A Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode I, Irmos: Let us sing unto the Lord, * who led His people through the Red Sea: * for He alone hath gloriously been glorified.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О most immaculate Virgin, render Christ merciful unto me, setting me free on the day of the dread judgment.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Rain down upon me drops of compunction, O Lady, washing away my defilement, that I may glorify thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Illumine me, О Virgin who hast given birth to the never-waning Light, driving away the profound darkness of my slothfulness.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Save me who have perished amid many sins, О Theotokos, and deliver me from every torment and grievous condemnation.
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 the life of sanctity, О most pure one, I have joined the dumb beasts and am wholly condemned; but do thou who hast given birth to the Judge deliver me from all damnation, and save me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Unto thee do I flee, О Lady. Ever save me who am beset by a multitude of perils, taking pity upon me, О only all-hymned one who hast given birth to the Saviour and Lord of all.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Lady, thou impassable gate leading to God, open unto me the gates of repentance, I pray, cleansing me of the impurity of my sins with the showers of thy mercy, О thou who art full of the grace of God.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Deliver me from the assaults of the passions, О Lady, and vanquish now the foes which wage war upon me; establish me upon the rock of the will of God, and illumine my soul, О portal of the divine Light.
Ode IV, Irmos: O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation; * I have considered Thy works, * and I have glorified Thy Divinity.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Heal thou the stripes of my soul, О Virgin full of the grace of God, and illumine my mind, which hath been darkened by the incursions of the passions, О pure one.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In that thou art the Mother of the Word, О most pure one, rouse me to repentance, for I sleep the sleep of despondency and am covered with sin.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Lady unwedded, thou who hast given birth to the incarnate Word, enlighten my soul, and deliver me from Gehenna and torment.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In thee have I placed all my hope, О Virgin Mother; preserve my soul, О thou who hast given birth to God my Saviour.
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.
Heal thou the wholly incurable sufferings of my soul, О Maiden, light my lamp, which hath gone out through slothfulness, and guide me to the paths of repentance, О Virgin, that I may glorify thee with faith and love.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I condemn myself even before the trial, О divinely joyous one. I alone among the accused bear shameful deeds. But intercede for me, in that thou art the advocate of all, and deliver me from grievous condemnation.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Cease thou never to deliver me from captivity, from the soul- corrupting turmoil which surrounds me, and from the grievous passions which slay me, О most holy Maiden, ally of sinners and our ready helper.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О most pure one who didst conceive the Life of the world, the Redeemer and King, impart life unto me who am wholly slain by the sting of death because of disobedience, and guide me to the Light.
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.
Grant life unto me who have been slain by many transgressions, О most pure Virgin Theotokos who ineffably gave birth to the Life of mankind, and teach me to do the will of the Lord.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
All of us, the faithful, who are ever drowning in the abyss of evils, turmoil and griefs, have acquired thee as an intercessor and bulwark, О Theotokos, thou only refuge of the faithful.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О most immaculate and most pure one, who through thy holy Offspring hast caused the growths of ungodliness to wither away: destroy the evil of the enemy which ever groweth within me.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Sanctify my mind and illumine my heart, О holy Mother of God, and deliver me from the evils which assail me, that I may glorify thee, my steadfast helper.
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: “O the new wonder! О the awesome mystery!” the ewe-lamb cried, beholding her Son stretched out upon the Tree; “What is this, О immortal Word of God? How art Thou seen to be dead Who dost cause the earth to quake, in that Thou art almighty? Yet I hymn Thine awesome and divine condescension.”
Ode VII, Irmos: The Hebrew children in the furnace * boldly trampled upon the flames, * changing the fire into dew, they cried aloud: * ‘Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, throughout the ages’.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Be merciful unto me, О Virgin, and with the dressing of thy prayer heal me who have been wounded by the sword of sin; and forever rescue me from the unquenchable fire.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Deliver me from the cruel captivity which hath befallen me, from wicked thoughts and besetting transgressions, О Mother of the Saviour, that, saved, I may ever glorify thee as is meet.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I now flee unto thee, О Mother of God, bound by the fetters of transgressions. In the tender compassion of thy mercy loose me, О Virgin, and deliver me from the torment and malice of the demons.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Take pity and save me, О Virgin who hast given birth to the compassionate Word of God, and with the light which is within thee illumine my soul, and deliver me from the cruel wiles of the demons.
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.
He Who is perfect in every way and unapproachable in essence hath shown Himself to be accessible to me, having been clothed in the flesh through thee, О thou who knewest not wedlock. Him do thou earnestly entreat, that He lighten the burden of mine iniquities and deliver me from the judgment which is to come.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О most holy one, who in a manner past all telling hast given birth to the Judge and Lord, entreat Him as thy Son, that on the day of judgment He deliver from fire, from the darkness which is devoid of light, and from the gnashing of teeth me who ever piously hymns thee with faith.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О most pure Birthgiver of God, cleanse thou the wounds of my soul and the temptations of sin, washing them away with the streams gushing forth from fountain which emanated from the side of thine Off-spring, for to thee I cry, unto thee I flee, and thee do I entreat, who art full of the grace of God.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О most immaculate one, who alone hast manifestly given birth unto Life, grant life to my soul which hath been slain by the sting of the serpent; and hasten to do the will of Him Who was born for our sake, О Virgin, for I cry: Ye children bless; ye priests hymn; ye people supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, * and the ends of the earth were filled with amazement, * for God hath appeared in the flesh, * and thy womb was rendered more spacious than the heavens. * Wherefore, the ranks of men and of angels * magnify thee as the Theotokos.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
My soul, which hath been blinded by the passions, blackened by wicked thoughts and is beset by danger, do thou enlighten, О portal of the Light; and deliver me from perils, from the oppression of the demons, from grievous testing, and the coming flame and torment.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О Saviour Who wast born from the Virgin, and Who preserved her who gave birth to Thee incorrupt even after birthgiving, have pity on me when Thou shalt sit to judge my deeds. As Thou art sinless, overlook mine iniquities and sins, in that thou art a merciful God Who lovest mankind.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Carrying the heavenly Fire in thine arms, as though with tongs, О pure one who art full of the grace of God, utterly consume the passions of my soul, and free me from dread judgment and fire, and from the cruel tyranny of the demons.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With thy mystical effulgence enlighten our thoughts, hearts and reasoning powers, О Maiden full of the grace of God, that treading the paths of life aright, we may obtain mercy, ever singing praises unto thee.