#Akathist

[thesynaxarium]

On the fifth Saturday of Great Lent, we celebrate the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos. For the first four Fridays of Great Lent, a service called the Salutations of the Theotokos is held. This set of hymns was composed in the early 300s describing the various life events of the Theotokos, but was officially chanted as a part of Great Lent in the early 600s when the the city of Byzantium (later known as Constantinople, and now Istanbul) was considered the Queen City and the heart of Christianity after the fall of the Roman Empire. Because of its ideal location, the city was often besieged by enemies. At one point in the early 600s, the city was surrounded by enemies who wanted to sack the city. This particular siege was different and it lasted a few months because all the fighting-aged men were away at war with the Persians. All that was left in the city were the priests, women, children, and the elderly. With no way of defending themselves, they all ran to the main church of Constantinople, in a place called “Blachernae” which is dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos. The people stayed up all night praying to God and the Theotokos, asking for deliverance from their enemies. The Patriarch Sergius of Constantinople gathered all the priests and they endlessly marched around the inside city walls for days on end, holding the Icon of the Theotokos of Blachernae and chanting the hymn below. Then a miracle occurred. Unexpectedly, a huge storm arose with tidal waves and cyclones, and all the enemy's’ fleet was destroyed or turned back. Thus the city was saved. That night, all those in the city (who were still in the church) began chanting the Salutations, while adding the new hymn “To Thee the Champion Leader” or in Greek, "Ti Ypermaho". They chanted this the whole night without sitting down, and thus on the fifth Friday of Lent, the whole service is changed and is called the Akathist (i.e. the not sitting hymn). May the Most Holy Theotokos intercede for us that we might complete the remainder of Great Lent in prayer and repentance + #akathist #theotokos #salutations #prayer #constantinople #orthodox (at Constantinople - Κωνσταντινούπολη) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqeGNqrjEId/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[orthodoxadventure]

Orthodox Prayers against Addiction: Akathist to the Icon of the Theotokos - Inexhaustible Cup

Kontakion I

A wonderful and marvelous healing has been given to us by your Holy Icon, O Sovereign Lady Theotokos. By its appearance we have been delivered from spiritual and physical ills, and from sorrowful circumstances. So we bring you our thankful praise, O All-Merciful Protectress. O Sovereign Lady, whom we call the Inexhaustible Cup, bend down your ear and mercifully hear our lamentation and tears that we bring to you, and give your healing to those who suffer from drunkenness, so that we may cry out to you with faith:

Rejoice, O Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Ikos I

Angelic powers and multitudes of saints continually glorify you, the Theotokos, Queen of all, the intercessor for us sinful Christians wallowing in lawlessness and remaining in sins. It is for our consolation and salvation that you, in your mercy, gave us your miraculous Icon, so that looking upon it, as the one and only star among a multitude of stars on a starlit night, we may prostrate ourselves, shouting from the very depths of our heart:

Rejoice, dwelling place of the unapproachable God! Rejoice, our constant wonder! Rejoice, you make our sorrow wipe away our sins! Rejoice, you make our grief heal our ills! Rejoice, through your miraculous Icon, you bring us your heavenly mercy! Rejoice, O joy of our grieving heart! Rejoice, our wonderful reconciliation with God! Rejoice, O Theotokos, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion II

On seeing the deep sorrow and grief of people possessed by the destructive vice of drunkenness, and also their true repentance, you have willed, O Most Holy Lady, to show your mercy to the blessed city of Serpoukhov, by the appearance of your miraculous Icon, The Inexhaustible Cup, so that all who fall down before it with faith and a contrite heart will receive healing from this grievous illness, and thus may cry to God from the depths of their heart: Alleluia!

Ikos II

Having understood the meaning of the threefold apparition of Saint Varlaam and his order to go to the city of Serpoukhov, the man possessed by the illness of alcoholism did so, and there in a monastery he found your Holy Icon called The Inexhaustible Cup. On seeing such mercy bestowed on us sinners, we cry out to you with veneration:

Rejoice, through pious people you show to us sinners the glory of your marvelous work! Rejoice, sagacious guide, showing us the way of salvation! Rejoice, O Good Teacher, by your goodness you attract us to yourself! Rejoice, by bestowing on us your great blessings, you teach us gratefulness! Rejoice, by making us know hope beyond doubt, you give us gladness of heart! Rejoice, you destroy our destructive passions! Rejoice, you help us in our good intentions! Rejoice, O Theotokos, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion III

The power of the Almighty and the grace of the Sovereign Mother of God strengthened a man suffering from alcoholism, when in obedience to an order of the Theotokos, given to him by Saint Varlaam, he set out for the city of Serpoukhov, despite his paralyzed legs. On his arrival, he found the Icon of the Most Pure Theotokos, and was healed from illness of the soul and that of the body. Therefore from the very depth of his heart, he gratefully exclaimed to God: Alleluia!

Ikos III

You are an inexhaustible fountain, a cup of heavenly gifts that ever remains full. And the people of the city of Serpoukhov, as well as all Orthodox from every city and village who come to your most wonderful Icon, The Inexhaustible Cup, are healed. And so, with grateful lips, they cry out to you:

Rejoice, O vessel of holy water that dissolves our sorrow! Rejoice, O cup by which we receive the joy of our salvation! Rejoice, you attend to our spiritual and physical ills! Rejoice, your prayers tame our passions! Rejoice, you give to each according to his needs! Rejoice, you give generously to all! Rejoice, you have opened for us the treasury of mercy! Rejoice, you show mercy to the fallen one! Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion IV

People laden with passions and addictions, doubting of ever finding deliverance, come with repentance to your inexpressible mercy. And on having been healed, from the very depths of their hearts, they cry to our Saviour born of you: Alleluia!

Ikos IV

On seeing the sorrow and tears of parents, wives, and children whose family member is possessed by the passion of addiction, the Lord gave us your Icon, O Theotokos, and all who come to it receive consolation and spiritual joy. And so we cry out to you with tears of gratitude:

Rejoice, O lamb, you gave birth to the Lamb of God! Rejoice, you are the ladle that draws up joy from the source of immortality! Rejoice, you are the alleviation of the grief of sorrowing mothers! Rejoice, you are the hope of the hopeless! Rejoice, you gracefully protect those who come to you! Rejoice, you are the delight and joy of those in grief! Rejoice, your helping hand is there for those who seek it! Rejoice, O Theotokos, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion V

O Most Gracious Lady, you have shown us your Holy Icon to be the star that leads to God, so that looking upon it and praying to you, we may say: O Theotokos, give healing to those who are suffering from drunkenness and any other illness of mind and body, and teach us all to praise God, singing: Alleluia!

Ikos V

O Theotokos, on seeing the marvels and wonders granted to those who humbly venerate you, wonders pouring from your Icon that miraculously appeared in Serpoukhov, and also from those that were but copies of it, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, you are a speedy protectress of all who come to you! Rejoice, you hear our prayers! Rejoice, you have blessed the city of Serpoukhov! Rejoice, you have shown the glory of your miracles in the region of Moscow! Rejoice, inexhaustible treasure for all who are in need of healing! Rejoice, O almighty help to those who strive for sobriety! Rejoice, O almighty help to those who fight against the world, flesh, Satan and addictions! Rejoice, you defend those who lead a good life in this world! Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion VI

O Theotokos, we proclaim your wonders that pour forth from your Icon, The Inexhaustible Cup, and with tears we pray to you: Save us all from the passion of drunkenness and from other addictions and sins, and teach us, O Pure One, to abstain from all impurity, and to sing to God: Alleluia!

Ikos VI

In the light of the Divine Glory, you look at your Son, the eternal God and Lord Jesus Christ, standing in the chalice as shown on your Icon mysteriously called The Inexhaustible Cup, and you give from it deliverance from drunkenness to us who come to you and bring to you this unceasing praise:

Rejoice, for the angelic powers and the human race rejoice because of you! Rejoice, for your glory surpasses both human and heavenly praise! Rejoice, you have revealed to us the mystery of the Divine Eucharist by showing the image of your Son in the chalice! Rejoice, you show us the Lamb born of you who is always eaten but never consumed! Rejoice, O cup of life and immortality that leads us to the gates of eternal life! Rejoice, you fill our thirsty souls with the water from the fountain of immortality! Rejoice, you do not withhold your blessing even from the most rejected and despised! Rejoice, by your compassion you pull us away from the pit of perdition! Rejoice, O Theotokos, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion VII

A man wanted to thank you, O Theotokos, for healing from alcoholism, so he adorned your miraculous Icon that is in Serpoukhov, singing to God from the depths of his heart: Alleluia!

Ikos VII

We see a new miracle from your Holy Icon, O Theotokos. A servant of God, Stephen, a victim of the disease of alcoholism, was imploring your maternal intercession, and he has been granted a cure. So, in gratitude, he adorned your Icon with rich gifts, and falling before it, he called to you with tears:

Rejoice, lifegiving fountain of healing! Rejoice, heavenly cup of divine gifts! Rejoice, river that carries healing! Rejoice, the sea into which sink all our passions! Rejoice, with your tender and maternal hands, you raise up those who fall under the weight of drunkenness. Rejoice, you do not turn down gifts of gratitude! Rejoice, joy of pious people! Rejoice, you grant us those of our petitions that are good for us! Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion VIII

It must be strange and incredible to unbelievers to hear that your Icon, The Inexhaustible Cup, procures miracles. But to us who believe in your words proclaimed about your first Icon, "The grace of the One who is born of me and my own blessings will always be with this Icon," this present Icon also exudes your mercy. And so, reverently, we venerate it, crying to God: Alleluia!

Ikos VIII

People suffering from alcoholism and addictions do put all their hope in you, O Sovereign Lady. Bend down to our ills and our passions. For who but you, O Theotokos, shall rise us out of the pit of perdition and of physical and spiritual misery? And thus, having bent our knees, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, you do not reject the prayers of those who are sinful! Rejoice, you give your help to those who ask for it! Rejoice, you show the depth of your compassion for the sinner! Rejoice, you give courage to those who have lost all hope! Rejoice you extend your helping hand to those who suffer from drunkenness! Rejoice, by your gift of grace you console those who suffer patiently! Rejoice, you nurse our physical and emotional ills! Rejoice, you teach us to despise the empty pleasures of this life! Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion IX

All the angels are amazed at your mercy, O Lord, for You have given to sinful mankind a strong Protectress and Helper. She looks down at our weakness and heals those suffering from the bitter disease of drunkenness and teaches the faithful to sing: Alleluia!

Ikos IX

The most exalted human mind cannot praise enough the appearance of your glorious Icon, O Sovereign Lady, nor can we sinners bring from our sinful lips a glorification worthy of our Protectress. On having seen innumerable miracles coming from your Icon, we rejoice in our heart and spirit and proclaim:

Rejoice, from your holy face miracles pour forth! Rejoice, you speedily deliver us from grief and sorrow! Rejoice, you put to shame those who deny you! Rejoice, you protect from every evil those who come to you! Rejoice, by your gentle radiance you disperse the darkness of our passions and our sins! Rejoice, you fill our hearts with love for your Son and for yourself! Rejoice, you show us the path of repentance! Rejoice, you are our mediator before the righteous judge! Rejoice, O Theotokos, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion X

Wishing to save all those who suffer from the diseases of alcoholism and other addictions, you have given us your wonderful Icon, O Theotokos, so that all who suffer may come to your miraculous image and, having been healed, may tenderly cry out to God: Alleluia!

Ikos X

You are the wall and the shield, O Lady Theotokos, for those who suffer from drunkenness and also for all those who come to you fervently and who piously venerate your Holy Icon; for the Lord gave it to us to help us and to heal us from this destructive addiction and, thus, He inspires us to sing to you:

Rejoice, you alleviate our sufferings and give hope to those who despair! Rejoice, you are the healing of our ills! Rejoice, with your purity you wipe away our corruption! Rejoice, by your holiness you illumine our darkness! Rejoice, by your cloak of compassion you clothe our mortal body! Rejoice, by your strength you fortify our prayers! Rejoice, you strengthen us in our weakness! Rejoice, you disperse the dark clouds of passions that surround us! Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion XI

O Pure One, do not despise our humble singing that we bring to you from fullness of love and zeal, and do not turn away your face from those who suffer from drunkenness and despair, but do help us so that we also may be cleansed from every impurity and may rightly and justly sing to God: Alleluia!

Ikos XI

O Most Holy Lady, on your Icon, you are seen like a burning candle in rays of grace, surrounded by the assembly of saints and holy martyrs; and as you indicate to us the path of righteousness, we call to you and say:

Rejoice, by the intercession of Saint Domnica you save us from this world of trouble! Rejoice, by her pleading you help us to overcome passions of the flesh! Rejoice, by the prayers of the holy martyr Varlaam you fill our hearts with pious thoughts! Rejoice, by his pleading you illumine our conscience! Rejoice, by the prayers of the holy martyr Paraskeva you deliver those who suffer from drunkenness! Rejoice, by her intercession you call us to repentance and watchfulness! Rejoice, together with the holy martyr Antipas you mellow the bitter heart! Rejoice, with him you save those who call on your name! Rejoice, O Sovereign Lady, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion XII

The grace that shines through your Icon, The Inexhaustible Cup, calls to it all those who suffer, all the unfortunate, widows and orphans, and especially those who are ill with the disease of alcoholism; and no one goes away empty handed from your inexhaustible cup, O merciful one, but all are filled with divine gifts, so that having received healing and help they may sing to you: Alleluia!

Ikos XII

Praising your wondrous work and great mercy that you show to those who suffer from addictions, we beg you, O Compassionate One: save, have mercy on us, show us the right path, and do not reject us who seek your protection and call out to you:

Rejoice, you sustain us on the way to soberness! Rejoice, by the dew of your mercy you deliver us from the passion of alcohol! Rejoice, by your mercy you heal us from addictions! Rejoice, you are a speedy help to those who suffer from all kinds of dependence! Rejoice, you support those who are even-tempered! Rejoice, you humble the prideful! Rejoice, you exalt the humble and wish salvation to all! Rejoice, O Holy Theotokos, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion XIII 3 times

O All-Merciful Mother of our Lord and God Jesus Christ, hear our prayer and deliver us from all ills, physical and emotional, and especially your servant/s (name/s) who suffer from this disease, so that he/she/they may not perish, but might be saved and thus would sing to God: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Ikos I

Angelic powers and multitudes of saints continually glorify you, the Theotokos, Queen of all, the intercessor for us sinful Christians wallowing in lawlessness and remaining in sins. It is for our consolation and salvation that you, in your mercy, gave us your miraculous Icon, so that looking upon it, as the one and only star among a multitude of stars on a starlit night, we may prostrate ourselves, shouting from the very depths of our heart:

Rejoice, dwelling place of the unapproachable God! Rejoice, our constant wonder! Rejoice, you make our sorrow wipe away our sins! Rejoice, you make our grief heal our ills! Rejoice, through your miraculous Icon, you bring us your heavenly mercy! Rejoice, O joy of our grieving heart! Rejoice, our wonderful reconciliation with God! Rejoice, O Theotokos, the Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Kontakion I

A wonderful and marvelous healing has been given to us by your Holy Icon, O Sovereign Lady Theotokos. By its appearance we have been delivered from spiritual and physical ills, and from sorrowful circumstances. So we bring you our thankful praise, O All-Merciful Protectress. O Sovereign Lady, whom we call the Inexhaustible Cup, bend down your ear and mercifully hear our lamentation and tears that we bring to you, and give your healing to those who suffer from drunkenness, so that we may cry out to you with faith:

Rejoice, O Inexhaustible Cup that quenches our spiritual thirst!

Prayer I

O our merciful and holy Lady Theotokos, hope and refuge of the orphan, defense of the stranger, help of those in need, and protection of those who are bitter: you see our misfortune, you see our sorrow. From all sides, we are assailed by temptations, and there is no one to protect us. You yourself help us, for we are weak. Feed us, for we are strangers. Show us the way, for we are lost. Heal us, for we hurt. Save us, for there is no hope for us. We have no other recourse, neither protection nor consolation, but you, O Mother of all who suffer and are burdened. Look down upon us sinners who are harsh and bitter, and protect us by your holy omophor, that we may be delivered from all evil that assails us, and especially from drunkenness, so that we may always glorify your all-holy name. Amen.

Prayer II

O all-merciful sovereign Lady, we come to your protection. Do not despise our petitions, but kindly hear us—wives, children, husbands, parents, and all those who suffer from heavy affliction of addictions of all sorts—and restore those who, because of it, fall away from our holy Mother the Church and its salvation. O merciful Theotokos, touch their heart and speedily restore them from their fallen state, and lead them to salutary repentance. Implore your Son, Christ our God, to forgive us our trespasses and not to turn away His mercies from His people, but that He would strengthen us in sobriety and chastity. Accept, O all-holy Theotokos, the petitions of mothers shedding tears about their children, wives sobbing for their husbands, children, orphans, beggars, and all those who were forsaken, and all of us who venerate your Icon, and let your prayers carry our petitions to the throne of the Almighty. Cover us and keep us from all snares of the enemy and the traps of the evil one, and at the dreadful hour of our death, help us to pass the ordeal without stumbling. By your prayers, save us from eternal condemnation so that God's mercy may cover us for the ages to come. Amen.

Troparion in Tone IV

Today we faithful come to the divine and miraculous Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, who fills the faithful from the Inexhaustible Cup of her mercy and shows them great miracles; and we who have seen them and heard of them rejoice in our heart and cry out, with deep feeling and devotion, O all-merciful sovereign Lady, heal our ills and our passions by praying to your Son, Christ our God, that he may save our souls!

[apilgrimpassingby]

I Have A Question...

For Orthodox and to a lesser extent Catholic people, or whoever else practices devotion to the Virgin Mary.

So, I (A) like the Akathist to the Theotokos and (B) have a problem with sexual fantasies/the taint of past viewing pornographic-fetishistic content. So, to combat the latter and the problems it causes with views of women, I have decided to, each day, recite the first oikos of the Akathist and, on each line, think of one of the girls from my sexual fantasies as a way of saying to myself "this is what women mean to God; porn and sexual fantasies lie to you and it's bad for everyone." But, I wondered last night:

To help you make that decision, I'll include the relevant text here:

An archangel was sent from Heaven to say to the Mother of God "rejoice!" And seeing Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood crying to her such things as these:

Rejoice, thou through whom joy will flash forth!

Rejoice, thou through whom the Curse will cease!

Rejoice, revival of fallen Adam!

Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!

Rejoice, height hard to climb for human thoughts!

Rejoice, depth hard to contemplate even for the eyes of angels!

Rejoice, thou who art a King's throne!

Rejoice, thou who bearest Him who bears all!

Rejoice, thou who causest the Sun to appear!

Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation!

Rejoice, thou through whom creation becomes new!

Rejoice, thou through whom the Creator becomes a babe!

Rejoice, unwedded bride!

Please reblog, both to get more votes and to add any comments you may have.

[dramoor]

"When one passes through those times of pain which wring the heart, one is called not to break down but to break through. Just as there is a sound barrier, so there is a kind of praise barrier, and one breaks through the darkness by offering praise to God. Praise at such times is not offered as the fruit of a contented and happy mood. Such praise is not the result of a feeling. It is offered in the teeth of feelings of pain, and in spite of emotional numbness which such feelings of pain can bring.

Such praise is offered to God as a pure act of obedience, as a naked act of the will. It comes from a place deep down, from the heart which lives beneath the daily swirl of feelings. Such acts of praise are acts of defiance, through which we defy the darkness, and confess our faith in God who lives above this vale of tears and who calls us to Himself.

That is why, perhaps, such praise breaks through. When one is able to praise God in such circumstances, one is acknowledging that one is not the Center of the universe, and that one’s pain and loss, though personally difficult, have not displaced the cosmos, or changed the faithfulness of God. Like Job looking to God who appeared to him out of the whirlwind, we lift our eyes from ourselves to behold the Lord, and find a whole new perspective and peace. We acknowledge that although our life is temporarily in tatters, God remains on the throne, and He will make it all right—either in this age or the next."

~Archpriest Lawrence R. Farley, on the Akathist to Jesus, Light to Those in Darkness

(Photo © dramoor 2024 Continental Divide Trail, Colorado)

[dramoor]

"Thou canst restore to its former beauty a soul lost and without hope. With Thee, there is nothing that cannot be redeemed. Thou art love; Thou art Creator and Redeemer."

~From Kontakion 10, Glory to God for All Things

Untitled (Expulsion) by Fred Tomaselli (2000)

[traumacatholic]

I recently got engaged to the love of my life. We are both still very young, but currently there is a possibility they may have cancer. we cannot currently make an appointment with the hospital because its the weekend, and moreover if we can get an appointment it may be months away. Im terrified beyond belief. My fiancé even more so.

I truly do not know what to do. I'm someone who has been blessed in life in that I have never lost someone close to me. My fiancé pulled me out of the worst time in my life when I met them. My connection to God has never been strong despite my family being catholic. I don't even really know how to pray. We have so many plans for the future, to be married and raise a family together. To try and put a little good back into the world. To grow old together.

I am at a loss. Any prayer you can offer would mean so much to me. I would do anything for my fiancé, and though it feels wrong to come back to my faith because something horrible is happening and not for simply wanting to I only hope God can forgive me for it and protect my Love.

Of course, I will keep you both in my prayers. Never feel like you're turning to your faith for the 'wrong' reason, because this can put you off really engaging and connecting with your faith and using it as a pillar and a support network. Please reach out to a Church, even if you aren't currently attending one. And asking for prayers and for help from the Priest. Even if you did turn to faith for the 'wrong' reason, ultimately by spending time in prayer, spending time reading Scripture, spending time going to Church - whatever things you might be doing. Should hopefully lead to you sincerely connecting with your faith in a way that perhaps feels more meaningful to you. A genuine engagement with the faith. It is better to turn to God in times of desperate situations, than to never turn to Him at all. God never tires of us turning to Him for help.

People turn to the faith in different ways, in many different situations. We should never treat the individual turning to God as 'this is the right reason', 'this is the wrong reason'. Anything that could lead to someone genuinely increasing their faith, no matter how slim that possibility may be, should be encouraged. How many cultural Catholics still turn to St Anthony for help finding a lost item? Or a Hail Mary when they're in the hospital waiting room? As the old saying goes 'there's no atheist in the trenches'. And regardless of how 'silly' or 'insincere' or whatever else term we might use that turn to faith might be, God will use it as an opportunity for you to develop or redevelop that relationship with Him. Our entire life is a conversion process. We are always, every single day, choosing to convert to God through repentance or choosing to slip away from Him. Hoping in God, hoping in His power and His mercy and His comfort isn't a bad thing.

In terms of prayers, if you are feeling up for it. There is an Akathist to the Theotokos for healing - particularly for healing from cancer. I know you don't have a confirmed diagnosis, but please don't feel like you have to wait until then to pray this. You can pray it now. This is a long prayer. It is designed to be read all the way through. Don't worry about the names of Troparion or Kontakion, that's meant for people that are chanting the Akathist. http://www.stvladimiraami.org/sheetmusic/akathistvsetsaritsa.pdf Has the beginning prayers, as well as the full akathist. Generally, the first couple of times reading through an Akathist can make it take a long time. But I found through the Akathist that I prayed daily, that eventually it takes a lot less time because you know the prayer well enough. Don't feel like you have to read this every day. Traditionally, Akathists can be said once a day for a 40 day period. You don't have to do it for that long, just as and when it feels feasible. It does also have three prayers at the bottom. If you're ever not feeling up for praying the Akathist, feel free to pray those individually.

I have attached some much shorter prayers under the read more. Feel free to mix and match between them. I would recommend having at least one prayer, that you pray morning and night. If you can, I would also recommend reading a Psalm a day.

Dear Lord, as my loved ones and I await the results of medical tests about my affliction, let us offer you our anxieties for our good and your glory. Calm us in our worries, knowing these don’t add wisdom but rather stress to this situation. Enlighten us, though the power of your Spirit, to make wise decisions as to treatment. Help us not to turn away from You in these fragile, painful moments, but rather towards you for grace and strength. Comfort us in seeking you now as we place all our concerns in your loving hands as we say “Thy Will Be Done.”

--

Mary, health of the sick, you brought forth into our world Jesus Christ, our Divine Healer. In your caring goodness, intercede for (mention name), who is truly in need of miraculous assistance.

If it be God’s will, I ask this day that the gift of healing from all forms of cancer be granted to (name).

Comfort him/her during times of anguish, pain, confusion and despair. Ask our gracious Savior to grant him/her physical health, inner peace and patience in suffering.

May God’s healing graces grant (name) a life of happiness, health and fulfillment here on earth, and one day the joy of eternal glory in His loving embrace.

Amen.

--

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.

O Lord Almighty, the Healer of our souls and bodies, You Who put down and raise up, Who chastise and heal also; do You now, in Your great mercy, visit our brother (sister) (Name), who is sick. Stretch forth Your hand that is full of healing and health, and get him (her) up from his (her) bed, and cure him (her) of his (her) illness. Put away from him (her) the spirit of disease and of every malady, pain and fever to which he (she) is bound; and if he (she) has sins and transgressions, grant to him (her) remission and forgiveness, in that You love mankind; yea, Lord my God, pity Your creation, through the compassions of Your Only-Begotten Son, together with Your All-Holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit, with Whom You are blessed, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.

O Lord our God, Who by word alone did heal all diseases, Who did cure the kinswoman of Peter, You Who chastise with pity and heal according to Your goodness; Who are able to put aside every malady and infirmity, do You Yourself, the same Lord, grant aid to this Your servant (Name) and cure him (her) of every sickness of which he (she) is grieved; lift him (her) up from his (her) bed of pain and distress, and send down upon him (her) Your great mercy, and if it be Your Will, give to him (her) health and a complete recovery; for You are the Physician of our souls and bodies, and to You do we send up Glory: to Father, and to Son, and to Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

--

O God, our help in time of need, Who are just and merciful, and Who inclines to the supplications of His people.

Look down upon ____________and have mercy on them and deliver them from the trouble that now besets them.

Deal with ____________ not according to their iniquities, but according to Your manifold mercies, for we are the works of Your hands, and You know our weaknesses.

I pray to you to grant ____________ Your divine helping grace, and endow them with patience and strength to endure their hardships with complete submission to Your Will.

Only You know our misery and sufferings, and to You, our only hope and refuge, we flee for relief and comfort, trusting in Your infinite love and compassion, that in due time, when You know best, You will deliver ____________ from this trouble, and turn their distress into comfort.

We then shall rejoice in Your mercy, and exalt and praise Your Holy Name, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, both now and forever and to the ages of ages.  Amen

--

[Feel free to pray this one for yourself, and to edit it to be a prayer for your fiancé. From my understanding, when we are praying for someone else, we omit any references to them being a sinner. So you would edit it to 'Be merciful to him/her, O Master. Take from them the heavy burden of despair.']

O Greatly-merciful Master, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and cleanse me from every sadness and disturbance and cowardice. Drive away from me every spiritual choking and demonic sorrow, that I sense in my body and my soul. For You are our Joy, and the Hope of all the ends of the earth, and those far off at sea. Be merciful to me, O Master, upon my sins. Take from me the heavy burden of sin and despair. Drive far away from me every sadness and laziness. Confirm me in Your Love, and with unassailable hope and unshakable faith in You, through the intercessions of Your Spotless Mother, and all Your Saints. Amen.

--

[I would recommend this one for yourself]

O Master, Lord my God, in Whose hands is my destiny: Help me according to Thy mercy, and leave me not to perish in my transgressions, nor allow me to follow them who place desires of the flesh over those of the spirit. I am Thy creation; disdain not the work of Thy hands. Turn not away; be compassionate and humiliate me not, neither scorn me, O Lord, as I am weak. I have fled unto Thee as my Protector and God. Heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. Save me for Thy mercy's sake, for I have cleaved unto Thee from my youth; let me who seeks Thee not be put to shame by being rejected by Thee for mine unclean actions, unseemly thoughts, and unprofitable remembrances. Drive away from me every filthy thing and excess of evil. For Thou alone art holy, alone mighty, and alone immortal, in all things having unexcelled might, which, through Thee, is given to all that strive against the devil and the might of his armies. For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship: To the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen

--

[religious-extremist]

The Miraculous Icon of the Theotokos the Inexhaustible Cup.

This icon is the helper for those struggling with addiction and alcoholism for it is truly only Christ who gives satiety to the soul.

The "Inexhaustible Cup" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was revealed in Russia in 1878. A retired soldier from Tula had spent his pension on alcohol, ruining his health. Though he was no longer able to walk, he continued to drink.

One night a holy Elder appeared to him in a dream and told him to go to the Serpukhov monastery of the Mother of God. "Have a Molieben served before her Icon ‘The Inexhaustible Chalice.’" Since he had no money and could not walk, the man paid no attention to the dream. Then the Elder appeared a second and third time, speaking to him with increasing severity.

Crawling on all fours, the man reached the next village and stayed in the home of an old woman. She rubbed his legs, and he began to feel better. The next day, he resumed his journey with two canes, then with one, until he arrived at the monastery.

He described his dreams to the monks, but none of them had ever heard of "The Inexhaustible Cup" Icon. Finally, one of them remembered an icon on which a chalice was depicted. On the back of the icon was an inscription, "The Inexhaustible Chaice." After the Molieben, the peasant returned home restored to health, and cured of his alcoholism.

News of the miracle spread, and many alcoholics and their families came to pray before the Icon. Many of them came back to thank the Mother of God for answering their prayers. Every Sunday in the Serpukhov-Vyotsk monastery a Molieben with an Akathist is served before the Icon for those who are addicted to alcohol.

[andijaart]

+++🙏🏻God Bless🕊️+++

Venerable Martyr Athanasius of Brest, Abbot

MEMORIAL DAY SEPTEMBER 18

Blessed are you, our Father Athanasius, because you lived piously, standing vigilantly for the Orthodox faith, always humbly singing the Akathist of the Most Pure, commanding no one to violate the holy Orthodox faith, suffering for the testimony of the truth even to death. But we, honoring your holiness, call out to you with boldness: "Our Father, Holy Martyr Athanasius, you are our glory and adornment."

💫International Orthodox Art Corporation Andcross May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

[apilgrimpassingby]

Rejoice, scion of an undying shoot!

Rejoice, field of untainted fruit!

Rejoice, thou who labourest for Him Whose labour is Love!

Rejoice, thou who givest birth to the Father of our Life!

Rejoice, cornland yielding a rich crop of mercies!

Rejoice, table bearing a wealth of forgiveness!

Rejoice, thou who revivest the garden of delights!

Rejoice, thou who preparest a haven for souls!

Rejoice, acceptable incense of intercession!

Rejoice, purification of all the world!

Rejoice, favour of God to mortals!

Rejoice, access of mortals to God!

Rejoice, Unwedded Bride!

-Third oikos of the Akathist to the Theotokos

[electracx]

trying to translate an akathist and just realized i have the inteligence of a 5 year old

[guiltywisdom]

Hi! I saw your other preyer advice and was curious if you knew any preyers to help with addiction? I'm trying to quit smoking again despite the things that drove me back to it still being present :/

This akathist is used for addictions (simply replace alcoholism here with any addiction)

There's also this prayer to Holy Martyr Saint Ephraim of Nea Makri: O Holy Martyr Ephraim, look with compassion upon my distress and, as thou didst deliver the young man from his cruel addiction, so also pray for me that our Lord and Saviour, for Whom thou didst witness unto death, may deliver my soul from captivity to Satan. For I am in cruel bondage and suffering because of my weakness and sinfulness. Beseech our merciful Lord that, as He didst lead the Hebrews forth from slavery in Egypt and called His people out of Babylon, as He delivered the youth from the demon, and freed the daughter of the Canaanite woman, and healed the woman taken in adultery and restored the Samaritan woman, that He may also set me free and deliver me from the demon of addiction. I confess that I have fallen into this evil through my own slothfulness and weakness, but have mercy and pray for me, O saint and martyr of God

And of course you can also simply offer prayers to the Theotokos or pray the Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner).

May the Lord deliver you from addiction to smoking.

[jarenka]

This thing that plays in heaven

Some harp performances I collected, both classical and jazz

Jazz harpist LaVilla Tulos preforms "Swanee River"

other videos are under the cut

Pearl Chertok - Around the clock suite performed by Joel von Lerber. Harpist himself comments this piece between movements.

Dorothy Ashby ‎– Afro Harping (1968) From an album by famous jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby.

Another famous jazz harpist Alice Coltrane performs harp solo at international jazz music festival Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw, Poland in 1987.

Aram Khachaturian - Dance of Pink Girls (from Gayane ballet) performed by harp quartet from Higher School of Music of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Bernard Andres - Jazzy - Ragtime performed by Harp trio: Diana Grubišić Ćiković, Marta Ćiković and Veronika Ćiković

Deborah Henson-Conant - Baroque Flamenco performed by author

Juhi Bansal - Trail of Stars performed by Lee Yun Chai

Brandee Younger's Tiny Desk concert. Beautiful jazz music and amazing vocalist.

All this harp concert is worth listening, but I want to show you the last piece (starts from 1:35:27) because I didn't find it separately but it sounds so cool! Valeriy Kikta - Akathist to Vera Dulova for six harps and percussions

[orthodoxadventure]

do you know of prayers to decrease suicide ideation? And can you please pray my stomach churns i am in so much distress. (I love your blog, god bless you) <33333

May God bless you and comfort you, and thank you for the kind words! I will definitely keep you in my prayers.

One thing I would recommend is reading the Psalms, and finding one that really resonates with you and including that into your prayer routine. Or if you don't have a prayer routine already, then praying this Psalm morning and night (and whenever else you need it through the day). It doesn't explicitly have to be about depression, a lot of the Psalms talk about placing their hope in the Lord even through the distress and suffering they're experiencing - and something like this might really resonate with you and comfort you.

You can find a collection of four prayers that are related to depression, anxiety, and suffering here, which should be of some help to you: https://www.sthermansoca.org/resources/prayers-against-fear/

Then there is also:

Prayer against Depression: Prayer to the Mother of God

Prayer to the Theotokos for Healing

Prayer to the Mother of God in a Time of Distress

Akathist to St. Xenia of St. Petersburg

Prayer of Someone in Trouble

Prayer of Saint John Chrysostom

Prayer to St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco

Healing Prayer of Saint Ambrose of Milan

Guardian Angel Prayers for Protection

Prayer of St. Dimitri of Rostov

Prayer for the Self

Prayers don't have to explicitly be about depression or liberation from despair in order to be helpful. Find prayers that really resonate with you, and ones that you are willing and able to pray. Try to read even one Psalm a day as well as a prayer that you find helpful.

Speak often to God about your difficulties and struggles also. Sometimes the best prayers are the ones that we come up with, because they most accurately reflect our situation, our wants, our needs, and so on. We don't need to know the perfect things to say. But the act of praying about our issues, of articulating them and putting them into words and placing them before God can be of immense help and comfort to us. And the act of articulating problems out loud can go a long way to untangling them in our head which can help us feel even a little less overwhelmed.

God bless you!

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Tuesday, June 25, 2024

june 12_june 25

Third day of the Holy Trinity

THE MONK ARSENIUS OF KONEVSK (1447)

Saint Arsenius of Konevits was a native of Novgorod, a coppersmith by trade. The saint accepted tonsure at the Lisich monastery near Novgorod, where he spent eleven years. He went to Mount Athos in 1373, and there he spent three years, dwelling in prayer and making copper vessels for the brethren.

In the year 1393, Saint Arsenius returned to Russia and brought with him an icon of the Mother of God, which was later called the Konevits Icon. Saint Arsenius went with this icon to the island of Konevets on Lake Ladoga, where he spent five years in solitude.

In 1398, with the blessing of Archbishop John of Novgorod, Saint Arsenius laid the foundations of a cenobitic monastery dedicated to the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. He visited Athos a second time, and asked the holy Fathers for their prayers and a blessing for his monastery.

In 1421, the lake flooded, destroying the monastery structures. This forced Saint Arsenius to relocate the monastery to a new site on the island. Saint Arsenius died in 1447 and was buried in the monastery church. Igumen Barlaam of Konevits wrote his life in the sixteenth century. The Life of Saint Arsenius was published in 1850 with the Service and Akathist in his honor.

THE MONK PETER OF ATHOS (734)

Saint Peter of Athos, a Greek by birth, served as a soldier in the imperial armies and he lived at Constantinople. In the year 667, during a war with the Syrians, Saint Peter was taken captive and locked up in a fortress in the city of Samara on the Euphrates River.

For a long time he languished in prison and he pondered over which of his sins had brought God’s chastisement upon him. Saint Peter remembered that once he had intended to leave the world and go to a monastery, but he had not done so. He began to observe a strict fast in the prison and to pray fervently, and he besought Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker to intercede before God for him.

Saint Nicholas appeared in a dream to Peter and advised him to call upon Saint Simeon the God-Receiver (Feb. 3) for help. Saint Nicholas appeared to him once more in a dream, encouraging the prisoner in patience and hope. The third time that he appeared it was not in a dream, but with Saint Simeon the God-Receiver. Saint Simeon touched his staff to the chains binding Saint Peter, and the chains melted away like wax. The doors of the prison opened, and Saint Peter was free.

Saint Simeon the God-Receiver became invisible, but Saint Nicholas conveyed Saint Peter to the borders of the Greek territory. Reminding him of his vow, Saint Nicholas became invisible. Saint Peter then journeyed to Rome to receive monastic tonsure at the tomb of the Apostle Peter. Even here Saint Nicholas did not leave him without his help. He appeared in a dream to the Pope of Rome and informed him of the circumstances of Saint Peter’s liberation from captivity, and he commanded the Pope to tonsure the former prisoner into monasticism.

On the following day, in the midst of a throng of the people who had gathered for divine services, the Pope loudly exclaimed, “Peter, you who are from the Greek lands, and whom Saint Nicholas has freed from prison in Samara, come here to me.” Saint Peter stood in front of the Pope, who tonsured him into monasticism at the tomb of the Apostle Peter. The Pope taught Saint Peter the rules of monastic life and kept the monk by him. Then with a blessing, he sent Saint Peter to where God had appointed him to journey.

Saint Peter boarded a ship sailing to the East. The shipowners, after going ashore, besought Saint Peter to come and pray at a certain house, where the owner and all the household lay sick. Saint Peter healed them through his prayer.

The Most Holy Theotokos appeared in a dream to Saint Peter and indicated the place where he should live til the very end of his days: Mount Athos. When the ship arrived at Athos, it then halted of its own accord. Saint Peter realized that this was the place he was meant to go, and so he went ashore. This was in the year 681. Peter then dwelt in the desolate places of the Holy Mountain, not seeing another person for fifty-three years. His clothing had become tattered, but his hair and beard had grown out and covered his body in place of clothes.

At first Saint Peter was repeatedly subjected to demonic assaults. Trying to force the saint to abandon his cave, the demons sometimes took on the form of armed soldiers, and at other times of fierce beasts and vipers that seemed ready to tear the hermit apart. Saint Peter overcame the demonic attacks through fervent prayer to God and His Holy Mother. Then the enemy resorted to trickery. Appearing under the guise of a lad sent to him from his native home, he besought the monk with tears to leave the wilderness and return to his own home. The saint wept, but without hesitation he answered, “Here have the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos led me. I will not leave here without Her permission.” Hearing the Name of the Mother of God, the demon vanished.

After seven years the devil came to Saint Peter in the guise of a radiant angel and said that God was commanding him to go into the world for the enlightenment and salvation of people in need of his guidance. The experienced ascetic again replied that without the permission of the Mother of God he would not forsake the wilderness. The devil disappeared and did not bother to come near the saint anymore. The Mother of God appeared to Saint Peter in a dream with Saint Nicholas and told the brave hermit that after he had fasted for forty days, an angel would bring him heavenly manna. Saint Peter fasted, and on the fortieth day he fortified himself with the heavenly manna, receiving the strength for another forty-day fast.

Once, a hunter chasing after a stag saw the naked man, covered with hair and girded about the loins with leaves. He was afraid and was about to flee, but Saint Peter stopped him and told him of his life. The hunter asked to remain with him, but the saint sent him home. Saint Peter gave the hunter a year for self-examination and forbade him to tell anyone about meeting him.

A year later the hunter returned with his brother, who was afflicted with a demon, and several other companions. When they entered the Saint Peter’s cave, they saw that he had already reposed. The hunter, with bitter tears, told his companions of the life of Saint Peter. His brother, after merely touching the saint’s body, received healing. Saint Peter died in the year 734. His holy relics were on Athos at the monastery of Saint Clement. During the Iconoclast period the relics were hidden away, and in the year 969 they were transferred to the Thracian village of Photokami.

Saint Peter once saw the Mother of God in a vision, and she spoke of Her earthly domain, Mount Athos: “I have chosen this mountain... and have received it from My Son and God as an inheritance, for those who wish to forsake worldly cares and strife.... Exceedingly do I love this place. I will aid those who come to dwell here and who labor for God... and keep His commandments.... I will lighten their afflictions and labors, and shall be an invincible ally for the monks, invisibly guiding and guarding them....”

Generations of Orthodox monks can attest to the truth of these words. The Mother of God is regarded as the Abbess of the Holy Mountain, not just in name, but in actual fact. For this reason, Mt. Athos is known as the “Garden of the Theotokos.”

Source: Orthodox Church in America_OCA

ROMANS 1:1-7, 13-17

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

MATTHEW 11:27-30

2 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

[dramoor]

"Every flower is fragrant through the power of the Holy Spirit, in a delicate flow of aroma and tenderness of color; the beauty of the Great contained in what is small. Praise and honor to God, Who gives life, Who spreads forth the meadows like a flowering carpet, Who crowns the fields with golden ears of wheat and azure basilisks, and the soul – with the joy of contemplation.

Let us rejoice and sing to Him: Alleluia."

~Akathist Glory to God for All Things, Kontakion 3

(Photo © dramoor 2019)

[liferelics]

GOD BLESS ! This hard to find limited edition CANONS AND AKATHIST FOR EVERYDAY. ( Russian Language ) Limited Edition Published 2017 The book is printed on the white paper. The cover is hard, Black leather. Made by the Nuns in the Orthodox monastery , handycraft . There are 511 pages . Sizes are : 4.2" x 3.0" and 1.0" thick . 110mm X 77mm X 26mm Brand new and unused. Shipping is made from Europe. Delivery is during 5 - 20 days worldwide. WITH LOVE IN THE CHRIST !