IC XC
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NI KA
A post in the Canon Project.
Canon of supplication to the most holy Theotokos, in Tone I
ODE I
Irmos: Having been delivered from bitter slavery, * Israel traversed the impassable as though dry land; * and beholding the enemy drowned, * they chanted unto God as to their Redeemer, * Who works wonders with His upraised arm, * for He has been glorified.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Praising you, О Queen of all, the captains of the angelic ranks were filled with awe and fear. Every mind, hymns you as the Mother of the Creator, because of your goodness; for you have surpassed every form of laudation, having given birth to Christ.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Troubled by grievous temptations and afflicted by mine enemies, wretch that I am, I cry out, weeping: Stretch forth your hand to me from on high, you who are exceeding rich, delivering me; and by your supplications grant that I may live free from danger.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
With the balm of your tender compassion heal the secret transgressions of my soul, and calm the assaults of my flesh, О Theotokos; and, turning back the spears and darts of the enemy upon them, mightily pierce their hearts.
Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Your virginal womb which gave birth to Christ has destroyed the ancient pasture of the slayer of mankind; wherefore, all creation now rejoices, О most pure one, having been restored to life, with one accord singing to your Son and God.
ODE III (the second Ode is not sung)
Irmos: Let no mortal boast in his wisdom or wealth, * but rather in his faith in the Lord, * crying out to Christ God in an Orthodox manner, * ever chanting: Establish me O Master, * upon the rock of your commandments!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Once, the great Jacob, sleeping on the way, and beholding angels descending from on high to the earth by a ladder, marveled, О Virgin; and, having awakened, he clearly described you beforehand as the portal of heaven.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Cast into misfortune by temporal restraint, wretch that I am, and beset by perilous tempests, I cry aloud: Woe is me! О you who have given birth to God and have lifted up our horn, save me by your supplications!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Stretching forth your mighty hand from heaven, О Christ, King of all, put the heads of the enemies, perceptible and noetic, under the feet of those who with faith proclaim your Mother to be the Theotokos, О my Jesus.
Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Isaiah, of old, purified by the burning coal of the Spirit, cried out that a Son would manifestly be born of your womb, О Virgin, exceeding rich, and to whom in latter times thou gave birth without a man for my sake.
ODE IV
Irmos: Of old, Habbakuk heard the wondrous report of you O Christ, * and cried aloud in fear: * God shall come forth from Theman, * the Holy One from the mountain overshadowed and densely wooded, * to save His anointed ones! * Glory to your power, O Lord!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
You, О Mother of God, the ruler of the world described beforehand as comely and all-honored among women, as coming up from the wilderness, and bearing Christ, your Offspring, in thine arms; and he cried: Glory to Thy power, О Lord!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Incline your ear unto me, О good one, behold my oppression and the increase of my tribulations! For, lifting up the eyes of my soul to you, О Lady, and bending my knees as I weep, I now pray, crying: Bring an end to the turmoil of my temptations!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Knowing you to be an unassailable rampart, moved to entreaty, I, your servant, now flee to you, and I reckon the missiles of the enemy as impotent as the darts of children, О you who art exceeding rich. Wherefore, rejoicing, I cry: Glory to your birthgiving, О Mother of God!
Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
The power of the Most High overshadowed you with the visitation of the divine Spirit, О Virgin, and then, beyond nature, the Lord of all, having endowed flesh and soul with life, united them to Himself, bringing life thereto and remaining in the same nature.
ODE V
Irmos: Shine, O Christ, your never-waning light * upon the hearts of those who sing to you with faith, * granting us peace beyond understanding; * Wherefore by your light we flee the night of ignorance * coming unto the day, * glorifying you, O Lover of mankind.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Once, foreseeing you, О all-hymned one, as a divine, unquarried mountain, Daniel manifestly cried aloud: From you let the Stone of divine generation be cut: Christ, the Savior of the world! Honoring Him now, we the faithful praise you, О Bride of God.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
I have fallen under many dangers, wretch that I am, and, praying with pain of heart and weeping, I, your servant, cry out unashamedly: О Birthgiver of God, deliver my lowliness from besetting pains, and fill me with gladness!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Calm the raging sea of my passions by your mighty supplication, О good one who gave birth to Christ without suffering, that, living now in tranquility of soul, I may praise you in hymns for the rest of my life.
Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Tell me: how your bore God in thine arms; and how did you give suck to Him Who holds all things in His hand, О all-blessed Virgin? And she said: “Having given birth unto Christ God, I remain pure, taking away the debt of Adam and our first mother!”
ODE VI
Irmos: I am held fast in boundless passions, * and have fallen into the sea- monster of evil; * but lead me up from corruption O God, * as once you led Jonah, * and by faith grant me dispassion, * that I may offer a noetic sacrifice of praise and salvation * unto you.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Without departing from His place in the bosom of the Father, the pre-eternal Son rested in the bosom of His Mother. He, Who with the Father is before the ages, has in latter times issued forth from the womb of the Virgin, leading all up to life immortal in His ineffable goodness.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Bound through malice by the chains of the enemy, I have been cast down to the bars of hell. Woe is me! Yet, appearing from heaven, О pure divine Maiden, stand before me, your servant, raising me up by your supplications, and grant a helping hand to me who hymn your divine birthgiving.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Wretch that I am, I have fallen into the pit of destruction, and many wild beasts surround me; yet, deflect their assaults by your supplications, as with stones, О Lady, and keep your servant unharmed; for you bore Christ in your womb, he who is the Chief Cornerstone.
Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Of old, the choir of the divine prophets proclaimed the images of your birthgiving, О Virgin, calling you the radiant cloud, the lampstand, the jar, the table, the dew of heaven, the bread, the manna and the door, the throne and the palace, the rod and paradise, in that you gave birth to Christ.
Lord, have mercy (3x).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Sessional Hymn, in Tone I
Drawn by love for your goodness, we all know you to be the Mother of God, who was truly revealed as a virgin even after giving birth; for we sinners have you as our intercessor, and we have acquired you as our salvation amid misfortunes, the only all-immaculate one.
ODE VII
Irmos: Having passed through the unbearable flame of the furnace * as though it were a bridal-chamber, * the children who for the sake of piety, * were revealed as holy * chanted together, singing the hymn: * O God of our fathers, blessed are you!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
The Pre-eternal One, passing through your impassable doors, О Queen of all, preserved the tokens of your virginity pure and intact, even after giving birth. Wherefore, we cry aloud: О God of our fathers, blessed are you!
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Cast into the furnace, I am consumed by the sevenfold flames of soul-slaying perils; yet rain down dew upon me by your entreaties, О good Lady, that I may cry: Blessed is the God of our fathers!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having grown old through the passions, through unremitting misfortunes and tribulations, and having reached the sunset of my life devoid of the virtues and devoured by slothfulness, I cry to you, О Lady: О consolation of mortals, have mercy on me!
Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Worshipping the Trinity in Unity in an Orthodox manner, and proclaiming you, О pure Virgin Mother, to be the one who gave birth to God in the flesh, in a godly manner we mortals chant: О God of our fathers, blessed art you!
ODE VIII
Irmos: The furnace moist with dew * was an image and prefiguring of a wonder past nature, * burning not the Children whom it had received, * so the fire of the Godhead consumed not the Virgin’s womb * into which it had descended. * Therefore in song let us sing: * Let the whole creation bless the Lord * and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
The supremely true word of the priest prefigured your birthgiving, О Virgin; for you truly gave birth to the Word of God, and your womb, through which God passed, He did not rend apart. Wherefore, rejoicing as is meet, with one accord we hymn you, the Theotokos, as is due, and exalt you, the pure one, throughout all ages.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
With divine fire burn up the uncultivated thorns which have grown up in my soul, О most pure one, and by your supplications raise me up to the virtues, that I may bear fruit for Christ; for the ever-living Flower, having sprung forth from you, adorned all creation. Wherefore, we honor you, the pure Theotokos, throughout all ages.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Quickly and painlessly grant me healing amid evils, О Birthgiver of God; for, having fallen into afflictions and perils, wretch that I am, lamenting, I invoke your speedy help. Wherefore, О most pure one, come quickly to rescue me and save me from every torment, that, blessing you, I may hymn your birthgiving.
Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Of old, the rod of Aaron that budded forth prefigured you, О Virgin; for, budding forth, you alone gave birth without a man, having now received the Rain of heaven in your womb. Wherefore, in gladness we sing of you, the Theotokos, as is due, and supremely exalt you throughout all ages.
ODE IX
Irmos: Ineffable is the mystery of the Virgin: * for she is heaven and the throne of the cherubim, * and is revealed as the radiant bridal- chamber * of Christ God Almighty. * Wherefore we piously magnify her as the Theotokos.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Most glorious is the mystery of the Virgin! For he whom the vast spaces above the heavens could not contain was contained within her womb. Wherefore, assembling, we call her blessed, and in gladness we magnify her with faith.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Seeing you alone as higher than the heavens, the radiance of God, the throne of the cherubim and the bridal chamber, the holy couch, О undefiled one, we mortals, praising Christ our God, magnify Him to Whom you gave birth through your pure loins.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Round about me are many afflictions; and evil misfortunes, sickness and grievous sins, now assailing me, have cast me into the pit. Wherefore, in the bitterness of my soul, I pray: О most holy Theotokos, find deliverance for me!
Both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Through the entreaties of the pure divine Maiden, О Christ, bring peace to the world, casting the power of the enemy down beneath the feet of the faithful and, establishing unutterable tranquility thereby, preserve it throughout all ages.
Orthoparadoxy 
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