Akathist to our Lord Jesus Christ

Kontakion 1: Tone 8

O greatest Defender and Lord, Conqueror of hell, delivering us from eternal death, we, Your servants and Your creation, bring You praise. But as One who has countless mercies, deliver us from all needs, who sing to You: Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us!

Ikos 1

Creator of angels and Lord of powers, open to me, the unlearned, my mind and tongue, to the praise of Your most pure name, just as You opened the hearing and tongue of the deaf and dumb of old, so that I too may speak these things:

Most wonderful Jesus, the wonder of angels;

Most powerful Jesus, the salvation of the ancestors;

Most sweet Jesus, the glory of the patriarchs;

Most glorified Jesus, the strength of rulers;

Most beloved Jesus, the fulfillment of the prophets;

Most wonderful Jesus, the strengthening of the martyrs;

Most soothing Jesus, the joy of monks;

Most merciful Jesus, the sweetness of priests;

Most merciful Jesus, the restraint of hermits;

Most sweet Jesus, the joy of the pious;

Most pure Jesus, the whole mind of those pure in virginity;

Jesus, before all ages, the salvation of sinners;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 2

Seeing, O Lord, the widow weeping greatly, and as then, having mercy, You resurrected her son whom she was carrying to bury, so also resurrect my soul, slain by sins, O Lover of mankind, and have mercy on me, who sing to You: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

The meaning that is difficult to understand, Philip sought to understand, saying: Lord, show us the Father. And You said to him: Have you been with Me so long, and have you not known that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father? Therefore, to You, Who are incomprehensible, with fear we speak to You:

Jesus, God before the ages;

Jesus, the all-powerful King;

Jesus, the long-suffering Master;

Jesus, the most merciful Savior;

Jesus, my most good Guardian;

Jesus, cleanse my sins;

Jesus, take away my iniquities;

Jesus, forgive my iniquities;

Jesus, my Hope, do not leave me;

Jesus, my Help, do not forsake me;

Jesus, my Creator, do not forget me;

Jesus, my Shepherd, do not lose me;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 3

Jesus, Who clothed Your apostles, who were dwelling in Jerusalem, with power from on high, clothe me, who am emptied of all good deeds, with the warmth of Your Holy Spirit, and grant me to sing to You with love: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

Jesus, You who have many mercies, Who called tax collectors and sinners and unbelievers, do not now overlook me, who is like them; but, as a precious ointment, receive this song:

Jesus, the invincible power;

Jesus, the endless mercy;

Jesus, the most luminous beauty;

Jesus, the invincible love;

Jesus, the Son of the living God;

Jesus, have mercy on me, the sinner;

Jesus, hear me, the one conceived in iniquity;

Jesus, cleanse me, the one born in sins;

Jesus, teach me, the unworthy;

Jesus, enlighten me, the dark one;

Jesus, cleanse me, the defiled one;

Jesus, bring me out, the fornicator;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 4

Having a storm of doubtful thoughts within, Peter sank; and seeing You, Jesus, in the flesh and walking on the water, he recognized You as the true God and, receiving Your saving hand, said: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

The blind man, O Lord, heard that You were passing by and cried out: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me; and calling him, You opened his eyes. Enlighten with Your mercy also the thinking eyes of my heart, of the one who speaks:

Jesus, creator of those above;

Jesus, redeemer of those below;

Jesus, destroyer of those below;

Jesus, beautifier of creatures;

Jesus, consolation of my soul;

Jesus, illuminator of my mind;

Jesus, joy of my heart;

Jesus, health of my body;

Jesus, my Savior, save me;

Jesus, my illuminator, enlighten me;

Jesus, deliver me from all torment;

Jesus, save me, unworthy;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 5

Just as you redeemed us long ago from the curse of the Law with the blood that flowed from God, Jesus, so also free us from the chains with which the serpent hindered us, through bodily passions, through the urges to fornication and through evil laziness, those who sing to you: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

Seeing in human form the One who created man with His hands and knowing Him to be the Master, the children of the Jews were forced to please Him with pillars, shouting: Hosanna! And we bring You songs, saying:

Jesus, the true God;

Jesus, the Son of David;

Jesus, the most glorious King;

Jesus, the innocent Lamb;

Jesus, the most enlightened Shepherd;

Jesus, the guardian of my infancy;

Jesus, the guide of my youth;

Jesus, the praise of my old age;

Jesus, the hope of my death;

Jesus, my life after death;

Jesus, my peace at Your judgment;

Jesus, my desire, do not shame me then;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 6

Fulfilling the proclamation and the words of the God-bearing preachers, O Jesus, You appeared on earth and lived with men, You who are inadequate, and You lifted our sorrows, from where, with Your wounds we are healed, we have learned to sing to You: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

The light of Your truth has dawned in the world and the devil's deception has been driven out, our Savior, for the idols, impatient of Your strength, have fallen, and we, having obtained salvation, give thanks to You, singing thus:

Jesus, truth, who drives out deception;

Jesus, light above all lights;

Jesus, King, strengthener of all powers;

Jesus, God, who spends in mercy;

Jesus, bread of life, satisfy me, the hungry;

Jesus, fountain of wisdom, give me drink, the thirsty;

Jesus, garment of joy, clothe me, the defiled;

Jesus, covering of joy, cover me, the unworthy;

Jesus, giver of those who ask, grant me to weep for my sins;

Jesus, you who find those who seek you, find my soul;

Jesus, opener of those who knock, open my wicked heart;

Jesus, redeemer of sinners, cleanse my iniquities;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 7

Wanting to reveal the mystery hidden from the ages, You brought Yourself, O Jesus, like a lamb to the slaughter, and like a sheep without voice before her shearers, and like a God from the dead You rose and with glory You ascended to heaven and raised us, who sing to You: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

He showed Himself a wonderful creature, showing Himself to us, the Creator; for from the Virgin, above nature, He became incarnate and from the tomb He rose again, without breaking the seals, and entered with His body to the apostles through the locked doors. Therefore, marveling, we cry out with faith:

Jesus, the incomprehensible Word;

Jesus, the invisible Word;

Jesus, the unapproachable power;

Jesus, the wisdom beyond thought;

Jesus, the Godhead incomprehensible in writing;

Jesus, the reign innumerable with years;

Jesus, the invincible kingdom;

Jesus, the endless dominion;

Jesus, the most high strength;

Jesus, the eternal power;

Jesus, my Creator, have mercy on me;

Jesus, my Savior, save me;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 8

Seeing the incarnation of God as foreign, let us alienate ourselves from the vain world and raise our minds to divine things, for this reason God descended to earth, to raise us to heaven, who sing to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

He was completely among those below, and from those above, the ineffable One did not separate Himself in any way, when He willingly suffered for us, and with His death He killed our death, and with His resurrection, He gave life to those who sing to Him:

Jesus, joy of the heart;

Jesus, strength of the body;

Jesus, light of the soul;

Jesus, the renewal of the mind;

Jesus, joy of knowledge;

Jesus, the chosen hope;

Jesus, the everlasting remembrance;

Jesus, the praise above the heavens;

Jesus, my most high glory;

Jesus, my desire, do not reject me;

Jesus, my Shepherd, seek me;

Jesus, my Savior, save me;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 9

All angelic nature, Jesus, unceasingly glorifies Your most holy name in heaven, crying out: Holy, Holy, Holy; and we, sinners, on earth, with lips of clay, sing: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

We see the eloquent rhetoricians silent like voiceless fish when they want to speak about You, Jesus, my Savior; for they do not know how to say how You are the unchanging God and live as a complete man. And we, marveling at such a mystery, speak with faith:

Jesus, the eternal God;

Jesus, the King of kings;

Jesus, the Lord of lords;

Jesus, the Judge of the living and the dead;

Jesus, the hope of the hopeless;

Jesus, the consolation of those who mourn;

Jesus, the glory of the poor;

Jesus, do not judge me according to my deeds;

Jesus, cleanse me according to Your great mercy;

Jesus, drive away laziness from me;

Jesus, enlighten the secret thought of my heart;

Jesus, remind me of death;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 10

Wishing to save the world, O East of Easts, coming to the West, to our dark nature, You humbled Yourself even unto death; for this reason, Your name has been exalted above all names, and from all creatures in heaven and on earth You hear: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

Eternal King, true Comforter, Christ, cleanse us from all defilement, as You cleansed the ten lepers, and heal us, as You healed the money-loving soul of Zacchaeus the tax collector, so that we may humbly sing to You these:

Jesus, the incorruptible treasury;

Jesus, the wealth that does not diminish;

Jesus, the strong food;

Jesus, the inexhaustible drink;

Jesus, the clothing of the poor;

Jesus, the helper of widows;

Jesus, the defender of the destitute;

Jesus, the helper of the weary;

Jesus, the corrector of strangers;

Jesus, the helmsman of those who swim on the sea;

Jesus, the peace of those who are shrouded;

Jesus, God, raise me up, who have fallen;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 11

I, the unworthy one, bring You songs of utter humility, and I cry out to You like the Canaanite woman: Jesus, have mercy on me, for I have no daughter, but a body, which is terribly possessed by the devil, being inflamed with passions and fury, and grant healing to me, who sing to You: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

The light-receiving illuminator of those in the darkness of ignorance, Paul, who formerly expelled You, considering the power of the voice of God as wise, has clarified the evil inclination of his soul. So also enlighten the dark lights of my soul, of the one who speaks to You:

Jesus, my most powerful King;

Jesus, my most powerful God;

Jesus, my immortal Lord;

Jesus, my most glorious Creator;

Jesus, my most good Corrector;

Jesus, my most forgiving Shepherd;

Jesus, my most merciful Master;

Jesus, my most merciful Savior;

Jesus, enlighten my mind darkened by passions;

Jesus, heal my body wounded by sins;

Jesus, cleanse my mind from vain thoughts;

Jesus, guard my heart from evil desires;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 12

Grant me grace, O Releaser of all debts, Jesus, and receive me, the one who repents, as You received Peter, who denied You, and call me, the lazy one, as of old Paul, who persecuted You, and hear me, the one who sings to You: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

Glorifying Your incarnation, we all praise You and believe with Thomas that You are Lord and God, Who sits at the right hand of the Father, and will judge the living and the dead. Then make me worthy of the right hand, who say:

Jesus, King before the ages, save me;

Jesus, the flower with a good smell, perfume me well;

Jesus, the beloved warmth, warm me;

Jesus, the covering before the ages, cover me;

Jesus, the illuminated garment, beautify me;

Jesus, the honest pearl, enlighten me;

Jesus, the precious stone, shine upon me;

Jesus, the sun of righteousness, enlighten me;

Jesus, the holy light, shine upon me;

Jesus, deliver me from the pains of soul and body;

Jesus, deliver me from the hand of the enemy;

Jesus, deliver me from the unquenchable fire and other eternal torments;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 13

O most sweet and all-merciful Jesus Christ, Son of God, accept now this little prayer of ours, as You received the widow's two mites, and guard Your inheritance from enemies seen and unseen, from the coming of other nations upon us, from infirmities and famine, from all sorrows and wounds that bring death, and from the coming torments deliver us all, who sing to You: Alleluia!

(This Kontakion is said three times)

After this, the first Ikos is said again: Creator of angels and Lord of powers... And the first Kontakion: Greatest Defender and Lord...

Ikos 1

Most wonderful Jesus, the wonder of angels;

Most powerful Jesus, the salvation of the ancestors;

Most sweet Jesus, the glory of the patriarchs;

Most glorified Jesus, the strength of rulers;

Most beloved Jesus, the fulfillment of the prophets;

Most wonderful Jesus, the strengthening of the martyrs;

Most soothing Jesus, the joy of monks;

Most merciful Jesus, the sweetness of priests;

Most merciful Jesus, the restraint of hermits;

Most sweet Jesus, the joy of the pious;

Most pure Jesus, the whole mind of those pure in virginity;

Jesus, before all ages, the salvation of sinners;

Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!

Kontakion 1

Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ, composed by Saint Isaac the Syrian

Lord, Jesus Christ, our God, who wept for Lazarus and shed tears of sorrow and mercy for him, receive my tears. With Your passions, heal my passions. With Your wounds, heal my wounds. With Your Blood, cleanse my blood and mix in my body the fragrance of Your life-giving body. The gall with which the enemies have made You drink, may it sweeten the bitterness with which the adversary has made me drink. May Your body stretched out on the Cross extend to You my mind, which has been dragged down by devils. May Your head, which You bowed on the Cross, raise up my head, which has been slapped by my adversaries. May Your most holy hands, nailed by the lawless on the Cross, draw me to You from the abyss of perdition, as Your most holy mouth has promised. May Your face, mocked with slaps and spitting, fill with radiance my face, defiled by iniquities. May Your Spirit, which You entrusted to the Father when You were on the Cross, guide me to You, by Your grace. I have no heart full of sorrow to seek You. I have neither the repentance nor the humility that returns children to their inheritance. I have no consoling tears, Master. My mind has become dark with worldly things and cannot seek You with sorrow. My heart has grown cold from so many temptations and cannot warm itself with the tears of love for You. But You, Lord Jesus Christ, God, Treasury of good things, grant me undefiled repentance and a sorrowful heart, so that I may set out with all my soul in search of You; for without You I will be alienated from all good. Give me therefore, O Good One, Your grace. May the Father, Who bore You from His womb without years and before the ages, renew in me the image of Your icon. I have forsaken You, O Lord; forsake me not. I have gone forth from You; go forth in search of me. Lead me to Your spiritual pasture. Count me among the sheep of Your chosen flock. Feed me together with them from the green of Your divine Mysteries. For their pure heart is Your dwelling place, and in it is seen the splendor of Your revelations. Your splendor is the comfort and rest of those who have labored for You in tribulations and in all kinds of torments. Make me also worthy of this splendor, unworthy, by the grace and love of man of our Savior Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.

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Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Savior