Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary

CELEBRATION - April 16, 2016 (rolling)

Icon "Rejoices in you"
The composition of the icon “Rejoices in You” illustrated the words of the hymn: “The blessed one rejoices in you, every creature, the angelic cathedral and the human race, the consecrated temple and the verbal paradise ...” In the upper half of the composition, in the arch formed by the semicircle of the firmament, rises the five-domed temple. In front of the temple, the icon painter placed angels in a close crowd, they surrounded the throne of the Mother of God. Mary with the baby was a shining sun in a close-blue circle of glory with a graphic image (thin brush, whitewash) of seraphim. Below, against the backdrop of hills, are rows of saints glorifying the Mother of God. At the foot of the throne of the Mother of God stands John of Damascus, they wrote him with a scroll in which you can read the original text “Rejoices over you”.

Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On the icons of the 15th-17th centuries, iconography similar to “Rejoices over you” became widespread. In this episode, the Mother of God was also depicted with a baby on a throne (throne), but surrounded by the apostles, in the hands of the disciples of Christ, they held scrolls with hymns praising Mary. Short chants were called praises, hence the name of the icons.

On Saturday in the fifth week, the holy Church solemnly proclaims prayer singing, or thanksgiving praise to the Most Holy Theotokos.

This holiday was established in the 9th century for the repeated deliverance of Constantinople with the help and intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos from the invasion of enemies. Under Emperor Heraclius, when Patriarch Sergius, carrying the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos in his arms along the city walls, begged the Lord for protection from the Persian and Scythian troops besieging Constantinople, then the people sought protection in the temples of God, day and night begging the Zealous Intercessor to save their city.

Emperor Constantine the Great, the founder of Constantinople, dedicated the city to the Mother of God and revered the Blessed Virgin as the patroness of his and his new capital. Many churches in honor of the Mother of God were erected in Constantinople. Her icon, painted by the holy Evangelist Luke, was kept in the Blachernae Church. On the night when the united forces of the Hagarians and Persians from the sea and land moved against the city, a terrible storm suddenly arose, which dispersed and sank the ships of the attackers. The rest of the enemies fled in shame. Then all that night, the grateful people, who were in the Blachernae Church, proclaimed to the Defender of the city a victorious, all-night and non-sedal (akathist - Greek letters. non-sedal) song: » And since that time, in remembrance of such a great miracle, the Orthodox Church has decreed the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos.

At first, the feast of the akathist was celebrated in Constantinople in that Blachernae church, where the miraculous icon of the Mother of God and the sacred objects of Her earthly life - Her robe and belt were kept. But later the feast was included in the typikons (charters) of the monasteries of St. Sava of Studius and then in church liturgical books, and from that time became common to the entire Eastern Church.

Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Canon of prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos on Saturday Akathist, tone 2

Canto 1

Irmos: Having passed the water like dry land, and having escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israelite cried out: Let us drink to the Redeemer and our God.
Contain many misfortunes, I resort to You, salvation is sought: O Mother of the Word and the Virgin, save me from the heavy and fierce.
Passions confuse me, fill my soul with many despondency; die, Otrokovitsa, in the silence of the Son and Thy God, All-blameless.
Save the one who gave birth to You and God, I pray, Virgo, get rid of the fierce ones: now resorting to You, I extend both my soul and thought.
Worthy of a visitation of the Divine and Providence from You, one Bogomati, who is ill in body and soul, like a good, Good Parent.

Canto 3

Irmos: The heavenly circle of the Verkhotvorche, Lord, and the Church of the Builder, You confirm me in Your love, desires to the edge, true affirmation, only Humanity.
The intercession and cover of my life I believe Thee, the Mother of God of the Virgin: You feed me to Your haven, the good are guilty, the faithful affirmation, the All-Permanent One.
I pray, Virgo, to destroy my storm of spiritual confusion and sorrow: You, O God-bred, gave birth to the head of Christ's silence, the only Most Pure One. Having given birth to the benefactor of good guilty ones, bestow wealth on everyone, all you can, as if you had given birth to a strong one in the fortress of Christ, God-blessed. Violent ailments and painful passions torturing, Virgo, You help me: I know the healing of the inexhaustible treasure, Immaculate, unexpectable.

Troparion, tone 2

A warm prayer and an invincible wall, a source of mercy, a worldly refuge, diligently crying out to Ty: Mother of God, Mistress, deliver us from troubles, one who soon intercedes.

Canto 4

Irmos: Hear, O Lord, Your mystery, understand Your deeds and glorify Your Divinity.
Passion of my embarrassment, who gave birth to the Lord by the helmsman, and calm the storm of my transgressions, O God-bred.
Give me the abyss of Thy mercy, calling upon me, even the Blessed One who gave birth and the Savior of all who sing to Thee. Enjoying, Most Pure, Your gifts, we sing thanksgiving singing, leading Thee Mother of God.
On the bed of my sickness and infirmity to those below me, like a philanthropist, help, Mother of God, one Ever-Virgin. Hope and affirmation and salvation of the wall of the immovable property of Thee, All-Petered, we get rid of the inconvenience of everyone.

Canto 5

Irmos: Enlighten us with Thy commandments, O Lord, and with Thy lofty arm grant Thy peace to us, Lover of mankind.
Fill, Pure, my heart with joy, Your incorruptible joy, giving birth to the guilty.
Deliver us from troubles, Pure Mother of God, giving birth to eternal deliverance and peace, which has every mind.
Resolve the darkness of my sins, O God-bride, with the enlightenment of Your Lordship, the Light that gave birth to the Divine and eternal.
Heal, Pure One, my soul’s impotence, deigning Your visitation, and give me health through Your prayers.

Canto 6

Irmos: I will pour out a prayer to the Lord and to Him I will proclaim my sorrows, for my soul is angry, and my belly draw near to hell, and I pray, like Jonah: from aphids, God, raise me up.
As if he saved death and aphids, He himself issued death, corruption and death, my nature was the former, Virgin, pray to the Lord and Your Son, deliver me from the enemies of villainy.
We represent Thy belly and the guardian is firm, Virgo, and I will solve the misfortunes of rumors, and drive away the taxes of demons and always pray, deliver me from the aphids of my passions.
Like a wall of refuge with a banner, and souls all-perfect salvation, and space in sorrows, Otrokovitsa, and we always rejoice in Your enlightenment; O Lady, and now save us from passions and troubles.
On the bed now I lie infirm, and there is no healing of my flesh; but, having given birth to God and the Savior of the world and the Deliverer of ailments, I pray to You, Good One: from aphids, heal me from illness.

Kontakion, tone 6

The intercession of Christians is shameless, the intercession to the Creator is immutable, do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, but precede, like the Good, to help us, faithfully calling Ty: hasten to prayer and rush to supplication, intercession ever, Theotokos, honoring Thee.

Ying kontakion, tone 6

Not imams of other help, not imams of other hope, unless you, the Lady, help us; We hope in You and boast in You, for Thy servants, let us not be put to shame.

Stichira, tone 6

Do not entrust me to human intercession, Most Holy Lady, but accept the prayer of Your servant: sorrow will hold me, I can’t stand demonic shooting, I don’t have cover, lower where I’ll run accursed, I’m always defeated and consolation is not imam, unless You, the Lady of the world, hope and the intercession of the faithful, do not despise my prayer, make it useful.

Canto 7

Irmos: From Judea, the youths came down, in Babylon sometimes by the faith of the Trinity the fire of the cave was asked, singing: God of the fathers, blessed be Thou.
Thou, O Savior, wished to arrange our salvation, Thou didst dwell in the womb of the Virgin, Thou didst show a representative to the world: our father, God, blessed be Thou.
Volunteer of mercy, You gave birth to him, Mother Pure, beg to get rid of sins and spiritual filth by faith calling: our father, God, blessed be you.
The treasure of salvation and the source of incorruption, Thou hast given birth, and the pillar of affirmation, and the door of repentance to those who call: our father, God, blessed be Thou.
Bodily weaknesses and mental ailments, Mother of God, with the love of those who approach Your shelter, Virgin, heal me, who gave birth to Christ the Savior.

Canto 8

Irmos: The King of Heaven, Whom the angels sing, praise and exalt for all eternity.
Do not despise those who require help from You, Virgin, who sing and exalt Thee forever.
Heal the infirmity of my soul and bodily illnesses, Virgin, let me glorify Thee, Pure, forever.
Healings pour out wealth to those who faithfully sing Thee, Virgin, and exalt Your inexpressible Christmas.
You drive away misfortunes and finds passions, Virgo: the same we sing to you forever and ever.

Canto 9

Irmos: Truly, we confess Theotokos, saved by Thee, Pure Virgin, with the incorporeal faces of Thee majestically.
Do not turn away the current of my tears, Even from every face we take away every tear, Virgin, who gave birth to Christ.
Fill my heart with joy, Virgo, Even accepting fulfillment of joy, consuming sinful sorrow.
Refuge and intercession for those who come running to You, Virgo, and the wall is indestructible, the refuge and cover, and fun.
Enlighten your Light with the dawns, Virgin, drive away the darkness of ignorance, faithfully confessing the Theotokos to Thee.
In the place of the exasperation of the infirmity of the humbled, Devo, heal, transforming from ill health into health.

Stichera, tone 2

Highest of heaven and purest of the lordships of the sun, who delivered us from the oath, let us honor the Lady of the world with songs.
From many of my sins my body is weak, my soul is also weak; I resort to You, more gracious, the hope of the unreliable, You help me.
Mistress and Mother of the Redeemer, accept the prayer of Your unworthy servants, and intercede to the One Born of You; O Lady of the world, be an Intercessor!
We diligently sing a song to You now, the All-singing Mother of God, joyfully: with the Forerunner and all the saints, pray, Mother of God, hedgehog us.
All the angels of the host, the Forerunner of the Lord, the twelve apostles, all the saints with the Mother of God, make a prayer, in a hedgehog we will be saved.

Prayer one

Favoring my queen, my hope to the Theotokos, friend of orphans and strange representatives, grieving joy, offended patroness!
See my misfortune, see my sorrow, help me, as if I am weak, feed me, as if strange. I’ll offend my weight, resolve it, as if you will: as if I don’t have any other help, unless You, neither another intercessor, nor a good comforter, only You, O Bogomati, as if you save me and cover me forever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer two

To whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to Thee, Queen of Heaven? Who will receive my weeping and my sighing, if not You, Immaculate One, the hope of Christians and the refuge of us sinners? Who else will protect you in misfortune? Hear my groaning and incline Your ear to me, the Lady of the Mother of my God, and do not despise me, demanding Your help, and do not reject me a sinner. Reason and teach me, Queen of Heaven; do not depart from me, Thy servant, Lady, for my murmuring, but wake me Mati and intercessor. I entrust myself to Your merciful protection: bring me a sinner to a quiet and serene life, and cry for my sins. To whom shall I resort guilty, if not to Thee, the hope and refuge of sinners, with hope for Thy inexpressible mercy and Thy bounty we enshrine? Oh, Lady Queen of Heaven! You are my hope and refuge, cover and intercession and help. My favored queen and ambulance intercessor! Cover my sins with Your intercession, protect me from enemies visible and invisible; soften the hearts of evil people who rise up against me. Oh, Mother of the Lord my Creator! You are the root of virginity and the unfading color of purity. Oh Mother of God! Give me help to those who are weak with carnal passions and sick at heart, for Yours alone and with You Your Son and our God imam intercession; and by Your wonderful intercession, may I be delivered from all misfortune and misfortune, O immaculate and glorious Mother of God Mary. The same with hope, I say and cry: Rejoice, full of grace, rejoice, rejoiced; rejoice, blessed one, the Lord is with you.

Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos. Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Kondak 1

To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as if having got rid of the evil ones, with thanksgiving, we will write down Your servants, Mother of God; but, as if having an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Ty:

Ikos 1

An intercessor angel from Heaven was sent to speak to the Mother of God: Rejoice, and with a bodiless voice, incarnate You in vain, Lord, terrified and standing, calling to Her like this:
Rejoice, Yehuzhe joy will shine; Rejoice, Eyuzhe the oath will disappear.
Rejoice, call of fallen Adam; Rejoice, deliverance of Evin's tears.
Rejoice, height inconvenient for human thoughts; Rejoice, depth incomprehensible and angelic eyes.
Rejoice, for thou art the Tsar's seat; Rejoice, for you bear the One who bears all.
Rejoice, Star that manifests the Sun; Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation.
Rejoice, through which the creature is renewed; rejoice, we worship the Creator.
Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 2

Leading the Holy One to Herself in purity, she speaks boldly to Gabriel: the glorious of your voice is unpleasant to My soul; seedless for the conception of Christmas, what a verb, calling: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Seek the incomprehensible mind, the Virgin, cry out to the servant: from the side I am clean, what is the Son to be born powerfully, the people of Mi? To Neizha, he speaks with fear, both calling sece:
Rejoice, advice of the inexpressible Mystery; Rejoice, silence of those who ask faith.
Rejoice, beginning of Christ's miracles; Rejoice, His commands are the main thing.
Rejoice, heavenly ladder, where God descends; Rejoice, bridge, lead those who are from earth to Heaven.
Rejoice, angels' verbose miracle; Rejoice, demons' mournful defeat.
Rejoice, Light inexpressibly gave birth; Rejoice, hedgehog, who taught not a single one.
Rejoice, thou who surpasses the mind of the wise; Rejoice, illuminating the meanings of the faithful.
Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 3

The power of the Most High autumn then to the conception of the Braconian, and the prosperous Toya is lying, like a sweet village, to all who want to reap salvation, always sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Have a God-pleasing Virgin womb, go to Elizabeth; the baby onoya abie, having known Sey's kiss, rejoicing, and playing, like songs, crying out to the Mother of God:
Rejoice, Branches that do not fade away; Rejoice, Acquisition of the Immortal Fruit.
Rejoice, making the Maker, the Lover of mankind; Rejoice, giving birth to our life-giver.
Rejoice, nivo, growing bounty of bounty; Rejoice, table, carrying an abundance of cleansing.
Rejoice, for you flourish like a food paradise; Rejoice, for you are preparing a haven for souls.
Rejoice, pleasant prayer censer; Rejoice, purification of the whole world.
Rejoice, God's good will towards mortals; Rejoice, boldness of mortals to God.
Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 4

Having a storm inside, having doubtful thoughts, the chaste Joseph is confused, to Thee in vain unmarried, and thinking of a spoiled one, Immaculate; having taken away your conception from the Holy Spirit, he said: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing the shepherd of the Angels, singing the carnal coming of Christ, and, flowing as if to the Shepherd, they see Him, like a lamb without blemish, in the womb of Mary, having been saved, Deciding more singing:
Rejoice, Lamb and Shepherd Mother; rejoice, yard of verbal sheep.
Rejoice, torment of invisible enemies; Rejoice, opening of heavenly doors.
Rejoice, for the heavenly ones rejoice in the earthly; Rejoice, as the earthly ones rejoice in the heavenly ones.
Rejoice, silent mouth of the apostles; Rejoice, invincible insolence of the passion-bearers.
Rejoice, firm faith affirmation; Rejoice, knowledge of bright grace.
Rejoice, Yehuzhe bare hell; Rejoice, Yehuzhe clothed with glory.
Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 5

The divine star was seen by the Volsvi, then following the dawn, and like a lamp holding me, then I will test the strong King, and having reached the Incomprehensible, rejoicing, crying out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing the children of the Chaldeans at the hand of the Maiden, Who created the hands of men, and the Lord understanding Him, even if the slave is a pleasant sight, daring to serve Him and cry out Blessed:
Rejoice, Stars of unsetting Mother; Rejoice, dawn of the mysterious Day.
Rejoice, quenching the charms of the oven; Rejoice, Enlightening Trinity mysteries.
Rejoice, sweeping away the inhuman tormentor from the authorities; Rejoice, thou who didst show Christ the Lord, the Lover of mankind.
Rejoice, deliverer of the barbarian ministry; Rejoice, timenia that removes deeds.
Rejoice, quenching the fire of worship; Rejoice, changeling flame of passions.
Rejoice, faithful teacher of chastity; rejoice, joy of all kinds. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 6

The preachers of the God-bearing were the former Volsvi, returning to Babylon, having finished Your prophecy and preaching Thee Christ to all, leaving Herod, as if saying, not leading to sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Resplendent in Egypt, the enlightenment of truth, drove away the darkness of lies; idol for him, Savior, not tolerating Your fortress, fall, now rid yourself of crying to the Mother of God:
Rejoice, correction of men; Rejoice, downfall of demons.
Rejoice, having corrected the charms of the state; Rejoice, denounced idol flattery.
Rejoice, sea that drowned the mental pharaoh; Rejoice, stone that gave drink to those who thirst for life.
Rejoice, pillar of fire, instruct beings in darkness; Rejoice, cover of the world, shattering clouds.
Rejoice, food, receiver of manna; Rejoice, sweetness of the holy servant.
Rejoice, land of promise; Rejoice, honey and milk flow from the unkempt.
Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 7

Wanting Simeon to pass away from the present age, the charming one, thou hast gone away like a baby to him, but thou hast known to him the perfect God. The same wonder at Your indescribable wisdom, calling: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

A new show of the creature, the Creator appeared to us, who were from Him, from the seedless vegetative womb and preserving Yu, as if, imperishable, but leading a miracle, let us sing Yu, crying:
Rejoice, flower of incorruption; rejoice, crown of temperance.
Rejoice, the image of the resurrection, covering; Rejoice, manifesting angelic life.
Rejoice, brightly fruitful tree, faiths feed on worthless things; Rejoice, blessed-leaved tree, by which many are covered.
Rejoice, carrying the Redeemer to the captives in the womb; Rejoice, giving birth to the Mentor of the erring.
Rejoice, Judge of the righteous supplication; Rejoice, forgiveness of many sins.
Rejoice, garment of naked boldness; Rejoice, love, conqueror of every desire.
Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 8

Having seen a strange Christmas, let us leave the world, the mind is turned to Heaven: for this reason, for the sake of a high God, a humble person appears on earth, even if you bring to the heights of Tom crying: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

All in the lower and higher, the indescribable Word does not depart: the descent of the Divine, not the passage of the local was, and the Nativity from the Blessed Virgin, hearing this:
Rejoice, God's incapable receptacle; Rejoice, honest mystery of the door.
Rejoice, doubtful hearing of the infidels; Rejoice, well-known praise of the faithful.
Rejoice, chariot of the Most Holy Existing One on Cherubim; Rejoice, glorious village of Jehovah on Seraphimeh.
Rejoice, you who gathered the opposite in the same way; Rejoice, virginity and Christmas combined.
Rejoice, Yehuzhe resolved the crime; Rejoice, Eyuzhe opened paradise.
Rejoice, key to the Kingdom of Christ; Rejoice, hope of eternal blessings.
Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 9

All angelic nature was surprised at Your great incarnation of the work: impregnable Bo, like God, seeing all the accessibility of Man, abide us, hearing from everyone: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Vityas of many things, like fish, mute we see about you, the Mother of God: they are perplexed to say, even if the Virgin is still, and you were able to give birth. We, marveling at the mystery, truly cry out:
Rejoice, friend of the wisdom of God; Rejoice, treasure of His providence.
Rejoice, revealing the unwise wisdom; Rejoice, cunning wordless denunciator.
Rejoice, for you have wrapped yourself in a wicked seeker; Rejoice, for the fabulists have withered.
Rejoice, tearing Athenian weaving; Rejoice, fulfilling fishermen's tricks.
Rejoice, thou who drawest from the depths of ignorance; Rejoice, enlightener of many in the mind.
Rejoice, ship of those who want to be saved; Rejoice, haven of life's voyages. Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 10

At least save the world, Who is the Decorator of all, to this he is self-promised to come, and this Shepherd, like God, for the sake of us, a man appears for us: likewise calling like that, as God hears: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Thou art a wall to the virgins, Virgin Mother of God, and to all who resort to Thee: for the Creator of heaven and earth arrange Thee, Most Pure One, dwell in Thy womb, and teach Thee to invite all:
Rejoice, pillar of virginity; rejoice, door of salvation.
Rejoice, head of the mental building; Rejoice, giver of Divine goodness.
Rejoice, thou hast renewed thy conceived with cold; rejoice, for you have punished those who were robbed by the mind.
Rejoice, exercising corruption of meanings; Rejoice, giving birth to the Sower of purity.
Rejoice, Drawing of seedless torment; Rejoice, thou who united the faithful of the Lord.
Rejoice, kind nursemaid of the virgins; Rejoice, bride-groom of the souls of the saints.
Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 11

All singing is conquered, striving for the multitude of Thy many bounties: if we bring to Thee, the Holy King, we bring songs equal in number to Thee, the Holy King, we do nothing worthy, Thou hast given us, Thee, crying out: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

The light-receiving candle that exists in the darkness, we see the Holy Virgin, immaterial, but burning the Fire, instructs the whole to the Divine mind, enlightening the dawn of the mind, honored by these titles:
Rejoice, ray of the clever Sun; Rejoice, luminary of the unstoppable Light.
Rejoice, lightning, enlightening souls; Rejoice, for fear is the enemy's thunder.
Rejoice, as you shine enlightenment with many light; Rejoice, for you exude a river that flows many times.
Rejoice, font painting the image; Rejoice, sinful defilement.
Rejoice, bath, washing conscience; Rejoice, cup, drawer of joy.
Rejoice, smell of Christ's fragrance; Rejoice, belly of secret joy.
Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 12

Grace to give, having desired the debts of the ancients, all the debts, the Resolver of man, having come by Himself to those who have departed from That grace, and, tearing apart the handwriting, hears from all the sece: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing Thy Nativity, we praise Thee all, like an animated temple, the Mother of God: in Thy womb, dwelling in the Lord, contain the whole hand of the Lord, sanctify, glorify and teach you to cry out to you all:
Rejoice, village of God and the Word; rejoice, great holy of holies.
Rejoice, ark, gilded with the Spirit; Rejoice, inexhaustible treasure of life.
Rejoice, honorable crown of pious kings; Rejoice, honest praise of the reverent priests.
Rejoice, unshakable pillar of the Church; Rejoice, indestructible wall of the Kingdom.
Rejoice, victories will be erected by her; Rejoice, Yehuzhe oppose them.
Rejoice, healing of my body; Rejoice, salvation of my soul.
Rejoice, Unbrided Bride.

Kondak 13

O All-Singing Mother, who gave birth to all the saints, the Most Holy Word! Having received the present offering, deliver everyone from every misfortune and future torment of those crying out for You: Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos "Protector Angel ..." and the 1st kontakion "To the Chosen Vodevode ...".

Prayer

O Most Holy Lady Theotokos, exalt all the Angel and Archangel and all the most honest creatures, Helper of the offended, hopeless hope, poor Intercessor, sad consolation, hungry Nurse, naked robes, sick healing, sinful salvation, Christians of all help and intercession. Oh, All-Merciful Lady, Virgin Mother of God, Lady, by Thy mercy save and have mercy on the most holy patriarchs of the Orthodox, His Grace metropolitans, archbishops and bishops and the entire priestly and monastic rank, and all Orthodox Christians, protect Your honest robe; and beseech, Madam, from you, without a seed, incarnate Christ our God, may he gird us with His power from above on our invisible and visible enemies. Oh, all-merciful Lady Lady Mother of God! Raise us up from the depths of sin and deliver us from famine, destruction, from cowardice and flood, from fire and sword, from finding foreigners and internecine warfare, and from vain death, and from enemy attacks, and from corrupting winds, and from deadly ulcers, and from all evil. Grant, Madam, peace and health to Your servant, all Orthodox Christians, and enlighten their minds and eyes of the heart, hedgehog to salvation; and vouchsafe us, Thy sinful servants, the Kingdom of Thy Son, Christ our God, as His power is blessed and glorified, with His Beginningless Father and with the Most Holy, and Good, and His Life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever.
Amen.

PRAYERS
Troparion of Saturday Akathist

voice 8
Revealed secretly intake, / in the blood of Josephs, the care is predominant, the verb is insieleless: / the gluable skin conversion is not intermediated.

Kontakion of Saturday Akathist

voice 8
To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as if having got rid of the evil ones, thanksgiving we will write down Thy servants, the Mother of God; but as if you have an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Thee: rejoice, Bride of the bride.

Akathist to the Mother of God

In the 17th and especially in the 18th century, icon painters were ordered to have large hagiographic icons based on Akathists. The Russian word "akathist" comes from the Greek, meaning literally "to sit." During the performance of the solemn hymn - the Akathist - all those present in the church had to stand (in contrast to the "kathisma" - passages from the Psalter that could be listened to while sitting). One of the popular akathists of the Russian Church is the Akathist to the Mother of God, written by Patriarch Sergius of Constantinople.
In 626 Constantinople was under siege by the Avars. Famine and panic began in the city. Patriarch Sergius became the spiritual leader of the capital, he managed to prevent the impending explosion of discontent among the townspeople. By his order, artists painted the image of the Mother of God on the gates of Constantinople. Obviously, this event was the reason for the birth of the legend, which claimed that the Mother of God herself inspired Sergius with the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwriting a hymn of thanks at the end of the siege.
The Akathist of Sergius has been the subject of countless imitations. His bright colorful images were understood and close to the people of the Middle Ages. The icon painters must have felt its musical and poetic essence especially subtly; they interpreted musical and poetic lines in their own way in painting. - June 3, July 6, September 8.
- July 1.

Copyright © 2015 Unconditional Love

Archangel Gabriel proclaims to the Mother of God about the divine royal dignity of the Son whom She will conceive and give birth to: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David, His father; and shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom shall have no end.” And the holy righteous Elizabeth greets her relative as the Mother of the Lord. “When She became the Mother of the Creator,” says St. John of Damascus, “She truly became the Mistress of all creation.”

And the saints, who were honored to see the Mother of God, testify that She could be mistaken for God, if one did not know that She received this gift of incomprehensible heavenly beauty from God. Great is the glory of the Mother of God. The Church places high Her image in all ages. Looking at this glory, it is impossible not to wonder why, for example, the Lord shows the most miracles through the icons of the Mother of God. More than even through the icons of the Savior Himself. We also have His miraculous images, but the Mother of God, as it were, surpasses God Himself in Her glory. What does this miracle mean?

We belong to the Church, which looks forward to the Second Coming of Christ and the appearance in the fullness of the glory of God - the glory of the whole Church and the glory of every person. Until that time, the Church is on a journey, she has not yet reached the fullness of glory. We are already at home, as the holy fathers say, but we are still on the way. We already know that God has come into the world and that God is with us, that Christ has risen, and eternal life has been given to us. We have already partake of this mystery, and it returns to us again and again by the gift of the Holy Spirit. But we do not reach the new life in fullness. We live in a world that is distorted by evil, and our path goes to the fullness of this glory, to the Second Coming of Christ. But there is One in the human race - the Mother of God, in whom this glory of Christ, the glory of the entire Church, has already now been fully revealed.

Looking at the Mother of God, knowing the grace that the Lord vouchsafes us, we realize how great our calling is. The glory of the human race has already begun and will never be taken away from those who have been baptized into Christ and are clothed in Christ. Yes, “one is the glory of the sun, another is the glory of the moon, and the star differs from the star in glory,” but the Mother of God did not accept this glory for Herself alone, but so that this glory, through Her intercession, belongs to all Her children, whom She loves more than mother of her children.

The Mother of God is not a certain goddess whom we worship, as our ill-wishers sometimes say. Her perfect humility has nothing to do with pagan gods, personifying the forces of nature and especially fertility. All temptations of near-church theology to ascribe to Her that which belongs to God alone are excluded. For the Mother of the Creator remains His creation.

She, more than any of all creatures, is most deeply aware of her "nothingness" without God. That mystery, about which St. Philaret of Moscow says that the creature is placed by God over the abyss of non-existence under the abyss of God's mercy. Mother of the Savior of the world, She is most open to the presence and action of Her Creator. We call Her the Queen of heaven and earth, because She is the Mother of the King, Creator and Ruler of the visible and invisible world. And the greater Her humility, the more the Lord exalts Her. The more She is the servant of the Lord, the more the Queen. Thanks to Her exclusive participation in the salvation of all mankind, accomplished by Her Divine Son, She is the first to receive the gift of salvation. She is the first in the human race, redeemed by the Blood of Christ. But each of us, and all of us together, are called to become the most faithful partakers of the Good News.

In the appeal of the Archangel and in our constant prayer to the Mother of God: "Rejoice, O Gracious One, the Lord is with you" - the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. “The Lord is with you” means with us. Isn't this the priest's blessing at the Divine Liturgy, revealing the miracle of the Incarnation: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all." This is the beginning of our New Covenant with God.

“God is with us, understand, Gentiles, and repent,” we sing at Great Compline. And the Baby in the Bethlehem manger - "Emmanuel, if we say, God is with us." And after the Resurrection, the Lord will say to His disciples: “Behold, I am with you all the days, until the end of the age.”

PRAISE OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

The Saturday service of the fifth week of Great Lent is called " Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary ».

This is an amazingly warm, kind and joyful holiday, like the first news of the coming Easter, the end of Great Lent and the beginning of the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. On this day, the Church “will recreate praiseworthy singing” to the Lady, in memory of the triple deliverance of the reigning city of Constantinople from the attack of enemies by Her all-powerful intercession (Avars - in 626, Persians - in 677, Arabs - in 717).

The reason for the establishment of the holiday was the attack on Constantinople by the enemy fleet. It is difficult to say exactly when this happened. Historians differ in their opinions, indicating various dates for the period from the 6th to the 9th century. The position of the Orthodox Greeks at that time was desperate. Feeling the weakness of their forces, the Greeks turned with a prayer to God and the Intercessor zealous for the Christian race - the Mother of God. A procession was made around the city, and when the procession approached the sea, the patriarch plunged the robe of the Mother of God into the water. The sea, hitherto quiet and calm, suddenly became very agitated, a terrible storm arose and sank the ships of the enemies.

Then all that night, the grateful people, who were in the Blachernae Church, proclaimed to the Defender of the city a victorious, all-night and non-sedal (akathist - Greek letters. non-sedal) song: “Victory to the Chosen Voivode, as if we had got rid of the evil ones, we will thankfully describe Thy servants, Mother of God”. Since then, they have decided annually on this day, i.e. on Saturday of the 5th week of Great Lent, to celebrate a particularly solemn service in honor of the Blessed Virgin.

The miraculous Blachernae Icon of the Mother of God, painted by the holy Evangelist Luke, and objects associated with her earthly life — a robe and a belt — were kept in the Blachernae Church. Emperor Constantine the Great, the founder of Constantinople, dedicated it to the Mother of God. He revered the Blessed Virgin as the patroness of his own and of his new capital, erecting many churches in Her honor.

At first, the feast of the akathist was celebrated in Constantinople in the Blachernae Church, but later the feast was included in the typicons (charters) of the monasteries of St. Sava of Studius and then in church liturgical books, and from that time became common to the entire Eastern Church.

This is the most ancient Akathist to the Theotokos and it is the only one intended by the church charter for worship. The akathist was written in the middle of the 7th century, according to many, by the deacon of the great Church of Constantinople, George of Pisidia, and served as a model for all subsequent akathists written in honor of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin, saints and church holidays. Subsequently, Joseph the Studite wrote a canon on the Saturday of the akathist, and others added prayers of thanksgiving to this in remembrance of the same all-powerful voivodeship of the Mother of God.

The Akathist got its name from the fact that on that night people standing sang the song of the Mother of God the Word; and while at other (services) according to the charter you can sit, on the present feast of the Mother of God we all listen to (praise) standing.

Akathist consists of 24 hymns, or songs: 12 kontakia and 12 ikos, arranged according to 24 letters of the Greek alphabet. Each song begins with a letter corresponding to it, each kontakion ends with the Psalm "Alleluia", each icos with the greeting of the archangel "Rejoice ...". The main theme of the akathist is the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Incarnation of the Son of God. It is believed that the Saturday of the Akathist was a kind of fore-feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. There is another name for it - "Akathist of the Annunciation", although later another one will be written to the Annunciation.

On the festive morning, the entire akathist is read in four steps, each time 3 ikos and 3 kontakia. Each reading begins and ends with the singing of a kontakion. Chosen Voivode. For each reading, the clergy go through the royal gates to the middle of the temple in blue vestments. There is a parish tradition to read the akathist in turn before the venerated icons of the Mother of God of the temple.

On the theme of the Akathist, the icons “Praise to the Mother of God” were painted, the main theme of which is the glorification of the Virgin Mary, who, according to Old Testament prophecies, became the mother of the incarnate God. The iconography is based on the words of the song of the canon to the prophets, compiled in the 8th century by Patriarch Herman of Constantinople: From above, the prophets foreshadow thee, Otrokovitsa: a stave, a rod, a tablet, a kivot, a candlestick, a meal, a mountain that cannot be crossed, a golden censer and a tabernacle, an impenetrable door, a chamber, and a ladder, and the throne of the Tsar". Based on this song, the icons depict the following Old Testament prophets holding certain objects in their hands: Jacob with a ladder, Moses with the Burning Bush, Balaam with a star, Gideon with a rune, Ezekiel with a gate, Jeremiah with a tablet, Isaiah with tongs and coal, Jesse and Aaron with flourishing rods, David and Solomon with models of the Jerusalem Temple, Daniel and Habakkuk with mountains.

The most ancient icon of the Praise of the Mother of God in Russia is the icon "Praise of the Mother of God with the Akathist" from the Moscow Assumption Cathedral, created by a Greek master in the second half of the 14th century.

Icon "Praise of the Mother of God with the Akathist", XIV century

On the Day of Praise, the Saturday of Praise, the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky defeated the German knights on the ice of Lake Peipus. This is reported in the annals, that year April 5 - coincided with the Sabbath day of Praise of the Mother of God.

In honor of the Praise of the Mother of God, "Praise Churches" were built.

In the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow, it has become a pious tradition every year for the Praise of the Mother of God to bring out for worship the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, the very one in front of which Father Seraphim prayed in his cell. The last Russian Emperor, Passion-bearer Nicholas II, who deeply revered the Monk Seraphim, donated a gold frame adorned with precious stones, the work of the famous jeweler Faberge, to the miraculous image of the Mother of God. During the years of persecution against the Church, it was preserved by believers, and now it is in the Patriarchal Sacristy.

What is the significance of the Praise of the Mother of God in the spiritual life of an Orthodox Christian?

Pious Christians spend the time of fasting in prayerful deeds of abstinence and struggle with their passions and lusts, with the temptations of the devil. It is not difficult for such a long time to lose heart, to become exhausted in body. And so the Holy Church, desiring to support her faithful children, reminds them of the miraculous help and intercession for us of the sinful Mother of God.

Chants of Saturday Akathist

Troparion, tone 8: The secretly commanded reception in the mind, in the blood of Joseph with diligence, appears incorporeal, saying Unskillful: Having bowed the heavens with convergence, it invariably fits all into Thee. Seeing him in Thy beds, having received the sign of a slave, I am horrified to call Thee: Rejoice, Bride Unbrideed.

Translation: Understanding the mysterious meaning of God's command, the incorporeal [Archangel] hastily appeared in the house of Joseph and said to the Unmarried Woman: “He who has bowed the heavens by [His] descent, without changing, is all contained in You. And seeing Him in Your bowels, assuming the form of a slave, I exclaim in amazement: Rejoice, Virgin, who did not enter into marriage!

Kontakion, tone 8: To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as if we had got rid of the evil ones, with thanksgiving, we will describe Ty, Your servants to the Theotokos: but as if you have an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Ty: Rejoice, O Bride of the Bride.

Translation: To you, the supreme Commander, having got rid of troubles, we, Your unworthy servants, Mother of God, sing a song of victory and thanksgiving. You, as having invincible power, free us from all troubles so that we cry out to You, rejoice (an ancient greeting, the current “hello”), Bride who has not entered into marriage!

Today is the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos (Saturday Akathist). This is an unusual day, and worship on this day is special. Below we invite you to find out what is the difference between today's worship and also learn about the history and significance of the celebration of the Saturday Akathist.

Saturday of the 5th week is called the Saturday of the Akathist (because this is the only day when, according to the Charter, the reading of the Akathist is required in the service), and the service itself was called the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos.

On this day, at Matins, an akathist to the Mother of God is read in memory of Her intercession and deliverance of Constantinople during these days of fasting from the Saracens and Scythians in 626.

The akathist is read in four steps, each time 3 ikos and 3 kontakia: after the kathismas (16th and 17th) and after the 3rd and 6th odes of the canon. Each reading begins and ends with the singing of the kontakion to the Chosen Governor. For each reading, the clergy go through the royal doors to the middle of the temple.

In the morning it is necessary to sing the Great Doxology.

Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos (Saturday Akathist) in the Valaam Monastery.

On the history and significance of the celebration of the Sabbath Akathist

When the priest comes to the pulpit and pronounces these words: "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit," this means that we are glorifying the Holy Trinity. And the whole temple says it's true - says "Amen."

Today, brothers and sisters, is the Saturday of the fifth week of Great Lent. And according to the charter of the Orthodox Church, a special service is always performed on this day. You and I are used to the fact that during fasting we hear prayers of repentance, the Church is clothed in mourning (the vestments of the priests are black during the week, purple on Saturday and Sunday). But today the Church has put on festive clothes and glorifies the Most Holy Theotokos. Today is Saturday Akathist. This is how the day is called in the charter. It is so called because on the eve of the evening worship is performed in the temples and the akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos is read in a special rite. The same akathist that you all probably know and which begins with the kontakion "The Chosen Victorious Voivode."

During Great Lent, as you know, akathists are not read, the canons are read. But today the Church highlights and in a special rite blesses the reading of the akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos. If we look at history, we will see that it is not so easy to find out what caused the establishment of such a day.

Some church historians say that Byzantium in the VI-VII centuries. suffered very frequent attacks by barbarians. Sometimes they were Persians, sometimes Saracens, sometimes even our ancient Slavic ancestors. Orthodox Byzantium always, of course, prayed to the Mother of God. And from Her various miracles were revealed. So, through the prayers of the Byzantines and their emperor, the Patriarch, of the entire clergy, when the Hodegetria icon was carried out, a storm suddenly arose, which sank enemy ships. The Byzantines saw such intercession more than once. And this served to establish a day of special veneration for the Mother of God. But if you and I carefully read the akathist and listen to the prayers of today, then we will not hear memories of armed conflicts, thanksgiving for victory. No, on the contrary, on Saturday Akathist, the feast of the Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos is remembered.

Other historians say that the Saturday of the Akathist was once the pre-feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. The holiday was not always set on one specific day (as it is in our time - April 7th, according to the new style), it was also a transitional one and was postponed to Sunday. And then the Sabbath of the Akathist became a prefeast.

But whatever the real history of the establishment of this holiday, we celebrate this service with joy and thanksgiving. Especially during Great Lent, when there is not so much joy that is expressed precisely in divine services. And of course, always, when we serve the Mother of God, we remember that She is our most important Representative, Intercessor. It is to Her that we offer our most fervent prayers, we ask for help in our most important needs. Once we were adopted by the Lord Jesus Christ himself in the person of the Apostle John the Theologian, who stood at the Cross of the Lord, when the Lord said: “Behold thy Mother,” addressing the Apostle John, and, addressing the Mother of God, said: “Behold thy son.” And now we are all children of the Heavenly Queen of the Most Holy Theotokos.

When spiritual laziness, despondency finds itself on you, call on the Most Holy Theotokos: “Most Holy Theotokos, help me! Holy Mother of God, save me!” and strain your spiritual strength, go to church, pray to God, repent of your sins, partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

Save everyone Lord! Amen.

Materials used: sermon by Archpriest Peter Bornovalov.

11.04.2016
Monday

Revealed secretly intake, / in the blood of Josephs, the care is predominant, the verb is insieleless: / the gluable skin conversion is not intermediated.
(Troparion of Saturday Akathist, tone 8)

To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as if having got rid of the evil ones, thanksgiving we will write down Thy servants, the Mother of God; but as if you have an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Thee: rejoice, Bride of the bride.
(Kontakion of Saturday Akathist, tone 8)

Dear brothers and sisters!

On Saturday, the fifth week of Great Lent (April 3/16), the Holy Russian Orthodox Church solemnly lifts up thanksgiving praise to the Most Pure, Most Blessed, Glorious Our Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

This holiday was established in the 9th century. in memory of the repeated deliverance of Constantinople through the intercession of the Mother of God from the invasion of foreigners. In the face of the terrible danger of destruction from the Persian and Scythian troops, all the inhabitants of the city in unanimous prayer turned to the Most Holy Theotokos with a prayer for help. In the Blachernae Church of Constantinople, an icon of the Theotokos was kept, painted according to legend by the holy Evangelist Luke, with which Patriarch Sergius performed religious processions.

The position of the Greeks at that time was hopeless. The only thing left was to trust in the mercy of God. All together they made a special procession around the city with icons and hymns, and when the procession approached the sea, the patriarch plunged the robe of the Mother of God into the water. The sea, hitherto quiet and calm, suddenly became very agitated, a terrible storm arose and sank the ships of the enemy. Then, all that night, the grateful people, who were in the Blachernae Church, proclaimed to the Defender of the city a victorious, all-night and non-sitting (akathist - Greek “non-sitting”, that is, “a song that is sung without sitting down, standing”) the song: “Victorious to the Chosen Voivode , as if we had got rid of the evil ones, with thanksgiving we will describe Thy servants, Mother of God! And since that time, in remembrance of such a great miracle, the Orthodox Church has decreed the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos.

“Let us, sinners,” exclaims St. Demetrius of Rostov, have a good hope, for we have a good shepherd, the Most Pure Virgin. Let us listen to Her voice, let us go to Her call, to Her feast; Let us taste of the sweetness of Her pastures and, giving thanks to her, we will diligently repeat this joyful song: “Rejoice, Brideless bride!”.
Akathist is a sacred praise of the Most Holy Theotokos. The Akathist got its name from the fact that on that night people stood up and sang the song of the Mother of God. While at other services, according to the charter, you can sit, on a real holiday, we all listen to praise while standing. At the festive morning, the entire akathist is read in four steps, each time 3 icos and 3 kontakia. Each reading begins and ends with the singing of the kontakion to the Chosen Governor. For each reading, the clergy go through the royal gates to the middle of the temple in blue vestments. In some places, there is a tradition to read the akathist in turn before the revered icons of the Mother of God of the temple.

At first, the feast of the akathist was celebrated in Constantinople in that Blachernae church, where the miraculous icon of the Mother of God and the sacred objects of Her earthly life - the robe and belt were kept. Later, the feast was included in the typikons (charters) of the monasteries of St. Sava of Studius, then in church liturgical books, and from that time became common to the entire Church.

It should be noted that on July 2/15, Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of the Deposition of the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is also established in honor of the deliverance of Orthodox Christians from enemies through the intercession of the Mother of God. The Trinity deanery includes the beautiful Church of the Deposition of the Robe in Leonovo, built in 1722, of which our father Georgy Gutorov was also rector for several years.

In his sermons on the feast of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos, Archpriest Alexander Shargunov notes: “Amid Lent, when we hear strict prayers of repentance, when it is not customary to read akathists, the Church suddenly blossoms with the fragrance of the Praise of the Mother of God. She does not find words to express her love, her reverence for the Most Pure Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, thinking about Her virginity and Her motherhood, about the mystery of the human person - the most holy of all people, the closest to the Lord. The very holiness of human nature is measured by the degree of its closeness to the Lord. No one like She in the human race has served the mystery of redemption. By her incomprehensible union with Christ, She was worthy to be the Mother of God. And in the mystery of virginity and motherhood, Her maternal service to the entire human race is revealed to us. She is our spiritual Mother, She intercedes for all of us. And it reveals a perfect Christian ministry, which in its external expression and internal standing are inseparable. Therefore, perhaps, the Mother of God is so famous for Her countless miraculous icons, which appear at the moment when the fate of the people, the fate of our Russian Orthodox Church is being decided...

…Today all the saints bring praise to Her, and we, sinners, join these praises. The words of the Akathist gracefully and most accurately reveal this praise when we pronounce together with the whole Church: “Rejoice, unsilent mouth of the apostles; Rejoice, invincible insolence of the martyrs!” Rejoice, - we say, - Praise of all the saints; Rejoice, Lady of the angels, Queen of heaven and earth, but most of all Mother - Mother of God and Mother of us sinners. This is an incomprehensible mystery - She is the only one of all people, Who has never sinned in her life, and therefore can intercede for all sinful people and be the Intercessor of all of us. And today, in all churches, we join the angels and all the saints to the heavenly voice, bringing praise to the Mother of God, the singing of our voices and our quiet heartfelt prayers in fulfillment of the prophecy that She said: “Behold, from now on, all birth will please Me.”

On the theme of the Akathist, the icons “Praise to the Mother of God” were painted, the main theme of which is the glorification of the Virgin Mary, who, according to Old Testament prophecies, became the Mother of the Incarnate God. The iconography is based on the words of the song of the canon to the prophets, compiled in the 8th century by Patriarch Herman of Constantinople: “From above, the prophets foreshadow thee, Otrokovitsa: a stamen, a rod, a tablet, a kivot, a candlestick, a meal, a mountain without insects, a golden censer and a tabernacle, an impenetrable door, a chamber, and the ladder, and the throne of the Kings. Based on this song, the icons depict Old Testament prophets holding certain objects in their hands: Jacob with a ladder, Moses with the Burning Bush, Balaam with a star, Gideon with a rune, Ezekiel with a gate, Jeremiah with a tablet, Isaiah with tongs and coal, Jesse and Aaron with flourishing wands, David and Solomon with models of the Jerusalem Temple, Daniel and Habakkuk with mountains.

The most ancient icon of the Praise of the Mother of God in Russia is the icon "Praise of the Mother of God with the Akathist" from the Moscow Assumption Cathedral, created by a Greek master in the second half of the 14th century.

What is the significance of the Praise of the Mother of God in the spiritual life of an Orthodox Christian? Pious Christians spend the time of fasting in prayerful deeds of abstinence and struggle with their passions and lusts, with the temptations of the devil. It is not difficult for such a long time to lose heart, to become exhausted in body. And so the Holy Church, desiring to support her faithful children, reminds them of the miraculous help and intercession for us of the sinful Mother of God.

In a sermon in praise of the Most Holy GodPatriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said: “This is a special day: after the week of the Adoration of the Cross, when we remember the Cross of Christ, on this, the fifth week of Great Lent, we glorify the Mother of God. The connection between the main theme of the previous week and the current one is not accidental: the Mother of God in Her life had no glory, no praise. Her whole life was the bearing of a huge cross. The days of Her life are practically hidden from us until the moment when the Savior entered His public ministry.

But the narrative about the years of Christ the Savior's ministry contains little information about what happened in the family of the Savior and our Lord Jesus Christ, what happened in the heart of His Mother. We can only guess how a mother's heart suffered for His Son, Who, from the first days of preaching, embarked on the path of an uncompromising struggle against evil and falsehood, against those forces of this world that opposed God's truth. Every word of the Savior was permeated with this truth, and therefore aroused hatred, slander, envy, up to the readiness to physically destroy the One Who dared to openly and honestly tell people the truth of God.

But didn’t the heart of the Most Holy Theotokos break when She heard about all the malicious actions that were being prepared against Her Son? Didn’t Her heart also grieve when the Pharisees, on the third Pascha of the Savior’s public ministry, came to Galilee from Jerusalem, because He did not go to Jerusalem, for the hour had not yet come, and there they were already preparing to inflict reprisals on Him? And the Pharisees came to Galilee, a peaceful and calm country, to catch His every word and report it to the Sanhedrin, in order to certainly convict Him of crimes against the Law, of crimes against the people. Was the Most Pure Mother of God aside? Of course not: She was next to Her Son, She saw and heard everything, She could not but understand what was happening, that literally months separate the Son from a terrible death. It was not momentary suffering, and not only what appeared at the apogee, on Golgotha ​​- it was suffering hourly, every minute, it was Her life's cross, and no glory - until her death. The glory of the Theotokos was Her physical death, Her rapture to heaven, which is why we so solemnly celebrate the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, for it was the manifestation of Her glory while still on earth.

And today we are glorifying the Most Holy Theotokos, the One Who carried a special cross through life, Who showed us an example not only of the holiness of life, purity of mind and heart, love, but also of patience, courage, the ability to worthily and savingly carry the hardest cross, which alone saves a person. The Most Holy Theotokos was raptured to heaven not only because she revealed in herself the greatest gift of divine grace, but also because she supported this gift with her life. Through Her patience, suffering and sorrow, She multiplied this gift, bringing a great sacrifice to God with Her whole life. And today we glorify the Most Pure Queen of Heaven and learn from Her the saving cross-bearing, glorify Her as the intercessor of the human race, Who, having passed the mournful paths of Her earthly existence, now stands in glory to Her Son and our Lord and, we believe, prays for us, strengthening each in his own cross-bearing, strengthening everyone on the path to salvation in the realization and proclamation of God's truth.

May today fill our hearts with joy, for before us is a great example of the saving cross-bearing, which is crowned with the immortal eternal glory of the Mother of God, standing before her Son and our God. Through her prayers, may the Lord preserve our Church, our Fatherland, and all those who, with faith and love, flow to Her holy name. Amen".

Favoring my queen, my hope to the Theotokos, friend of orphans and strange representatives, grieving joy, offended patroness! See my misfortune, see my sorrow, help me, as if I am weak, feed me, as if strange. I’ll offend my weight, resolve it, as if you will: as if I don’t have any other help, unless You, neither another intercessor, nor a good comforter, only You, O Bogomati, as if you save me and cover me forever and ever. Amen.