AKATHIST HYMN TO ALMIGHTY GOD IN TIME OF TROUBLE

KONTAKION I

O champion Leader and Lord, Thou joy and gladness of Thy

servants! Wherever Thou art, all grief is set at nought; wherever

Thou art not, all joy is in vain. Look down upon me, a sinner

who am perishing in this misfortune, and with the revelation of

Thy salvation visit me who cry out: O Lord, my Lord, my joy,

grant that I may rejoice in Thy mercy!

IKOS I

O Creator of the angels and Lord of hosts, for the sake of the

salvation of fallen man Thou didst not disdain the Virgin's

womb; and afterwards, O Word of God, didst endure spitting,

mockery and a disgraceful death, in that Thou art good and the

Lover of mankind. Mindful of this, I dare to approach Thee and

to pray with tears:

O Lord, my Lord, my merciful Savior, save me who am

perishing;

O Lord, my Lord, Who camest not to save the righteous, but

sinners, deliver me from this temptation!

O Lord, my Lord, Who acceptest our infirmities and bearest

our afflictions, send down Thy peace upon my troubled

soul;

O Lord, my Lord, Who by Thy death hast abolished death,

set at nought the wiles of the devil which are against me!

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION II

Seeing the many manifestations of Thy love for mankind shown

forth upon sinners before me, I also dare to lift up mine eyes to

Thee Who dwellest in heaven. Have mercy upon me, O Lord,

for I am weak. Deliver me from this bitter grief and account me

worthy of chanting to Thee with joy and gladness: Alleluia!

IKOS II

Thou didst create me a rational creature, O my Creator, but

wretch that I am, I have allowed myself to become like unto

irrational beasts and have likened myself to them, and have

angered Thy goodness, O Savior. Wherefore, Thou hast justly

afflicted me with this sorrow. This I acknowledge, and repenting

I flee to Thee, praying thus:

O Lord, my Lord, Who preserved me in my youth, protect

me from the enemies which assail me;

O Lord, my Lord, strengthening of my body in old age,

strengthen me who am ailing in soul and body!

O Lord, my Lord, consolation of my soul, console me who

am troubled;

O Lord, my Lord, my Guide, direct me to the path of

salvation!

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION III

O Lord Who art mighty in battle, come to the aid of mine

afflicted soul, and be Thou my helper against enemies visible

and invisible, for my father and my mother have forsaken me,

and my friends and neighbors have stood far away from me. But

be Thou, O Father of orphans and Judge of widows, the helper

of me who am helpless but who chant to Thee: Alleluia!

IKOS III

O Thou Who hast heaven for Thy throne and earth for Thy

footstool, O Dread One Who takest away the spirit of princes,

reject me not who am dust and ashes, yet who dares say to Thee

Who art everywhere present and knowest all things:

O Lord, my Lord, lift up Thy might and come to save me

from the hands of the mighty who oppress me;

O Lord, my Lord, Whom all fear and before Whom all

tremble, take pity on me, for the darkness of death hath

covered me because of my sins!

O Lord, my Lord, Who clothest Thyself with light as with a

garment, enlighten me who am benighted by the griefs of

life;

O Lord, my Lord, Who stretchest out the heavens as a tent,

extend to me the shelter of Thy help!

O Lord, my Lord, grant Thy peace to my lowly soul;

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION IV

Drowning in the tempest of this most turbulent life, I stretch out

my hand to Thee, O Word of God. As Thou didst save drowning

Peter, so also stretch forth to me Thy mighty hand, and deliver

me from this misfortune, that with joy and thankful heart I may

cry to Thee: Alleluia!

IKOS IV

O Lord, I have heard Thy most sweet voice, for Thou didst say

Call upon me in the day of thy tribulation, and I will rescue thee,

and thou shalt glorify Me. And from the depths of my despair, I

dare to approach Thee with boldness, saying:

O Lord, my Lord, I have sinned against heaven and before

Thee; accept me as Thou didst accept the prodigal son;

O Lord, my Lord, Who didst justify the publican rather than

the pharisee, enter not into judgment with Thy servant,

for there is none living who is justified before Thee!

O Lord, my Lord, Instructor of wisdom, instruct me Thy

servant;

O Lord, my Lord, Bestower of understanding, grant me

understanding, that I may be able to escape the cunning

wiles and wicked treachery of them that hate me!

O Lord, my Lord, Who lookest down upon the humble,

behold also my tribulation and my difficulty, and reveal

Thy mercy to me;

O Lord, my Lord, grant that I may rejoice in Thy mercy!

KONTAKION V

Through the divinely flowing blood of Thy beloved Son Jesus

Christ have we been reconciled to Thee, O heavenly Father; yet,

lo! I have returned again to sin, like a dog to its vomit, for which

cause Thou art justly chastising me with this grievous

misfortune. But hearken unto me, O Lord my God, on this day

of my grief; show forth Thy mercy and salvation upon me, and

grant me ever to cry out to Thee amid chastisement: Alleluia!

IKOS V

The prophet David, seeing the prophet Nathan denouncing him

for what he had done, came to his senses and confessed his sin,

and said: I have sinned before the Lord, and the Lord hearkened

unto me, and took away mine offenses. But wretch that I am, I

have sinned more than he, and have in no-wise acquired the fruit

of repentance. Wherefore, these evil things have come upon me.

But be merciful unto me who pray thus:

O Lord, my Lord, strengthen me with power from on high,

that I may not fall under the weight of this tribulation;

O Lord, my Lord, Who mercifully regarded the tears of

Hezekiah, look with the eye of Thy kindness also upon

the shedding of my tears before Thee!

O Lord, my Lord, Who hearkened unto the sighs of

Mannasseh, hearken unto the sighing of my heart;

O Lord, my Lord, Who dwellest in the highest and lookest

down upon the lowly, look upon me a sinner!

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION VI

Thy Forerunner, the preacher of repentance, O Word of God,

crieth repeatedly to my conscience, that I repent of my evil

deeds. But, wretch that I am, I have paid him no heed.

Wherefore, Thy righteous wrath hath overtaken me, for

misfortunes and sorrows have befallen me, a sinner. But before

Thou visitest me, O Lord God my Savior, grant me time, that I

may lament my evil deeds and cry out to Thee: Alleluia!

IKOS VI

O my Savior, amid my sorrow Thy comforting words have

shone forth, which Thou didst utter, saying: Forgive, and it shall

be forgiven you. And straightway escaping the snares of despair,

with trust in Thy love for mankind I have fled to Thee, praying:

O Lord, my Lord, my consolation, comfort me who am

grieved;

O Lord, my Lord, my helper, help me against them that rise

up against me!

O Lord, my Lord, mine aid, help me for my soul hath grown

weak because of this sorrow;

O Lord, my Lord, pre-eternal memory, grant that I may ever

have Thy benefactions in mind and may never despair of

Thy mercy!

O Lord, my Lord, my strength, strengthen me that without

temerity I may ask help of Thee;

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION VII

The infamous King Nebuchadnezzar, desiring to destroy the

three children, once commanded that they be cast into the fiery

furnace. But Thou, O heavenly Father, didst send Thine Angel,

that He might cool the burning flame. And do Thou now also, O

Lord, send consolation to Thy servant, and save me for the sake

of Thy mercy. For even though I have sinned, yet have I not

departed from Thee, and I worship Thee, the one true God,

chanting: Alleluia!

IKOS VII

Wondrously wast Thou glorified before Pharaoh and all his host,

O God of Israel, for Thou didst not disdain the misery of Thy

people, but hearkened to their cry. Wherefore, hearken also to

my supplication and save me who cry to Thee thus:

O Lord, my Lord, Who delivered Thy people out of the

hands of their enemies, rescue me also from the hands of

them that hate me;

O Lord, my Lord, Who led Thy chosen ones out of the land

of Egypt, lead my soul out of this sorrow!

O Lord, my Lord, Who bringest warfare to nought, bring to

nought the assaults of them that devise evils against me;

O Lord, my Lord, Who drowned Pharaoh's chosen riders in

the Red Sea, drown the multitude of my misdeeds in the

sea of Thy lovingkindness!

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION VIII

I have made myself a stranger to Thy mercy, O heavenly Father;

by mine evil deeds I have estranged myself from Thee and have

enslaved myself to this vain world. Wherefore, I am aflame with

grievous sorrow, I am drowning in the profound depths of

despair. But as Thou art merciful and the Lover of mankind,

accept me, who am perishing, and from this tribulation save me

who cry out to Thee: Alleluia!

IKOS VIII

Wholly polluted with the impurity of sin, plunged in the depths

of evil, I lift up mine eyes unto Thee Who dwellest in heaven.

Hearken unto my cry of lamentation:

O Lord, my Lord, Who hast illumined the day with the light

of the sun, illumine my soul which hath been benighted

with the darkness of the vanities of this world;

O Lord, my Lord, All-good Comforter, fill my sinful soul

with divine consolation!

O Lord, my Lord, by Whose word the heavens have been

established, confirm me in the confession of Thy holy

name;

O Lord, my Lord, Who art upborne upon the cherubim and

art hymned by the seraphim, accept from me, a sinner,

this entreaty which I offer unto Thee!

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION IX

O source of all mercy and Bestower of understanding, O Allgood

Comforter, teach me to say worthy things in Thy presence,

and with Thy divine consolation fill Thou my soul, which hath

been darkened by the passions, and my mind, which is troubled

by the grief of this world, that with gladness I may chant unto

Thee: Alleluia!

IKOS IX

The most eloquent of orators cannot recount the extent of Thy

goodness and Thy love for mankind, O Son of God; for Thou

didst humble Thyself even to take on the guise of a servant.

Wherefore, do not reject even me who have committed sins

without number, yet who stand before Thee with fear and pray

thus:

O Lord, my Lord, good Shepherd Who layest down Thy life

for Thy sheep, deliver me, Thy lost sheep, from the jaws

of the soul-destroying wolf which raveneth to devour

me;

O Lord, my Lord, Who for our sake wast mocked, slain and

nailed to the Cross, keep me from the mockery of mine,

enemies, visible and invisible, for the sake of Thy

sufferings!

O Lord, my Lord, Thou sinless One Who wast numbered

among transgressors, rescue me from the hands of them

that hate me;

O Lord, my Lord, by Whose stripes all are healed, heal my

heart which hath been afflicted with bitterness!

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION X

Wishing to save Israel Thy chosen from the oppression of

Egypt, Thou didst call Moses Thy servant from the burning

bush, and didst say to him: I have seen the affliction of my

people in Egypt, and have hearkened to their cry. Wherefore

look now upon mine affliction, O Lord, and heal the pangs of

my heart, that I may cry to Thee in thanksgiving: Alleluia!

IKOS X

O heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of truth, show forth Thy

lovingkindness upon me, Thy servant, and visit my soul which is

plunged in grief and strengthen me who pray to Thee:

O Lord, my Lord, Who taughtest Thine apostles to speak in

different tongues, teach me the fear of Thee;

O Lord, my Lord, Who filled the martyrs with boldness

when they stood before the tribunals, grant me boldly to

stand against sin, the world and the devil!

O Lord, my Lord, holy Sanctifier of Thy faithful, hallow my

soul, that it may be worthy to be called Thy habitation;

O Lord, my Lord, Light and Bestower of light, illumine me

who am benighted in the darkness of sorrow!

O Lord, my Lord, Treasury of good things, do not deprive

me of the gifts of Thy goodness!

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION XI

O All-good Master, do not disdain one who offereth most

compunctionate hymnody unto Thee, and prayeth to Thee with

contrite heart. Rather, turn Thy face away from my sins, but do

not avert Thy countenance from Thy servant, for I am afflicted.

Quickly hearken unto me who chant unto Thee: Alleluia!

IKOS XI

O Christ God, true Light, illumine with the light of Thy grace

my soul which hath been benighted by the passions, that with

reverence I may pray to Thee, saying:

O Lord, my Lord, do not destroy me, wretch that I am, who

am bereft of correction of life, yet dare to stand before

Thee;

O Lord, my Lord, Fervor which createst life, warm me who

am withering away amid this sorrow!

O Lord, my Lord, Splendor of the glory of the Father, shine

the light of Thine aid upon me;

O Lord, my Lord, Who makest Thine angels spirits and Thy

minsters a flame of fire, send Thine angel to keep me

from all evil!

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION XII

For the sake of Thy love for the human race, O heavenly Father,

Thou didst send Thine only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who appeared on earth and dwelt among men; and afterwards,

though He is sinless, He was numbered among transgressors and

by His blood renewed our nature which had become corrupted

by sin, and He taught the whole world to chant: Alleluia!

IKOS XII

Hymning Thine ineffable love for mankind, O Christ God, in

that for our salvation Thou didst will to endure the Cross and

death, I confess also Thy just judgment, for in truth and justice

Thou hast brought this sorrow upon me for the sake of my sins.

But, O Thou Who camest not to call the righteous, but sinners to

repentance, hearken unto me, who have sinned more than the

most sinful of men, for I pray to Thee thus:

O Lord, my Lord, Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of

the world, take from me the heavy burden of my sins;

O Lord, my Lord, Who like a lamb led to the slaughter

opened not Thy mouth, teach me to endure the evils

which befall me without murmuring!

O Lord, my Lord, Who rent asunder the handwriting of

Adam, rend asunder the handwriting of my countless

sins;

O Lord, my Lord, Who accepted the repentance of the thief,

accept also the repentance of me a sinner!

O Lord, my Lord, Who raised up the dead, resurrect my soul

which hath been mortified by sins;

O Lord, my Lord, upraising of the fallen, raise me up who

have also fallen!

O Lord, my Lord, grant that I may rejoice in Thy mercy!

KONTAKION XIII

O most loving and all-good Lord my God, Helper of the

oppressed and hope of the hopeless: look Thou with the eye of

Thy compassion upon mine affliction and sorrow, and for the

sake of Thy mercy, save me who chant to Thee: Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Thrice.

IKOS I

O Creator of the angels and Lord of hosts, for the sake of the

salvation of fallen man Thou didst not disdain the Virgin's

womb; and afterwards, O Word of God, didst endure spitting,

mockery and a disgraceful death, in that Thou art good and the

Lover of mankind. Mindful of this, I dare to approach Thee and

to pray with tears:

O Lord, my Lord, my merciful Savior, save me who am

perishing;

O Lord, my Lord, Who camest not to save the righteous, but

sinners, deliver me from this temptation!

O Lord, my Lord, Who acceptest our infirmities and bearest

our afflictions, send down Thy peace upon my troubled

soul;

O Lord, my Lord, Who by Thy death hast abolished death,

set at nought the wiles of the devil which are against me!

O Lord, my Lord, my joy, grant that I may rejoice in Thy

mercy!

KONTAKION I

O champion Leader and Lord, Thou joy and gladness of Thy

servants! Wherever Thou art, all grief is set at nought; wherever

Thou art not, all joy is in vain. Look down upon me, a sinner

who am perishing in this misfortune, and with the revelation of

Thy salvation visit me who cry out: O Lord, my Lord, my joy,

grant that I may rejoice in Thy mercy!

PRAYERS

I

Save me, O Lord, for I am perishing! Behold, my ship is

endangered by the battering of the waves of life and is nigh unto

sinking! But as Thou art full of loving kindness and sympathetic

to our weakness, do Thou with Thine almighty authority rebuke

the turbulence of tribulations which threaten to inundate me and

drag me down into the depths of evil. And let there be calm, for

even the winds and the sea are obedient to Thee. Amen.

II

Save me, O my Savior, according to Thy mercy, not according

to my deeds. It is Thy wish that I be saved. Thou knowest how

to accomplish my salvation. Wherefore, save me as Thou

desirest, as Thou canst, as Thou knowest. Save me by the

judgements which Thou knowest. I trust in Thee, my Lord, and

entrust myself to Thy holy will. Deal with me as Thou wishest:

if Thou desirest to have me in light, be Thou blessed; if Thou

desirest to have me in darkness, be Thou likewise blessed. If

Thou openest unto me the portals of Thy lovingkindness, be

Thou blessed, O Lord, Who hast opened unto me in accordance

with Thy righteousness. If Thou destroyest me not with mine

iniquities, glory to Thy righteous judgment. Deal with me as

Thou wishest. Amen.