Съ праздникомъ!
Happy feast, dear brothers and sisters . Please ensure you honour the Mother of God in your hearts and in your homes on this great feast of the Smolensk Icon, and please particularly remember Metropolitans Onuphry, Pavel and Ionafan in your prayers, commending them to Our Lady, the Protectress of Christians.
Canon of the All-Holy Theotokos, the composition of the Monk Ignatius, in Tone IV
Ode I, Irmos: I will open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear, keeping splendid festival; and, rejoicing, I will hymn her wonders.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Joyfully do I now offer up this present laudation with a serene voice, O Hodegitria, and rejoicing I cry unto thee: Rejoice! Fill me with understanding, that I may begin my hymnody.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, O most hymned one who gavest birth to Christ, our everlasting Joy, O hope of the Orthodox, most hymned Virgin Hodegitria! Fill me with the joy which the world desireth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All men join chorus with the angels, ever crying out together in heaven and on earth, O Hodegitria: Rejoice, O Virgin, for by thy birthgiving thou hast filled all things with joy!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Hodegitria our joy, as thou art the Mother of Joy, vouchsafe joy unto those who cry out to thee with fear, delivering them from all tribulations; and have mercy on all who have recourse to thee.
Ode III, Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and abundant fountain: in thy divine glory establish those who hymn thee and spiritually form themselves into a choir; and vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, O pure Hodegitria, thou unshakable and animate palace of Christ, the King most high! Rejoice, rejoice, thou through whom our city is preserved undestroyed.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Him Whom creation is unable to contain didst thou bodily contain in thy womb which knew not wedlock, O Virgin Hodegitria; wherefore, we chant unto thee: Rejoice!, magnifying thee as is meet.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O greatly hymned joy of the world, ever joyously hymning thee, we are vouchsafed everlasting joy through thy maternal supplications unto Him Who was born of thee, O pure Hodegitria.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We call upon thee, the golden jar, the lampstand, the staff, the table, O pure one, and we ever offer thee the cry, Rejoice!, while calling thee such things.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Kontakion, Tone VI: We have no other help, we have no other hope than thee, O Mistress. Help us, for we place our trust in thee, and in thee do we boast. For we are thy servants. Let us not be put to shame.
Sessional Hymn, Tone II: O refuge of the world, wellspring of mercy, fervent entreaty and an insuperable rampart, we earnestly cry out to thee: O Mistress Theotokos: Go thou before us, and deliver us from misfortunes, O thou who alone makest swift intercession.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The foregoing is repeated.
Ode IV, Irmos: Seated in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus most divine hath come on a light cloud, and with His incorrupt arm hath saved those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, O Mistress Hodegitria, wonder of wonders! Rejoice, joy of all, invincible Christian refuge for cities and towns amid tribulations, bulwark and victory against the foe.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, rejoice, thou boast of Orthodox kings! Thou art the protection of all the Christ-loving armies, O Queen! Rejoice, O Hodegitria, refuge and confirmation for us all!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, speedy deliverance for all amid misfortunes! Rejoice, ready consolation for all who sorrow! Rejoice, O most hymned one! Rejoice, O most blessed Hodegitria, healer of all infirmities!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, thou whose greatness all creation doth hasten to glorify as is meet, yet is unable so to do, O Hodegitria! It therefore crieth out to thee: Rejoice, O Mistress, dwelling-place inhabited by God!
Ode V, Irmos: All things are filled with awe at thy divine glory; for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, didst contain within thy womb Him Who is God over all, and gavest birth to the timeless Son, granting peace unto all who hymn thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou art an abyss of goodness and compassions, O Virgin Hodegitria. Rejoice, thou who art the cause of joy for all the faithful! O rejoice, all-speedy helper for those who sorrow amid misfortunes!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Though we are as blind men, all of us, the faithful, are filled with joy, seeing and hearing the mighty things which come from the fulfillment of thy miracles; wherefore, we all ever and everywhere chant unto thee, Rejoice!, O Hodegitria.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, O Virgin Hodegitria, dwelling-place of Christ our God and abode of His ineffable and all-divine glory! O rejoice, palace all-adorned! Rejoice, animate city ever reigning!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Looking upon you as joy as inexhaustible as the sea, O Virgin Maiden Hodegitria, rejoicing, we all cry out to thee, Rejoice! And chanting, we ever expect that thou wilt invisibly bestow upon us divine gifts.
Ode VI, Irmos: Celebrating this divine and most honored festival of the Mother of God, come, ye divinely wise, let us clap our hands and glorify God Who was born of her.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Receiving Christ, O pure Virgin Hodegitria, thou didst hear the cry, Rejoice! And having ineffably given birth unto Him, thou dost ever hear from all, Rejoice!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou hast filled all with joy, and hast united those above to those below, O Hodegitria. Wherefore, heaven and all the earth now cry out to thee together.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, O most hymned Hodegitria, consolation of widows and all orphans! Rejoice, thou who pourest forth inexhaustible riches upon all the poor!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, O Hodegitria, thou habitation of Christ, who art more lustrous than any gold and more radiant than the dawning of the sun! Rejoice, O Virgin! Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone VI: O protection of Christians who cannot be put to shame, mediation before the Creator unchanging! Disdain not the suppliant voices of sinners, but as thou art good go before us to help us who cry unto thee: Haste thou to supplication, and speed thou to entreaty, O Theotokos who ever intercedest for those who honor thee.
Ikos: Extend thy hands, wherein thou didst receive the Master of all as a babe, through the magnitude of His goodness; forsake us not who ever set our hope on thee, and in thy vigilant supplication and incalculable forgiveness take pity on us, and grant thy loving-kindness unto our souls, pouring it forth forever. For thee do we sinners have as a helper against the misfortunes and evils which assail us. And as thou dost possess compassions of loving-kindness, haste thou to supplication, and speed thou to entreaty, O Theotokos who ever intercedest for those who honor thee.
Ode VII, Irmos: The divinely wise youths worshipped not a creation rather than the Creator, but, manfully trampling the threat of the fire underfoot, they rejoice, chanting: Blessed art Thou, the all-hymned God of our fathers!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Theotokos Hodegitria, who ever directest all the faithful ever to tread path that leadeth to salvation! Rejoice, O Mistress, for through thee are we ever delivered from present misfortunes at the hands of the barbarians!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Hodegitria, who keepest vigil and prayest for us to God, and deliverest all men from every evil and all tribulations by thy mediation, O Theotokos!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, rejoice, O all-holy Hodegitria, who fulfillest for us our petitions which are profitable, and ever desirest good and loving unity for all, and who dost hasten to deliver us!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Hodegitria, who deliverest the faithful who sail aboard ships tempest-tossed, who art the deliverance of all from every tribulation, and quickly curest divers lingering illnesses!
Ode VIII, Irmos: The birthgiving of the Theotokos saved the pious children in the furnace — then in figure, but now in deed — and it moveth all the world to chant to Thee: Hymn ye the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, most blessed Mary, for from thee was the most blessed God arrayed wholly in me, a man; and having thus arrayed Himself, He united me to His divinity in an ineffable union, O Virgin Hodegitria! Rejoice, O joyous one, thou joy of all the world!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, expeller of evil spirits! Rejoice, O Theotokos Hodegitria! Rejoice, for the invisible armies of heaven ever glorify and magnify thee as the Mother of God! Rejoice, thou who hast joined those below to those on high!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, thou who hast surely surpassed all the hosts of heaven! Rejoice, O Hodegitria! Rejoice, thou who gavest birth to the God of all creation, O most hymned Mistress who reignest! Rejoice, for thou hast remained a virgin even after giving birth, O pure one!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, glory of all women, all-sanctified temple of our God! Rejoice, O Hodegitria! Rejoice, thou who savest souls throughout the world! Rejoice, overshadowing cloud, broader than the heavens! Rejoice, O phial full of divine myrrh!
Ode IX, Irmos: Let every mortal leap for joy, enlightened by the Spirit; and let the nature of the incorporeal intelligences keep festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry aloud: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, O lamp bearing the never-waning Light, who in thy birthgiving dispellest the darkness of polytheism and deliverest men from the abyss of hell! Rejoice, O Theotokos Hodegitria, mediatress of all good things!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rejoice, O noetic and animate ground from whence came the heavenly Grain, which sprang forth for the faithful and delivered the whole world from soul-destroying famine! Rejoice, O vineyard who gavest birth to the Grapes of life, O pure Theotokos Hodegitria!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, thou who art an all-comely garden of mystic flowers! Rejoice, O Virgin Mother Theotokos, thou understanding of the invisible ones, who by purity didst strangely triumph! Rejoice, O Hodegitria, universal wonder and report!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
By thy help preserve the remaining time of our life unharmed, O Virgin Maiden, and vouchsafe that we who hasten to thee may receive a goodly end, and may cry: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Hodegitria!