AKATHIST HYMNS
Akathist Hymn To Our Lord, The Most Sweet Jesus Preamble
Unconquered King and Lord, Vanquisher of the Nether World, I, Your creature and servant, sing Your praise for having delivered me from eternal death. Since Your mercies are boundless, free me from every harm as I sing: 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
First Chant
Creator of Angels and Lord of Angelic Hosts: as You once opened the ears of the deaf and the mouths of the dumb, empower my dull mind and tongue to sing to You: 0 Jesus most wonderful, Marvel of Angels! 0 Jesus most powerful, Deliverer of Our Forefathers! 0 Jesus most delightful, Exultation of Patriarchs! 0 Jesus most glorious, the Might of Rulers! 0 Jesus most beloved, the Fulfillment of Prophets! 0 Jesus most marvelous, the Strength of Martyrs! 0 Jesus most serene, the Joy of Monks! O Jesus most merciful, the Delight of Priests! 0 Jesus most kind, the Happiness of Saints! 0 Jesus most honorable, the Chastity of the Chaste! 0 Jesus, Everlasting Salvation of Sinners! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
When You saw the widow weeping by the body of her dead son, 0 Lord, You were moved to compassion and raised him from the dead. 0 Lover of Mankind, have mercy also upon me, and raise up my sin-tortured soul that I may sing: Alleluia!
Second Chant
As he sought understanding, Philip, in his confusion said: "Lord, show us the Father." In answer, You told him: "Have I been so long a time with you and you have not known that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father?" Likewise, Incomparable Lord, I cry out with fear: 0 Jesus, God Eternal! 0 Jesus, Most Powerful King! 0 Jesus, Long-suffering Lord! 0 Jesus, Ever-merciful Savior! 0 Jesus, Ever-gracious Guardian! 0 Jesus, cleanse me of sin! 0 Jesus, deliver me from all iniquities! 0 Jesus, forgive my insincerities! 0 Jesus, my Hope, never forsake me! 0 Jesus, my Help, do not reject me! 0 Jesus, My Creator, do not forget me! 0 Jesus, my Shepherd, let me go not astray! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
O Jesus, Who bestowed heavenly power upon the Apostles waiting in Jerusalem: fill me, who am deprived of all goodness, with Your Holy Spirit, so that I may lovingly sing to You: Allelula!
Third Chant
O Jesus endowed with a richness of compassion, You called the publicans, the unfaithful, and the sinners to You. Do not despise me, who am like them; but, rather, receive this song as a gift of precious perfume: 0 Jesus, Invincible Strength! 0 Jesus, Boundless in Mercy! 0 Jesus, Unsurpassable in Beauty! 0 Jesus, Unspeakable Love! 0 Jesus, Son of the Living God! 0 Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner! 0 Jesus, listen to me, defiled from birth! 0 Jesus, cleanse me, born in sin! 0 Jesus, teach me, unworthy though I be! 0 Jesus, enlighten my darkness! 0 Jesus, cleanse me, a sinner! 0 Jesus, restore me, the prodigal! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
With doubts storming with him, Peter began to sink, but looking up, he saw You walking on the water, and, realizing that You are truly God, he accepted the saving hand, exclaiming: Alleluia!
Fourth Chant
Hearing You as You passed by, the blind man cried out: "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me;" and You, by calling out to him, opened his eyes. Likewise, In Your mercy, open the eyes of my soul, that I may cry out to You: 0 Jesus, Creator of the Heavenly Spirits! 0 Jesus, Deliverer of the Poor! 0 Jesus, Savior from Evil Spirits! 0 Jesus, Artist of All Creation! 0 Jesus, Comforter of My Soul! 0 Jesus, Enlightenment of My Mind! 0 Jesus, Joy of My Heart! 0 Jesus, Health of My Body! 0 Jesus, my Savior, save me! 0 Jesus, my Light, enlighten me! 0 Jesus, deliver me from all torments! 0 Jesus, save me, unworthy though I be! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
Through the shedding of Your Divine Blood, we were freed from the just curse of old. In like manner, free us now from the torments of our evil passions, and from prodigal rebellion and sinful despair with which the serpent defiled us, so that we may sing to You: Alleluia!
Fifth Chant
The Jewish children, seeing their Creator incarnate as Man, and recognizing Him as their Lord, hastily cut branches to honor Him, crying out: "Hosanna!" We also offer You this song: 0 Jesus, True God! 0 Jesus, Son of David! 0 Jesus, Most Glorious King! 0 Jesus, Innocent lamb! 0 Jesus, Marvelous Shepherd! 0 Jesus, Guardian of My Childhod! 0 Jesus, Provider of My Youth! 0 Jesus, Praise of My Old Age! 0 Jesus, My Hope at Death! 0 Jesus, My Life after Death! 0 Jesus, My Comfort at the Last Judgment! 0 Jesus, My Desire, do not cast me off! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
Fulfilling the prophecies and messages of the inspired Prophets, Jesus appeared on earth. Omnipresence lived with men and took upon Himself our weaknesses. And we, being healed by Your wounds, have learned to sing: Allelula!
Sixth Chant
The light of Your truth shines forth throughout the entire universe and destroys the falsehoods of the devil. Idols, being no match for Your power, 0 Savior, fall down before You. And we, who have received salvation, sing to You: 0 Jesus, truly You have destroyed error! 0 Jesus, Light Brighter than All Others! 0 Jesus, Our King Surpassing All in Strength! 0 Jesus, You delight in showing mercy! 0 Jesus, Bread of Life, satisfy my hunger! 0 Jesus, Fount of Intelligence, quench my thirst for truth! 0 Jesus, Garment of Joy, cover me who am corruptible! 0 Jesus, Joyous Shelter, protect me who am unworthy! 0 Jesus, Who grants every prayer, grant me tears for my sins! 0 Jesus, Possession of All Who Seek, possess my soul! 0 Jesus, Contemplation of the Wise, open my Mind to penance! 0 Jesus, Who paid the price for my sinfulness, cleanse me of sin! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
Fulfilling the precious mystery revealed from the beginning of time, You were led as a sheep to the slaughter, and, as an innocent lamb, You were silent before the shearers. As God, You rose from the dead, and with glory, You ascended into heaven, so that we, exalted, might sing to Him: AIleIuia!
Seventh Chant
Amazed creation beheld the appearance of the Creator, Who was born without seed from a Virgin, Who triumphantly arose from a sealed grave, and Who physically came to the Apostles through locked doors. And we, being likewise astonished, now sing: 0 Jesus, Inexplicalbe Word! 0 Jesus, Incomparable Word! 0 Jesus, Unconquered Strength! 0 Jesus, Indescribable Divinity! 0 Jesus, Lord Over All! 0 Jesus, Invincible Kingdom! 0 Jesus, Unending Sovereignty! 0 Jesus, Omnipotent One! 0 Jesus, Eternal Power! 0 Jesus, My Creator, look graciously upon me! 0 Jesus, My Savior, save me! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
Let us cast out the foolishness of the world and turn our minds to the Divine; for, the undreamed-of has happened, and God has become man in order to lead us to heaven, so that we might sing to Him: Alleluia!
Eighth Chant
You always associated with the lowly. Though incomparably greater than the mighty and wise, You never sought their company. When You willingly suffered for us, You conquered Death by Your death, and by Your resurrection, You gave life to those who sing: 0 Jesus, Delight of Our hearts! 0 Jesus, Strength of Our Bodies! 0 Jesus, Purity of Our Souls! 0 Jesus, Enlightenment of Our Thoughts! 0 Jesus, Joy of Our Conscience! 0 Jesus, Confident Hope! 0 Jesus, Eternal Memory! 0 Jesus, the Highest Praise! 0 Jesus, Supreme Name! 0 Jesus, My Desire, do not cast me away! 0 Jesus, My Pastor, look after me! 0 Jesus, My Savior, save me! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
O Jesus, all the angelic choirs unceasingly glorify Your most holy Name, singing in the heavens: Holy, Holy, Holy! Likewise, we sinner here on earth sing out with earthly lips: Alleluia!
Ninth Chant
O Jesus, Savior, all the ancient prophecies concerning You are feeble. They convey as little as the burbling of fish, for they fail to explain how You remained God and became a perfect man. We, likewise, amazed, sing to You with faith: 0 Jesus, Eternally God! 0 Jesus, King of Kings! 0 Jesus, Judge of the Living and the Dead! 0 Jesus, Hope of the Hopeless! 0 Jesus, Comforter of those Who Weep! 0 Jesus, Glory of the Lowly! 0 Jesus, do not judge me according to my deeds! 0 Jesus, let me not despair! 0 Jesus, enlighten my spiritual powers! 0 Jesus, keep before me the idea of death! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
The Source of Light came to those groping in darkness and, being incarnate, submitted even to death because He wished to save the world. For this reason, Your Name is hymned above all others, and from all heavenly and earthly creation is heard: Alleluia!
Tenth Chant
Eternal King, True Comforter, Christ: cleanse us from all sinfulness as You cleansed the ten lepers. Heal us also as You healed the avaricious Zacchaeus, the publican, as we sing to You with love, saying: 0 Jesus, Treasury of Immortality! 0 Jesus, Abundance of Riches! 0 Jesus, Food the Strong! 0 Jesus, Fount Inexhaustible! 0 Jesus, Garment of the Poor! 0 Jesus, Defender of Widows! 0 Jesus, Aid of All Those Who Labor! 0 Jesus, Protection of Travelers! 0 Jesus, Guide of Seafarers! 0 Jesus, Queller of Storms! 0 Jesus, raise me up who have fallen! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
Unworthy though it be, we bring to You our most endearing song and sing to You as did the woman of Canaan: "0 Jesus, have mercy on me!" We are indeed not Gentiles, but our flesh is stung by the falsehoods of the devil and raging anger. Therefore, heal us who sing: Alleluja!
Eleventh Chant
A glowing beacon for those who dwell in the darkness of ignorance, Paul persecuted You until he was quelled by the power of Your voice and enlightened quickly by Your heavenly words. In like manner, enlighten the darkened eyes of my soul as I sing: 0 Jesus, my King Most Powerful! 0 Jesus, my God Most Strong! 0 Jesus, my Immortal Master! 0 Jesus, my Creator Most Glorious! 0 Jesus, my Good Strengthener! 0 Jesus, my Most Gentle Pastor! 0 Jesus, my Lord Most Compassionate! 0 Jesus, My Savior Most Merciful! 0 Jesus, banish my dark evil passions! 0 Jesus, heal me who am laden with sin! 0 Jesus, cleanse me from worldly thoughts! 0 Jesus, guard my heart from evil passions! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
O Jesus, Remitter of Debts, grant me the grace to be as repentant as Peter who denied You; and call me, lest I despair, as You earlier called Paul, who persecuted You, and hear me as I sing to You: AIleIuia!
Twelfth Chant
Singing of Your Incarnation, we all praise You and believe like Thomas that, sitting together with the Father, You are Lord and God, and the Judge of the Living and the Dead. Allow me to stand at Your right hand and sing: 0 Jesus, my Eternal King, have mercy on me! 0 Jesus, Aroma of Flowers, Shed Your Perfume upon me! 0 Jesus, Warming Love, enkindle me! 0 Jesus, Eternal Temple, shelter me! O Jesus, Cloak of Light, cover me! 0 Jesus, Brilliant Pearl, shine upon me! 0 Jesus, Sun of Holiness, illumine me! 0 Jesus, Joyful Light, inspire me! 0 Jesus, deliver me from all bodily and spiritual ills! 0 Jesus, spare me from falling into the hands of evil-doers! 0 Jesus, free me from eternal fire and torment! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
Kontakion
0 Most Gracious Jesus, Delight of Our Hearts: receive now our humble prayer as You received the two lowly talents of the poor widow. Deliver Your people from every visible and invisible enemy, from foreign invasion, civil war, and riot; from all storms and every distress and illness. Save me from all torment as we sing to You: Alleluia!
Thirteenth Chant
Creator of Angels and Lord of Angelic Hosts: as You once opened the ears of the deaf and the mouths of the mute, empower my dull mind and tongue to sing to You: 0 Jesus, Most Wonderful, Marvel of Angels! 0 Jesus, Most Powerful, Deliverer of Our Forefathers! 0 Jesus, Most Delightful, Exultation of Patriarchs! 0 Jesus Most Beloved, the Fulfillment of Prophets! 0 Jesus Most Serene, the Joy of Monks! 0 Jesus Most Merciful, the Delight of Priests! 0 Jesus Most Kind, the Happiness of Saints! 0 Jesus Most Honorable, the Chastity of the Chaste! 0 Jesus, Everlasting Salvation of Sinners! 0 Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!
