Canon I, in Tone IV

Exapostilarion, Spec. Mel: “Thy chamber...” —

Irmos: I will open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear, keeping splendid festival; and, rejoicing, I will hymn her wonders.

Katavasia: “I shall open my lips...”

Kontakion, in Tone VI —

O pure one, having acquired thy prayer as an unassailable rampart, we cry out to thee: O Mistress, take pity and repel our enemies, visible and invisible.

Glory..., Now & ever..., and the above Sessional hymn is repeated.

Sessional hymn, in Tone VII —

What worthy hymn can our infirmity offer unto thee? Only that of joy, which Gabriel hath mystically taught us: Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mother unwedded!

Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord, Who led His people through the Red Sea, for He alone hath gloriously been glorified.

We chant psalms unto thee, O gracious one, and unceasingly offer thee the hymn, Rejoice; for thou hast poured forth joy upon all.

Rejoice, wellspring of grace! Rejoice, ladder and portal of heaven! Rejoice, candlestick and golden jar, and mountain unquarried, who for the world gavest birth unto Christ, the Bestower of life.

Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and abundant fountain: in thy divine glory establish those who hymn thee and spiritually form themselves into a choir; and vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.

O intercessor for my whole life, deliver me from many misfortunes. O all-pure Bride of God, rescue me from the torment which is to come, that I may chant to thee with a voice of thanksgiving.

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

O good Mistress Theotokos, joy of the sorrowful, who dost readily hearken unto all who are in sorrow and dost help those who are grieved: Grant grace unto those who dare to hymn thee.

Irmos: Seated in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus most divine hath come on a light cloud, and with His incorrupt arm hath saved those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!

O Mistress who hast acquired grace of great richness, by thy bold entreaty do thou most gloriously rescue me from temptation, O joy of those who sorrow.

Irmos: O Word, with divine vision the prophet perceived Thee Who wast to become incarnate of the Theotokos alone, the mountain overshadowed; and with fear he glorified Thy power.

O thou who alone dost defend those who fervently flee to thy protection amid temptations, O all-pure one: As thou art good, accept these supplications which proceed from our hearts.

Irmos: All things are filled with awe at thy divine glory; for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, didst contain within thy womb Him Who is God over all, and gavest birth to the timeless Son, granting peace unto all who hymn thee.

Overwhelmed by the waves of the sea of life and beset by evil temptations, I have set my course for the calm harbor of thy protection. Wherefore, deliver me from evils, O Theotokos.

Irmos: O Christ God, Bestower of light, Who didst dispel the primeval darkness of the abyss: disperse the gloom of my soul, and grant me the light of Thy commandments, O Word, that, rising early, I may glorify Thee.

O pure one, God, Who was well pleased to take flesh of thee, hath set thee as a haven for those who find themselves amid misfortunes. Grant thou thy help unto thy servants.

Irmos: Celebrating this divine and most honored festival of the Mother of God, come, ye divinely wise, let us clap our hands and glorify God Who was born of her.

O thou who alone art blessed and divinely joyous, who gavest birth unto ineffable joy for men: Take thou the grief of my soul, I pray, and gladden my heart.

Irmos: O Thou Who lovest mankind, accept me, who am held fast by many sins, and who fall down before Thy compassion; and save me, as Thou didst the prophet, O Lord.

O all-pure one, deliver me from demonic delusion, from misery, harm and temptation, that with faith I may glorify thee who, after God, art my helper and protection.

Irmos: The divinely wise youths worshipped not a creation rather than the Creator, but, manfully trampling the threat of the fire underfoot, they rejoice, chanting: Blessed art Thou, the all-hymned God of our fathers!

O thou who art the hope of the hopeless, the restoration of the fallen, the comfort of the grieving, who gavest birth unto the divine Light: Illumine my soul, which is in darkness.

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!

Come, ye faithful, to the Virgin, as did Gabriel, and let us cry out with reverence: O pure one, who gavest birth unto Joy, truly hast thou been adorned! Rejoice, O blessed one!

Irmos: The birthgiving of the Theotokos saved the pious children in the furnace—then in figure, but now in deed—and it moveth all the world to chant to Thee: Hymn ye the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O Virgin Theotokos, be thou the confirmation, refuge and protection for those who flee to thee with faith and confess thee to be the Mother of God.

Irmos: The Lord Who was glorified on the holy mountain, and by the fire in the bush revealed to Moses the mystery of the Ever-virgin, hymn ye and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O all-immaculate one, thou art my strength, joy and gladness, an unshakable rampart and an intercessor delivering me from temptation and misfortune.

Irmos: Let every mortal leap for joy, enlightened by the Spirit; and let the nature of the incorporeal intelligences keep festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry aloud: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!

Gazing with thy merciful and meek eye upon me who am surrounded by evil circumstances and sorrow, O Theotokos, quickly free me, for thee do I summon to mine aid.

Irmos: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, Who hath exalted the horn of salvation for us in the house of David His child, wherein the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, and directed us to the path of peace.

O Virgin, thou dost pour forth streams of healing everywhere; for the Lord of mercy, Who was born of thee in a manner past understanding, hath shown thee forth as a wellspring of loving-kindness, O Mistress.

Thou art a wellspring of mercy imparting consolation unto the sorrowful. Wherefore, O Mistress, pour forth a fountain of the waters of thy mercies upon me, and quench thou the furnace of my passions.

Bereft of all help, to thee, O all-immaculate one, my mighty preserver and protection, do I have recourse. Therefore, refuse me not thy divine protection.

Thou art the hope, help and joy, the protection and refuge of mortals, O Mistress, Mother of Life. Wherefore, we beseech thee: Send down thy help upon all who hymn thee, O all-pure one.

Delivered by thee from misfortune and having received joy for thy sake, we all glorify thee as a good benefactress and a right laudable helper, O Mother unwedded.

Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O Virgin Theotokos, thou joy of all, for for the whole world thou hast given birth unto the Joy and Gladness which driveth away the grief of sin, O Bride of God.

Thee have I acquired as a preserver amid temptations. Thee have I as mine ever-vigilant intercessor before God. May I find thee to be one who delivereth me from all condemnation on the Day of judgment, O all-pure one.

Increase thou the mercy and aid of thy supplications upon me, O all-pure one, and deliver me from temptations and sorrows, O thou who gavest birth to the Joy of the world.

O thou who didst receive the fullness of joy, accept from us, thy servants, the greeting of the archangel: Rejoice, O thou who gavest birth unto the world’s Joy! Rejoice, jar, whence the heavenly Manna is given to all the faithful! Rejoice, O blessed one!

Rejoice, O Mistress, thou cloud of the ineffable and noetic Sun! Rejoice, most radiant lamp! Rejoice, golden lampstand! Through thee, O all-holy one, hath Eve been delivered from the curse. But, as thou hast boldness before thine easily-appeased Son and God, cease not to make entreaty for us in thy maternal supplication, O all-pure one.

O Mistress, hope of the hopeless, helper of the poor, consolation of the weeping, cleansing of the sinful, guide of those who are lost, healer of the sick and restoration of the fallen: Save thou thy servants!

We are not strangers to thine aid amid sorrows, O Mistress. Wherefore, come quickly to our aid, stretching forth thy hand unto us who are cruelly tossed about by the tempest, O pure one. Be thou merciful unto our infirmities, swiftly granting joy, O Mother of God.

O all-pure Theotokos and Mistress, who art an all-good and fervent helper for the sinful and humble: Save thy servants from misfortune, sorrow and sin.

O Christ, accept Thy most glorious Mother who prayeth for the world and mercifully crieth out to Thee: O my Son, accept mine entreaty and assuage Thy wrath which lieth upon the earth!

O Virgin, be thou unto me, thy servant, shelter, help and refuge; and deliver me from boundless evil, that I may sing to thee, O all-pure one: Glory to thine ineffable birthgiving!

O good one, thou art my hope, shield and confirmation, my deliverance from evils, the enlightenment of my soul, my praise, rampart and might.

Thou ever savest me from great and divers offenses and temptations; wherefore, as thou gavest birth unto the Lord, I pray thee and have recourse to thee, the invincible help of the sorrowful: Lead me up from misfortune by thy supplications.

“O my God of loving-kindness, God Who lovest mankind and willest mercy: Pour forth Thy mercy upon me now!” Thus doth Thy Mother, my hope and helper, entreat Thee.

O pure one, extend thy mercy and loving-kindness unto thy servants, who ever beseech thee, saving them from all sorrow and torment by thy supplications.

Rejoice, beauteous palace of the Word, virginal bridal chamber of Christ! Rejoice, boast of all the bodiless host! Rejoice, joy, help and hope of men!

Impart me salvation of soul and body, O all-immaculate one, and grant healing unto one who is infirm, and deliverance from evil.

Who can plead with the Judge concerning my wicked deeds and my manifold transgressions, if not thee, O thou who alone art helper of the sinful?

Thou art my strength, thou art my boast, joy and protector, my help and refuge, and invincible intercessor, O all-holy Virgin Theotokos. Wherefore, save thou thy servant.

Save me from the depths of temptation and sorrow, from grief and the passions of my body, O Mistress, and preserve thou my soul in divine tranquility.

O sure intercessor, hope of Christians, divinely joyous one: Accept these entreaties from us who invoke and pray to thee.

Thou art my protection and sure boast, O Mistress Theotokos, for thou dost in no wise disdain those who have recourse unto thee.

O pure one, the Son of God, Who made His abode within thee, wrought of thee a house of glory, a holy mountain of God, a bride and bridal chamber, a temple of holiness and a paradise of everlasting sweetness and light for us.

O Virgin Maiden, God hath loved thee, the beauty of Jacob, adorning thee with all that from the beginning had been eclipsed by the gloom of the transgression.

As the apple of thine eye do thou keep my soul under the shelter of thy wings, O good and all-pure one, and deliver it from the affliction and torment of the evil spirits.

Delivered by thee from the grief of our first mother, O Theotokos, we have been filled with consolation, O thou who for all gavest birth unto Gladness and universal Joy. Wherefore, O all-hymned one, by thy prayers preserve those who hymn thee from misfortune.

Delivered by thee from our many sins, weaknesses, infirmities and cruel afflictions, we thank thee, O all-pure Mistress, for thou art a steadfast hope for thy faithful servants.

Joining with the divine Gabriel, we faithfully cry out to the Theotokos: Rejoice, O holy Virgin, full of grace! The Lord is with thee: He Who, having destroyed grief for thy sake, hath granted joy to the world.

Heal thou my pain-wracked soul, O thou who gavest birth unto Him Who taketh away afflictions, O all-pure Mistress!

O Theotokos, I entreat thee, the healer of the sick, the restoration of the fallen, the cleansing of the sinful; and with tears do I fall down and cry to thee: As thou art mighty, do thou thyself save me who am perishing.

Thou art an impregnable rampart. Thou art a steadfast protection, O good Theotokos. Thou art a mighty intercessor for thy servant. Wherefore, I ever call upon thee and have recourse to thy protection.

With the angel we faithfully cry out to thee, O Virgin: Rejoice, O pure Theotokos, who art the joy of the world! Vouchsafe us thy joy and cast down our grief.

O Virgin Mother of the Lord, thou art the delight of the angels, the joy of the sorrowful, the intercessor for Christians. Help us, and deliver us from eternal torment.

On the day of judgment, when I shall be released from the bonds of the flesh, intercede for me, O Theotokos, and rescue me from the grasp of the demons.

Look down upon me, lowly as I am, O Mistress, and grant me the salvation for which I dare not hope, for thou art my hope and protection, the life and light of my heart, and my confirmation, O Theotokos.

Night and day, openly and in secret, we who faithfully glorify thee flee to thy protection, O all-pure Virgin.

We have thee as a helper amid temptations, a mighty salvation amid sorrows and an aid amid misfortunes, O ever-Virgin.

O Virgin Theotokos, thou art the beauty of the holy and honored angels, the joy of men. Guide me unto life.

Thou wast the palace and fiery throne of the King of glory, O Virgin, who art more exalted than the cherubim and seraphim. Wherefore, every creature that hath breath doth glorify thee as the Mother of the Creator.

Rejoice, thou tongs which held the divine Coal! Rejoice, seal of the prophets and boast of the apostles, O all-pure Theotokos, because of whom we have been freed from corruption!

O Virgin Theotokos, who gavest birth unto the Abyss of compassion, save my soul from the sorrows of life, and open unto me the doors of spiritual life; for I have placed mine only hope in thee.

We have none other help, we have none other hope, save thee, O Lady. Do thou help us. We hope on thee and in thee do we glory. Let us never be confounded, for we are thy servants.

Ikos: Stretch forth thy hands, wherewith thou didst receive the Master of all as a Babe, that we may receive therefrom an abundance of goodness. In thy mighty supplication forsake us not who trust in thee, and take pity on us in thine infinite simplicity, and grant our souls thy loving-kindness, pouring it forth everlastingly; for thee do we sinners have as a protectress against the evils and misfortunes that befall us. And as thou hast the compassion of loving-kindness, haste thou to help us and speed thou to save us, ever interceding for those who honor thee, O Theotokos.

Having grown old through the passions, unremitting temptation and sorrow, and having reached the sunset of my life bereft of virtue, overcome by slothfulness, I cry aloud to thee, O Lady: Have mercy upon me, thou consolation of mortals!

Rejoice, thou wellspring of the water of immortality, paradise of delight! Rejoice, rampart of the faithful! Rejoice, thou who hast not known wedlock! Rejoice, universal joy, through whom the praised and most glorious God of our fathers hath shone forth upon us!

Thou art a helper for all in the world, a bulwark and a sure refuge for Christians, O pure Mary. Wherefore, honoring thee with faith, we cry out to Christ: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Oh, thy loving-kindness, O Virgin! For thou dost loose the bonds of boundless grief and temptation for those who cry out to thee in need and every evil circumstance. Wherefore, help thou now those who praise thee, O blessed one.

As thou art the sole hope and help of the faithful, O Theotokos, haste thou to help thy servants that are overwhelmed by sorrows and are fraught with pain, and have recourse to thee with heartfelt love.

O Mother of God, we offer thee joyous thanksgiving, for, through thee have we truly been delivered from every evil device, and, as thou hast said, we cry out to thee: Blessed art thou!

We have spent the evening lamenting over grief and the expectation of evil; yet, deified by thy godly protection, O Virgin, we have found joy in the morning, for thou hast saved us.

Having acquired thy protection before God as a divine refuge, O Mistress, we all have recourse to thee amid our temptations, persecutions and sins, and through thee are we transformed, O all-pure one.

O Mistress, thou art the refuge of sinners, the restoration of those who are downcast; wherefore, I flee to thy protection. Save me, O Bride of God!

In perplexity and grief, and amid misfortunes, I fervently call upon thee from the depths of my heart, O all-pure one: Haste thou to deliver me, and grant me consolation, O pure one.

O blessed Virgin, joy of all the faithful who sorrow, rescue me from all temptation and grief, from the malice of those who hate me; and from sins and divers infirmities deliver me.

O pure Virgin, thou art all-radiant with light, having received within thyself the unwaning Light; and thou dost enlighten those who cry out to thee with faith: Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, O all-pure one!

Rejoice, glorious throne of God! Rejoice, bulwark of the faithful, through whom Christ the Light hath shone forth upon those who are in darkness, yet bless thee and cry out: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all for ever!

We hymn thee, O all-pure Mother of God. And who doth not glorify thee who art truly good and the hope of our souls? Wherefore, O all-pure one, accept thou mine entreaty.

The salvation of all men art thou who hast ineffably given birth unto God, O Theotokos. Thou art her who saveth the faithful and guideth the blind and restoreth the fallen. Wherefore, praising thee, we cry out to Christ: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all for ever!

O pure one, thou dost ever pour forth streams of healing upon the faithful; wherefore, availing ourselves of their abundant grace, we praise thine Offspring, O pure one, and exalt Him above all for ever.

To thee have I entrusted my heart, soul and body, O Mistress; for I have none other hope than thee, through whom I receive mercy. Wherefore, grant me thy rich grace.

Look down now with mercy upon my supplication, and grant me joy instead of grief, that I may praise thee, O Mistress, and cry out to thy Son: Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Foretelling thee, O all-pure one, the Spirit of God said: Thou art all-fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

O Mother of God, boast of angels and salvation of men: Be thou my surety, that I may acquire and receive remission of the sins I have committed in the past, with knowledge or in ignorance.

Having thee, after God, as our hope of salvation amid temptations, we, the faithful, cry out: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; praise and exalt Him above all for ever!

O all-praised Virgin, accept this hymn from blasphemous lips which cry out: Rejoice, thou healing of pain-wracked bodies and salvation of despairing souls!

Disdain not those who are beset by pain and temptation, O good one; but, hearkening unto this meager entreaty, free us from great sorrows, that we may hymn thy mercy and aid, O pure one.

O Virgin, thou art the confirmation of those who stand fast and the restoration of the fallen; wherefore, raise me up, who am fallen, that I may glorify thee who art blessed and joyous.

Rejoice, O Mary, great wonder of all creation! Rejoice, daughter of David and Mother of the Lord! Rejoice, object of Gabriel’s hymnody! Rejoice, refuge, confirmation and help of all sinners on the earth, O all-holy one!

O Master, mercifully accept Thy Mother as intercessor in our behalf, as Thou hast been pleased so to do, that all things may be filled with Thy goodness, and that all may magnify Thee as Benefactor.

O good Virgin, joy and refuge of all the world, abode of the faithful and deliverance from sorrow: Intercede for me at the hour of my death, and deliver me from the demons who seek to devour me!

Thou art the joy of the angels; thou art the beauty of the righteous; thou art the hope of the faithful; thou art our preservation; thou art the bridge which leadeth unto the life which ageth not those who magnify thee with faith and love.

O Mother of the Creator of all, most splendid consolation of the grieving, intercessor for the afflicted and protector of the weak: Preserve me, O good one, from misfortune and the assaults of the enemy.

O Mistress, who alone art the visitation of the sick, who alone art the restoration of the fallen, who alone art guide and access to God, who alone art the mediatress of eternal blessings: Have mercy upon me who alone have sinned more than all other men!

O pure Theotokos, in manner transcending nature hast thou revealed to us the joy of eternal life, O Mediatress who gavest birth unto the Savior of all, Who hath manifestly wiped every tear from the face of the earth and granted joy unto all.

O Virgin who hast not known man, thou hast increased for us the joy, gladness and divine bliss of God; for, lo! weeping piteously, we are gladdened by thy prayers.

They who with faith have recourse to thy loving-kindness are delivered from the woeful misfortunes of life; wherefore, even I have fled to thy protection, O Theotokos.

Letting divine sweetness fall like the dew, O thou who hast given birth unto the Sweetness of all, sweeten my soul which hath been embittered by the venom of the serpent, and by thy mediation ever remove me from bitter harm, O Mistress, thou intercessor and joy of the faithful.

Blessing, I bless thee; and rendering glory, I glorify thee fervently, O all-pure one. Wherefore, bless me who bless thee; deliver me from all want and grief, and with thy hand sustain me undefeated.

Under thy shelter do all the generations of men flee, O Virgin Lady. With the light of thy birthgiving illumine us, thy sinful servants, who earnestly pray and bow down before thee, and beg peace for the world and great mercy for our souls. Thrice