Canons of the Theotokos, with the acrostic “O thou who art full of grace, grant me the grace to chant the words of a most simple hymn”, in Tone VIII.
Ode I, Irmos: Having passed through the water as upon dry land, * and having escaped the malice of the Egyptians, * the Israelites cried aloud: * Unto our God and Redeemer let us sing.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O omnipotent Trinity, three-sunned Unity! Having illumined my soul, heart and mind and sanctified them with grace, I pray Thee Who art supremely good, lead me up to Thy divine love and teach me to hymn with devotion the compassion of the blessed Ever-virgin.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O good Mother of the good King, who dost readily hearken to the petitions of all and art almighty in thy benefactions, shine forth the grace of thy light upon us and fill us with grace today, O thou who art full of the grace of God, that we may begin to chant hymnody unto thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
For the choirs of the angels the glorification of thy present feast is the cause of joy, O Sovereign Lady, for today they are moved to praise. But what shall we, who are clay, offer unto thee? If not only our fervent hymns of thanksgiving.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
We chant unto thee the cry of the archangel: Rejoice, O pure one! And even though we are unworthy, O Lady, accept this hymnody instead of goodness, illumining us with the light of thy mercy and granting grace unto all.
Second Canon, in Tone IV. Irmos: I shall open my mouth, * and be filled with the Spirit, * and utter discourse to the Queen and Mother; * and be seen radiantly keeping festival, * joyfully praising her wonders.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Christ, Bestower of light, on this notable day of the most glorious appearance of the icon of her who gaveth birth to Thee, grant that I may keep splendid festival and may ever hymn her miracles with gladness, in fear and joy.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Virgin who hast given birth in the flesh to the light-bestowing Word of God, the Wisdom of the Father: enlighten the profound darkness of mine ignorance and provide me with the words to hymn thy wonders.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Today are the assemblies of the faithful enlightened and the hordes of the heretics put to shame, O Sovereign Lady, seeing thine icon traversing the air like the sun, destroying the gloom of impiety and illumining the faithful.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With God, O divine Bride, thou alone art our greatness and boast; for through thee are we saved from misfortunes, to thee do we flee, and we pray earnestly: O Sovereign Lady, from everlasting torment deliver thy servants who hymn thy wonders!
Ode III. Canon I, Irmos: O Christ fortify me on the rock of Thy commandments, * Thou who in the beginning didst establish the heavens with understanding * and didst establish the earth upon the waters, * for there is none holy save Thee, O only Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Come ye faithful, and behold a most glorious sight, looking upon the most pure Virgin, who with reverence shineth forth on high in her most pure image, illumining with grace us who reverently chant: There is none more pure than thee, O Lady!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The mind of each of the faithful is hallowed by thy grace, O Theotokos, and exalted by the wondrous coming of thine icon. Grant unto us, thy servants, who honor it with piety and glorify thee with faith, O Lady, to partake thereof.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Bride of God, grant that we may tread the heavenly path unassailed, strengthening us to do godly works; that leaving the path of the evil one’s wiles by thy help, O Virgin, we may have a share in eternal glory.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With the beams of Christ the true Light, the Creator of the angels, Who shone forth ineffably from thee, O Mother of God, and with thine own grace, illumine the souls and hearts of us who are in darkness. O thou who art full of grace, sanctify us, guiding us to the love of heavenly light.
Canon II, Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and plentiful fount, * establish in spiritual fellowship those who sing hymns to thee, * and in thy divine glory * grant them crowns of glory.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Christ Jesus, pre-eternal King Who art full of mercy, illumine us with the appearance of the most pure image of Thee and the Ever-virgin who gaveth birth to Thee, and grant us forgiveness of sins and deliverance from misfortunes.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
When the people beheld thy most pure icon invisibly borne aloft by the angels and suspended in the air amid radiance, O Sovereign Lady, illumined with the light of thy mercy they were filled with ineffable joy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O God-loving hierarchs and priests, kings and princes, and all the people, radiantly join chorus today, for a radiant beam hath shone forth on high, holding the true Light depicted in the flesh. With Him she hath come down to us, granting enlightenment to all the world.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Through thy most precious icon did the Creator of all work wonders of old and save the Imperial City from the incursions of aliens. So also be thou a protection and help for the land of Russia, O Sovereign Lady and Queen, saving it from all the assaults of the enemy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional Hymn, Tone IV: Thy most pure image, O Lady, truly more precious than the ark of old, shining more brightly than an electric cloud, emitteth rays of thy mercy revealing them to all, in every place, in abundance, and with the grace of God mercifully preserveth those who honor its most glorious coming. And fervently rejoicing therein, O Sovereign Lady, we keep festival and glorify thy maternal loving-kindness toward us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The foregoing is repeated.
Ode IV. Canon I, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, art my strength and Thou art my power, * Thou art my God and Thou art my joy, * Thou Who, while never leaving the bosom of Thy Father, * hast visited our poverty. * Therefore with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!’
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The Creator and Fashioner of all, Who upholdeth all things by His omnipotent power, hath today arrived most gloriously, O pure Virgin, borne on thine arm in His and thy divine and miraculous image, for the salvation and healing of all mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Come, ye faithful, let us bow down before the ineffable gift of God, the icon of Christ the light and the most pure Virgin, and with love let us fall down, crying aloud: For the sake of the kind Ever-virgin who hath given birth to Thee, O Benefactor, send down grace and mercy upon us, Thy servants.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Queen of the angels, noetic ark: God hath adorned and glorified thy most pure image with ineffable miracles and grace beyond that of the ark of the law, and hath commanded even the angels to venerate it. With them, O all-hymned one, do thou pray to Him on behalf of us who glorify His saving providence, that we also may obtain thy salvation.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O all-good and immaculate helper given by God in His grace unto all of us Christians, entreat Him, that He overlook our countless sins and deliver us from flaming retribution and the outermost darkness, and from every torment.
Canon II, Irmos: He who sitteth in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, * Jesus the true God, * is come in a swift cloud * and with His sinless hands he hath saved those who cry: * Glory to Thy power, O Christ.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Let all the earth and the air be glad today, and let the sea cause joy to rain down, for by the miraculous journey of the most precious image of the Mother of God the land of Russia hath been most gloriously illumined.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
As behooveth servants, the ranks of the angels minister to thee, the Queen of all, and reverently honor thy most precious icon, hymning thee, the most holy Virgin. But how can we, the lowly, hymn thee, the all-pure one, as is meet?
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We cry out to thee the hymn of the archangel: Rejoice, O Bride of God, the Lord is with thee! Rejoice, thou joy of the angels and gladness of all mankind who truly glorify thee! Save the souls of those who hymn thee, O pure Theotokos!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Birthgiver of God, bestower of joy: fill thou with ineffable joy those who with faith glorify thee and hymn thee with all their soul O Virgin, and grant them never- waning light, O Sovereign Lady who art full of grace.
Ode V. Canon I, Irmos: O God my spirit seeketh Thee early at dawn, * for the light of Thy commandments proceedeth Thy coming: * with them illumine our minds, O Master, * and guide us on the path of life.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In thy merciful good pleasure, O thou who art full of grace, today thou hast graciously enlightened our land with thy godly appearance, and hast sent down the mystical illumination of thy light upon the world, guiding the faithful to the light of heavenly glory, O Theotokos.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
We have become darkened by our thoughts and weighed down by our sins, O Sovereign Lady, and we are at a loss how to confess thy radiant grace and mercy; but illumine us, O most holy Virgin, visit us and make us rich through thy mystical gifts of divine desires, directing us to the light of the right path.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Go thou before those who, from every direction, hasten to thy most honored icon, O Mother of God, who bow down before it with fervor and call upon thee with faith in every place; and save all from every misfortune, delivering them from cruel infirmities, and driving away evil spirits, imparting tranquility and health unto all, O Sovereign Lady.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Forsake us not, neither disdain us, O Birthgiver of God, who are cruelly vexed by grievous thoughts, vile memories and the wicked enemy; but enshroud us with thy grace, protecting us from them and helping us, O blessed of God, saving us from all their assaults.
Canon II, Irmos: All creation stands in awe of thy divine glory; * for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, * didst contain within thy womb the God of all, * and gave birth to the timeless Son, * bestowing peace, upon all who hymn thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In the wilderness, O Mother of God, the reverent man was deemed worthy to behold thee manifestly with the holy hierarch, and he received from thee the words of thy good pleasure, for the great confirmation and furthering of the salvation of the world, O Queen.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Wretched am I, O all-pure one, and unworthy of the grace to behold thee now; yet grant that I may behold thee in the future, and meet thy Son Who shall come in glory, and hear the divine voice crying in the kingdom of heaven.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We flee to thy goodness, O pure Virgin, and direct the eyes of our hearts towards thee; and bending our knees while weeping, we entreat thee; disdain not our sighing, and be thou a protection and helper for us on the day of judgment.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou art an intercessor for all Christians, O most pure Mother of God. Hearken to our supplication; look upon us, O all-hymned one, save thy city and monastery, and illumine thy flock with the radiance of the grace of thine aid.
Ode VI. Canon I, Irmos: I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord, * and to Him will I proclaim my grief; * for my soul is filled with evils, * and my life unto Hades hath drawn nigh, * and like Jonah I pray unto Thee: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In the most glorious arrival of thine icon, O Queen, the expanse of air and our land hath been filled with the grace of thy miracles and divine gifts, unto the confirmation of piety and of all the faithful, O all-hymned one. Thereby are our adversaries humbled today, and those who glorify thee are made firm in might.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O city of God, holy habitation, Virgin Bride of God: from the assaults of the adversary and all the attacks of the enemy preserve thy holy dwelling, and all cities and lands where Christians dwell, who hymn thee with love and with faith honor thy most precious image.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Mother of God, ever grant sanctification, health and salvation to the souls and bodies of us who piously venerate thy divine icon, reverently and fearfully kissing it with both mouth and heart, faithfully hymning thee with all our soul.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having acquired thee as a mighty protection and an unassailable rampart, O Ever– virgin Theotokos, after God it is on thee that we, the faithful, set our hope; and we earnestly pray: by thy power show forth the darts of the enemy and all the wiles of the demons to be as impotent and ineffective as those of children, O our mighty helper.
Canon II, Irmos: Celebrating the divine and solemn feast * of the Mother of God * O ye divinely wise, * let us come, clapping our hands, * and glorify God who was born of her.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O thy most wondrous miracle, O Sovereign Lady! For disobeying thy command, a man was caught up in horror from the pinnacle of the church, but, by thy mercy, O all-merciful one, he found himself on the ground, unharmed.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
No one hath disobeyed the commands of God as have I, wretch that I am. Wherefore, falling down before thee, I pray, O Sovereign Lady; before I perish utterly, guide me to the path of truth, and save me, O pure one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Mother of God, who hast given birth unto Him Who endured crucifixion on the tree of the Cross for our sake, ever beseech Him that we who commemorate His holy suffering may do His divine will and become heirs to the eternal good things.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O pure Virgin Sovereign Lady, deliver us from all cruel circumstances, entreating Him Who nailed our sins to the Cross, and grant that we may worthily stand at His right hand when He shall come in His glory.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone VIII: O ye people, let us make haste to the Virgin Theotokos and Queen, * giving thanks to Christ our God; * and gazing with compunction upon her miraculous icon, * let us fall down and cry out to her: * O our Sovereign Lady Mary, do thou visit this land in the miraculous appearance of thy precious icon, * save our Orthodox hierarchs and all Christians in peace and prosperity, * showing us to be inheritors of the life of heaven. * For to thee do we cry with faith: ** Rejoice, O Virgin, thou salva- tion of the world!
Ikos: Beholding the most wondrous appearance of the Mother of God, let us ascend to the summit of the virtues and lift our mind up to heaven; for she hath come, traversing the heavens, that she may draw up to the heights those who cry aloud to her saying: Rejoice, O blessed Virgin, chosen by God from among all generations; rejoice, Queen of heaven, Mother of the Lord God, the Creator of all! Rejoice, Object of the angels’ most joyous hymnody; rejoice, sight most desired by all the world! Rejoice, immovable foundation of the Faith of piety; Rejoice, most splendid knowledge of grace; rejoice, goodwill of God towards mankind! Rejoice, thou who hast led mortals to God; rejoice, consolation of our oppressed souls! Rejoice, speedy help for all the faithful; rejoice, intercessor given by God to the Christian people, whom do thou earnestly preserve from all misfortunes and evils, that we may cry out to thee: Rejoice, O Virgin, salvation of the world!
Ode VII. Canon I, Irmos: Once in Babylon the fire stood in awe * of God’s condescension; * for which sake the youths in the furnace, * dancing with joyous steps as in a meadow, chanted: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thine image, O Sovereign Lady, which even the angels revere, ever shineth with ineffable grace and power; for today thou dost illumine mortals with its gifts, guiding them to the heavens, and leading them to everlasting life, in thine ineffable goodness, O thou who art full of grace.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The mouths of orators are in nowise able to confess thy godly manifestation, the most glorious arrival of thine icon, and the abyss of thy miracles, O pure one. What then shall we, who are coarse, say? Only: have mercy and save us, O all-merciful Lady!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O renowned helper of the faithful and bestower. of all good things: accept us who fall down in faith and cry out to thee with love: Have mercy upon us, O Sovereign Lady, have mercy upon us; and today, as in the age to come, be thou our helper and aid!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O merciful Mother of God, open unto us today the portals of thy mercy, and snatch us from the jaws of the noetic wolves who would devour us and destroy us utterly. Have mercy, we pray thee, O Lady, have mercy! Turn not away from thy servants who have been put to shame!
Canon II, Irmos: Refusing to worship created things * in place of the Creator, * the divinely wise youths bravely trampled down the threatening fire * and rejoicing they sang aloud: * O supremely hymned Lord and God of our Fathers, Blessed art Thou.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O the wonder! Thine only-begotten Son, the God of all, preserved thy most pure image unharmed amid the flame, O Mother of God; for it was found, shining with grace more brightly than the sun, illumining the faithful who chant with faith: Blessed art Thou, O God!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Theotokos, the ranks of heaven rejoice with those born on earth on thy splendid festival. With the light of thy radiance, O most pure one, illumine us who celebrate it and who stand with fear before thy most pure image; and save us all.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Queen, thou hast given birth in the flesh to the Word of God, the King of heaven, One of the Trinity. Beseech the Godhead, O Sovereign Lady, that victory be granted to our Orthodox hierarchs over all heresies and schisms; and to all the faithful aid, forgiveness of sins and salvation of soul.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In that thou hast given birth to the Benefactor of all, O pure one, with thy light- giving and divine grace cover thy servants, who hymn thee and pray to thee with unwavering faith; protect and preserve us from all the assaults of the enemy.
Ode VIII. Canon I, Irmos: O Thou who dost cover Thy chambers on high with the waters, * Thou Who hast set the sands to bound the sea * and Who upholdest all things: * the sun doth sing Thy praises, * the moon giveth Thee glory, * every creature offereth a hymn unto Thee, * as their Fashioner, throughout the ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The excellent ranks of heaven piously reverence thy most pure image, and its most wondrous arrival, O all-pure one, which is shown forth as most glorious under the heavens and hath moved the Orthodox people to lift up their voices in hymnody and glorify thy Son as Creator of all, throughout the ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Chanting most glorious hymns today, with devotion we lovingly bow down before thine image, which is revered even by the angels, O Sovereign Lady and Queen. With thy divine grace cover our Orthodox hierarchs, who glorify thee; strengthen them against heresies and schisms, and maintain their authority in peace.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, O all-blessed and all-immaculate one, cause of joy! Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, our might, rampart and refuge of salvation! Save us, thy servants, who have no help than thee before God; for in thee do we trust, and thee do we hymn throughout the ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thee do we have, with God, as the sole preserver of our life and our mighty hope of salvation. O tenderly compassionate one, we beseech thee to mediate for us until the end, that we may be delivered from the reckoning which is to come, and may find thy Son and God merciful on the day of judgment.
Canon II, Irmos: The Offspring of the Theotokos * saved the holy children in the furnace. * He who was then prefigured hath now been born on earth, * and He gathereth all creation to hymn thee: * all ye works praise ye the Lord * and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O thy most glorious wonders, O pure one! For the builders of thy holy church, who were buried beneath the stones for three days, were found alive and unharmed, preserved by thy protection; and they sent up cries of praise to thee, the Queen of all.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou gavest life instead of death to one who had died, O Theotokos. Wherefore, O Bride of God, preserve unharmed by the enemy us, who have been slain because of our many sins, and lead us up to the better life, saving our souls.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Today all the faithful are filled with joy and gladness because of thine icon, O Theotokos, for thou hast been revealed to be a cause of life for those in the jaws of death, an ever-flowing fountain pouring forth gifts of healing and imparting salvation unto all.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O all-praised one, accept the supplication of the people who have come together from all places, fittingly to hymn the glorious arrival of the most pure image of thee and the Babe Whom thou didst bear, the true God; and fulfill their petitions.
Ode IX. Canon I, Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, * and the ends of the earth were filled with amazement, * for God hath appeared in the flesh, * and thy womb was rendered more spacious than the heavens. * Wherefore, the ranks of men and of angels * magnify thee as the Theotokos.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thine icon, O Lady, traveling upright a path through the luminous air, and radiantly traversing invisible ways, moved by God, hath illumined with grace on earth the faithful who cry with faith: Truly thou art higher in honor than all others, O pure Virgin!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In nowise are we able to fittingly adorn the accounts of thine exalted miracles with rhetoric, O pure Queen; we can only pray fervently to thee, that having entreated thy Son, the Master and King of all, Who hath given thee to us as a most glorious helper, He may deem us worthy of His heavenly kingdom.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O thou who art full of the grace of God, accept from us this song of hymnody in thanksgiving for thine ineffable tender compassion, fulfilling those of our petitions which are profitable; and lead us all up to the heights of heaven, for we cry out to thee with faith: Truly thou art higher than all, O all-immaculate Virgin!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
All of us, the generations of mortals, joyously call thee blessed, O Theotokos, for thou hast filled us all with joy by the most glorious arrival of thine icon, O most pure one. And bowing down before it today, we entreat thee with compunction: in the age to come, O Lady, forget not to grant thy servants the joy of the elect!
Canon II, Irmos: Let every mortal born on earth, * radiant with light, in spirit leap for joy; * and let the host of the angelic powers * celebrate and honor the holy feast of the Mother of God, * and let them cry aloud: * Rejoice! O all-blessed Theotokos, * thou pure Ever-Virgin.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Who doth not marvel at the appearance of thy most precious icon, O Lady; who is not amazed? For thou didst send it, as a light-bearing gift, through the air to the land of Russia, which hymneth thee with joy and magnifieth thee with faith.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O Sovereign Lady, who hast given ineffable joy to the world through the manifestation of thy most pure icon; from every grief deliver those who bow down before it with faith and kiss it with fear. O most holy one, save and have mercy upon all, and grant us the kingdom of heaven.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Sovereign Lady, who hast given birth to God Who is the Lover of mankind, in thy love for us thou hast visited us in thy divine icon; and ever having recourse to it and gazing upon its magnificence, we cry out to thee with compunction: O Theotokos, ever save thine inheritance!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With humble lips have I offered thee this meager hymnody, O most hymned one; but though I am coarse and full of sin, and am unworthy to hymn thee as is meet, yet I trust fervently in thy compassions, in that thou hast given birth to the Savior of the whole world. Disdain this not, O Queen, but accept it and save me.
Troparion, Tone IV: Today thy most precious icon hath shone forth upon us in the air * like the most radiant sun O Lady, * illumining the world with rays of mercy; * and Russia, reverently receiving it from on high as a gift of God, * doth glorify thee O Mother of God as the Sovereign Lady of all, * joyously magnifying Christ our God Who was born of thee. * Him do thou entreat, O Lady, Queen and Theotokos, * that He preserve all cities and lands where Orthodox Christians dwell, * unharmed by all the assaults of the enemy, * saving those who with faith worship before the all-honored image of Him and thee, ** O Virgin who knewest not wedlock.