Thursday Night, T1

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

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 is glorified.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

I am held fast in despondency as I consider the multitude of my transgressions and the answer I must make to the Judge, О Lady Theotokos. Yet be for me a divine mediatrix, placating Him by your loving-kindness.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

О most pure one, refuge of Christians, setting aright of the fallen and cleansing offenses; at the hour of the dread judgment deliver me from the ever- burning fire, granting me life everlasting.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

О Virgin, we, the faithful, have acquired you as our only sure helper; for you have given birth to God. Wherefore, all of us, all the generations of the earth, bless you, as you fortold, О pure one.

Both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Beholding you Creator and Son upon the Cross, О pure and all-immaculate one, you were filled with awe and said: “What is this, О my Child? How have the wicked repaid You with evil for the good which You showed them?”

ODE III

To the Son who was begotten of the Father without change before all ages, and in these last times, without seed, was made flesh of the Virgin, to Christ our God let us cry aloud: * You have raised up our horn, You are holy, O Lord.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

All the prophets proclaimed you to be the Mother of God in most glorious images; and we, clearly beholding their fulfillment, also believe, and ask that through you we may receive divine serenity.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

О Sovereign Lady of the world, salvation and help of the faithful; accepting the sighs which issue forth from the depths of my heart and the streams of my tears, deliver me who am bound by many transgressions, and save me, О pure one.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Possessed of a Mother’s boldness before Christ God, О pure one, pray ever that we be delivered from the children of Hagar and from all harm, and make us steadfast, that we may glorify Him with thanksgiving, О most immaculate one.

Both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Beholding her Son lifted up upon the Cross, the most pure one exclaimed, and, crying out, gave utterance from the depths of her heart: “What have the wicked and iniquitous ones, who were filled to repletion with Your gifts, done to You, О my Son?”

ODE IV

Rod of the root of Jesse, and flower that blossomed from his stem, O Christ, You have sprung from the Virgin. From the Mountain overshadowed by the forest You have come, made flesh from her that knew not wedlock, O God not formed from matter. Glory to Your power, O Lord.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

Cast down the savagery of the wicked foe and the machinations they direct against me, and invest me with your might, О all-immaculate one, ever preserving me unharmed, whole and unvanquished, who radiantly sings to you.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

Vanquished by the law of the flesh, full of the passions, I do unseemly and iniquitous things. And I dare not in anywise lift up mine eyes to you, О pure Lady. But save me, wretch that I am, by the law of your tender compassions. Save me!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

О Lady, we the faithful have you and God alone as our hope unashamed and our help. By your supplications deliver us from all enemies, visible and invisible, from harm and temptations, that we may unceasingly glorify you.

Both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Beholding the Son to Whom you gave birth without seed nailed to the Cross, О all-immaculate one, you cried out maternally and, lamenting, said: “What is this new, most glorious and incomprehensible wonder which I behold in You, О my Son?”

ODE V

As You are the God of peace and Father of compassions, You sent unto us Your Angel of great counsel, granting us peace. Wherefore guided towards the light of the knowledge of God, and watching by night we glorify You, O Lover of mankind.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

As your supplication is tireless and your helping of your servants fervent, О Virgin, rescue and save us, anticipating our needs amid all the perilous misfortunes of life, that we not fall victim to grief and become corrupt.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

О Mary, dwelling-place of God, show me through repentance to be a habitation for God, for I have become the haunt of wicked demons through my vile deeds, mindlessly carrying out their will.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As you are the compassionate Mother of God, heal us, who are cruelly afflicted in body and soul with sinful passions; for you truly gave birth to Christ, the Physician of souls and bodies, the abundant Wellspring of life.

Both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Beholding her Son upon the tree of the Cross, the most immaculate one was stricken with pain in her womb, and with tears she cried out: I am in awe to see Your long-suffering, О my Son, beholding this new wonder! How is it that You, Who are sinless, now endures an unjust death?”

ODE VI

The sea monster cast forth Jonah as it had received him, like a babe from the womb: while the Logos, having dwelt in the Virgin and taken flesh, came forth from her yet kept her incorrupt. For being Himself not subject to decay, He preserved His Mother free from all harm.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

You were the receptacle of the noetic Myrrh Who has perfumed the whole earth with the sweet fragrance of His divinity, О most holy Bride of God. Wherefore, with the fragrance of your supplications dispel all the stench of my transgressions from my soul.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

The fire of pleasures utterly consumes me, afflicting my lowly heart, and iniquitously moving me to commit unseemly deeds. O Bride of God, make to extinguish this fire, for you have given birth to the divine Fire, my salvation.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Deliver us from the temptations of enemies visible and invisible, О all-hymned Virgin, and preserve those who with Orthodox Faith truly confess you to be the Theotokos, О Mother of God; for you ever possess might, in that you hast given birth to Him Who created all things.

Both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Standing before the Cross and beholding her Son hanging thereon in the flesh, the most immaculate one felt her womb burn with grief, and, shedding tears, she cried: “O my Child, truly ineffable is Your compassion for all men!”

Lord, have mercy, (3x).
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Sessional Hymn, in Tone I:

Upon seeing the Lamb and Shepherd hanging dead upon the Tree, the unblemished ewe-lamb, cried aloud, weeping and exclaiming maternally: “How is it that You willingly endure abasement and sufferings which surpass all telling, O my Son, and supremely good God?”

ODE VII

Scorning the impious decree of the godless one, the Children brought up together in godliness feared not the threat of fire, but standing in the midst of the flames, they sang: O God of our fathers, blessed art You.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

I cannot bear the assaults and tumult of the demons, for the flame of carnal passions darkens my mind. Yet disdain me not, О holy Theotokos, for I set all my hope on you.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

О Virgin who knew not wedlock, О all-holy Bride and Lady of God, through your prayers loose the bonds of my transgressions, and bind me to Christ with bonds of love, that I may bring forth the virtues as fruit.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

You are the helper, the bulwark and sure refuge of all Orthodox Christians, О pure Mary. Wherefore, honoring you with faith, we cry out to Christ: О God of our fathers, blessed art You!

Both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The most holy virgin, beholding her Son suspended upon the Cross, was stricken with awe, and marveling, said: “How can I bear the sight of You slain, Who are the Author and Bestower of life?”

ODE VIII

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!

О Theotokos, Sovereign Lady of the world, you alone, by thy loving- kindness, come and lead me up, who by my wicked mind have been plunged into the abyss of perdition and evils by carnal pleasures and my passionate attachment to the things of life. For I in nowise have any hope of salvation, being wholly despondent, О pure one.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

You are the salvation of all, having given birth ineffably to God. You art the savior of the faithful, О Theotokos, the guide of the blind and the setting aright of the fallen. Wherefore, praising you, we cry out to Christ: Bless the Lord, all His works! Hymn and supremely exalt Him throughout the ages!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having acquired you as a most firm bulwark, we have placed in you our hope of salvation, О Mother of God. Be for your servants a haven and an unshakable rampart, and guide us continually, that we may chant: Let all creation bless the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Her womb was rent maternally, and filled with a multitude of tears, when she who gave birth to You in purity beheld You on the Cross, she cried out with inconsolable groaning: “Having escaped pain in Your birth, О my Son, I am now held fast by pain, beholding Your countenance dishonored.”

ODE IX

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!

I have besmirched my soul with dishonorable passions, wretch that I am, and have defiled all my flesh with soul-corrupting passions; yet as you are pure and undefiled, cleanse me by the magnitude of your mercy.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

I have acquired no other refuge than you, О pure Lady, neither do I know any other steadfast helper and protection on earth. Wherefore, I have fled with fervor to you, asking that through you I might receive deliverance from offenses.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

From on high you now look mercifully upon your servants, О all-hymned one, preserving us with pious faith and delivering from every evil circumstance by your prayers those who honor you as the true and honored Theotokos.

Both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

When she who knew a seedless birthgiving saw You suspended upon the tree of the Cross, You Who love mankind, she cried aloud: “O my Son and almighty God, in Your desire to save mankind how have You now accepted crucifixion?”

Then, “It is truly meet …,” and a prostration.
Trisagion, and the rest, as usual. Dismissal.

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