A Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode I, Irmos: The wonderworking staff of Moses, * striking and dividing the sea in the figure of a cross, * once drowned Pharaoh the pursuing charioteer, * while it saved the fleeing people of Israel * as they fled on foot, * chanting a hymn unto God.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Most glorious things have been said of thee, О most pure one, who alone art the glory of the faithful; wherefore, By thy prayers show me, who glorify thee, to be a partaker of the glory which is to come, О most holy and all-hymned Virgin.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, О all-pure and blessed one, whereby all of us mortals have been delivered from the curse. О the ineffable wonder, the indescribable report, the salvation of the all the faithful!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
A multitude of angels, the assembly of the disciples and prophets, the company of the martyrs and Thy venerable ones ever entreat Thee, О Lord. For the sake of the Theotokos grant us forgiveness of sins, in that Thou lovest mankind.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With faith I entreat thee, the most pure one, who received in thy womb the unbearable Fire, that I may be delivered and rescued from the fire of Gehenna, and by thy right acceptable prayers may be freed from everlasting torment.
Ode III, Irmos: O Lord, Creator of the vault of Heaven * and Builder of the Church, * do Thou strengthen me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, * O Support of the faithful, * O only Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having fallen away from a life of purity, О most pure one, I have become like the dumb beasts and am wholly condemned. О thou who hast given birth to the Judge, deliver and save me from all damnation.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О pure Maiden, grant me groaning, spiritual tears and constant compunction, that I may weep over the passions which beset me due to mine indifference, О thou who art full of the grace of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The ranks of heaven, the ministering spirits, the assembly of prophets and apostles, and Thy martyrs unceasingly beseech Thee, О Compassionate One: Grant remission of sins unto Thy people.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
As thou art merciful, О most pure one, do thou now entreat Him Who is full of loving-kindness, that He grant unto us divine and tender compassion; for having unmercifully acquired unmerciful ways, I have become worthy of everlasting fire.
on me.
Ode IV, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, art my strength and Thou art my power, * Thou art my God and Thou art my joy, * Thou Who, while never leaving the bosom of Thy Father, * hast visited our poverty. * Therefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lover of mankind!’
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rend asunder the record of my wicked sins with the divine spear which pierced the divine side of Him Who desired to become a man through thee, О most pure one, and entreat Him to write me in the Book of the Saved, even though I have foolishly estranged myself from Him.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Let me glorify thee with cries of thanksgiving, let me magnify thee with divine love, О most immaculate one. О thou who by thy great birthgiving hast exalted all who have estranged themselves, grant divine forgiveness unto me who have greatly estranged myself and have fallen grievously.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
In thee were the laws of nature overcome; for in a manner transcending nature thou hast given birth to God the Word. Wherefore, I entreat thee with faith, О most immaculate one: By thy prayers save and convert me who have sinned greatly, surpassing human nature, and have gone far away from God.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With the arrows of sin the enemy hath wounded my soul; and hath defiled my heart with lusts, and drawn me away from the straight path. Wherefore, I cry to thee, О Virgin: Turning me, heal and save me.
Ode V, Irmos: O Light never-waning, * why hast Thou turned Thy face from me * and why hath the alien darkness surrounded me, * wretched though I be? * But do Thou guide my steps I implore Thee * and turn me back towards the light of Thy commandments.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Generations of generations now bless thee, the ever-blessed one, and the hosts of heaven praise thee as the one who hath united those below with those on high, the only one blessed among women, the restoration of fallen Adam.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О good one who hast given birth to the Word, beseech the Good One Who hath delivered us from irrationality, that I may remain whole, may attain an unshakable disposition, and may journey well, doing those things which are pleasing unto God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Word Who didst shed Thine own blood upon the Cross in the surpassing depths of Thy mercy, dry up the abyss of my passions, and for the sake of the Theotokos grant that I may please Thee, my God, in humility.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О Virgin Mother and Maiden, who hast given birth to the Infinite One in the flesh, the glory of the angels and the wounding of the demons: Grant divine healing unto my heart which hath been wounded by sin, О Bride of God.
Ode VI, Irmos: Cleanse me, O Saviour, * for many are mine iniquities; * lead me up from the abyss of evils I pray Thee, * for unto Thee have I cried, * and Thou hast hearkened unto me, * O God of my salvation.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In thee hath human nature found mercy, О merciful Lady; for thou hast given birth to the Merciful One, О most pure one. Wherefore, I beseech thee: Have mercy upon my soul!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The ranks of the incorporeal beings, of the martyrs, prophets and Thine apostles, entreat Thee, О Christ: For the sake of her who gave birth to Thee, save Thy people from every evil circumstance.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О unploughed earth who gavest rise to the Husbandman and Creator of all, through divine understanding show forth as fertile my soul which hath been rendered hard and stony by the passions.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I have violated the commandments which lead me to God, and without desiring it, have become enslaved to wicked passions; wherefore, I entreat thee, О Ever-Virgin: Rescue me from their dominion.
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 VIII: О ye faithful, let us praise the Virgin Mother and Maiden, the object of the veneration of the heavenly hosts and the all-praised exaltation of our souls: Rejoice, О thou who didst conceive the Creator of the angels in thy womb! Rejoice, cleansing of those who fall, who gavest flesh to God the Word! Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded!
Ode VII, Irmos: Once in Babylon the fire stood in awe * of God’s condescension; * for which sake the youths in the furnace, * dancing with joyous steps as in a meadow, chanted: * O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
By thine ineffable birthgiving thou hast granted unto us ineffable things, О Theotokos; wherefore, deliver me from terrifying torment, and fill me with ineffable joy, that I may ever hymn thee who art all-hymned.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having wasted my life in slothfulness, I have become barren, and I fear the interrogation and unquenchable fire of Gehenna. О Theotokos who hast given birth to the unbearable Fire, By thy prayers persuade Him to deliver me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The miracle of thy birthgiving surpasses all wonders, О pure Virgin; wherefore, I cry unto thee, О Birthgiver of God: Show forth upon me the wonders of thy mercies; deliver me from the coming wrath, and save me.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О Christ my Saviour, for the sake of her who gave birth to Thee have pity on me who have lived in slothfulness and have spurned Thy holy laws and Thine honoured precepts, in that Thou art a beneficent and greatly merciful God,
Ode VIII, Irmos: In his wrath the Chaldean Tyrant made the furnace blaze, * with heat fanned sevenfold for the servants of God; * but when he perceived that they had been saved by a greater power * he cried aloud to the Creator and Redeemer; * ‘ye children bless, ye priests praise, * ye people, supremely exalt Him throughout all ages’.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Give life to my soul, for it is dying; raise it up, for it hath fallen; heal it, for it hath been wounded. Grant peace to my mind; still thou the waves of temptations, О Virgin; and save me who cry aloud: Ye children bless; ye priests hymn; ye people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Like the thief I cry out to Thee: Have mercy on me, О Lover of mankind! Like the harlot, I weep and cry aloud: I have sinned like the prodigal of old! For the sake of the Theotokos accept me, a wretched penitent, that with zeal I may cry out to Thee: Ye children bless; ye priests hymn; ye people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As befitteth a servant, I cry out to thee, О all-hymned Theotokos: With the countless noetic hosts, with the prophets and the venerable, the apostles and the martyrs, make entreaty for all those who chant in a godly manner: Ye children bless; ye priests hymn; ye people supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О all-immaculate Theotokos, thou art more honourable than the angelic ranks of heaven, for through thy virginal womb which knew not wedlock thou hast given birth to their Creator and Lord in two natures, without commingling or change, incarnate in a single Hypostasis, О Theotokos.
Ode IX, Irmos: Every ear is awestruck at hearing of God’s ineffable condescension, * for the Most High voluntarily descended and assumed flesh, * becoming man in the Virgin’s womb; * wherefore, we the faithful magnify the most pure Theotokos.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О divine couch of Solomon, upon which God hath rested, and who art now surrounded by sixty mighty utterances from the divine Scriptures: By thy power, О pure Ever-virgin, preserve me unharmed, who am ever surrounded by myriads of demons.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О thou who pourest forth divine sweetness, О thou who hast given birth to the Sweetness of all, sweeten thou my soul which hath become bitter through the venom of the serpent, by thy mediation ever remove bitter harm from me, О unashamed intercessor for the faithful.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Jesus, thou Sun of glory, enlighten my wretched soul through the prayers of the pure divine Maiden who gave birth to Thee, of the incorporeal ministers, Thine honoured apostles, the holy hierarchs and prophets, Thy chosen martyrs and the venerable.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Wholly condemned and at a loss what to do, I fear Thy dread second coming, only King and Lord; wherefore, before the end I cry unto Thee: For the sake of her who gave birth to Thee take pity upon me and save me, О Merciful and Good One Who lovest mankind.