A Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode I, Irmos: At thy command O Lord, * the nature of the waters that beforehand flowed freely was transformed * and became like the earth; * whereby Israel having traversed them dry-shod * chanted unto Thee a hymn of victory.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Of a truth the ranks of angels rightly honor thee, the Mother of the God of all, О most pure one. Accept now also this hymn of supplication from my lips of clay.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О most pure one who hast given birth to true Life, slay my carnal wickedness, which liveth yet, and grant unto thy servant deliverance from transgressions and the passions, О pure one.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The timeless Word, the Sun Who shone forth unapproachably from the Sun, hath shone forth in time, enlighten our souls, with His rays О Virgin, and grant us understanding.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Ever effective words of praise are due thee, О Theotokos; yet we entreat thee, О pure one: From all the sorrows of life save those who have recourse unto thee.
Ode III, Irmos: O Lord and Saviour, * Who in the beginning established the heavens * by Thine all-powerful Word , * and by the divine and all-accomplishing Spirit * hath granted them all their strength, * do Thou establish me on the unshakeable rock of Thy confession.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
As a servant right wisely repaying my debts for thy grace, О Lady, I zealously hymn thee, О most pure Mother of the Word, the Redeemer of all; wherefore, even now rescue me from the assaults of life.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О most pure Lady who hast given birth to the life-creating Word, thou hast clearly deemed Adam worthy of a higher life, upon whom death came through disobedience Free me now also from mortal sin.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The law of the passions which hardens the flesh, and now vexes the spirit, causes my mind to grow attached to the most grievous of passions, О most pure one; yet By thy prayers quickly grant me the peace of dispassion.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having ineffably conceived in thy womb Christ, the Sustainer of all, О most pure one, thou hast freed human nature from the chains of Hades. Do thou now break asunder the tangled bonds which hold me in corruption.
Ode IV, Irmos: Having never left the bosom of the Father, * Thou didst descend to earth O Christ God, * I have heard of the mystery of Thy dispensation, * and I have glorified Thee, * O only Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
My mind fraught with gloom, at night I do battle against a myriad of evil spirits. О portal of the light, with thy rays illumine me, and quickly rescue me from bitterness and grief.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Surrounded by a multitude of sins and bound fast with bonds of temptations, I now call upon thine aid, О Lady, that I may be delivered from every torment.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Drive away the hordes of evil and cruel demons and the assemblies of envious and wicked men, О all-hymned one, and deliver me from all the grief and tribulation of life.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With the sword of thy prayers, О Lady, cut down the lying words and deeds which reverberate around me, and quickly free me and deliver me fro all grief.
Ode V, Irmos: Night is bereft of light * for those without faith, О Christ, * but for the faithful there is enlightenment * in the sweetness of Thy words; * wherefore, I rise early unto Thee * and hymn Thy Divinity.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In that thou art the impregnable bulwark of the faithful and the protection of thy servant, О Virgin, from every violent grief and affliction deliver me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Assailed on every side, О most pure one, I am in great distress. By thy prayers restore the strength of body and soul which hath failed within me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I, thy servant, now flee to the depths of thy compassion, О Virgin, that I may be delivered from oppression and the unjust assemblies which assail me.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The glory of thy supplications is everywhere supremely exalted, О most pure Virgin Mother; thereby deliver me now from every assault of life.
Ode VI, Irmos: Sailing in the tempest of the cares of life, * together with the ship I have been submerged by sins, * and cast to the soul-corrupting beast, * wherefore like Jonah I cry to Thee, O Christ: * Lead me up from the deadly abyss.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The utterances and words of all praise thee with faith, О pure one, for by thy birthgiving the debt of all mankind hath been clearly abolished; yet even now accept the supplications of those who hymn thee, and deliver us from temptations and griefs.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Sick am I, and pierced by the thorns of sinful passions, О most pure one, yet I seek healing from thee. Take from me all pain and sorrow, and deliver me from temptations and griefs.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Theotokos who didst become the palace of the King of glory, thou hast manifestly exalted human nature to heaven; wherefore, lead me up from the abyss of my many transgressions, temptations and passions.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О pure Virgin, in a manner transcending understanding and all telling thou hast given birth to the incarnate Word Who hath delivered us from irrationality; wherefore, we unceasingly hymn thee with divine discourse, and glorify thee with faith.
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 VII: О Lady, thy Son hath been angered by thy sinful servants. We have turned to wrath Him Who is full of loving-kindness, but do thou turn Him again to mercy, О pure one. Have pity, О Mother of God, and with thine own supplications beseech the Compassionate One, and deliver those who are held captive.
Ode VII, Irmos: Cast into the fiery furnace, * the venerable children transformed the fire into dew, * crying aloud thus in hymnody: * Blessed art Thou O Lord, the God of our fathers!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О most pure Maiden who art arrayed in the vesture of purity, transport now my soul from vile wickedness to divine beauty, О blessed Lady, thou intercessor for our race.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The demons of evil now exceedingly rage, and the fire of the passions burneth within me; yet with the rays of thy life, and all the more with thy compassions, do thou utterly consume them, О intercessor for our race.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Entreating thy Son on our behalf, О most pure Mother of God, by thy supplications never cease to rescue thy servant from the griefs and misfortunes of humanity.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The transcendent Son immutably took flesh from thee, О Virgin, and became a man, that He might save those who chant: Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, О most pure one.
Ode VIII, Irmos: Bedewed, the children cried aloud * in the midst of the furnace: * Let creation bless Him Who formed all things by His word, * and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Expanses of the passions and many and varied woes truly surround thy servant, О Lady; but deliver me from their every temptation.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Let thy mighty hand now come upon us, О Lady, and let it deliver us from the human tribulations we expect.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Break thou the snares of wicked people of evil counsel, О pure Birthgiver of God, and deliver thy servant from every need.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As thou art the only divine haven of the faithful, О pure Virgin, I entreat thee to deliver me from the bitter tempest of the sea of life.
Ode IX, Irmos: Rejoice, О radiant Virgin, * Mother of the Bestower of light! * Rejoice, for thou didst contain the Infinite One within thy womb! * Rejoice, thou who art greater in honor than the very cherubim, * for thou hast given birth unto the Saviour of our souls!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having bolted away from the commandments of the Master like a colt, let me be restrained by the bridle of thy prayers, О most pure one, that I may be brought back to the path of speedy restoration.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I have been brought low by the commission of my wicked sins through mindless stumbling. Deliver me from my bitter state, О Theotokos.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having been shown to be the primal healing of human nature, thou didst cure the fall of Adam and Eve. Heal me also by thy prayers, О Theotokos.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Grant me a chaste mind, a pure heart and prudent understanding, О Lady, that I may keep the most pure commandments of my God.