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.