The Akathist Hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary Eastern Catholic Devotion

To Our Blessed Lady, The Blessed Virgin, Mary Mother of Our Lord, Our True God, and Savior, Jesus Christ!

[PRIEST]: - Blessed is Our God, Always, Now and Forevermore. Amen

[CANTOR]: - O heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fit all things. Treasury of Blessings,and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O Gracious One!

- Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal one, have mercy on us. (Three times)

[PRIEST]: - Blessed is Our God, Always, Now and Forevermore. Amen

[CANTOR]: - O heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fit all things. Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O Gracious One!

- Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal one, have mercy on us. (Three times)

[During the Easter time, CHRIST IS RISEN is substituted for "Holy God," and sung three times]

- O Most Holy Trinity, Have Mercy on us! O Lord, Cleanse us of our sins! O Master, forgive our transgressions! O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for your Name's sake!

- Lord, Have Mercy. (Three times)

- Glory be to the Father + and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever, Amen.

- Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, Father +, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen. - Let us pray to the Lord.

[Response]: Lord, have mercy!

Preamble

[Priest or Cantor:] As soon as the angel had received his command, he hastened to Joseph's house and said to the ever-virgin: "Behold, heaven was brought down to earth when the Word Himself was fully contained in you! Now that I see Him in your womb, taking a servant's form, I cry out to you in wonder: Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!"

First Chant

[PRIEST]: An Archangel was sent from heaven to greet the Mother of God, and as he saw you assuming a body at the sound of his bodiless voice, O Lord, he stood rapt in amazement and cried out to her in these words:

[The priest will sing the versicles, to each of which set the people will respond by singing "Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure" after each of the praises.]

Hail, O you, through whom Joy will shine forth!
Hail, O you, through whom the curse will disappear!
Hail, O Restoration of the Fallen Adam!
Hail, O Redemption of the Tears of Eve!
Hail, O Peak above the reach of human thought!
Hail, O Depth even beyond the sight of angels!
Hail, O you who have become a Kingly Throne!
Hail, O you who carry Him Who Carries All!
Hail, O Star who manifest the Sun!
Hail, O Womb of the Divine Incarnation!
Hail, O you through whom creation is renewed!
Hail, O you through whom the Creator becomes a Babe!
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!

[RESPONSE]: Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!

KONTAKION (Priest or Cantor)

Knowing that she was a virgin, the blessed one courageously answered the angel: "Your surprising words seem hard for my mind to accept: how can you speak of a birth that is to come from a conception without seed? And why do you cry, Alleluia?"

[RESPONSE]: Alleluia!

The Akathistos hymn is the most famous Byzantine hymn to the Virgin Mary. Devotion to the Mother of God became central to the Identity of Constantinople in the sixth century, when she was taken as the protector of the city. This hymn expresses that devotion. This is only the first of the twelve chants. It is good to experience the beautiful liturgies of our Eastern brethren.