Monday, January 20, 2014

Akathist to Righteous Symeon the God-Receiver

(by Abbess Thaisia of Leushino)

Kontakion 1

Chosen messenger of the appearance of Christ among men - Holy Righteous Elder Symeon – accept

our hymns of praise, O God-Receiver. For as you have boldness before the Lord and have carried Him

in your arms, do pray for the salvation of us who lovingly call on you:

Rejoice, Symeon, Righteous Elder and Blessed God-Receiver.

Ikos 1

An angel of the Lord was sent to elder Symeon to announce that the promised Messiah would truly be

born of a Virgin. While he was reading in the prophesy of Isaiah: “a virgin shall conceive and bear a

child Emmanuel” and pondering at how this can take place, an angel appeared and announced to him

that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ born of a Virgin. Marveling at God's

awesome providence toward him, let us appeal to him thus:

Rejoice, for you acquired true wisdom with your gray hair.

Rejoice, for the Holy Spirit bore witness to your righteousness and piety.

Rejoice, for you walked in all commandments of the Lord blamelessly and without stumbling.

Rejoice, for you pleased your Lord with your whole life.

Rejoice, Symeon, Righteous Elder and Blessed God-Receiver.
 
(translated by Maria Murray, full version not yet published)