A Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode I, Irmos: O Thou who wast born of the Virgin, * drown I implore Thee, in the depth of dispassion * the triune nature of my soul, * as Thou didst the mighty strongholds of the warriors, * that in the mortality of my flesh * as on a timbrel * I may chant a hymn of victory.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
From the mire of the passions, from the threefold billows of wicked thoughts, from the darts of the evil one, and from, every assault of the adversary, deliver my wretched soul, О most pure Theotokos, and rescue me from everlasting fire.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Lead me up from the abyss of transgressions, О pure one, and guide me to the light of the divine commandments of Christ God our Savior; shine forth upon me the saving radiance of repentance, and grant me eternal life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having fallen into the evil mire of my wicked deeds, I am choked greatly on mine evils, and I find no firm place whereon to stand, О Virgin Lady and Mother, lead me up by thy power, and deliver me from fire and torment.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou hast destroyed death and corruption, О all-hymned Theotokos, having given birth to Christ, the Wellspring of incorruption, Who hath adorned human nature with immortality and grace, О most immaculate one.
Ode III, Irmos: Not in wisdom, nor in power do we glory, * but we glory in Thee O Christ, * the Hypostatic Wisdom of the Father, * for there is none more holy than Thee, O Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having been made manifest, О pure Virgin, take the darkness away from, my soul, break asunder the bonds of sin, and save me by thine assistance, I pray.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
My heart, which hath been whirled about by the assaults of the passions, do thou make steadfast in the most pure fear of God, О most immaculate Virgin, by thy loving-kindness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Despairing of any hope, О most immaculate one, I have fled to thee as my mighty preservation and shelter. Wherefore, take not away from me thy divine protection.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Arrayed like a queen in robes inwrought with gold, О Lady, thou standest now at the right hand of God, praying for thy servants.
Ode IV, 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.
О divinely blessed Maiden, free me who am held fast by despondency, am wholly darkened by the gloom of the passions, and am enslaved to sin; and join me to thy Son and our God.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In that thou hast given birth to Life, О most immaculate one, give life to me who have been slain by the malice of the deceiver; for to thee have I fled. Lead me up who have been engulfed by abysmal falls, in that thou art merciful, О all-immaculate one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I lie in the tomb of mine unseemly pleasures, and am held fast by despondency and slothfulness. Yet, О good one who hast given birth to the Resurrection of all, enliven and save me!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Of old, О Virgin, the prophet called thee the sacred mountain of God, wholly overshadowed by the virtues, from whence the saving Word appeared, unto the edification and enlightenment of our souls.
Ode V, Irmos: The wicked will not behold Thy glory, O Christ, * but we who rise early to hymn Thee shall behold Thee, * the Only-Begotten effulgence of Thy Father’s divinity, * O Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
May my lowly soul rejoice to fear thy Son, О Lady, and to carry out His commandments with, a willing heart. О all-immaculate and most pure one, guide me by thy supplications.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О good Lady, grant that my passion-plagued soul may confess the Redeemer with all my heart, dispelling the ignorance of my heart, О all-immaculate one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Keep thou my soul as the apple of thine eye under the shelter of thy wings, О good and most pure one, and deliver it from the oppression and tyranny of the evil spirits.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О most pure one, thou hast appeared, delivering from the assaults of the passions and the evil demons thy servant who hath acquired thee as a mighty ally and unashamed intercessor.
Ode VI, Irmos: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial * Prophet Jonah praying in the belly of the sea-monster cried aloud: * Deliver me from corruption * O Jesus Thou King of hosts.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Cast down those who ever wage war upon me, О Lady, and dispel the clouds of mine evil thoughts, О Mother of God who art the portal of the Sun of righteousness.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Shine upon me the radiance of repentance, О Lady, and break through the clouds of mine evil thoughts, for I have been attracted and corrupted by grievous corruption.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Still thou the raging billows of my passions and quell the storm of mine evil thoughts, О most immaculate one, thou steadfast intercessor and protection of all.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The transgressions of my soul have multiplied more than the sand of the sea, and like a heavy burden they crush me; yet, taking pity, О Virgin, save me before the 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 IV: We, the faithful, bless thee as the Theotokos, our helper and fervent aid amid misfortunes, our reconciliation with God, by whom we have been delivered from corruption.
Ode VII, Irmos: Of old the Children of Abraham in Babylon * trampled down the flame of the furnace, * crying aloud with hymns: * O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О pure Theotokos, I call upon thee with faith: Keep safe my lowly heart, and deliver me from the flame of torment and everlasting darkness.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With, the spear of thy Son, О pure Virgin, rend asunder the record of my transgressions, and deliver me, I pray, from all restraint at the hour of mine end.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With the streams of my tears and the down-pouring of thy compassions, О pure Virgin, quench thou the furnace which the multitude of mine evils have prepared for me through the activity of the demons.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
From the temptations which assail us and from every torment. О thou who alone art the Ever-virgin Mother of the Word, do thou deliver us who truly hymn thee with understanding throughout all ages.
Ode VIII, 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.
O almighty Redeemer of all, * having descended and bedewed the children * in the midst of the flame, * Thou didst teach them to sing: * All ye works bless and hymn the Lord.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Heal thou my ailing soul, О Theotokos, Virgin Bride of God; illumine my darkened mind, and rescue me from fire and the indescribable and everlasting torments.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Bent beneath the weight of irrational passions, I have fallen into the abyss of destruction and have made myself fuel for the flame; yet do thou deliver me, thy servant, from thence, О Virgin Theotokos.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Dry up the depths of mine evils, О thou who hast given birth to the Abyss of loving-kindness, the Redeemer and Lord, and before the end loose thou the bonds of mine evils, О thou who hast given birth to the Savior of all.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Lord Who became incarnate through thy womb, He Who hath dominion over all creation, showed thee, О Virgin, to be the Sovereign Lady who reignest over all creatures, visible and invisible, glorifying thee as His immaculate Mother.
Ode IX, Irmos: Eve dwelt under the curse of sin * because of the infirmity of disobedience; * but thou, O Virgin Theotokos, * hast through the Offspring of thy pregnancy * blossomed forth blessing upon the world. * Wherefore, we all magnify thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
My heart, which is barren of divine virtues, О most pure Virgin Theotokos, do thou show forth as fruitful, in that thou wast born from a barren woman at the command of, and by the will of, Him Who transformeth all things: that I may hymn thee, the all-hymned one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With thy light illumine me, О most immaculate one, for thou hast given birth to the unapproachable Light; burn away the clouds of my passions, rescue me from the darkness devoid of light, and grant unto me divine light, that I may hymn thee, О Virgin Mother.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With the sprinkling of thy compassions, О pure one, cleanse my putrid heart, and grant that I may ever shed my tears in streams, and cutting off the torrents of the passions, may I be delivered from torment.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O right loving Theotokos who hast given birth to the right loving God, do thou now quickly free me from wicked carnal love, that I, who am perishing through slothfulness, may serve the will of God, О Lady.