A Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos
Ode I, Irmos: Through the deep of the Red Sea, * marched dry shod Israel of old, * and by Moses’ outstretched hands, * raised in the form of a cross, * the power of Amalek was routed in the wilderness.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Truly, yea surely, thou hast given birth to the Lord God, and truly, yea surely, thou alone hast been called the Theotokos, О pure one. Wherefore, with faith we hymn and glorify thee as is meet.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
From thee, О most pure one, hath the Star shone forth out of Jacob, Who as God hath numbered the multitude of the stars. Wherefore, by His effulgence remove thou the darkness of my sins.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I know thee to be clearly the rational bridal-chamber of the incarnation of God, О pure and all-immaculate one; and I entreat thee to deliver me from carnal passions, tribulations, temptations and evil circumstances.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In that thou art the ladder of the coming of the Almighty unto us, whereby God descended to the earth, raise me up to heaven from earthly carnal passions, and lead me to God.
Ode III, Irmos: Not in wisdom, nor in power do we glory, * but we glory in Thee O Christ, * the Hypostatic Wisdom of the Father, * for there is none more holy than Thee, O Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou art a wellspring pouring forth consolation upon the sorrowful, О Lady; wherefore, pour forth upon me a torrent of the waters of thy supplications, and quench thou the furnace of my passions.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О pure one who hast healed the grievous wounds of our nature by giving birth to the Creator and Lord, heal me who am wounded by unseemly thoughts.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Tempest-tossed amid the deep of my many transgressions, passions and temptations, О all-immaculate one, by thine aid I hasten to the most tranquil haven.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
By the divine Rain which descended into thy womb as upon a fleece, and with thy supplications, bedew thou my heart, which is aflame with the fire of the passions.
Ode IV, Irmos: Beholding Thee, the Sun of righteousness, * lifted up upon the Cross, * the Church now standeth arrayed and doth worthily cry aloud: * Glory be to Thy power, O Lord!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
From the flowing ointment of thy Son, the Perfume of the life of all, О pure one, pour forth the myrrh of dispassion upon my soul, and remove from it the mire of its passions.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With the hyssop of thy prayers sprinkle me who am defiled with the mire of sin, О Lady; wash me clean and cleanse me of the impurity of my passions, and show me to be a dwelling- place of Christ.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I beseech thee, О most pure one, thou book inscribed and sealed by the finger of God: with the finger of thy supplications prescribe for me the remission of sins, and deliver me from perils.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou wast the temple of God out of all the holy mountains, as the prophet said of old. Show me to be a pure temple of Christ, О Lady, by thine aid.
Ode V, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, who didst come into the world, * art my light, * a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance * those who sing Thy praises in faith.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Knowing thee to be the dew of Hermon which descended upon Sion, О Birthgiver of God, I pray that thou quench the burning of my flesh.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
As the paradise of life, О Theotokos, do thou quickly deliver me from deadly sin and the many and varied passions.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О pure one, thou art the noetic phial of alabaster. Wherefore, with the perfume of the Myrrh Who was poured forth upon earth from heaven, do thou fill me now.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou hast restored mankind who was inclined toward corruption, О Bride of God. Wherefore, lead me up now from the depths of transgressions and the passions.
Ode VI, Irmos: The church crieth out unto Thee O Lord, * ‘I will sacrifice unto Thee with a voice of praise * having been cleansed of the blood of the demons’ * by the blood that for mercy’s sake flowed from Thy side.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having become the exceedingly beauteous palace of the King of glory, О glorious Lady, thou hast glorified mankind; wherefore, grant incorrupt glory to me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
With pure incorruption thou hast allayed the vile corruption of nature, О most pure one; wherefore, dry up the torrents of my passions and the rivers of my carnal knowledge.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Quell thou the passionate movements of my body and tame thou the uprisings of my flesh, making them subject to my mind as if they were a foal, О pure one, lulling them to sleep by thy prayers.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
I hymn thee who hast given birth to the supremely hymned God, О Maiden, and I beseech thee: О Theotokos, deliver and save me from dreadful strife and everlasting condemnation.
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 IV: О intercessor unopposed, О Theotokos, thou ready advocate for those who have recourse unto thee: deliver me from misfortunes, and disdain me not, О helper of all.
Ode VII, Irmos: In the Persian furnace the youths and descendants of Abraham, * burning with a love of piety * rather than by a flame of fire, * cried aloud saying: * Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In that thou art the fiery and God-bearing bush, О pure one, burn up the thorns of my wicked contemplations, illumine the thoughts of my soul, and dry up the abyss of my passions.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Thou alone hast manifestly acquired the majesty and divine glory of eternity on the earth, having been revealed to be another heaven; wherefore, set at naught mine enemies, the boastful demons.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О divine vessel of loving-kindness and goodness, pour forth upon me the riches of thy compassions in abundance, washing away the defilement of my transgressions, and quench thou the burning of my flesh.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having lived prodigally, I have ever wasted the spiritual wealth given me by God in carnal pleasures; yet by thy supplications do thou grant me justification, О Virgin.
Ode VIII, Irmos: Having spread his hands, Daniel closed the lions’ jaws * in their den; * while the zealously pious youths, * girded with virtue, * quenched the power of the fire and cried aloud: * Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Break thou the chains of my transgressions and quell thou the uprisings of my body, cut down mine evil thoughts and quickly cleanse thy servant of secret thoughts, О Theotokos, thou intercessor and help of all the faithful.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О most pure one, who hast been shown to be the unquarried mountain of God, rich, densely wooded and overshadowed, shield me with the shelter of thy supplications, deliver me from the snares of the hunters, and preserve me from the darts of the demons and from vile thoughts.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
О Lady, grant that I may receive the fear of God and the spirit of compunction within me, and that I may bring forth a virtuous life; and render me frightful to the wicked demons and a partaker of the divine glory of the angelic choirs.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Quickly open unto me the doors of life, the portals of my hope, О most pure one; guide me to life without end, and show me, thy servant, to be an heir to the kingdom of heaven and a partaker of the divine glory of the saints.
Ode IX, Irmos: Eve dwelt under the curse of sin * because of the infirmity of disobedience; * but thou, O Virgin Theotokos, * hast through the Offspring of thy pregnancy * blossomed forth blessing upon the world. * Wherefore, we all magnify thee.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
In thy prayers look down upon thy servant, О pure one; go thou quickly before me, and deliver me from the invisible foes who afflict and oppress me. Save me from misfortunes, sorrows and multifarious evil circumstances.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
О Virgin, heal me who am condemned and wounded by the stripes of sin, and deliver me from wicked thoughts, О thou who hast given birth to the omnipotent Word, the Good One Who lovest mankind.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
For the sake of Adam who of old fell into sin, thy Son, О exceedingly good one, Who hath dominion over life and death, partook of death; wherefore, by thy supplications raise me up from the passions and the fall.
Now & ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
О Theotokos, from misfortunes and falls, from sin and tempest, from the passions of the body, from the billows and violent griefs of life, and from wicked malice save those who have recourse unto thee.