Canon of the Theotokos

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “O Light immutable…”—

Irmos: The bow of the mighty hath been broken by Thy might, O Christ, and the strengthless have girded themselves with power.

Kontakion, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “Seeking the highest…”—

Like an angel on earth showing, by purity of mind, vigilance in prayer, might in ascetic endeavors and endurance amid tribulations, O Anthony, thou didst cry out to God: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

Theotokion: By the activity of the Life Who manifested Himself to the world through thee, O pure one, raise up my mind which hath been slain, and guide it to Life, O thou who alone hast destroyed the gates of death by thy birthgiving.

He Who, as the Creator of time, is outside all time, O Virgin, willingly made Himself a Child through thee.

Irmos: O Christ, Who in the beginning established the heavens in wisdom and founded the earth upon the waters, make me steadfast upon the rock of Thy commandments; for none is holy as Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

O venerable father Anthony, taking the yoke of Christ upon thy shoulders, thou didst valiantly trample the visitation of the enemy underfoot, and didst bring forth cities in the desert; for which cause, we all honor thee with faith, O most blessed one, thou boast of monastics. Wherefore, unceasingly beseech Christ, that we be saved. Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Let us hymn the womb which is far more spacious than the heavens, through which Adam hath made his abode in the heavens, rejoicing.

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, of Thy glorious dispensation, and I have glorified Thine unapproachable power, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Assembling with faith, we all honor thee, O Anthony, as an ascetic of Christ; for, rejoicing, thou didst tread the trackless wilderness, O wise one, and becamest an honored instructor. Wherefore, we cry out to thee with faith: O most blessed boast of monastics, pray thou for us to the Lord, that we be saved!

Theotokion: Beseech the God Who was incarnate of thee, Who immutably remained what He was, Who is equal to the Father in essence and became consubstantial with thee who gavest Him birth, that He grant forgiveness of transgressions and salvation of soul to those who hymn thee with faith.

With steadfast mind and mighty endurance thou didst cause the flame of the passions to die out, O father Anthony, and thou didst array thyself in the splendid vesture of dispassion and the robe of salvation.

Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

O venerable father Anthony, thou didst enclose thyself in a tomb for the sake of true life, and wast in nowise affrighted by the invisible foe; for though they descended upon thee to smite thee, by thy prayers thou didst render them insensible, O thou of forthright soul, first leader of the desert. Wherefore, we all honor and bless thee with faith.

Theotokion: Having thee as a rampart, and preserved by thine intercession, we bless thee, boasting in thy divine glory; for thou, O most pure one, pourest forth gladness and joy upon our souls.

Thou didst disdain the feeble power of the demons who dared mighty assaults and assumed the guise of wild beasts; for thou didst have a mighty Ally in battle.

Irmos: The Sun—the live Coal which was revealed beforehand to Isaiah—shone forth from the Virgin’s womb, granting the enlightenment of divine knowledge to those gone astray in darkness.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

Theotokion: Thou hast truly raised up fallen human nature, O Mother of God, having borne in thy womb, without seed, the immutable Son, Who is visible in divine appearance and in His equality with the Father.

Denouncing the princes and powers of darkness, O Anthony, through mighty asceticism thou becamest a God-bearer, a mighty victor, the glory of ascetics and boast of monastics.

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Ascending from the desert to heaven on the ladder of the virtues, O wondrous one, thou didst attain its bastions through ascetic endeavor, encircling the beauties of the celestial Jerusalem; and, receiving honors through thy painful struggles as is meet, thou rejoicest with the ranks of heaven, O most blessed one, becoming an heir to everlasting good things and an inhabitant of the kingdom. O God-bearing Anthony, entreat the Savior of all, that He grant peace to the world and save our souls.

Theotokion: Let us praise the all-pure and most holy Mary; for through her the grace of spiritual gifts is poured forth upon us past understanding, as from a torrent of divine goodness. Let us bless her now with pious intent.

Having bound thy soul to the love of Christ, and wisely hated all the things of the earth, O venerable father, thou madest thine abode in the deserts and mountains; for, having tasted of the noetic tree, O glorious initiate of the mysteries, thou didst shine forth like an angel with never-waning rays. Wherefore, having passed through the darkness of thy flesh, thou didst dispel the gloom of the demons, O Anthony, first-chosen among monastics. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who honor thy holy memory with love. Twice

Irmos: Hearkening to the sound of the cries of entreaty which issue forth from a soul in pain, O Master, deliver me from my grievous sins, for Thou alone art the Cause of our salvation.

O Mistress, accept the supplications of thy servants, and deliver us from all want and grief.

Theotokion: O most pure Theotokos, cleanse the wounds of my soul and the stripes of my sins, washing them with the springs which issue forth from the side of thine Offspring, and purifying them with the streams which flow therefrom; for to thee do I cry, to thee do I flee and on thee do I call, who art full of the grace of God.

O all-hymned one, most immaculate Bride of the Creator, Mother of the Deliverer, who knewest not man: As the receptacle of the Comforter, make haste to deliver me, who am the vile abode of iniquity and in mind am become the plaything of the demons, from their evil wiles; and make me the splendid dwelling-place of the virtues, O radiant one untouched by corruption. Drive away the clouds of the passions and vouchsafe that, by thy supplications, I may receive a portion on high and a share in the never-waning light.

Irmos: The abyss of my sins and the tempest of my transgressions discomfit me and thrust me down into the depths of violent despondency; but stretch forth Thy mighty arm unto me, as Thou didst to Peter, and save my, O my Guide.

Theotokion: Without seed, without carnal desire, O Virgin, thou didst conceive the Word of God Who created all things, and thou gavest birth to Him without corruption, without experiencing the pangs of motherhood. Wherefore, confessing thee with tongue and heart, we magnify thee, the Theotokos.

Behold! the most manifest Mother of God, the divine mountain of the house of the Lord, is exalted far above the heavenly powers.

Irmos: The youths of old showed themselves to be rhetors with the greatest love of wisdom; for, theologizing with their lips, they chanted from the depths of their God-pleasing souls: O most divine God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

O Virgin, who, alone outside the laws of nature, gavest birth unto the Ruler of creation: thou hast been vouchsafed a divine calling.

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fire stood in awe of the condescension of God; wherefore, the youths, dancing with joyous step in the furnace, as in a meadow, chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Using the divine ladder of the virtues, O father, thou didst mount to the top, and didst behold God standing thereon, distributing gifts with His generous hand unto those who chant with faith: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Irmos: The thrice-blessed youths, disdaining the golden image and beholding the immutable and living image of God, chanted in the midst of the flame: Let all existing creation hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Thou alone didst dedicate thyself wholly to God alone, O Anthony, uniting thyself to Him with virtue and spiritual discourses, and as thou art pure, thou hast been vouchsafed divine revelation; for, having abandoned the earth and the things of the earth, thou hast received heavenly delight, as is meet.

Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Having purified mind and soul, O father Anthony, thou didst denounce the soul-destroying deceit, the wiles, bitter delusions and phantasms of the enemy; for, having trained, thou didst achieve mastery, and having achieved mastery, thou teachest multitudes of monastics, O most blessed one.

Irmos: Thou art all desire, all sweetness, O Word of God, Son of the Virgin, God of gods, all-holy Lord of the saints. Wherefore, we magnify Thee and her who gave Thee birth.

Clouds of darkness rain down delight upon those who are on earth, for unto us hath a Child been given, Who hath existed from before the ages: our God, incarnate of the Virgin.

Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Light hath shone forth upon my life and my flesh, and hath destroyed the gloom of sin: the most Exalted One, Who in the latter days was incarnate without seed of the Virgin.

Having God Who seeth all things living within thee, O blessed one, teaching, enlightening and making thee wise, thou wast vouchsafed to behold the ascents of pure and blessed souls, O thrice-blessed one.

O wise one, Christ hath given thee the grace to heal divers ailments and power against unclean spirits; for, having vanquished nature supernaturally, O father, thou didst receive a share of the gifts of the Spirit.

Human nature, enslaved to sin, hath obtained freedom through thee, O pure Lady; for thy Son hath been sacrificed like a lamb.

We all cry out to thee, the true Mother of God: Save thou thy wrathful servants, for thou alone hast boldness before thy Son.

Accepting the life of God’s law from thine earliest childhood, O divinely wise one, as an athlete thou didst preserve it even unto the end; and as a godly warrior thou hast received the crown of victory from the King of all.

Having thee as a mighty advocate before God, an intercessor, a champion and pious mediator, who sharest in our cares, we are saved from all manner of tribulations, perils and evil circumstances.

Having cast off the tumults of life, thou didst live a life of stillness to the end, emulating the Baptist in every way, O all-venerable one. Wherefore, we honor thee with him, O Anthony, first among the fathers.

Ikos: Hearkening to the voice of Christ, thou didst follow His commandments, and, stripping off thy former life, thou didst put aside all the cares of possessions, property and thy slaves, as well as the love of thy sister, O God-bearing Anthony; and most purely conversing alone with God in the deserts, thou didst receive the grace of understanding, which do thou send upon me who praise thee in hymns, O Anthony, first among the fathers.

At night Jacob beheld God as in a dream, and He that was incarnate of thee hath manifested Himself in splendor unto those who chant: Most divine and supremely glorified is the God of our fathers!

He that wrestled with Jacob prefigured the ineffable union in thee, O pure one, whereby He willingly united Himself to mankind: He is the most divine and supremely glorified God of our fathers!

The vile one who had refused to proclaim Thee, the Son of the Virgin, to be One of the all-hymned Trinity, cried out with steadfast thought and with his tongue: Most divine and supremely glorified is the God of our fathers!

Thy cheeks were as phials of perfume, emitting the sweet fragrance of the virtues and salvation, as from a garden, upon those who cry with faith: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

The grace of the most Holy Spirit, dwelling within thee, O father, made thee a dispeller of the wickedness of evil spirits and an instructor of monks, crying: Blessed is the God of our fathers!

He that is incomparable in grace and might through thee became visible on earth and dwelt with men. Chanting unto Him, O all ye faithful, let us cry out: Let all existing creation hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Truly proclaiming thee the pure one, we glorify thee, O Theotokos, for thou didst give birth to the One of the Trinity Who became incarnate. And to Him, with the Father and the Spirit, do we sing: Let all existing creation hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Ever approaching God through supplications and entreaties, O venerable one, thou didst ascend to the highest summit, escaping the snares of the demons; and, freed from their tyranny, O divinely wise one, thou dost chant: Ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Like a new Moses, thou didst win a victory over the foes and adversaries in the desert, guiding thy people, the assembly of ascetics, in joy and newness of life; and they cry out to the Master: Ye priests, bless; ye people, exalt God supremely for all ages!

In thy womb, O pure one, the Word of God was given to corruptible nature as a staff of strength. And He restored what had been dragged down to hell. Wherefore, we magnify thee, O all-pure one, as the Theotokos.

O Master, mercifully accept Thy mother as an intercessor in our behalf, as is Thy pleasure, and all things shall be filled with Thy goodness, that we all may magnify Thee as our Benefactor.

O most blessed father Anthony, thy splendid feast hath dawned, full of joy, full of spiritual gladness, full of the Holy Spirit, full of sweet fragrance and enlightenment; and having thee now as a rule and giver of the laws of asceticism, we rejoice.

Never cease to pray to the Deliverer, O most honored father, that He grant to those who reverently celebrate thy sacred memory remission of transgressions, the reception of spiritual gifts, divine intercession, salvation of soul and everlasting joy.

Having lived angelically upon the earth, thou hast found the splendor of the angels; for thou hast obtained a share of their God-seeing effulgence. And with them thou dost ever rejoice, as a prophet of God, a crowned martyr, preëminent among monastics.

O Anthony, father of fathers, thou hast been shown to be a light for those who share thy way of life, having taught the pious to tread the paths of light; and thou emittest the flame and fire of lightning, consuming hordes of the demons.

With unceasing hymns we bless thee, O Virgin Theotokos, in that thou gavest birth to One of the Trinity, and didst bear in thy divine embrace the Word Who is immutably and unchangeably transcendent.

Great Doxology. Troparion of the saint. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.