Sunday Night, T2

IC XC
✙
NI KA

A post in the Canon Project.

Canon of supplication to the most holy Theotokos, in Tone II

ODE I

In the deep of old the infinite Power overwhelmed Pharaoh’s whole army. But the Incarnate Logos annihilated pernicious sin. Exceedingly glorious is the Lord, for gloriously has He been glorified.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

Having taken our form from you, the never-setting Sun manifestly shows you to be a noetic and most splendid heaven. Wherefore, deliver me from the stench of the passions, that with love I may hymn you, the only Virgin Mother.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

I beseech you, О Lady, who art the tongs which held the noetic Ember which has purified human nature: Wash away the defilement of my manifold transgressions, and by your supplications deliver me from defiling passions.

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

О most pure Theotokos, who has given birth to Christ, the Wellspring of mercy, and has opened Eden to mankind: open unto me the portals of your mercy, and grant me forgiveness offenses, О Sovereign Lady of the world.

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

Rend asunder the bonds of my transgressions, О Ever-virgin Lady, entreating your Son and God; and cast down sin which oppresses me, that, saved, I may ever hymn you, О most immaculate one.

ODE III

You have established me on the rock of faith, and my mouth is emboldened against my enemies. For my spirit rejoices when I sing: There is none as holy as our God and none more righteous than You, O Lord.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

Dispel the gloom and darkness of my passions with the rays of your supplications, and enlighten me, О most pure Lady who hast given birth to Christ, the never-setting Sun Who shone forth from the Sun before the morning-star.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

By your birthgiving, О most pure one, you have restored the fallen and broken tabernacle of David, your father; wherefore, О Theotokos, raise up your servant who am crushed by transgressions and the passions.

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

Be a sword, О Virgin, driving away the sins and passions of my soul, and show me to be another garden of paradise, preserved by you un-assailed, offering you the flowers of the Spirit.

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

Stretching forth the hand of your compassions, receive me, О Birthgiver of God, and from all condemnation rescue me who flee to you. Falling down before you, I call upon your aid.

ODE IV

I hymn You, O Lord, for I have heard report of You, and I was afraid; for You come to me, seeking me who am lost. Wherefore, I glorify Your great condescension towards me, O greatly Merciful One.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

Taking the leaven of human nature like dough, the Creator made it undefiled and holy; and washing me clean of the defilement of the passions, He has cleansed me of the mire of my transgressions.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

With the remedy of your prayers, as with bandages and oil, О pure Lady, heal now the stripes of my soul and the wounds of sin, in that you have given birth to the divine Healing of nature.

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

Loose the bonds of my passions, О Lady, and cleave asunder the chains of my sins with the sword of your prayers, О giver of birth to Christ Who grants deliverance to those bound in Hades.

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

Cure the passions of my soul which most wretchedly shroud me in gloom, and enlighten my thoughts, О pure one, driving far away the darkness of the demons who oppress me and who lay traps for me all the day long.

ODE V

O Christ my Savior, the enlightenment of those lying in the darkness of sin. I rise early to hymn You, O King of Peace, enlighten me with Your radiance, for I know no other God than You.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

You hast delivered the world from the ancient curse, О Lady who gave birth to Christ, the Blessing of the world. Deliver me from unseemly thoughts and from all grief, for you alone are the joy of the faithful.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

A horde of demons surrounds the city of my soul, striving mightily to take it captive. О most glorious Lady and true city of the King of all, defend me by your supplications as with entowered ramparts, and save me.

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

The cruel storm of the sedition of the spirits of evil troubles my mind. Quickly anticipate my need, and still it, О birthgiver to Christ, the only almighty Helmsman of all creation.

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

О Birthgiver of God, shine the light of repentance upon me who am enclosed in the darkness of perdition. Give a helping hand to me who lie prostrate, and by your supplications raise me up, О pure one, that I may accomplish the judgments of God.

ODE VI

Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I appeal to the unfathomable abyss of Your compassion: Raise me up from corruption, O God.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

As you have given birth to Life everlasting, О most pure one, when my soul departs from my body, slay death by your supplications.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

The serpent who hates mankind pursues me, subjecting me to trials. О Lady, set him at naught, for you gave birth to Him Who crushed the heads of the serpents.

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

О birthgiver of Christ our God, the Way of life, to the straight path direct me who walk with faltering steps.

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

Heal the sufferings of my soul and vanquish the perplexity of grief, О most pure one who gave birth to God, for our salvation.

Lord, have mercy, (3x).

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Both now and forever and to ages of ages. Amen.

Sessional Hymn, in Tone II:

As the wellspring of loving-kindness, О Theotokos, grant mercy unto us. Look upon the people who have sinned, and manifest, as ever, your power; for, trusting in you, we cry to you: Rejoice!’’, as once did Gabriel, the supreme commander of the incorporeal beings.

ODE VII

The wise children did not adore the golden idol, but went themselves into the flame and defied the pagan gods. They prayed in the midst of the flame, and an Angel bedewed them saying: ‘The prayer of your lips had been heard’.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

The waves of the passions trouble my mind and shake my soul; yet, О Virgin who gave birth to Him Who by His divine command restrained the raging sea, transport me to the tranquility of dispassion and halt the turmoil of my flesh.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

Knowing you to be the gate of the noetic East who has appeared from heaven, О Virgin, I, your servant, pray that through you I might enter into the heavens. Wherefore, accept me, О Lady, and guide me by your light.

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

Crucified on the Cross of His own will, Christ your Son put the princes of darkness to shame and destroyed the corrupting power of death. Thereby, О most pure Lady, slay the passion-plagued understanding of my flesh.

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

Cease not, О pure one, to pray to God Who was born from you, on behalf of those who approach you with faith and ask deliverance, О only helper of the world, for you are the hope and help of the despairing and the aid of those who are ever tempest-tossed amid evils.

ODE VIII

Disdaining the golden image, the thrice-blessed children, beholding the immutable and living image of God, chanted in the midst of the flame: Let all existing creation hymn the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

О Virgin, divinely made tabernacle of the Holy of holies, He Who set you forth as the image of the ancient tabernacle, having the great High Priest in your midst: Show my heart to be a holy tabernacle of the Most High: Christ, the King of all.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

Having borne, О Virgin, the divine ark and the tablets of the law: the most pure Logos of God, Christ, thine uncircumscribable Son: by your prayers, as with the finger of God, inscribe Him upon the surface of my soul.

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

As from a mountain the precious Stone has been cut from your womb, О most immaculate Lady, and as the only Almighty One He has broken the pillars of all falsehood. Thereby now destroy the images of the passions of my soul, having broken the jaws of the noetic foe.

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

With the waters of life, О Virgin Theotokos, water my heart which has been seared by the flame of sin, ever preserving me in compunction, who chant with fear: Let all existing creation hymn the Lord and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!

ODE IX

We magnify you, O blessed and all-pure Theotokos, who through your virginal womb ineffably brought forth God incarnate, the Luminary Who shone forth before the sun and has come to us in the flesh.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

You revealed Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, О pure one, showing yourself to be a most radiant heaven. By your supplications destroy the night of my passions, illumine my soul, and enlighten and make bright my heart.

Most holy Theotokos, save us!

Condemn and trample underfoot my adversary, О Theotokos, and deliver me from his oppression; for you hast given birth to the Good and Righteous One Who rests in the bosom of the Godhead and has condemned death.

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

He Who as God formed the essence of the incorporeal ones became incarnate from you, О Virgin Maiden. Wherefore, by you supplications deliver me, your servant, from the evil circumstances and the carnal understanding of the passions of the flesh.

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

You have done away with the grief of Eve, having given birth to the new Adam Who created the nature of the first Adam. Wherefore, erase also with the record of my transgressions, freeing me from perils, sorrows and the passions.

Then, “It is truly meet …,” and a prostration.
Trisagion through Our Father… Troparion.
The rest as usual, and the dismissal.

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Huw Raphael

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