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.
A truly awesome miracle was wrought within thee, О Virgin, for thou didst bear in thy womb Him Who is in nowise circumscribed, and hast ineffably given birth to Him, remaining a virgin.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rain down remission of sins upon me, О Lady who didst ineffably contain the Rain of heaven which came upon thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О only blessed and divinely joyous one who hast given birth to ineffable Joy for al mankind: take the grief away from my soul, I pray, and gladden my heart.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
He Who shone forth from thee in His surpassing goodness is all the desire and sweetness of life, О most immaculate one. Him do thou beseech, that He save me who now unceasingly glorifies 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 works of the law have passed by as though they were a shadow; for Thou, О most pure one, hast given birth unto Christ Who in place of the law hath appointed for us the grace of purification and enlightenment, and hath lifted the curse, О all-immaculate Virgin.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
God was born in the flesh from thee, О pure one; He Who before was invisible became visible. Wherefore, earnestly entreat Him, О Maiden, that He deliver me who glorifies thee with splendour, from enemies visible and invisible.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Cruel waves of the passions assail me, the abyss of evil spirits besets me, and the tempest of sin troubles my heart. О Theotokos, make me steadfast, for I hymn thee with splendour.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having the divine Gabriel as our commander, with faith we cry out reverently together to the Theotokos and Mother who knewest not wedlock. By her we have been delivered from tribulations, sorrows and infirmities.
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.
О Virgin who within thyself wove a robe of incorruption with thy virginal blood for Him Who clothes the sky with clouds, clothe me who before was stripped naked through deception.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thy womb, О Virgin, became a holy and ineffable palace for God the King, in which He made His abode; whereby He hath made us temples.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As thou art compassionate, have compassion on my most wretched soul, О all-immaculate Theotokos, for it hath been cruelly darkened and fettered by the passions and sin.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou didst shine forth the Sceptre of the kingdom of incorruption from the root of Jesse, О pure one, and without knowing a man thou hast given birth to a Babe, the God of David, the Creator and Lord.
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.
Even after giving birth thou hast remained an incorrupt virgin, О most immaculate one; leading all the corrupt toward Life, and illumining them with incorruption.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
To the Pre-eternal One, Who shone forth timelessly from the Father, thou hast given birth as a newborn Babe, О most pure one. Him do thou entreat on behalf of the world, О Bride of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О let me find thee, О Virgin, to be my helper, rescuing me from the sentence of the Judge at the hour of judgment, when I shall stand before the tribunal of Him Who was born from thee.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О Virgin Bride of God, my beloved from out of Lebanon, wholly beautiful and immaculate art thou. By the Holy Spirit the incarnation of the Son of God was made known in thee.
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.
Without knowing a man, thou hast given birth to Emmanuel, Who hath taken pity on our lowliness, О Theotokos; wherefore, we ever glorify thee as is meet.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O most holy one, in a manner transcending understanding and past all telling, thou hast given birth to the Timeless One, the Creator Who delivereth from all corruption those who hymn thee, the Theotokos.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having given birth to the Benefactor and Creator, О most holy and right-beloved Lady, bless thou mine afflicted soul.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О all-pure one, we offer thee praise both new and old; for we have naught better for thy praise than “Rejoice!”, which we sing to thee with Gabriel.
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: I lament for myself before the judgment, pondering mine evil and grievous deeds, and the abyss of transgressions which hath surrounded me from my youth and which drown my mind; yet by thy prayers, О pure one, grant me remission, and vouchsafe that I may receive salvation.
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.
Deliver me from evil despondency, from the darkness of the passions and everlasting condemnation, О most pure one, that I may glorify thee with faith.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Mortify my passions, О thou who hast given birth to Life, and lift me up who lie in the grave of senselessness, О Bride of God, that I may glorify thee with love.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О most immaculate one, thou hast given birth to the incorporeal God clad in the flesh, Who doth deliver us who chant with fear: Blessed art Thou, О God!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Finding thy pure supplication to be priceless healing, О Virgin, chanting, we ask of thee goodly transformation of soul and health of body.
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.
О portal of the Light, open unto me the radiant gates of repentance, showing forth each straight path of righteousness leading into the entries of God’s will.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О Virgin Mother, thou hast given birth on earth to a newborn Child, the Son Who is co-unoriginate with the Father, Who in His ineffable loving-kindness became like unto us who have become corrupt through sin.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О most glorious Ever-Virgin whom God hath loved and chosen, thou hast been revealed to be wholly elect, wholly all-adorned; wherefore, we hymn thee throughout the ages, О pure one.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
“Thou art wholly pure, full of divine glory, my dear one!” the Spirit of God said, proclaiming thee, О most pure one, whom we praise with hymns, chanting: Thou must needs rejoice, having given birth unto the God-man!
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.
Disdain not the sighs of those who now hasten unto thee, О all-pure one, but look upon us who are in sorrows, and transform our lamentation into joy, and our compunction into gladness, for we praise thee in hymns.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou art an immovable foundation, О pure one, having given birth to the Saviour Who founded the earth upon the waters by His divine commands. Pray thou that He splendidly establishes thereon those who call thee blessed.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy birth-giving transcends understanding О Theotokos, for conception and a virginal birth took place within thee without the aid of a man; for it was God Who was born, and magnifying Him, we bless thee who gave birth to Him.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Awesome art Thou, О Lord. Who then can withstand Thy threat, О Christ, only King, when Thou shalt render judgment? Wherefore, have pity and save me, О Saviour, through the right acceptable supplications of her who gave birth to Thee.