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.
Having taken our form from thee, the never-setting Sun manifestly showed thee forth as a noetic and most splendid heaven. Wherefore, deliver me from the stench of the passions, that with love I may hymn thee, the only Virgin Mother.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I beseech thee, О Lady, who art the tongs which held the noetic Ember which hath purified human nature: Wash away the defilement of my manifold transgressions, and by thy supplications deliver me from defiling passions.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О most pure Theotokos, who hast given birth to Christ, the Wellspring of mercy, and hast opened Eden to mankind: open unto me the portals of thy mercy, and grant me forgiveness offences, О Sovereign Lady of the world.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rend asunder the bonds of my transgressions, О Ever-virgin Lady, entreating thy Son and God; and cast down sin which oppresseth me, that, saved, I may ever hymn thee, О most immaculate one.
Ode III, Irmos: Thou hast established me on the rock of faith, * and my mouth hath been emboldened against mine enemies. * For my spirit rejoiceth when I sing: * There is none as holy as our God * and none more righteous than Thee, O Lord.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Dispel the gloom and darkness of my passions with the rays of thy supplications, and enlighten me, О most pure Lady who hast given birth to Christ, the never-setting Sun Who shone forth from the Sun before the morning-star.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
By thy birthgiving, О most pure one, thou hast restored the fallen and broken tabernacle of David thy father; wherefore, О Theotokos, raise me up, thy servant, who am crushed by transgressions and the passions.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Be thou a sword, О Virgin, driving away the sins and passions of my soul, and show me to be another garden of paradise, preserved by thee un- assailed, offering thee the flowers of the Spirit.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Stretching forth the hand of compassions, receive me, О Birthgiver of God, and from all condemnation rescue me who flee to thee, and falling down before thee, call upon thine aid.
Ode IV, Irmos: I hymn Thee, O Lord, for I have heard report of Thee, * and I was afraid; * for Thou comest to me, seeking me who am lost. * Wherefore, I glorify Thy great condescension towards me, * O greatly Merciful One.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Taking the leaven of human nature like dough, the Creator made it undefiled and holy; and washing me clean of the defilement of the passions, He hath cleansed me of the mire of my transgressions.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With the remedy of thy prayers, as with bandages and oil, О pure Lady, heal now the stripes of my soul and the wounds of sin, in that thou hast given birth to the divine Healing of nature.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Loose thou the bonds of my passions, О Lady, and cleave asunder the chains of my sins with the sword of thy prayers, О thou who hast given birth to Christ Who granteth deliverance to those bound in Hades.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Cure thou the passions of my soul which most wretchedly shroud me in gloom, and enlighten my thoughts, О pure one, driving far away the darkness of the demons who oppress me and who lay traps for me all the day long.
Ode V, Irmos: O Christ my Saviour, the enlightenment of those lying in the darkness of sin. * I rise early to hymn Thee O King of Peace, * enlighten me with Thy radiance, * for I know no other God than Thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou hast delivered the world from the ancient curse, О Lady who hast given birth to Christ, the Blessing of the world. Deliver me from unseemly thoughts and from all grief, for thou alone art the joy of the faithful.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
A horde of demons surroundeth the city of my soul, striving mightily to take it captive. О most glorious Lady, thou city of the King of all, defend me by thy supplications as with entowered ramparts, and save me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The cruel storm of the sedition of the spirits of evil doth trouble my mind. Quickly anticipate my need, and still it, О thou who hast given birth to Christ, the only almighty Helmsman of all creation.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О Birthgiver of God, shine the light of repentance upon me who am enclosed in the darkness of perdition. Give a helping hand to me who lie prostrate, and by thy supplications raise me up, О pure one, that I may accomplish the judgments of God.
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 thou hast given birth to Life everlasting, О most pure one, when my soul departeth from my body, slay death by thy supplications.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The serpent who hates mankind pursues me, subjecting me to trials. О Lady, set him at naught, for thou hast given birth to Him Who crushed the heads of the serpents.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О thou who hast given birth to Christ our God, the Way of life, to the straight path direct me who walk with faltering steps.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heal the sufferings of my soul and vanquish the perplexity of grief, О most pure one who hast given birth to God, for our salvation.
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 II: As the wellspring of loving-kindness, О Theotokos, grant mercy unto us. Look upon the people who have sinned, and show forth, as ever, thy power; for, trusting in thee, we cry out to thee: Rejoice!’’, as once did Gabriel, the supreme commander of the incorporeal beings.
Ode VII, Irmos: The wise children did not adore the golden idol, * but went themselves into the flame and defied the pagan gods. * They prayed in the midst of the flame, * and an Angel bedewed them saying: * ‘The prayer of your lips hath been heard’.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The waves of the passions trouble my mind and shake my soul; yet, О Virgin who hast given birth to Him Who by His divine command restrained the raging sea, transport me to the tranquility of dispassion and halt the turmoil of my flesh.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Knowing thee to be the gate of the noetic East who hast appeared from heaven, О Virgin. I, thy servant, pray that through thee I might enter into the heavens. Wherefore, accept me, О Lady, and guide me by thy light.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Crucified on the Cross of His own will, Christ thy Son put the princes of darkness to shame and destroyed the corrupting power of death. Thereby, О most pure Lady, do thou slay the passion-plagued understanding of my flesh.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Cease not, О pure one, to pray to God Who was born from thee, on behalf of those who approach thee with faith and ask deliverance, О only helper of the world, for thou art the hope and help of the despairing and the aid of those who are ever tempest-tossed amid evils.
Ode VIII, Irmos: Disdaining the golden image, the thrice-blessed children, * beholding the immutable and living image of God, * chanted in the midst of the flame: * Let all existing creation hymn the Lord * and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О Virgin, thou divinely made tabernacle of the Holy of holies, of Him Who set thee forth as the image of the ancient tabernacle, having the great High Priest in thy midst: Show my heart to be a holy tabernacle of the Most High: Christ, the King of all.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having borne, О Virgin, the divine ark and the tablets of the law: the most pure Word of God, Christ, thine uncircumscribable Son: by thy prayers, as with the finger of God, inscribe Him upon the surface of my soul.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As from a mountain the precious Stone hath been cut from thy womb, О most immaculate Lady, and as the only Almighty One He hath broken the pillars of all falsehood. Thereby do thou now destroy the images of the passions of my soul, having broken the jaws of the noetic foe.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With the waters of life, О Virgin Theotokos, water thou my heart which hath been seared by the flame of sin, ever preserving me in compunction, who chant with fear: Let all existing creation hymn the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: Thee do we magnify, O blessed and all-pure Theotokos, * who through thy virginal womb ineffably brought forth * God incarnate, * the Luminary Who shone forth before the sun * and hath come to us in the flesh.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou didst shine forth Christ, the Sun of righteousness, О pure one, showing thyself to be a most radiant heaven. By thy supplications destroy the night of my passions, illumine my soul, and enlighten and make bright my heart.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Condemn and trample underfoot mine adversary, О Theotokos, and deliver me from his oppression; for thou hast given birth to the Good and Righteous One Who resteth in the bosom of the Godhead and hath condemned death.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
He Who as God formed the essence of the incorporeal ones became incarnate from thee, О Virgin Maiden. Wherefore, by thy supplications deliver me, thy servant, from the evil circumstances and the carnal understanding of the passions of the flesh.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou hast done away with the grief of Eve, having given birth to the new Adam Who created the nature of the first Adam. Wherefore, erase also with the record of my transgressions, freeing me from perils, sorrows and the passions.