Rejoice, guide of the faithful to chastity:
Rejoice, gladness of all generations!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 6
Having become God-bearing heralds, the Magi
returned to Babylon, having fulfilled Thy prophecy; and having preached Thee
to all as the Christ, they left Herod as a babbler who knew not how to sing:
Alleluia!
Ikos 6
By shining in Egypt the light of truth, Thou
didst dispel the darkness of falsehood; for its idols fell, O Saviour,
unable to endure Thy strength; and those who were delivered from them cried
to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, uplifting of men:
Rejoice, downfall of demons!
Rejoice, Thou who didst trample down the
dominion of delusion:
Rejoice, Thou who didst unmask the fraud of
idols!
Rejoice, sea that didst drown the Pharaoh of
the mind:
Rejoice, rock that doth refresh those
thirsting for life!
Rejoice, pillar of fire that guideth those in
darkness:
Rejoice, shelter of the world broader than a
cloud!
Rejoice, sustenance replacing manna:
Rejoice, minister of holy delight!
Rejoice, land of promise:
Rejoice, Thou from whom floweth milk and
honey!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 7
When Symeon was about to depart this age of
delusion, Thou wast brought as a Babe to him, but Thou wast recognized by
him as perfect God also; wherefore, marveling at Thine ineffable wisdom, he
cried: Alleluia!
Then the Choir chants the Kontakion:
(Tone 8)
To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy servants
dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving as ones rescued out of
sufferings, O Theotokos: but as Thou art one with might which is invincible,
from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, that we may cry to Thee:
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Then the Trisagion is read, after which is
read the Kontakion of the feast, if there is one (falling on the Saturday).
If not, then the Kontakion of all Saints is read:
To Thee, O Lord, the Planter of creation, the
world doth offer the God-bearing martyrs as the first-fruits of nature. By
their intercessions, preserve Thy Church, Thy commonwealth, in profound
peace, through the Theotokos, O Greatly-merciful One.
Lord, have mercy (forty times).
The prayer:
“Through the prayers of our holy fathers,
O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.
RETURN TO TOP
The
Third Stasis
(Chanted on the Third
Friday of Great Lent)
Ikos 7
A new creation hath the Creator revealed,
manifesting Himself unto us His creatures. For He sprang from a seedless
womb, and kept it incorrupt as it was, that seeing the miracle we might sing
to Her, crying out:
Rejoice, flower of incorruptibility:
Rejoice, crown of continence!
Rejoice, Thou from whom shineth the Archetype
of the Resurrection:
Rejoice, Thou Who revealest the life of the
angels!
Rejoice, tree of shining fruit, whereby the
faithful are nourished:
Rejoice, tree of goodly shade by which many
are sheltered!
Rejoice, Thou that has carried in Thy womb
the Redeemer of captives:
Rejoice, Thou that gavest birth to the Guide
of those astray!
Rejoice, supplication before the Righteous
Judge:
Rejoice, forgiveness of many sins!
Rejoice, robe of boldness for the naked:
Rejoice, love that doth vanquish all desire!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 8
Having beheld a strange nativity, let us
estrange ourselves from the world and transport our minds to Heaven; for the
Most High God appeared on earth as a lowly man, because He wished to draw to
the heights them that cry to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
Wholly present was the Inexpressible Word
among those here below, yet in no way absent from those on high; for this
was a divine condescension and not a change of place, and His birth was from
a God-receiving Virgin Who heard these things:
Rejoice, container of the Uncontainable God:
Rejoice, door of solemn mystery!
Rejoice, report doubtful to unbelievers:
Rejoice, undoubted boast of the faithful!
Rejoice, all-holy chariot of Him Who sitteth
upon the Cherubim:
Rejoice, all-glorious temple of Him Who is
above the Seraphim!
Rejoice, Thou Who hast united opposites:
Rejoice, Thou Who hast joined virginity and
motherhood!
Rejoice, Thou through whom transgression hath
been absolved:
Rejoice, Thou through whom Paradise is
opened!
Rejoice, key to the kingdom of Christ:
Rejoice, hope of eternal good things!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 9
All the angels were amazed at the great act
of Thine incarnation; for they saw the Unapproachable God as a man
approachable to all, abiding with us, and hearing from all: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
We see most eloquent orators mute as fish
before Thee, O Theotokos; for they are at a loss to tell how Thou remainest
a Virgin and could bear a child. But we, marveling at this mystery, cry out
faithfully:
Rejoice, receptacle of the Wisdom of God:
Rejoice, treasury of His Providence!
Rejoice, Thou Who showest philosophers to be
fools:
Rejoice, Thou Who exposest the learned as
irrational!
Rejoice, for the clever critics have become
foolish:
Rejoice, for the writers of myths have faded
away!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst rend the webs of the
Athenians:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst fill the nets of the
fishermen!
Rejoice, Thou Who drawest us from the depths
of ignorance:
Rejoice, Thou Who enlightenest many with
knowledge!
Rejoice, ship for those who wish to be saved:
Rejoice, harbor for sailors on the sea of
life!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 10
Desiring to save the world, He that is the
Creator of all came to it according to His Own promise, and He that, as God,
is the Shepherd, for our sake appeared unto us as a man; for like calling
unto like, as God He heareth: Alleluia!
Then the Choir chants the Kontakion:
(Tone 8)
To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy servants
dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving as ones rescued out of
sufferings, O Theotokos: but as Thou art one with might which is invincible,
from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, that we may cry to Thee:
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Then the Trisagion is read, after which is
read the Kontakion of the feast, if there is one (falling on the Saturday).
If not, then the Kontakion of all Saints is read:
To Thee, O Lord, the Planter of creation, the
world doth offer the God-bearing martyrs as the first-fruits of nature. By
their intercessions, preserve Thy Church, Thy commonwealth, in profound
peace, through the Theotokos, O Greatly-merciful One.
Lord, have mercy
(forty times).
The prayer:
“Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O
Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us
RETURN TO TOP
The
Forth Stasis
(Chanted on the Fourth
Friday of Great Lent)
Ikos 10
A bulwark art Thou to virgins, and to all
that flee unto Thee, O Virgin Theotokos; for the Maker of Heaven and earth
prepared Thee, O Most-pure one, dwelt in Thy womb, and taught all to call to
Thee:
Rejoice, pillar of virginity:
Rejoice, gate of salvation!
Rejoice, leader of mental formation:
Rejoice, bestower of divine good!
Rejoice, for Thou didst renew those conceived
in shame:
Rejoice, for Thou gavest wisdom to those
robbed of their minds!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst foil the corrupter of
minds:
Rejoice, Thou Who gavest birth to the Sower
of purity!
Rejoice, bride chamber of a seedless
marriage:
Rejoice, Thou Who dost wed the faithful to
the Lord!
Rejoice, good nourisher of virgins:
Rejoice, adorner of holy souls as for
marriage!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 11
Every hymn is defeated that trieth to
encompass the multitude of Thy many compassions; for if we offer to Thee, O
Holy King, songs equal in number to the sand, nothing have we done worthy of
that which Thou hast given us who shout to Thee: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
We behold the holy Virgin, a shining lamp
appearing to those in darkness; for, kindling the Immaterial Light, She
guideth all to divine knowledge, She illumineth minds with radiance, and is
honored by our shouting these things:
Rejoice, ray of the noetic Sun:
Rejoice, radiance of the Unsetting Light!
Rejoice, lightning that enlightenest our
souls:
Rejoice, thunder that terrifiest our enemies!
Rejoice, for Thou didst cause the refulgent
Light to dawn:
Rejoice, for Thou didst cause the river of
many streams to gush forth!
Rejoice, Thou Who paintest the image of the
font:
Rejoice, Thou Who blottest out the stain of
sin!
Rejoice, laver that washest the conscience
clean:
Rejoice, cup that drawest up joy!
Rejoice, aroma of the sweet fragrance of
Christ:
Rejoice, life of mystical gladness!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 12
When the Absolver of all mankind desired to
blot out ancient debts, of His Own will He came to dwell among those who had
fallen from His Grace; and having torn up the handwriting of their sins, He
heareth this from all: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
While singing to Thine Offspring, we all
praise Thee as a living temple, O Theotokos; for the Lord Who holdeth all
things in His hand dwelt in Thy womb, and He sanctified and glorified Thee,
and taught all to cry to Thee:
Rejoice, tabernacle of God the Word:
Rejoice, greater holy of holies!
Rejoice, ark gilded by the Spirit:
Rejoice, inexhaustible treasury of life!
Rejoice, precious diadem of pious kings:
Rejoice, venerable boast of reverent priests!
Rejoice, unshakable fortress of the Church:
Rejoice, inviolable wall of the kingdom!
Rejoice, Thou through whom victories are
obtained:
Rejoice, Thou through whom foes fall
prostrate!
Rejoice, healing of my flesh:
Rejoice, salvation of my soul!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Kontakion 13
O all-praised Mother Who didst bear the Word,
the Holiest of all Holies, accept now our offering, and deliver us from all
misfortune, and rescue from the torment to come those who cry out together:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! (This Kontakion is sung three times)
Then the first Ikos is chanted again:
Ikos 1
An archangel was sent from Heaven to say to
the Theotokos: Rejoice! (Thrice) And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking
bodily form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood crying to
Her such things as these:
Rejoice, Thou through whom joy will shine
forth:
Rejoice, Thou through whom the curse will
cease!
Rejoice, recall of fallen Adam:
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!
Rejoice, height inaccessible to human
thoughts:
Rejoice, depth undiscernible even for the
eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for Thou art the throne of the King:
Rejoice, for Thou bearest Him Who beareth
all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear:
Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation!
