Akathists
The Akathist to the Mother of God, the Swift Helper
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Kontakion 1
Chosen from among all nations, Mother of God and Queen, who hastens to heed the prayers of the humble and pours forth rivers of healing upon the faithful before her Holy Icon, we offer a song of thanksgiving! And you – O most merciful Protectress – graciously incline your ear to our voices of praise and deliver us from all our needs, we who cry out to you: Rejoice, O most gracious and swift helper – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
Ikos 1
The choirs of angels serve you with humility, and all the heavenly powers bless you with ceaseless songs, O Virgin Mother of God, for you gave birth to the King of the angels – Christ our God! And we, sinners, daring to follow you and not knowing how to glorify you as is fitting, say to you with wise humility:
Rejoice, dwelling place of the Godhead made near to us
Rejoice, unceasing wonder of the angels
Rejoice, Holy Table which nourishes us with the bread of life
Rejoice-Rejoice, olive tree bearing good fruit, which anoints our
hearts with the oil of mercy Rejoice, inexhaustible treasure of divine gifts
Rejoice, ever-flowing river of miracles
Rejoice, defender of the oppressed
Rejoice, comfort of the sorrowful
Rejoice, helper of those in distress
Rejoice, Healer of the sick
, Rejoice! Strengthener of the feeble
, Rejoice! Liberator of the enslaved
, Rejoice! Most gracious and swift helper – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
Kontakion 2
Beholding Your unfailing mercy, O Lady, and the multitude of Your miracles which You have shown and continue to show through Your Holy icons—which, like stars illuminated by God, You have adorned the entire Orthodox world – we beseech You with love, You who have exalted the human race through Your goodwill, and we worship Your Most Honourable Image, singing to Your Son, Christ our God: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
Displaying heavenly wisdom, O Mother of God, You deigned to decree through earthly circumstances that Your icon on the Holy Mountain of Athos should be glorified, which You Yourself – Swift Helper – you named it by a divine voice heard from it, so that all who see it may praise You with hymns thus:
Rejoice, Mother, merciful to us all before Christ
Rejoice, dwelling place of the Holy
Spirit Rejoice, manifestation of God’s love for mankind
Rejoice, exaltation of the human
race Rejoice, radiant palace of God the Word
Rejoice, thou who art greater than the Holy of Holies
Rejoice, thou who hast given birth to the Lamb of God
Rejoice, thou who hast nurtured for us the ear of life
Rejoice-Rejoice, golden keeper of the imperishable
food Rejoice, nourisher of the Nourisher of the world
Rejoice, through whose intercession we hope for our salvation
Rejoice-Rejoice, through whose prayers we await the heavenly
inheritance Rejoice, most gracious and swift helper – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
Kontakion 3
Seeing with divine power the monk Nil of Dohiaru Monastery, who behaved impiously before Thy Holy Icon, Thou didst punish him with blindness and paralysis, O Virgin Mother of God, so that no one might dare to defile the image of Your Holy Icon, which, as a pledge of Your favour, in Your mercy, You bestowed upon the entire Holy Mountain of Athos so that all its inhabitants, with pious voices, might sing to Him who was born of You, God the Word: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Having boundless love for mankind, redeemed by the blood of Your Son and Our God, O most gracious Lady, You graciously accepted the repentance of the monk Nilwith mercy and granted him healing from blindness and paralysis, so that he might serve You ceaselessly and offer unceasing prayers before Your healing icon, saying thus:
Rejoice, Holy Offspring of Joachim and Anna
Rejoice, Thou who didst give birth to Him who crushed the head of the ancient
serpent Rejoice, most blessed among women
Rejoice, O thou who didst give birth, supernaturally, to the Saviour of our
souls Rejoice, O thou who didst unite virginity and childbirth
Rejoice, O thou who, amidst both these, didst preserve thyself blameless
Rejoice, O Thou who art the great wonder of the whole
world Rejoice, O wonder of all the nations of the earth
Rejoice, O guide of those who err
Rejoice, O strength to do good for those who sin
Rejoice-Rejoice, punisher who does not remember evil, O
non-vengeful One! Rejoice, giver of wisdom with a good
heart! Rejoice, most gracious and swift helper – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
Kontakion 4
Escaping the storms of life and taking refuge in the calm harbour of salvation, Mount Athos, those gathered there found wholesome comfort and divine help from Your Holy Icon, Mother of God, from which spring forth rays of miracles and rivers of unceasing mercy. For this reason, all those who, in the wilderness of Athos, seek to attain salvation, glorifying Your maternal mercies, sing to God with thanksgiving: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
Hearing the divine voice from Thy holy icon, O Lady, the monk Nil recognised You as a swift helper to all who, with faith and love, run to Your miracle-working Image and, receiving from Him wisdom for their heedlessness and the enlightenment of their spiritual eyes, they cry out to You with all their hearts in thanksgiving:
Rejoice, You who, through temporary punishment, bring wisdom to the heedless
Rejoice, You who mercifully accept the repentance of those who sin
Rejoice-Rejoice, O Thou who guides the straying
onto the path of righteousness Rejoice, O Thou who mercifully heals the wounds of our spiritual
sins Rejoice, O Thou who lovingly rebukes those who persist in indifference
Rejoice-Thou, who through the bitterness of bodily sufferings deliver them from eternal
torments Rejoice, Thou who stillest the waves and turmoil of the passions
Rejoice, who extends a helping hand to those who are perishing
Rejoice, hope of the hopeless
Rejoice, joy of the sorrowful
Rejoice, clothing of the naked
Rejoice, protection of the orphans
Rejoice-You, most gracious and swift to help – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
Kontakion 5
Hearing Your God-inspired words, the inhabitants of Dohiaru Monastery built for You – Swift Helper – a church near the Archondaric, where Your miracle-working icon, Most Pure Virgin, which comforts all the faithful with the signs of Your mercies. Therefore, do not forsake us either, we the humble, who, as is our duty, praise and sing to God the Wonder-worker: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
Seeing the rivers of miracles flowing from Your Holy Icon – Swift Helper – all the inhabitants of Mount Athos rush to it to worship! And You, Mother of God, grant to all according to each one’s need, without ceasing, the gifts of Your mercy, inspiring them with gratitude to sing to You:
Rejoice, Mother of mercy and compassion
Rejoice, living table of the Almighty
Rejoice, thou who lent a body to the Son of God
Rejoice, storehouse of the seedless
conception Rejoice, thou who incarnated the Bodiless One
Rejoice-Rejoice, thou who hast united God with mankind
Rejoice, most longed-for sight of the pious
Rejoice, divine joy of those who fast
Rejoice, tranquil gladness of the hermits
Rejoice, strong hope of the monks
Rejoice-Thou who conquerst the legions of demons
Rejoice, Thou who puttst to shame the enemies of mankind’s
salvation Rejoice, most gracious and swift helper – Thou who bringest all our prayers to a good end!
Kontakion 6
Mount Athos proclaims Your mercies and miracles, Most Blessed Mother of our Lord, and is glorified by the multitude of Your icons, amongst which is Your icon known as ‘Swift Helper’, which, like the full moon, shines with rays of miracles, illuminating our souls with the multitude of God’s gifts and causing us to sing, glorifying the Triune God, Who has glorified You: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
Through Your icon, Most Honourable Mary, Mother of God, You have shone forth the light of salvation upon all who wander in the darkness of sins and passions, and You have named it: ‘Swift Helper’, so that those who pray before it with faith and humility of soul may sing to You:
Rejoice, lightning that illuminates souls
; Rejoice, O thunder that strikes fear into those who renounce You
Rejoice, O gentle refuge of those weary from the turmoil of life’s great sea
Rejoice, O calm harbour of those tossed by the waves of passions
Rejoice-Rejoice, the guide to spiritual purity for the young
Rejoice, the protection and defence of virginity
Rejoice, Thou who softens the hardness of the heart
Rejoice, Thou who so wonderfully warms the coldness of the soul
Rejoice-Rejoice, thou who guides the faithful
along the path of salvation Rejoice, thou who turns those who repent
away from the path of perdition Rejoice, our intercessor before the Son of God
. Rejoice, thou who ceaselessly prayest to Him to have mercy upon us sinners
. Rejoice, most gracious and swift helper – thou who bringest all our prayers to a good end!
Kontakion 7
Wishing to show Your great love for the human race, O Mother of God, You, the Most Good, chose Mount Athos, where You multiplied the monastic settlements, so that all those who are tossed about by worldly vanities might find there a peaceful and beneficent haven for salvation and, aided by You, might be deemed worthy of the heavenly inheritance and sing, together with the Saints, to the Most Holy Trinity: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
You have revealed new signs of Your mercy, O Lady, through the wondrous glorification of Your Holy Icon – Swift Helper – not only to the monks of Mount Athos, but also to all righteous and devout Christians who reverently honour the image of this icon of Yours, so that all may sing to You:
Rejoice, Mother of Our
God Rejoice, thou who art a Virgin
both before and after childbirth Rejoice, thou whom all nations
bless Rejoice, for the Almighty
has exalted thee Rejoice-Rejoice, for the Lord
has looked upon Your humility Rejoice, for the King of kings
has been pleased with Your goodness Rejoice, blessed daughter of the Heavenly
Father Rejoice, Mother who gave birth to the Son before all ages
without the knowledge of a man Rejoice, righteous recipient of the Holy
Spirit Rejoice, healing treasure of Divine
Grace Rejoice, adornment of the world above
Rejoice, protector of the world below
Rejoice, most gracious and swift helper – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
Kontakion 8
We are travellers and sojourners on earth and, as the Apostle says, having no lasting city here to dwell in, to whom shall we turn, O Lady, in our sorrows and tribulations, if not to You, O Most Good One! Do not cast us away, O Mother of God! Do not say to us: ‘I do not know you because of your sins’, but have mercy on us who are lonely and helpless, and receive us into the eternal dwellings – our Protectress – so that we may joyfully sing to the heavenly glory of the Heavenly King, Christ: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
It is a comfort to all the faithful to gaze upon Your icon, Most Holy Lady, in which we see You holding in Your arms the Child from before all ages, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we humbly bow down as our Creator and God, and to You, the true Mother of God, we humbly say:
Rejoice, Ever-Virgin, who was deemed worthy of the good tidings from the Archangel Gabriel
Rejoice, Ever-Virgin
Bride Rejoice, Mother of the Most High Light, who enlighten the souls of all
Rejoice, living throne of the Creator of heaven and earth
Rejoice, gentle
dove Rejoice, spotless
lamb Rejoice, cup that pours forth joy
Rejoice, inexhaustible vessel of the water of life without death
Rejoice, ark of the sweet-smelling myrrh of Jesus Christ
Rejoice, for through You the stench of our passions is driven away
Rejoice, for through You we have come to know the Son of God
, Rejoice, for through You we have learnt to worship the Triune
God, Rejoice, most gracious and swift to help – You who fulfil all our prayers for the good!
Kontakion 9
All nations rightly bless You, Mother of God, for from the rising of the sun to its setting Your name is praised! And the inhabitants of Mount Athos regard You as their Protectress, for You have graced that place with special favour, performing countless miracles and pouring out Your abundant mercies upon those who dwell there, so that they may sing with thanksgiving through You to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
The wise men, proud of their wisdom, cannot comprehend the mystery of Your Ever-Virginity, O Mother of God, nor can they explain the miracle-working power that flows from Your most honoured icons, for the healing of the afflicted and for every spiritual and bodily benefit to mankind! And we, confessing You as the Ever-Virgin with all faith and without doubt, worship Your Holy icon and say to You:
Rejoice, the doubt-dispelling hearing of the unbelievers
RejoiceRejoice, the honourable praise of the faithful
Rejoice, thou who from thy pure womb didst give birth
to Christ without defilement Rejoice, thou who during childbirth didst not break
the bonds of virginity Rejoice, Mother and Virgin, Most Blessed
Rejoice, glorified
Mother of God Rejoice, praise of virgins
Rejoice, unceasing joy of mothers
Rejoice, the spotless One and the One among women
. Rejoice, thou who didst give birth to the Promised One – the Crusher of the serpent’s
head. Rejoice, thou who didst deliver our fallen
forefathers from the ancient curse. Rejoice, who through Your birth opened the closed
gates of Paradise to mankind Rejoice, most gracious and swift helper – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
Kontakion 10
Working for the salvation of Christ-loving people, O Mother of God, you deigned to choose Mount Athos to be inhabited by monks, and you said in a vision to the first hermit of Athos, the most reverend Peter: “‘Let this mountain be the dwelling-place of monks for ever,’’ comforting him with the gracious promise that you would be the helper of all who would spend their lives there in a manner most pleasing to God, granting them what is fitting and delivering them from all troubles, so that they may ceaselessly sing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
You are a wall of defence, O Virgin, for all the righteous monks, the guardians of virginity and purity! For this reason, you decreed that Mount Athos, chosen by you, should be closed to women, so that the monks who dwell there might live free from the temptation of sin, placing in you alone their hope of salvation, after God, and to sing to You words such as these:
Rejoice, unfading flower of purity
! Rejoice, wild lily of purity
! Rejoice, candlestick bearing heavenly light, who illuminates those who yearn for purity
Rejoice, scripture of divine wisdom, who imparts wisdom to the keepers of virginity
Rejoice, mediatrix of salvation for the monks who spend their lives in the service of God
, Rejoice! protector and defender of the inhabitants and hermits of Mount Athos
, Rejoice! you who pour forth blessed joy into God-loving
hearts, Rejoice! who bestows spiritual comfort upon afflicted
souls Rejoice, the gracious nourisher of virgins and motherless
orphans Rejoice, who, through the Love of the immortal Bridegroom, sweetens the virginal
hosts Rejoice, mighty helper in the arduous struggle against bodily
passions Rejoice, sleepless guardian of monastic
communities Rejoice, most gracious and swift helper – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
Kontakion 11
Do not overlook this humble hymn we offer You out of the fullness of our love and devotion, O Most Pure One, and do not turn away from us, who are defiled by many sins; and help us, O Most Good One, to be cleansed through repentance and to grow in a life that is pure and pleasing to God, having You as our helper and guide in our endeavours, so that, according to worthiness and righteousness, we may sing to the Lord: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
Thy holy icon, O Mother of God, shines unshakeably with the rays of Thy wonders and illuminates the whole world, driving away all the enemy’s work with the power of God that flows forth from it! For this we too, sinners that we are, rejoice, having such a pledge of Your goodwill towards us. O swift helper, with thanksgiving we cry out to You:
Rejoice, ray of the sun that never sets
Rejoice, dawn of the day that never ends
Rejoice, You who have risen at the dawn of our
salvation Rejoice, O Thou who hast given birth to the immortal Bridegroom of our
souls Rejoice, O Thou who fulfilth our desires pleasing to God
Rejoice, O Thou who, in times of distress and tribulation, hasteth to our aid for our good
Rejoice, Heaven imagined by the mind, full of spiritual
comfort Rejoice, O Thou who, from Thy fullness, bestowest upon us drops of comfort
Rejoice, O Thou who quenchest the fire of our
passions Rejoice, who zealously bestow a blessed state of soul upon those who seek
it. Rejoice, O Thou who dearly lovest all who live
in the purity of virginity. Rejoice-Rejoice, O thou who, through dreams and visions, search out God’s
chosen ones Rejoice, O most gracious and swift helper – thou who fulfil all our prayers for the good!
Kontakion 12
May the grace of God, which dwells in Your Holy Icon, named by You – Swift Helper – O Lady, draw to it all those who are sorrowful and burdened, and may they not return empty-handed from this fountain of Your mercies and compassion, O Mother of God! In despair – joy; in misfortune – relief; in sickness – healing, received without cost from the Wonder-worker through Your image, Most Good and Holy Mother of God, and with thanksgiving we sing to God, the Giver of all good things: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Singing of Your wonders, O Lady, and Your great mercy towards the human race, we know that we are unworthy to glorify You, You who are more honourable than the Cherubim and more glorified beyond compare than the Seraphim, but, hoping in Your boundless mercy, Most Holy Mother of God, we humbly offer these hymns to You:
Rejoice, gentle refuge of those who labour in godly devotion
RejoiceRejoice, sweetest conversation of the silent
ones Rejoice, life-giving joy of those who dwell in the mountains and the wilderness
Rejoice, secret wisdom of God’s servants who dwell in secret in this
world Rejoice-Rejoice, reconciliation with God of the repentant
sinners Rejoice, greatest guide of Mount Athos
Rejoice, O Thou who there enlightened Peter, the lover of fasting, through Thy
vision Rejoice-Rejoice, thou who bestowed many blessings upon Athanasius, the one made wise by God, through thy
appearance Rejoice, thou who hasthave glorified with heavenly
glory, Rejoice, O Thou who hast shown
a special love to the inhabitants of that mountain, Rejoice, O Thou who healest our
bodies without charge, Rejoice, guide of our souls to the most high
Kingdom Rejoice, most gracious and swift helper – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
Kontakion 13 (this kontakion is sung three times)
O! Mother, sung of by all, who hasst called thyself the Swift Helper, in thy icon, Mother of God, Mary! Receive with mercy this humble prayer of ours, which we offer unto thee with zeal, with faith and love, and pray to the ever-worshipped Trinity to deliver us from the fiery hell, from the impenetrable darkness and from eternal torment! That through your intercession we may inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and be deemed worthy, together with the Saints, to sing to God: Alleluia!
Then the First Ikos is recited again:
The hosts of angels serve you with humility, and all the heavenly powers bless you with ceaseless songs, O Virgin Mother of God, for you gave birth to the King of the angels – Christ our God! And we, sinners, daring to follow you and not knowing how to glorify you as is fitting, say to you with wise humility:
Rejoice, dwelling place of the Godhead made near to us
Rejoice, ever-wondering wonder of the angels
Rejoice, Holy Table that nourishes us with the bread of life
Rejoice-Rejoice, olive tree bearing good fruit, which anoints our
hearts with the oil of mercy Rejoice, inexhaustible treasure of divine gifts
Rejoice, ever-flowing river of miracles
Rejoice, defender of the oppressed
Rejoice, comfort of the sorrowful
Rejoice, helper of those in distress
Rejoice, Healer of the sick
, Rejoice! Strengthener of the feeble
, Rejoice! Liberator of the enslaved
, Rejoice! Most gracious and swift helper – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
and Kontakion 1
Chosen from among all nations, Mother of God and Queen, who hastens to heed the prayers of the humble and pours forth rivers of healing upon the faithful before her Holy Icon, we offer a song of thanksgiving! And you – O most merciful Protectress – turn your gracious ear to our voices of praise and deliver us from all our needs, we who cry out to you: Rejoice, O most gracious and swift helper – who fulfils all our prayers for the good!
Prayer
Most Blessed Lady, Ever-Virgin, Mother of God, who gave birth to God the Word beyond nature, for our salvation, and who hast shown Thyself to be a sea of divine gifts and an ever-flowing river of miracles, showering goodness upon those who run to Thee in faith! Prostrating ourselves before Your Wondrous Image, we pray to You, most gracious Mother of the Lover of mankind, our Lady! Pour out upon us Your abundant mercies and hasten to fulfil the supplications we bring before You, O Swift Helper, which are a source of help, comfort and salvation for each of us, arranging them accordingly. O Most Merciful Lady, look upon Your servants with Your grace, and grant peace to those who are troubled, deliverance to those who are bound, and comfort to all who are grieved by various afflictions!Deliver, Most Merciful Lady, all cities and villages from famine, disease, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, and any other misfortune or punishment, whether temporal or eternal, warding off, through Your maternal intercession, all the wrath of God! Deliver Thy servants from spiritual weakness, from the turmoil of the passions and from falling into sin, so that, without hindrance, whilst living in this world, in all due honour to You, we may be made worthy of the worthy blessings through the Grace and love for mankind of Your Son and our God, to whom all glory, honour and worship, together with His Father without beginning and the Most Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages! Amen!