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Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
anonymous tr., 1919
Chapter 13
To thee, the Champion Leader . . . (see page 26).
Priest. Thou, O Virgin Mother of God, art as a city wall to virgins and to all who flee to thee; for the Maker of Heaven and earth prepared thee, O pure Maiden, and dwelt in thy womb, and taught all to call upon thee:
Hail, Pillar of virginity; hail, Gate of salvation.
Hail, beginning of rational restoration; hail, leader of divine righteousness.
Hail, for thou didst regenerate our fallen race; hail, for thou didst remind those who were mindless.
Hail, thou who didst bring to nought the corruption of hearts; hail, thou who didst give birth to the Sower of chastity.
Hail, bridal Chamber of a virgin marriage; hail, thou who dost join the faithful to the Lord.
Hail, fair nursing-mother of virgins; hail, bridal Escort of holy souls.
Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Choir. Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Priest. Unworthy is every hymn that would encompass the multitude of Thy many mercies; for if we should offer to Thee, O Holy King, hymns of praise numberless as the sands, we should still have done nothing to compare to what Thou hast given to us who sing to Thee: Alleluia.
Choir. Alleluia.
Priest. Verily we behold the Holy Virgin as a shining beacon light appearing to those in darkness: for she kindles the Supernal Light and leads all to divine knowledge; she illumines our minds with radiance and is honoured by these our chants:
Hail, Ray of the Living Sun: hail, Flash of fadeless lustre.
Hail, Lightning, shining upon our souls; hail, thou, who dost as thunder, strike down the enemy.
Hail, for thou didst cause the many-starred Light to dawn; hail, for thou didst cause the ever-flowing River to gush forth.
Hail, thou who didst from life trace the image of the font; hail, thou who didst take away the stain of sin.
Hail, Laver purifying conscience; hail, Wine-bowl for the mingling of joy.
Hail, sweet-scented Fragrance of Christ; hail, life of mystic festival.
Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Choir. Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Priest. When He, Who forgives the ancient debts of all men, would grant grace, of His own will He came to dwell among those who had departed from His favour; and when He had rent asunder the handwriting against them, He hears from all: Alleluia.
Choir. Alleluia.
Priest. Yet while we sing to Him Whom thou didst bear, we all praise thee, O Mother of God, as a living temple; for the Lord, Who holds all things in His hand, dwelt in thy womb, and He hallowed and glorified thee, and taught all to cry to thee:
Hail, Tabernacle of God and of the Word; hail, holiest of holy saints.
Hail, Ark made golden by the Spirit; hail, inexhaustible treasury of Life.
Hail, precious Diadem of godly kings; hail, venerable Boast of faithful priests.
Hail, immovable Tower of the Church; hail, impregnable Bulwark of the Kingdom.
Hail, thou through whom trophies are set up; hail, thou through whom our enemies are cast down.
Hail, healing of my flesh; hail, salvation of my soul.
Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Choir. Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Priest. Zealously we praise thee, O Mother, who didst bear Him Who was the most holy Word of all the Saints (thrice); and when thou receivest this our offering, deliver us all from every ill, and redeem from future woe those who cry to thee: Alleluia.
Choir. Alleluia.
And again the first Stanza:
An angel and the chiefest . . . (see page 17).
Then the Collect: To Thee, the Champion Leader . . . (see page 26), the Trisagion (page 2), Most Holy Trinity . . . (page 2), Our Father (page 2), For Thine is the Kingdom . . . (page 3), and the Dismissal Hymn of the day.