A Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode I, Irmos: In the deep of old the infinite Power overwhelmed Pharaoh’s whole army. * But the Incarnate Word annihilated pernicious sin. * Exceedingly glorious is the Lord, * for gloriously hath He been glorified.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О good Theotokos, who dost readily hear all in tribulation and helpest those in grief: grant grace unto those who make bold to hymn thee, О Lady, thou joy of those who sorrow.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having acquired an abundance of rich grace, О Lady, by thy bold supplication most gloriously rescue me, thy poor servant, from temptations, О joy of those who sorrow.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
From enemies visible and invisible deliver us who have recourse to thee, we pray, О Theotokos, and confound every counsel of those who war against us.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Take from me the reproach of men and the false accusations of the traitorous, I pray thee, О Theotokos, that I may eagerly glorify the Lord Whom thou didst nourish.
Ode III, Irmos: O Lord, who didst slay sin upon the tree, * firmly establish us in Thee, * and in the hearts of us who hymn Thee * plant the fear of Thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Scatter the vain plots of the enemy, О all-hymned Theotokos, and by thy supplications fail not to keep us safe who praise thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With thy merciful eye, О pure one, look upon me, and deliver me from every plot of enemies, visible and invisible, blinding their eyes.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With the dew of thy prayers, О Virgin, quench the evil assault, burning like fire, of the enemies who ever seek to destroy us.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О inextinguishable lamp, ever-shining ray, who hast given birth to Christ, the Sun of glory: By thy supplications illumine me who am beset by the night of afflictions.
Ode IV, Irmos: I heard, O Lord, Thy voice, * which Thou didst call the voice of one crying in the wilderness, * for Thou didst thunder over the multitude of waters, * bearing witness to Thy Son. * And, wholly filled with the Spirit which had descended, * He cried aloud: * Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
We entreat thee, thou bridge of salvation, tireless entreaty and steadfast help: Have pity and behold our unbearable grief, our pangs, afflictions and sufferings, О Mother of God, and visit us for the better, granting us speedy joy.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
We are not without a share of thine aid amid afflictions, О Lady; wherefore, quickly help us now, who are grievously tempest-tossed, stretching forth thy hand, О pure one. Be thou merciful to our pain, О Mother of God, granting us speedy joy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
They who are iniquitous, who roar to shed unjustly the blood of their neighbor, have not set their hope on thee, О Lady, but have trusted in a boastful tongue, the tongue of man, which ever poureth forth jealously; but do thou, О pure one, break their jaws.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О Lady, humble thou the haughty neck of the boastful enemy, their counsels and wicked ways, and their hearts which daily meditate evils against me; and give strength and victory to those who call upon thee, О Mother of God, granting us speedy joy.
Ode V, Irmos: The burning Ember was revealed to Isaiah, * and the Sun hath shone forth from the Virgin’s womb, * granting the enlightenment of the knowledge of God * to those who in darkness have gone astray.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О true supplicant, hope of Christians, О joyous one, accept the entreaties of us who earnestly call upon and pray to thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Acknowledging thee to be the well-spring of Life, pouring forth the waters of immortality, О pure one, we, the earthborn, call thee blessed.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The enemy hath wickedly armed himself against us, desiring to destroy us with his tongue, as with a sword; but go before us, О Birthgiver of God, in thy might.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Who can measure the abyss of the assistance of thy power, О pure one? Wherefore, quickly go before us who are in need.
Ode VI, Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, * I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Thy compassion: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
As the mediatress of chastity, reveal thyself now to those who call upon thee, and deliver them from all misfortunes and perils, О Bride of God.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Destroy the evil works of the enemy and scatter the false accusations of the unjust, О most pure and blessed one, delivering the innocent from tribulation.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Surrounded by grievous sins and drowning in perilous misfortunes, О Mother of Christ God, we flee beneath thy divine protection.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having given birth to the Lord without knowing a man, thou wast revealed to remain a virgin, even after giving birth. О the most glorious wonder that was wrought within thee, О Bride of God!
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 I: We earnestly cry out to thee, О Lady Theotokos, thou fervent supplication, unassailable rampart, wellspring of mercy and refuge for the world: Go before us, and deliver us from perils, О thou who alone dost speedily intercede.
Ode VII, Irmos: That Thou mightest prefigure * Thy most glorious nativity from a virgin, О Christ, * Thou didst preserve unconsumed in the furnace * the youths who chanted to Thee with hymns: * Blessed art Thou О God of our fathers!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О thy compassion, О pure Virgin! For thou dost loose immeasurable griefs and misfortunes for those who cry out in need and adverse circumstances. Wherefore, О blessed one, even now help those who praise thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Show forth thy speedy assistance; show it forth, as thou art able, in that thou art the Mother of God. We call upon thee with all our heart, falling down in tears: Quickly ease the affliction and pain of thy servants.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The mouths of men, like those of ferocious lions, have opened wide more terribly than the grave, to bitterly swallow me; but as thou hast been revealed to be the hope of the hopeless, О blessed Theotokos, cast down their strength.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Let the enemy behold and be ashamed, and let them understand and see thy power, which warreth for us against them. Cast them down into the nethermost depths, О blessed one, thou hope of the hopeless.
Ode VIII, Irmos: In Babylon, the activity of the fire was once divided, * for, by the command of God it consumed the Chaldeans, * but bedewed the faithful, who chant: * Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О Birthgiver of God, our refuge, joy of the world: hasten thou to take pity, and quickly grant thy grace unto us who are afflicted, О good one, and help thy servants.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The vain council of the assembly of the ungodly took counsel wickedly against us, like Ahitophel of old. Yet we cry aloud: Scatter it by thy supplications, О Theotokos, casting down their strength!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Quickly hearken, О Theotokos, to those who truly call upon thee from their soul amid every tribulation and divers pangs and grievous perils, ever delivering them by thy supplications, О Lady.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
That thy name might be glorified on the earth, О Theotokos, He Who shone forth from thee hath given thee to sinners as a mighty hope and rampart; for through thee doth everything that hath breath hasten to God.
Ode IX, Irmos: Every tongue is at a loss to praise thee as is due: * even a spirit from the world above is filled with dizziness, * when it seeketh to sing thy praises, O Theotokos. * But since thou art good, accept our faith: * Thou knowest well our love inspired by God, * for thou art the Protector of Christians and we magnify thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Let every tongue which meditates evils be stopped; and let false lips and mouths, which unjustly speak iniquity against the righteous man with pride and hostile envy, fall silent, through the supplications of the Theotokos and the saints of Christ.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Afflicted with pain and sorrow, we all call upon the pure Theotokos, who is vigilant in prayer, crying: О pure Lady, ever deliver thyå servants quickly from besetting pain, for, after God, we have none other helper.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Theotokos, thou art a great refuge fxor the despairing, a calm haven for the tempest-tossed; wherefore, we have recourse unto thee, crying: Let us not be put to shame, О Mother of the true Life, but let us magnify thee, giving thanks with fervour.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О most pure Maiden, accept our divine hymn, imparting grace unto those who trust in thee, and ask that peace ever be sent upon the churches of God and victory and triumph to the Orthodox, that the tongue of every Christian may magnify thee.