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.
We are all at a loss how to offer thee fitting hymnody, О Lady; for thy glory surpasseth all. Yet, О Bride of God, disdain not the entreaty offered to thee with fear and love.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
We all have recourse to the water of thine inexhaustible wellspring, О Virgin Theotokos, crying out: О most pure one, thou sole joy of our race, ask peace for thy Churches.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
God Who was well-pleased to receive flesh from thee hath appointed thee as a haven for all amid misfortunes, О pure one; wherefore, falling down before thee, we cry aloud: Grant thine aid unto thy servants!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Let thy prayer, О most pure Virgin, be for thy servants the dispelling of the passions, the eradication of sins and the washing away of all manner of pain, О Theotokos.
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.
Thou art the hope of mortals, their help and joy, protection and refuge, О Lady, Mother of Life; wherefore, we pray thee: Send down thy help upon all who hymn thee, О most pure one.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О compassionate Author, God and Saviour of all, we who are infirm and are beset by grievous perils set Thy Mother before Thee as a most pure tabernacle, to supplicate Thee. Loose Thou the bonds of our transgressions.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Bride of God, who alone hast given birth to the Creator, Fashioner and Lord of all while remaining a virgin, grant salvation from on high to thy servants who glorify thee as truly the Mother of God.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Fill me with life-creating waters, О Lady who hast poured forth the divine Water upon the world; and with thy divine tranquility.
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.
In that thou art more exalted than all creation, О all-hymned Theotokos, God hath given thee to those on earth as a source of mediation before Him.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Knowing thee to be the temple of God, О Virgin Mother, we who honor thee earnestly pray: Shut not the portals of thy mercy against thy servants, О Theotokos!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Knowing thee to be the true raiment of God all-adorned, О Mother who knewest not wedlock, we who honor thee all pray: Array us in the vesture of remission!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The whole world was filled with joy at thy nativity, О most pure one; wherefore, the great Gabriel announced to thee: Rejoice, О Virgin Mother Mary!
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.
Truly we are not chastened according to the measure of our offences! О most pure Virgin Mother, turn away from us all the wrath of thy Son!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О pure one who hast given birth, without knowing wedlock, to God Who alone brought forth light out of darkness, earnestly beseech Him, that He send down divine light upon thy servants.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With the incense of thy prayers, О pure Mother of the Creator, whom Solomon foretold as the divine bride out of Lebanon, spread fragrance upon thy servants.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having given birth without seed to Christ, our justification and deliverance, О Theotokos, thou hast rendered the nature of our first parents free of the curse.
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.
О Lady Theotokos who hast given birth to the Creator, ask remission for thy servants, and raise us up in might, that we may hymn thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Be thou a help to us thy servants who entreat thee with faith, О pure Lady, in that thou art merciful, and raise us up in might, that we may hymn thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As thou hast the power to do what thou desirest, as is meet, О pure Lady, look upon thy servants with a merciful eye, and raise us up from corruption.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Unceasingly pouring forth streams of compassion upon those who ask, О most immaculate and good one, rain down upon me also the light of
thy Son’s commandments.
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, in Tone V: О all-holy Virgin, have mercy upon us who have recourse to thy tender compassion with faith, and who ask thy fervent aid; for thou art able to save us all, in that thou art the good Mother of God Most High, ever embracing Him with thy maternal supplications, О divinely joyous Virgin.
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.
О Christ, Thou unfathomable Wisdom of God, have pity upon Thy servants, for the sake of her who gave birth to Thee, for we unceasingly chant: Blessed art Thou, О God!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О Lord, we entreat Thy goodness: heal Thou our wounds, for the sake of her who gave birth to Thee, for we chant with fear: Blessed art Thou, О God!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With thy merciful eye, О Mother of God, look down and deliver thy servants from every evil circumstance, for we chant with faith: Blessed art Thou, О God!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Committing evil deeds, we have fallen away from thee, О Lady; yet have we straightway found thy help, О most pure one, when we have cried: Blessed art Thou, О God!
Ode VIII, Irmos: The Son of God who before all ages * wast born of the Father * hath in these last times * become incarnate of the Virgin-Mother, * O ye priests hymn, * and ye peoples supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О our Lady, bestower of good things: grant the healing of the passions unto thy servants, О Virgin, that we may unceasingly hymn and supremely exalt thee throughout the ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О pure one who hast given birth indescribably to the Redeemer, thou didst ineffably give suck to Him while remaining a virgin. Him do thou entreat on behalf of those who hymn and glorify thee throughout all ages.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Forming ourselves into a most beautiful choir, we sing to thee, the radiant lamp of the Redeemer: О all ye works of the Lord, unceasingly hymn the Virgin Mary, and supremely exalt her throughout the ages!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О pure ewe-lamb, Virgin Maiden and Mother, cleanse me of the carnal passions, that I may be delivered from the snares of the deceiver, chanting hymns to thee, О divinely joyous one.
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.
Our hymnody is completed, О Christ Master, but our hope in Thee, our Creator, like Thy grace, knoweth no limitation. Wherefore, grant mighty power to Thy servants, both monastic and the laity, through the supplications of her who gave birth to Thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
As thou art the true Mother of Life, О pure one, thou art the strength of the sick and infirm; wherefore, fleeing unto thee, О Lady, we have found the remission of all sorrows and have been saved by thy protection.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Beholding thy divine countenance in thine images, О Lady, we perceive thee clearly therein, in all ways hating the mindlessness of heretics on earth. And falling down before the icons, we receive healing.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О pure one, we sinners know thee to be an abyss of healings and a sea of grace; wherefore, we beseech thee: О most pure one, from all want rescue us who have recourse to thy protection.