A Canon of Supplication to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode I, Irmos: Through the deep of the Red Sea, * marched dry shod Israel of old, * and by Moses’ outstretched hands, * raised in the form of a cross, * the power of Amalek was routed in the wilderness.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О most pure one, who alone provides defence amid perils and tribulations, in that thou art good accept the heartfelt supplication of us who fervently flee unto thy protection.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Wretch that I am, I have found thee to be a calm haven fending off the assaults of perils and want, О divine bearer of the God-man, and I chant hymns of thanksgiving unto thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Gazing upon me, who am stuck fast in evil circumstances and sorrow, with thy meek and merciful eye, О Birthgiver of God, quickly free me, for I call upon thee for help.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Adam and Eve have been delivered from condemnation by thee, О pure one, and with them I fall down before thee. Transform my tears of grief now into joy, and free me from perils.
Ode III, Irmos: The bow of the mighty hath waxed feeble * and the weak have girded themselves with strength: * therefore is my heart established * in the Lord.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having acquired thee as a mighty weapon and bulwark, I vanquish hordes of the adversary, and I hymn thy mighty acts, О Theotokos who knewest not wedlock.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou destroyest the furnace of grief and dost extinguish the burning heat of despair. Who is a help for us like unto thee, О Virgin Theotokos?
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Hearken unto the cry of thy servant, who am in need of thine aid, О Mother of God. О my hope, hear me and hasten to save me.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Look down, О pure one, and save me, for at the command of God, in a manner which transcendeth all telling and understanding, thou hast given flesh to the Word of God Who sustaineth all things.
Ode IV, Irmos: Beholding Thee, the Sun of righteousness, * lifted up upon the Cross, * the Church now standeth arrayed and doth worthily cry aloud: * Glory be to Thy power, O Lord
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having vanquished those who have become mine enemies in vain and have striven cruelly to seize my soul, preserve me unassailed, О Lady, that, rejoicing, I may glorify thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Delivering me from the deceitful tongue, in that thou art my good intercessor, show me to be unsullied by the works of this life, for as the Mother of the Creator thou art able to accomplish much.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Afflicted as I am, but knowing thee to be a painless physician, I cry out with spirit and mouth: Heal me, О Lady! Have mercy and save me, for I, thy servant, flee unto thee!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О Virgin Mary, we all hymn thee as the boast of angels and mortals, and we pray with faith: О Lady, pray that we be delivered from all sorrow!
Ode V, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, who didst come into the world, * art my light, * a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance * those who sing Thy praises in faith.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О pure one, direct the prayer of thy servant to the Lord thy Son, that I may find remission of my many and varied transgressions.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Deliver me from sufferings and misfortunes, О Bride of God, for God hath appointed thee as a mediator before Him for my lowliness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou art my protectress and constant boast, О Lady Theotokos, for thou dost in nowise spurn me who am beset by griefs.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Ask now, that by thy prayers we may be granted remission of sins, and deliverance from perils and impure passions, О all-hymned one.
Ode VI, Irmos: The church crieth out unto Thee O Lord, * ‘I will sacrifice unto Thee with a voice of praise * having been cleansed of the blood of the demons’ * by the blood that for mercy’s sake flowed from Thy side.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Amid the desperate tribulations which greatly assail me, thou art my strength, О most pure Lady, and I cry unto thee: For thou art thy servant’s great helper.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Heal thou the wounds of my soul, О Virgin Lady; help me, and deliver thy servant from slander, attack and unjust assault.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Destroy thou the unjust assailants who ever attack me and leave me not to perish, for I have recourse to thee О pure one, for all things are possible for thee, О divine Maiden.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Still thou the raging billows of my soul, for a multitude of transgressions, temptations and griefs have risen up against me; but do thou save me, О Lady.
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: All of us who have recourse to thy protection, О Virgin, cry out to thee: Accept our entreaty, and cease thou never to pray to Him Who is the Lover of mankind, that thy servants may be saved.
Ode VII, Irmos: Thou didst save the children of Abraham in the fire * and slay the Chaldeans, * who unjustly entrapped the righteous ones. * O supremely hymned Lord, God of our fathers, * blessed art Thou.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having quickly repelled the force of the Moslems with the sword of thy supplications, О Mary, preserve thy people and flock, who cry unto thy Son: О God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О thou who art equal in majesty to the tabernacle, О Mother of God, accept me who flee unto thee, that the enemy who strives to destroy me may not overtake me who chant to thy Son: О God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Mary, Birthgiver of God, go thou quickly before thy servant, for I am engulfed in the threefold waves of perils and am bereft of help, and I cry unto thee: О Theotokos my help, have mercy upon me!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The human temptations which are the cause of sins do thou now destroy by thy divine prayers, О good Theotokos, and deliver thy servants from painful transgressions and all perils.
Ode VIII, Irmos: 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.
An iniquitous nation hath arisen against us, boasting that it will destroy thy servants, О most pure one; but, destroying it, protect those who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thy many compassions mercifully save us from the judgment of sin and divers perils, О only Mother of God, for, having given birth unto God, thou hast pity for His world.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Take pity now upon me in my supplication, and grant me joy in place of grief, О Lady, that I may hymn thee and cry out to thy Son: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In that thou art my strength and helper, I am not afraid of the hostility of the enemy, but I hymn thee, О Lady, and cry out to thy Son: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
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.
Having sharpened his weapons, the iniquitous and false Arabian taketh counsel against us; yet having armed thy servants against him with the power of the Cross of thy Son and thy supplications, О Virgin Theotokos, we proclaim thy glory.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou hast been given to me as strength against the enemy and deliverance amid trials. I know not what I shall offer unto thee, О pure one. Yet accept thou from thy servant, that which I do have; my thanks which I offer unto thee, О Lady, and save me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Mother of the Creator of all, all-pure comfort of the sorrowful, intercessor for the drowning and helper of the vanquished: keep me safe until the end of my life!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О all-hymned one, though I am oppressed by many sins and cruel perils, I now offer thee the sacrifice of praise and earnestly cry out to thee: О holy Theotokos, help me, for, glorifying thee, I complete my hymnody.