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.
Accept the supplication of my soul, О most pure Lady who hast given birth to God in the flesh; for I have fled unto thy mighty assistance, lest my hope utterly fail.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Like a slave I fall down before thee, О most pure Birthgiver of God, for, as thou hast great boldness, by thy supplications mediating before thy Son, deliver me from all tribulations.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Engulfed by the waves of the sea of life and beset by cruel temptations, I have hastened to the calm haven of thy protection; wherefore, deliver me from evils, О Theotokos.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With thy compassionate and calm gaze look upon thy servant and make haste to hearken unto me, О good one, fulfilling the supplication of thy servant and destroying the counsels of the evil, О most pure one.
Ode III, Irmos: Thy Church, O Christ, rejoiceth in Thee crying aloud: * Thou, O Lord, art my strength, * my refuge and foundation.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О Lady, thou art an aide for the faithful against the enemy, an ally in battles, and a refuge for those who grieve.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In that He is thy Son, pray to the God of all, to Whom thou hast given birth in the flesh, that throughout all circumstances of life He grant me remission of mine evils.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Mercifully regard our lowliness, О Lady, that thy servants may be delivered from the wrath which ever besets us.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Ever saved from all sorrows by thy protections, О good Lady, we offer praise to thy Son.
Ode IV, Irmos: I have heard report of Thee, O Lord * and I am afraid. * Having understood Thy works, * I am in awe of Thee O Lord.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
As thou hast boldness before thy Son, О pure Birthgiver of God, free me from this present temptation, setting at naught the constant machinations of the enemy who ever wages war upon me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О ye choirs of the ranks on high, ye martyrs and apostles, ye assembly of the divine prophets, ye righteous and venerable: with the Mother and Theotokos pray to Christ on our behalf.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Christ, accept Thy most glorious Mother who prayeth for the world and mercifully crieth out to Thee: “O my Son, accept my supplication and calm the wrath which hangeth over the world!”
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I fall down before thee, О Theotokos, and pray from the depths of my heart: Rescue me from these present trials, that, delivered from evils, I may offer hymnody to thy splendour.
Ode V, Irmos: The wicked will not behold Thy glory, O Christ, * but we who rise early to hymn Thee shall behold Thee, * the Only-Begotten effulgence of Thy Father’s divinity, * O Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О pure one, thou hope and help of mortals, take pity on our lowliness, we pray, and free us from this present wrath.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Availing ourselves of thy prayer as it were an insuperable rampart, О pure one, we cry out to thee: О Lady, drive away the invisible foe!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Let us who put our trust in thee never be put to shame, О most pure one, we pray with tears, rendering homage to thy goodness.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With thy most pure hand drive away the enemy who warreth against us, О all-hymned one; and let the accursed ones understand that we have placed our hope in thee.
Ode VI, Irmos: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial * Prophet Jonah praying in the belly of the sea-monster cried aloud: * Deliver me from corruption * O Jesus Thou King of hosts.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Wash away our sins, we pray, О Lover of mankind, by the supplications of her who gave birth to Thee without seed; for, for our sake О Word, Thou didst shed Thy precious blood.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Against us hath a wicked assembly of those who unjustly war against us gathered together, O Bride of God; but cast them down, like Peter cast down Simon Magus of old.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Hearken unto our prayer, О Lady, we pray, and still thou the waves of the tempest of divers pangs whereby enemies have assembled against us.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Transform my grief into joy, in that Thou art compassionate, replace my lamentation with gladness, and have pity, О Christ Who, for the sake of the Theotokos, transformed water into wine in Cana of Galilee.
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: Darkened in mind by many transgressions, I, the prodigal, cry out to thy mighty aid, O Theotokos: Enlighten the eyes of my soul, shine upon me a radiant beam of repentance, and clothe me in the armour of light, O pure Virgin Birthgiver of God.
Ode VII, Irmos: Forsake us not to the end for Thy names sake, * for we have not forsaken Thy commandments, * and take not Thy mercy from us * O Lord God of our Fathers, * who art supremely hymned throughout the ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Amid divers perils and tribulations, I have now fled to thee, my salvation, О pure one, and I cry aloud: Let me not be turned away, ashamed, from my hope, but hearken, and deliver me from the snares of those who pursue me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Like a slave I bend my neck, wretch that I am, and I utter a cry from the depths of my heart; stretching forth my hands, I bend my knees and entreat thee, the most pure Virgin, that I be delivered from the tribulations of those who ever assail me with the assaults of the evil one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О most glorious and pure Mary, boast of mortals, we pray: Grant thine aid unto us who pray and piously worship thine Offspring, for we have acquired none other hope or helper than thee.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О Mary who knewest not a man, О helper of the faithful, who hast given birth to God in a manner transcending understanding and all nature, from sudden temptations deliver as pure those who honour thee, unharmed by all enemies, visible and invisible.
Ode VIII, Irmos: Having spread his hands, Daniel closed the lions’ jaws * in their den; * while the zealously pious youths, * girded with virtue, * quenched the power of the fire and cried aloud: * Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I dare not raise my hands unto thy Son, О pure one, for I am wholly defiled; wherefore, in boldness I flee to thee, О Lady. Mediate with the compassionate God Who is easily placated, that we may be delivered from the adverse foes who afflict us.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
To thee have I entrusted mine eyes, heart and soul, О most pure one; wherefore, have pity, О pure Lady, falling down before the Compassionate One, on behalf of me who am wicked and unable to endure, that He save me from all want, wounds and grief.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“With Thy weaponry fell those who war against us, О Lord, in that Thou art mighty, and grant victory unto those who trust in Thee with faith, О Master!” prayeth the Theotokos with John the forerunner, the choir of the apostles and Thy martyrs.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Once Gabriel brought thee the joy of the annunciation, О pure virgin, and by thy birth-giving hath loosed the grief of our first mother; wherefore, having cleansed my soul of despondency, by thy prayers render me unashamed.
Ode IX, Irmos: A cornerstone not cut by hand O Virgin, * was cut from thee the unhewn mountain: * even Christ, Who hath joined together the disparate natures; * therefore rejoicing we magnify thee, * O Theotokos.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Quickly manifest thine aid, О Virgin Theotokos; and eagerly bend thine ear and hearkening to us who fervently cry aloud, free us from evils, and deliver us by thy prayers.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Wholly stuck fast in slothfulness, I find myself in an abyss of despair due to my transgressions; wherefore, stretch forth thy hand unto me, О Virgin Mother, as Christ did to Peter, and deliver me from the depths of sin.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Lay low the tongue of the ungovernable and haughty one which, like a sharpened arrow, aims to slay me, О Virgin; melt it like wax, and show forth his counsels to be in vain.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Destroy all the counsels of those who have armed themselves against us, О Mother of God Most High, and fill with joy those who trust in thee, that we may all earnestly proclaim thine aid.