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 lived out my life in slothfulness, I have drawn nigh unto the end of my life; yet do thou thyself, О most pure one, if but one last time, grant me compunction, I pray, that I may weep bitterly over my countless transgressions.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With the passions of my flesh, О Virgin, I have mindlessly defiled the beauty of the divine image, and am afraid of God’s displeasure and the terrible threat of fire; yet do thou thyself have mercy upon me who flee to thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Falling to my knees, wretch that I am, I beg thy help, О most holy Virgin: hearken thou to my pain-wracked soul, and by the radiance of thy prayers dispel the cloud of grief which weighs heavily upon me.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Grant that the furrows of my passion-plagued soul may be watered abundantly with tears, and grant that I may produce fruit an hundredfold, О Lady; and fill my heart with all manner of gladness, that I may glorify thee.
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.
О good Theotokos, grant me a torrent of tears, and thereby quench the furnace of my passions, and wash away all defilement from my soul.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In iniquities have I defiled the nobility of my soul, О most pure one, and I tremble at the thought of the interrogation, when the Word will examine the state of my worthiness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Beset now by the tempest of transgressions, I have been brought down into the abyss of despair; yet grant me thy hand, О pure one, and lead me to repentance.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Deliver thy servant from Gehenna and every other threat at the hour of judgment, О most immaculate one, and cause me to share in the kingdom of thy Son and God.
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.
The waters of unseemly deeds have flooded my wretched soul, О pure one; wherefore, beset by worldly thoughts, I cry out in pain: Spurn not thy servant, О Lady!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Noetic beasts have now mercilessly surrounded me and have striven pitilessly to seize my lowly soul, О all-immaculate one; yet do thou, О most pure one, break their soul-destroying jaws.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О all-pure Lady, be thou merciful to thy servant, I pray, and rescue thy people from the coming threat, that we may cry out to thee in thanksgiving: Glory to Thee, О Queen of all!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
When the Bridegroom will come at night to judge the earth, О most pure one, then be thou well-pleased that I may go forth to meet Him with a lighted lamp, and may worship His coming.
Ode V, Irmos: The Invisible One hath appeared on earth, * and the Unapproachable One hath willingly dwelt among mankind; * and, rising early at dawn, we hymn Thee, * O Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Many dogs have truly set themselves against me, and a horde of evil spirits have surrounded me; yet set their counsels now at naught, О most pure one.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having dug now a pit for me, the evil one strives to cast me into it; yet with thy right hand, О Lady, may he fall into the pit which he hath made.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Let me not be denounced by the wrath of thy Son at the time of His coming, neither let me be punished by His anger, О all-hymned one; but save me by thine entreaties.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Behold my weakness, behold the lowliness of my soul, О pure one, and the uprising of mine incorporeal enemies; and deliver me from their harm.
Ode VI, Irmos: The uttermost depths of sin have surrounded me, * and my spirit perisheth. * but do Thou, O Master, stretch forth Thy lofty arm * and like Peter O Helmsman, * do Thou save me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
At the behest of the Creator of all, when my soul must needs part from the flesh, О all-immaculate and all-hymned Theotokos, free me from the hands of those who hate me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With streams of compunction dry up the turbulent rivers of my wicked deeds, О Birth-Giver of God, and guide me to the waters of tranquility on the day of judgment.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou knowest the weakness of my soul, the feebleness of my mind and the infirmity of my flesh, О most pure one. Wherefore, save thy servant, for thee have I acquired as an invincible ally.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Grant me streams of spiritual tears, О most immaculate Lady, whereby I may wash away the mire of my transgressions, the tumult of the passions and the defilement of my body.
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, Spec. Mel. “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity …”: О Lady who bore the Merciful One within thy womb, have pity on me who flee beneath thy protection and with all my soul ask thy divine help, and grant mercy unto me when we will stand before the Author of creation, О pure one, and deliver me from everlasting fire and all condemnation.
Ode VII, Irmos: Of old the three children did not worship the golden image, * of the Persian idol, * but chanted in the midst of the furnace: * O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The waters of transgressions have been poured out upon me and my soul drowns, O pure one, and the uttermost abyss hath engulfed me; yet rescue me from its threefold billows.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Sprinkle me with the blood which flowed from the side of thine Offspring and by the multitude of thy mercies; wash thou and cleanse me of all defilement with streams of tears.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Grant thou contrition to my soul and humility to my heart, О all- pure one, that I may be delivered from all the wiles of those who ever pitilessly pursue me.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As thou art merciful, О Lady Mother of God, grant mercy to those who with faith cry out to thy Son: О God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Ode VIII, Irmos: United together in the unbearable fire, * yet not harmed by the flame, * the children, champions of godliness, sang a divine hymn: * O all ye works of the Lord, * bless ye the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With the might of thy Son thou hast broken the arrows of the archer, О pure one. Let his unrighteousness now descend upon his own head, that I may cry out: All ye works of the Lord, hymn the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With thy light do thou illumine my darkened heart, О Maiden, and with the sword of light open thou the portals of light to me who cry: All ye works of the Lord, hymn the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Falling into the sleep of death, I lie in the grave of despondency; yet do thou thyself raise me up, О Virgin, and grant that I may chant with vigilance: All ye works of the Lord, hymn the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О pure one, cease thou never to pray for those who honor thee, that, delivered in compunction from the snares of the devil, we may cry out to thy Son: All ye works of the Lord, hymn the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: In the shadow and the letter of the Law, * let us, the faithful, discern a figure: * every male child that openeth the womb * shall be sanctified to God. * Therefore we magnify the firstborn Word * and Son of the unoriginate Father, * the firstborn Child of a Mother who hath not known a man.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The turbulence of the passions and the turmoil of vile thoughts bestorm my soul, and evil men ever smite me like a tempest; yet as thou lovest mankind, О Virgin, quickly deliver me from my besetting needs
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О my lowly soul, leave off thy wicked deeds and cease from doing evil and angering God; but earnestly embrace His commandments, for thou hast the Theotokos directing thy ways.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As thou hast given birth to the Lord of all, free me from the passions and from grievous sins, and in thy surpassing loving-kindness enrich me wholly with good works, that, rejoicing, I may magnify thee, О all-immaculate one.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The end approacheth, О my soul, judgment is at the door! Forsake thy shameful works and undertake to live a good life; for thou hast the Theotokos as thine ally, delivering thee from all oppression.