A Canon of Supplication to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode I, Irmos: He who of old gathered the waters * into one by His divine decree, * divided the sea for the people of Israel. * For He is our God and supremely glorious, * to Him alone let us sing, for He hath been glorified.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having given birth to the Author of salvation and Bestower of life, in a manner transcending understanding, О pure Theotokos, thou hast thereby loosed the bonds of the condemnation of Eve our first mother; wherefore, all creation doth call thee blessed.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
From the depths of despair do thou rescue me who am afflicted by cruel pangs in soul and body, О most holy Virgin, delivering me from all want; for thou art the wellspring of loving-kindness, О most pure one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I have cast off the vesture of gladness, falling into sorrow and pain, and have been cruelly wounded in every place. But go thou before me and deliver me from the falsehood which assails me, for thou art my refuge and hope, О Lady.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having acquired thee as a steadfast intercessor, О Bride of God, I flee to thy protection, praying: Spurn not thy servant, who am weighed down by many passions, pangs and sorrows, but heal me by thy prayers, О Mother of God.
Ode III, Irmos: O Most High, Ruler of all, * who out of nothing hath established all things, * fashioned by Thy Word, * perfected by the Spirit, * confirm me in Thy love.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Wretch that I am, I find myself in painful perplexity and sorrow, beholding death following close upon me; wherefore, О most pure one, save me by thy supplications.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
All my life, which hath become corrupt through evil and prodigal works, doth accuse me and plungeth me into despair. О pure one, save me!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The abyss of thy compassions, О Lady, poured forth everywhere solely because of thy goodness, doth anoint with rich oil all who ever hymn thee.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thy Son and Lord, receiving thee as from the origin of our nature, О Bride of God, joineth those who hymn thee by thy prayers.
Ode IV, Irmos: Thou hast shown us steadfast love, O Lord, * for Thou gavest Thine only-begotten Son over to death for our sake. * Wherefore with thanksgiving we cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lord!’
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
All my hope have I placed in thee, О Lady. I pray and fall down before thee with all my soul: Deliver me from deadly sickness, and lead me up to the life of salvation, О thou who hast given birth to our Life.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
By thy supplications, О pure one, heal me, thy servant who have become desperate because of grievous and corrupt wounds; for thou hast given birth to the Physician, our God Who is rich in mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By thy divine enlightenment deliver me who have fallen into cruel passions and grant me a vesture of gladness, О Virgin who hast caused the Joy which passeth all understanding to blossom forth.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou hast been revealed to be another heaven, О pure Theotokos, who hast ineffably shone forth the Sun of righteousness on earth, by Whom the everlasting light of divine knowledge hath shone forth.
Ode V, Irmos: I rise at dawn unto Thee, * the Creator of all, * surpassing all worldly understanding; * for Thy commandments are light, * wherein do Thou guide me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Because of my boundless sins I have drawn nigh unto the passions, bringing about death. О Mother of God, I earnestly beseech thee to become my deliverance from many evils.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I stretch forth the hands of my soul unto thee, О pure one, for, wretch that I am, I have been enfeebled by carnal deeds. Yet do thou deliver me from many wounds, imparting healing unto me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I have cast off the garments of health and in pain have clothed myself in a robe of tears. To thee I pray, О Lady: Clothe me again in health!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In that thou art the sacred majesty of the martyrs and apostles and the help of the faithful, О Theotokos, we all glorify thee as is meet.
Ode VI, Irmos: Lead me up from corruption, О Lord my God! * cried Jonah unto Thee; * and I also cry aloud to Thee: * Deliver me from the abyss of my many evils, О Saviour, * and guide me I pray, to Thy light!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
A multitude of pangs hath assailed me because of my boundless offences, corrupt as I am, and clothed me in mortality; yet do thou, О Theotokos, deliver me from them and rescue me from all want.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I have been cast into the abyss of transgressions, pangs and boundless sorrows, and I can in nowise deliver myself from them; yet, stretching forth thy hand, О Theotokos, lead me up to salvation.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We know thee to be a steadfast foundation and a mighty help for those in sorrow, О Theotokos; wherefore, having fled to thy protection, I beseech thee: Deliver me from grievous misfortunes and from cruel pangs.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Let us hymn the divine ark, the Virgin Mother of God, the furrow which hath put forth the divine Grain whereby the hearts of the faithful are fed with faith and spiritual famine is brought to an end.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Sessional Hymn, Tone III: Without separating Himself from the divine Essence, and becoming incarnate within thy womb, God became a man yet remained God, the one Lord, preserving thee, the Virgin Mother, as immaculate after giving birth as thou wast before birth-giving. Him do thou earnestly entreat, that He grant us great mercy.
Ode VII, Irmos: As of old Thou didst bedew * the three pious children in the Chaldean flames, * so also with the radiant fire of Thy divinity * illumine us who cry to Thee, * ‘Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!’
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Take pity on me, О Virgin Bride of God, for I have stumbled headlong into the depths of despair. I entreat thee to be tranquility for me, О most pure one, for thou art ever a haven of salvation for those in need.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Ineffably, in a manner transcending understanding, thou hast given birth to Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God; wherefore, as thou art mighty in mercy and compassionate, grant me thy saving healing, О Theotokos, thou hope of the faithful.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having enriched the ends of the earth and granting the sweetness of incorruption by thy divine birth-giving, free me from corrupting sickness and the bitter passions, О most glorious Mother of God.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Setting thee forth as the mystical door to Himself and the wondrous helper of those on earth, О pure one, through thee, He hath given to mankind a portal leading all to eternal life, in that He is compassionate and the God of all.
Ode VIII, Irmos: The Babylonian furnace burnt not the children, * neither did the fire of the Godhead consume the Virgin, * wherefore with the faithful children we cry aloud: * ‘Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord’.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having accumulated an unfathomable abyss оf transgressions, I am now drowning, engulfed in sickness, О pure one. Wherefore, stretching forth to me a helping hand, I pray thee; lead me up from the abyss of pain.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О pure Ever-virgin, all-hymned Theotokos, thou hast been revealed to be the earthly throne of God and the portal of heaven; wherefore, open unto me the door of salvation, O Mother of God, and free me from the darkness: of the passions.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Like a vine thou didst produce the uncultivated Grape, exuding the wine which maketh glad the souls of those who hymn Him with faith, О pure and all-immaculate one.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Remaining incorrupt after giving birth, О all-immaculate and pure one we pray: Deliver from corruption thy servants, who faithfully chant with oneness of soul: Bless the Lord, all ye works, and supremely exalt Him, throughout the ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: Upon Mount Sinai Moses saw thee in the bush, * as one who didst conceive the fire of the Godhead within thy womb, * and yet remained unconsumed. * Daniel saw thee as a mountain not cut by the hand of man, * and Isaiah proclaimed thee as the Rod that blossomed forth * from the root of David.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О good Virgin, thou joy and refuge of the world! protection of the faithful and deliverance from sorrows! Do thou stand before me at the hour of my death, and deliver me from the demons who seek to destroy me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In that thou didst conceive the Creator and God within thy womb, О pure Virgin Mother, by the power which is in thee cast down the arrogance of the demons and lift up the horn of those who hymn thy divine might and venerate thine image with faith.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
He Who became incarnate from thee, О pure Virgin, restoring our nature, hath made new and renewed through thy maternal supplications, those who in hymns unceasingly magnify thee, our radiant and vigilant ally, the Theotokos.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou art the joy of the angels, the beauty of the righteous; thou art the hope of the faithful and our preservation. Thou art the bridge, which conveyeth to the life which growth not old, those who magnify thee with faith and love.