A Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode I, Irmos: Christ, who with an upraised arm * bringeth wars to naught, * hath shaken horse and rider in the Red Sea; * but Israel hath He saved * as they chanted a song of victory.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О good and most immaculate one, grant me contrition of soul, humility of heart, purity of mind, correction of life, remission of transgressions and fountains of tears.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Behold my tribulation and compunction, heal thou the stripes of mine ancient transgressions, and grant me time to repent and confess my sins.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Pondering the abyss of mine evils, О all-immaculate one, I weep for myself befo
re my departure; wherefore, I beseech thee: Entreat thy Son, that He deliver me from torment.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As thou hast time for repentance, О my soul, depart from all evil and cry out with tears to thy Creator: О my God, save me by the supplications of
her who gave birth to Thee!
Ode III, Irmos: By Thy command Thou didst establish the earth upon nothing * and suspended it unsupported; * do Thou establish Thy Church on the unshakeable rock of Thy commandments, O Christ, * who alone art good * and the Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The foremost of my passions have seized me, О most pure one, and have filled me with shame who have been created according to the image and likeness of God; yet deliver me from the harm thereof, for I hymn thee in compunction.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The enemy wickedly seeks to hunt me down, desiring to show me utterly consumed in everlasting flame, О most pure one; yet set at naught his wiles and counsels, that, rejoicing, I may glorify thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The enemies of the righteous have deceitfully set me in the uttermost pit of many offences, yet as one now helpless and wholly wounded, I call upon thy supplication: О most immaculate Lady, save me!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I have wasted my life in slothfulness, wretch that I am, and have now arrived at the gates of death; and, terrified of the assault of the enemy, I cry unto thee: deliver me from their temptations, that saved, I may glorify thee.
Ode IV, Irmos: Habbakuk, prophetically apprehending * Thy divine self-emptying, O Christ, * cried out to Thee with trembling: * Thou hast come for the salvation of Thy people; * to save Thine anointed Ones.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I have been wounded by the darts of sin, and wounds now cover mine entire body; wherefore, I cry out to thee, О most pure one: by thy speedy prayers heal the wounds of my soul.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Have mercy upon thy servants, О pure one; for we have acquired thee as our mediatress before God, and we pray that we be delivered from all want and everlasting torment.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О good one, thou art my hope, shield and confirmation, my deliverance from evils, the enlightenment of my soul, my boast, bulwark and might.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prodigally have I wasted the riches of good works which Christ gave me, in that He is good. Yet disdain me not, О most pure Maiden, for I am perishing of hunger.
Ode V, Irmos: O Thou Who hast clothed Thyself in light as with a garment, * I rise early unto Thee and cry out to Thee: * Enlighten my darkened soul, O Christ, * in that Thou alone art compassionate!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Behold the weakness of my lowly soul, О Lady, the infirmity of my flesh and the captivity of my mind, and save me who am bereft of hope.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
God to Whom thou hast given birth do thou ever entreat, that He save all of us who confess thee to be the Theotokos, and glorify thy birth-giving, О most pure one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Who doth not call thee blessed, О all-immaculate one? For thou didst ineffably give birth to the one Master, the Saviour of the whole world.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О most pure one, send down upon me streams of tears, that, having purified myself of the defilements and blemishes of my sins, I may hymn the magnitude of thy goodness.
Ode VI, Irmos: Calm the raging sea of the passions, * O Master Christ, * with its soul-destroying tempest, * and lead me up from corruption * in that Thou art compassionate.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I have been cast into the abyss of transgressions and iniquities, О all-immaculate one; yet stretch forth thy hand, and lead me up from the despair of Hades.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I know the multitude of the offences and thoughts which vex me; wherefore, hasten thou and deliver me, О most pure one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Take pity on thy servant, О Christ Master, by the supplications of her who in purity gave birth to Thee, when Thou shalt come to judge the world which Thou hast fashioned.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О pure Lady, my soul hath been dragged down into the abyss of transgressions, to become food for the demons; wherefore, save me who am beyond hope.
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 V, Spec. Mel. “The co-unoriginate Word…”: The greatly painful passions of my soul and the infirmities of my flesh do thou quickly heal; still the wandering of my mind, О most immaculate Theotokos, and grant that in serenity of thought I may offer pure prayers unto the King, and beg remission of offences.
Ode VII, Irmos: The supremely exalted Lord of our fathers * quenched the flame, * and bedewed the youths * as they chanted in harmony: * O God, blessed art Thou!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
When I bring to mind the multitude of mine unseemly deeds and transgressions, О all-immaculate one, I am afraid and horrified. О Virgin, by thy prayers free me from them.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The sleepless word and the unquenchable fire ever erode and devour my soul. Let me not become food for them, О most holy Theotokos.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О all-immaculate Virgin, from the outmost darkness and dread torment deliver thy servants who cry out to thy Son: О God, blessed art Thou!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I have defiled my flesh with shameful passions, and have darkened by mind with vile thoughts; yet take pity, О pure one, and save me, Thy useless servant.
Ode VIII, Irmos: Unto Thee the Fashioner of all, * the children in the furnace chanted a hymn: * All ye works of the Lord, * supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Unto thee, the Theotokos, do I bring the weakness of my lowly soul, the infirmity of my heart and the delusion of my mind; and I cry aloud, asking thine aid, О Virgin.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Be Thou merciful to Thy servants, О Word, through the supplications of her who gave birth to Thee, and save those who chant: О 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.
О thou who hast given birth to Him Who hath willed mercy, have mercy upon all who chant with faith: О 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.
Deliver me from the outermost darkness and the worm which sleepeth not, О good Virgin, in that thou hast given birth to the Creator of the world; for all things whatsoever He desireth, He can accomplish by thy prayers.
Ode IX, Irmos: O Isaiah, rejoice and be glad! * The Virgin hath conceived in her womb, * and hath borne a Son, Emmanuel, * who is both God and man; * and Orient is His name; * Him we magnify, and the Virgin we call blessed.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
God to Whom thou hast ineffably given birth, О pure Lady, do thou earnestly beseech, that He deliver us from misfortunes and sorrows, and from the dread judgment which is to come; and that He grant unto us the splendours of His saints.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I have sinned more than all others, disobeying Thy life-creating commandments, О Christ, making myself like the irrational beasts; yet by the prayers of Thy Mother, О Word, may I not be taken unrepentant from this life.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
In that thou hast given birth to the Word of God, the Abyss of mercy, О good one, have mercy upon the souls of all who flee beneath thy protection; for thee have we all acquired as an unashamed intercessor before God.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Ask now for our purification and remission, deliverance from all needs, and correction of life which is pure and radiant, О Mother of God, that we may glorify thy great beneficence.