A Canon of Supplication to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode I, Irmos: He who of old gathered the waters * into one by His divine decree, * divided the sea for the people of Israel. * For He is our God and supremely glorious, * to Him alone let us sing, for He hath been glorified.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Knowing thee, the Mother of God, to be a wellspring of loving-kindness and mercy, approaching thy goodness, I pray: Grant me compunction, that I may grieve and weep over my transgressions, О all-pure Lady.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Grant me drops of spiritual tears to wash away all the defilement of my acts and wicked thoughts, to cleanse my soul of impurity and make me a temple of the divine Spirit.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Beset by the waves and threefold billows of my transgressions, and ever cruelly drowned by the works of the adversary, sinking now into the abyss of destruction, I cry to thee, О most immaculate one: Save me!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
For the sake of thy tender compassion, О Lady of all, have mercy on my wretched soul, and deliver me from everlasting fire and the assault of the demons, for I flee now beneath thy protection, О Theotokos.
Ode III, Irmos: O Most High, Ruler of all, * who out of nothing hath established all things, * fashioned by Thy Word, * perfected by the Spirit, * confirm me in Thy love.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With divine light illumine my mind, which hath been darkened by evil thoughts, О all-hymned one; for thou hast given birth to the everlasting Light Who hath shone forth from the Father.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Tripping the feet of my soul, the enemy of the righteous hath caused me to fall to the ground; yet with thy right hand, О pure Lady, raise me up again.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With the voice of the publican I cry to thee, wretch that I am: Cleanse me, О Lady, and by thy supplication grant remission of sins unto thy servant.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heal thou the wounds of my soul, О Lady, and still the most turbulent waves of my thoughts; and grant me the armour of peace.
Ode IV, Irmos: Thou hast shown us steadfast love, O Lord, * for Thou gavest Thine only-begotten Son over to death for our sake. * Wherefore with thanksgiving we cry unto Thee, * ‘Glory to Thy power, O Lord!’
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I have defiled my flesh with pleasures and luxuries, and have besmirched the purity of my soul with vile thoughts, darkening my mind. О Lady, disdain not thy servant.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Be thou my deliverance, refuge and might, the horn of my salvation, О pure helper, ever delivering me from all sorrow and putting all mine enemies to shame.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I am now beset by many perils, wretch that I am, and am ever engulfed by the wiles of the demons; yet I flee to thee now; by thy fervent supplication save me, thy servant.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The night of the passions, devoid of light, embraceth me, wretch that I am; yet by thy light, О good one, dispel the clouds of my soul and guide me to the light of the precepts of God, О all-immaculate one.
Ode V, Irmos: The Invisible One hath appeared on earth, * and the Unapproachable One hath willingly dwelt among mankind; * and, rising early at dawn, we hymn Thee, * O Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The time of my life hath vanished like smoke, and I have arrived at the gateway of death. I fear the assault of the demons, for I have ever done their works. О all-immaculate one, have pity and save me!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Drying up the abyss of mine evils, О Virgin, grant me rivers of tears. Quench all the flame of my passions, О Maiden, and grant that I may be delivered from fire and other torments on the day of judgment.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With the oil of thy mercy heal my soul which is tormented with the pain of my sins, and grant that I may ever observe the precepts of thy Son in humility, that I may receive His goodness.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
“Thy divine Church, stripped of its bridal raiment, О my Son, hath been arrayed in the holy blood which flowed from Thy side. And I, beholding all Thy pain on the Cross, do likewise suffer!” said the Mother of the Word, lamenting.
Ode VI, Irmos: The uttermost depths of sin have surrounded me, * and my spirit perisheth. * but do Thou, O Master, stretch forth Thy lofty arm * and like Peter O Helmsman, * do Thou save me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The Son of God, assuming flesh from thy pure blood, hath shown thee, О Bride of God, to be a great refuge; wherefore, be thou merciful to thy servants.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О good one, with thy radiance illumine the eyes of my heart which have been darkened by unseemly thoughts; make me a child of the Light, and cause me to dwell in a place of light.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Waves of passionate thoughts ever batter me, О most pure one, and the tempests of the evil spirits engulf me; yet set me firmly upon the rock of dispassion.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I have fallen asleep in the death of my soul, and lie in the grave of despondency; but grant me thy hand, I pray, and raise me up, guiding me to the life of repentance.
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 III: We who have acquired the Cross of thy Son as a staff of power, О Theotokos, thereby cast down the arrogance of the enemy, magnifying thee unceasingly with love.
Ode VII, Irmos: Of old the three children did not worship the golden image, * of the Persian idol, * but chanted in the midst of the furnace: * O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О pure one, with strength do thou gird my soul, which hath grown weak through sins, and save me who cry out to thy Son: О God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Fearing the hour of death because of eternal and everlasting torment, I fall down before thee: О Lady, Theotokos, save me from the snares of those who pursue me!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Theotokos who didst contain the infinite God within thy womb, free my mind, which hath been confined by many transgressions, from their condemnation.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The race of mankind entreateth thee, О Theotokos: О Lady, have mercy on thy servants who with faith cry out to thy Son: О God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Ode VIII, Irmos: United together in the unbearable fire, * yet not harmed by the flame, * the children, champions of godliness, sang a divine hymn: * O all ye works of the Lord, * bless ye the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having truly emulated the prodigal and ended my whole life in sins, I now cry out: I have sinned against thee! О Lady, make me as one of the hirelings of thy Son and Creator, that I may glorify thee throughout all ages!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
My soul hath been filled with evils, and I have been reckoned with all who go down into the pit; yet do thou, О Virgin Theotokos, lead me up from the pit of the passions and from the miry clay of mine evils.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Pray thou to Christ, О Theotokos who hast given birth to Him from thy holy womb, that He grant me forgiveness of my manifold transgressions, that I may chant: О all ye works of the Lord, hymn the Lord, and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
When my soul must needs depart from this life at the command of God, from the snares of those who pursue us, О most pure one, rescue those who cry out to thee: О all ye works of the Lord, hymn the Lord, and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: In the shadow and the letter of the Law, * let us, the faithful, discern a figure: * every male child that openeth the womb * shall be sanctified to God. * Therefore we magnify the firstborn Word * and Son of the unoriginate Father, * the firstborn Child of a Mother who hath not known a man.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The race of mankind, now enriched by thine invincible supplication, О most immaculate one, crieth out day and night: Cease thou never to entreat thy Creator and Son, that He take pity on those who hymn thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The darts of unseemly passions have wounded my soul with demonic assaults, and ever trouble my mind with the arrows of adverse thought; wherefore, heal mine incurable wounds, О Maiden.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О pure Bride of God, quickly remove from me the wounds inflicted upon me by the enemies who war against me, for, wretch that I am, I can no longer bear their assaults, their great wickedness and insolence; yet hasten thou to deliver me.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou knowest the weakness of my lowly body, the wounds of my soul, the groaning of my heart, and the error and deception of my mind; wherefore by thy tender compassion grant me healing of them all.