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Prayers for all Occasions, Needs, and Intentions
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Prayers and Devotions To The Blessed Virgin Mary |
The Akathistos Hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Chant: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
V. Blessed is our God, always, now and forevermore. Amen.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fit all things. Treasury of blessings, and giver of life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O gracious One!
Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal One, have mercy on us. (3x)
O most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us! O Lord, cleanse us of our sins! O Master, forgive our transgressions! O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for your name's sake!
R. Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it is now and will be forever. 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it is now and will be forever. Amen.
V. Let us pray to the lord. R. Lord, have mercy!
Preamble
As soon as the angel had received his command, he hastened to Joseph's house and said to the ever-virgin: "Behold, heaven was brought down to earth when the Word Himself was fully contained in you! Now that I see Him in your womb, taking a servant's form, I cry out to you in wonder: Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!"
First Chant
An Archangel was sent from heaven to greet the Mother of God, and as he saw you assuming a body at the sound of his bodiless voice, O Lord, he stood rapt in amazement and cried out to her in these words:
Hail, O you, through whom Joy will shine forth!
Hail, O you, through whom the curse will disappear!
Hail, O Restoration of the Fallen Adam!
Hail, O Redemption of the Tears of Eve!
Hail, O Peak above the reach of human thought!
Hail, O Depth even beyond the sight of angels!
Hail, O you who have become a Kingly Throne!
Hail, O you who carry Him Who Carries All!
Hail, O Star who manifest the Sun!
Hail, O Womb of the Divine Incarnation!
Hail, O you through whom creation is renewed!
Hail, O you through whom the Creator becomes a Babe!
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
R. Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
Knowing that she was a virgin, the blessed one courageously answered the angel: "Your surprising words seem hard for my mind to accept: how can you speak of a birth that is to come from a conception without seed? And why do you cry, Alleluia?"
R. Alleluia! (top)
Second Chant
Trying to grasp the meaning of this mystery, the Virgin asked the holy messenger: "How is it possible that a son be born from a virginal womb? Tell me." And he answered her with awe, crying out in these words:
Hail, O hidden Sense of the Ineffable Plan!
Hail, O Belief in Silence That Must Be!
Hail, O Forecast of the Marvels of Christ!
Hail, O Fountainhead of truths concerning Him!
Hail, Celestial Ladder, by whom God came down!
Hail, O Bridge leading earthly ones to heaven!
Hail, O Wonder, ever-thrilling to the angels!
Hail, O Wound, ever-hurting to the demons!
Hail, O you who gave birth to Light ineffably!
Hail, O you who told no one how it was done!
Hail, O you who surpass the wisdom of the wise!
Hail, O you who enlighten faithful minds!
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
R. Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
When the power of the Most High overshadowed the one who had never known the nuptial bed, her fruitful womb conceived, and she became for all a delicious field: for those who wished to reap salvation by singing "Alleluia!"
R. Alleluia! (top)
Third
Chant
Pregnant with
God, the Virgin hastened to Elizabeth, her unborn child rejoiced,
immediately knowing her embrace. bouncing and singing, he
Hail, O
Tendril whose Bud shall not wilt!
Hail, O Soil
whose Fruit shall not perish!
Hail, O Tender
of mankind's loving Tender!
Hail, O
Gardener of the Gardener of Life!
Hail, O Earth
who yielded abundant mercies!
Hail, O Table
full-laden with appeasement!
Hail, for you
have greened anew the pastures of delight!
Hail, for you
have prepared a haven for the souls!
Hail,
acceptable Incense of Prayer!
Hail,
Expiation of the whole universe!
Hail, O you
Favor of God to mortal men!
Hail, O you
Trust of mortals before God!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
Response:
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
Filled with a
storm of contradictory thoughts, the wise Joseph was greatly
disturbed: until then, he had seen you a virgin, and now he suspected you
of secret guilt, all-blameless one! Learning that your conception was
of the Holy Spirit, he cried out: "Alleluia!"
R.
Alleluia!
Fourth Chant
The Shepherds
heard the angels singing hymns of praise to the coming of Christ in the
Flesh. And running to Him as to a shepherd, they saw Him as a spotless
lamb, grazing at Mary's breast. They sang a hymn to her and said:
Hail, O Mother
of Lamb and Shepherd!
Hail, O Fold
of rational sheep!
Hail, O
Protection against unseen foes!
Hail, O Key to
the Doors of Paradise!
Hail, for the
heavenly rejoice with the earth!
Hail, for the
earthly meet the heavens in song!
Hail, the
un-silenced Voice of the Apostles!
Hail, the
Undaunted Might of Martyrs!
Hail, O
Steadfast Foundation of Faith!
Hail, O
Shining Emblem of Grace!
Hail,
O you through whom death was despoiled!
Hail, O you
through whom we were clothed with glory!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
R.
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
When they saw
the Star moved by God, the Magi followed its glittering light.
Using
it as a beacon, they found through it the Mighty King, and reaching the
One Beyond All Reach, they rejoiced and cried out to Him: "Alleluia!"
R.
Alleluia!
Fifth Chant
The Sons of
Chaldaea saw in the Virgin's hands the One whose hands had fashioned men:
and acknowledging Him as the Master, although He had taken the form
of a servant, they hastened to honor Him with their gifts and cried out
to the Blessed One:
Hail, O Mother
of the Star Without Setting!
Hail, O
Radiance of the Mystical Day!
Hail, O you
who quenched the flame of error!
Hail, O Light
of those who search the Trinity!
Hail, O you
who unthroned the Enemy of Men!
Hail, O you
who showed forth Christ the Lord, Lover of Mankind!
Hail, O you
who cleansed us from the stain of pagan worship!
Hail, O you
who saved us from the mire of evil deeds!
Hail, O you
who made cease the cult of fire!
Hail, O you
who guide the faithful toward wisdom!
Hail, O you,
Delight of all the Nations!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
R.
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
R.
Alleluia!
Sixth Chant
Illuminating
Egypt with the Light of Truth, you cast away the darkness of error. For
the idols, unable to stand your might, fell down, and those who had
been delivered from them cried out to the Mother of God:
Hail, O
Resurrection of mankind!
Hail, O
Downfall of the Demons!
Hail, O you
who crushed the error of deceit!
Hail, O you
who exposed the fraud of idols!
Hail, O Sea
who drowned the symbolic Pharaoh!
Hail, O Rock
who quenched those who thirst for Life!
Hail, O Pillar
of Fire who guided those in darkness!
Hail, O
Shelter of the World, wider than the clouds!
Hail, O Food
who took the place of Manna!
Hail, O
Handmaid of holy delight!
Hail, O Land
of the promised good!
Hail, O you
who flow with milk and honey!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
R.
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
As Simeon was
about to leave the present deceitful world, You were entrusted to
him as an infant, but You made Yourself known to him as the perfect God.
Wherefore he marveled at your wisdom beyond words, and cried
out: "Alleluia!"
R.
Alleluia!
Seventh Chant
The Creator displayed a new creation to us who had come from Him: He came forth from a womb that had received no seed, and He left it intact as it had been, so that at the sight of this marvel, we would sing to her and cry out:
Hail, O
Blossom of Incorruption!
Hail, O Crown
of Self-mastery!
Hail, O you
who shone forth as a Sign of Resurrection!
Hail, O you
who displayed the Life of Angels!
Hail, Fruitful
Tree from whom believers feed!
Hail, Shady
Glen where many are sheltered!
Hail, O you
who have born the Guide of the Lost!
Hail, Source
of Life to the captives' Release!
Hail, O
you who unsettled even the Just Judge!
Hail,
Indulgence of many who have fallen!
Hail, O Stole
for those who lack freedom to speak!
Hail, O
Tenderness who exceed all desire!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
R.
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
Now that we
have seen this strange birth, let us estrange ourselves from the world and
turn our minds to heaven: indeed, it is for this that the God Most High
appeared on earth as a lowly man, desiring to draw up to heaven those
who cry out to Him: "Alleluia!"
R.
Alleluia!
Eighth Chant
While fully
present amid those below, the un-circumscribed Word was in no way absent
from those above: for what happened was a divine condescension,
and not a moving from one place to another: and it was a birth from a
Virgin inspired by God, who heard these words:
Hail, O Space
of the Spaceless God!
Hail, O Gate
of the Sublime Mystery!
Hail, O
Message unsure to men without faith!
Hail, O Glory
most certain to those who believe!
Hail, O Sacred
Chariot of the One above the Cherubim!
Hail, Perfect
Dwelling of the One above the Seraphim!
Hail, O you
who reconciled opposites!
Hail, O you
who combined maidenhood and motherhood!
Hail, O you
through whom Paradise was opened!
Hail, O Key to
the Kingdom of Christ!
Hail, O Hope
for the Ages of Bliss!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
R.
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
The whole
order of the Angels marveled at the great work of your becoming a
man: for they saw the One Inaccessible as God become a Man accessible to
all, living with us and hearing us cry out: "Alleluia!"
R.
Alleluia!
Ninth Chant
O Mother of
God, we see the best of speakers become as mute as fish in your regard,
for they could not explain how you could give birth while remaining a
virgin. As for us, while marveling at the mystery, we cry out to you
with faith:
Hail, O
Container of God's Wisdom!
Hail, O
Treasury of His Providence!
Hail, O
Reproof of foolish philosophers!
Hail, O
Confusion of speechless wise men!
Hail, for you
perplexed the inquisitive minds!
Hail, for you
dried up the inventors of myths!
Hail, for you
ripped the Athenians' meshes!
Hail, for you
filled the Fishermen's nets!
Hail, O
Retriever from the Abyss of Ignorance!
Hail, O
Lamplight of Knowledge to many!
Hail, O Ship
for those who seek Salvation!
Hail, O Harbor
for the Sailors of Life!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
R.
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
Desiring to
save the world, the Creator of All came down to it of His own will.
Being at the same time our Shepherd and our God, He appeared
R.
Alleluia!
Tenth Chant
O Virgin
Mother of God, you are the strength of Virgins and of all those who have
recourse to you. For the Maker of heaven and earth covered you with His
shadow, O Pure One, and came to dwell in your womb, and taught us all to cry
out to you:
Hail, O Pillar
of Virginity!
Hail, O
Gateway of Salvation!
Hail, O
Principle of the New Creation!
Hail, O
Dispenser of God's bounties!
Hail, for you
restored those born in shame!
Hail, for you
gave sense to those who had lost it!
Hail, O you
who stopped the corruptor of minds!
Hail, O you
who bore the Sower of Chastity!
Hail, Holy
Chamber of virginal wedlock!
Hail, O you
who join the faithful with God!
Hail, O
gracious Foster-Mother of virgins!
Hail, O
Bridesmaid of holy souls!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
R.
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
Because He
wished to grant release from all the ancient debts, the One who pays men's
dues came down Himself to those who had spurned His grace; He tore
up their obligations, and heard from all of them this cry:
"Alleluia!"
R.
Alleluia!
Eleventh Chant
We
see the holy Virgin as a brilliant luminary enlightening those who live in
darkness; for having kindled the immaterial Light, she leads men to the
knowledge of God and fills their minds with radiance, so that she is
worthily praised in these words:
Hail, O Beam of the Mystical Son;
Hail, O radiance of the Light without setting!
Hail, Lightning-Flash that brightens the souls;
Hail, Thunder-Clap that strikes down the foes!
Hail, for you have raised the many-lighted Star;
Hail, for you have opened the many-coursed Stream!
Hail, O you who traced the living Model of the Pool;
Hail, O you who erased the stain of sin!
Hail, flowing Water that cleanses the conscience;
Hail, Holy Vessel overflowing with joy!
Hail, O Fragrance of the sweetness of Christ;
Hail, O Life of the Mystical Banquet!
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
R. Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
Because He wished to grant release from all the ancient debts, the One who pays men's dues came down Himself to those who had spurned His grace; He tore up their obligations, and heard from all of them this cry: "Alleluia!"
R.
Alleluia!
Twelfth Chant
By singing
praise to your maternity, we all exalt you as a spiritual temple,
Mother
of God! For the One Who Dwelt Within Your Womb, the Lord Who Holds All
Things in His Hands, sanctified you, glorified you, and taught all men
to sing to you:
Hail, O
Tabernacle of God the Word!
Hail, O Holy
One, more holy than the saints!
Hail, O Ark
that the Spirit has gilded!
Hail,
Inexhaustible Treasure of Life!
Hail, Precious
Crown of rightful authorities!
Hail, Sacred
Glory of reverent priests!
Hail,
Unshakable Tower of the Church!
Hail, Unbreachable Wall of the Kingdom!
Hail, O you
through whom the trophies are raised!
Hail, O you
through whom the enemies are routed!
Hail, O
healing of my body!
Hail, O
salvation of my soul!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
R.
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
Kontakion
O Mother
worthy of all praise, you who have given birth to the Word, the Holiest of the
Holy, accept this present offering, deliver all men from every
affliction, and save from the future punishment those who cry out to you:
"Alleluia!"
R.
Alleluia!
Gabriel was
rapt in amazement as he beheld your virginity and the splendor of
your purity, O Mother of God, and he cried out to you: "By what name
shall I call you? I am bewildered; I am lost! I shall greet you as I was
commanded to do: 'Hail, O Woman full of Grace!'"
Dismissal
Glory to you,
O Christ, our God and our hope: glory be to you!
R. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it is now and will be forever. Amen.
V. Lord, have mercy!
R.
Lord, have mercy!
Blessing
May Christ our
true God (Sunday or Easter season: who is Risen from the dead)
have mercy on us and save us, through the prayers of His most pure
mother and of all the holy, glorious, and illustrious Apostles,
through the prayers of St. (mention name)
whose memory we celebrate today, and of
all the saints, for he is gracious and loves mankind!
R.
Amen! (top)