The Akathistos
Hymn. It is fitting to give a fuller introduction to the Hymn
itself, for it is the heart of the celebration and as it were a
declaration of the Marian doctrine and piety of the Churches of the
Byzantine Rite. Besides celebrating it on the fifth Saturday of Lent
and singing a section of it on the four preceding Saturdays, monks,
priests and faithful recite the Hymn on many other occasions, even
every day, because they have an instinctive sense of its beauty and
depth of meaning. Almost all Byzantine monasteries and churches
contain painted scenes from the Akathistos on the walls of their
sacred buildings, on vestments, on liturgical furnishings, or
surrounding the most celebrated icons.
NAME
Akathistos is the title by which
this fifth century Byzantine Hymn is universally known. It was and
still is the model for the composition of many other hymns and
litanies, both ancient and more recent. Akathistos is not the
original title, but a rubric:'a-kathistos' in Greek means
'not-seated', because the Church stipulates that it be sung or
recited 'standing', as when the Gospel is read, as a sign of
reverence for the Mother of God.
STRUCTURE
The metric and syllabic structure
of the Akathistos is inspired by the description of the heavenly
Jerusalem in Chapter 21 of the Book of Revelation, from which it
draws images and numbers: it sings of Mary in her identification
with the Church, the 'Bride1 with no earthly spouse, the
Virgin Bride of the Lamb, in all her splendour and perfection.
The Hymn
comprises 24 stanzas (in Greek oikoi), which is the number of
letters in the Greek alphabet, and the whole is structured according
to the alphabet, each stanza beginning with the succeeding letter.
But it was skillfully planned in two distinct parts, on the two
closely related and superimposed planes of history and faith, and
according to the two interwoven and complementary perspectives of
Christology and ecclesiology, which envelop and illumine the mystery
of the Mother of God.
Each of the
Hymn's two parts is in turn very subtly subdivided into two sections
of 6 stanzas: this subdivision is clearly presented in today's
liturgical celebration. Yet the Hymn unfolds in a binary mode, in
such a way that each odd-numbered stanza finds its metrical and
conceptual equivalent in the even stanza which follows. The odd
stanzas are amplified by 12 Marian salutations, gathered around
their narrative or dogmatic centre, and they finish with the
ephymnion or closing refrain: 'Hail, Bride unwedded!1 By
contrast, the even stanzas, after announcing the theme, which is
almost always Christological in background, ends with the
acclamation to Christ: Alleluia! Thus the Hymn is both
Christological and Marian, with the Mother subordinate to the Son
and the maternal mission of Mary subordinate to the universal saving
work of the one Saviour.
THEOLOGICAL VALUE
The Akathistos is a truly inspired
composition of immense importance:
- because of its sense of
salvation history, embracing the entire plan of God for creation and
for creatures, from the origins to the very end, towards the
fullness which will be theirs in Christ;
- because of
its pure sources: the word of God in the Old and New Testaments,
always present either explicitly or implicitly; the doctrine defined
by the Councils of Nicaea (325), Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451),
from which it draws directly; the doctrinal treatises of the
greatest of the Eastern Fathers of the fourth and fifth centuries,
from whom it takes concepts and lapidary formulations;
- because of
its knowing mystagogical approach, by means of which - adopting the
most eloquent imagery from creation and Scripture - it raises the
mind step by step and brings it to the threshold of the mystery
contemplated and celebrated: the mystery of the Incarnate Word and
Saviour, the mystery which, as the Second Vatican Council affirms,
indicates in Mary the 'place' where the principal elements of the
faith converge and echo forth to the world (cf. Lumen Gentium,
65).
AUTHOR
Almost the entire manuscript
tradition considers the Akathistos Hymn to be the work of an
anonymous author. The Latin translation edited by Bishop Christopher
of Venice, around the year 800, which had a great influence on the
piety of the mediaeval West, bears the name of Germanus of
Constantinople (733). Today however scholars tend to attribute its
composition to one of the Fathers of Chalcedon: as such, this
venerable text would be the mature fruit of the most ancient
tradition of the undivided Church of the first centuries. In this
year of the Great Jubilee, therefore, it deserves to be taken up and
sung by every Church and Ecclesial Community.
INDULGENCE
The Holy Father, Juan Paul the II,
has granted a plenary indulgence to the faithful who recite the
Akathistos Hymn.
To acquire a
plenary indulgence it is necessary to perform the work to which the
indulgence is attached and to fulfill three conditions: sacramental
confession, Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the intentions of
the Supreme Pontiff. It is further required that all attachment to
sin, even to venial sin, be absent.
The three
conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the
performance of the prescribed work; nevertheless it is fitting that
Communion be received and the prayers for the intentions of the
Supreme Pontiff be said the same day the work is performed
Plenaria indulgentia
conceditur christifideli qui hymnum Akathistos vel officium
Paradisis in ecdesia aut oratorio, vel in familia, in religiosa
Communitate, in christifidelium consociatione et generatim cum
plures ad aliquem honestum finem conveniunt pie redtaverit.
(Enchiridion Indulgentiarum
n. 23 § 1. in 1999)
"O AKATHISTOS
YMNOS"
TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
[LEADER]:
BLESSED IS OUR GOD, ALWAYS, NOW AND FOREVERMORE. AMEN.
- 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)
- 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
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
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:
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
Knowing
that she was a virgin, the blessed one courageously answered the
angel: "Your surprising words seem hard for my rnind 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!
SECOND CHANT
Trying to
grasp the meaning of this mystery, the Virgin asked the holy
messenger: "How is it possible tha a son be born from a virginal
womb? Tell me." And he answered her with awe, crying out in these
words:
Hail, O hidden
Sense of the ineffable Plan!
Hail, O Belief in Silence That Must Be!
Hail, O Forecast of the Marvels of Christ!
Hail, O Fountainhead of truths concerning Him!
Hail,
Celestial Ladder, by whom God came down!
Hail, O Bridge leading earthly ones to heaven!
Hail, O Wonder, ever-thrilling to the angels!
Hail, O Wound, ever-hurting to the demons!
Hail, O you
who gave birth to Light ineffably!
Hail, O you who told no one how it was done!
Hail, O you who surpass the wisdom of the wise!
Hail, O you who enlighten faithful minds!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]:
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION
When the
power of the Most High overshadowed the one who had never known the
nuptial bed, her fruitful womb conceived, and she became for all a
delicious field: for those who wished to reap salvation by singing
"ALLELUIA"
[RESPONSE]:
Alleluia!
THIRD CHANT
Pregnant
with God, the Virgin hastened to Elizabeth, her unborn child
rejoiced, immediately knowing her embrace. Bouncing and singing, he
cried out to the Mother of God:
Hail, O
Tendril whose Bud shall not wilt!
Hail, O Soil whose Fruit shall not perish!
Hail, O Tender of mankind's loving Tender!
Hail, O Gardener of the Gardener of Life!
Hail, O Earth
who yielded abundant mercies!
Hail, O Table full-laden with appeasement!
Hail, for you have greened anew the pastures of delight!
Hail, for you have prepared a haven for the souls!
Hail,
acceptable Incense of Prayer!
Hail, Expiation of the whole universe!
Hail, O you Favor of God to mortal men!
Hail, O you Trust of mortals before God!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]:
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION
Filled with
a storm of contradictory thoughts, the wise Joseph was greatly
disturbed: until then, he had seen you a virgin, and now he
suspected you of secret guilt, all-blameless one! Learning that your
conception was of the Holyl Spirit, he cried out: "Alleluia!"
[RESPONSE]:
Alleluia!
FOURTH CHANT
The
Shepherds heard the angels singing hymns of praise tot he coming of
Christ in the Flesh. And running to Him as to a shepherd, they saw
Him as a spotless lamb, grazing at Mary's breast. They sang a hymn
to her and said:
Hail, O Mother
of Lamb and Shepherd!
Hail, O Fold of rational sheep!
Hail, O Protection against unseen foes!
Hail, O Key to the Doors of Paradise!
Hail, for the
heavenly rejoice with the earth!
Hail, for the earthly meet the heavens in song!
Hail, the Unsilenced Voice of the Apostles!
Hail, the Undaunted Might of Martyrs!
Hail, O
Steadfast Foundation of Faith!
Hail, O Shining Emblem of Grace!
Hail, O you through whom death was despoiled!
Hail, O you through whom we were clothed with glory!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]:
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION
When they
saw the Star moved by God, the Magi followed its glittering light.
Using it as a beacon, they found through it the Mighty King, and
reaching the One Beyond All Reach, they rejoiced and cried out to
Him: "Alleluia!"
[RESPONSE]:
Alleluia!
FIFTH CHANT
The Sons of
Chaldaea saw in the Virgin's hands the One whose hands had fashioned
men: and acknowledging Him as the Master, although He had taken the
form of a servant, they hastened to honor Him with their gifts and
cried out to the Blessed One:
Hail, O Mother
of the Star Without Setting!
Hail, O Radiance of the Mystical Day!
Hail, O you who quenched the flame of error!
Hail, O Light of those who search the Trinity!
Hail, O you
who unthroned the Enemy of Men!
Hail, O you who showed forth Christ the Lord, Lover of Mankind!
Hail, O you who cleansed us from the stain of pagan worship!
Hail, O you who saved us from the mire of evil deeds!
Hail, O you who made cease
the cult of fire!
Hail, O you who guide the faithful toward wisdom!
Hail, O you, Delight of all the Nations!
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]: Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION
The Magi,
become God-bearing heralds, returned to Babylon, conforming to your
command, announcing You, the Christ, to all, and leaving Herod as a
fool who did not know how to sing: "Alleluia!"
[RESPONSE]:
Alleluia!
SIXTH CHANT
Illuminating Egypt with the Light of Truth, you cast away the
darkness of error. For the idols, unable to stand your might, fell
down, and those who had been delivered from them cried out to the
Mother of God:
Hail, O
Resurrection of mankind!
Hail, O Downfall of the Demons!
Hail, O you who crushed the error of deceit!
Hail, O you who exposed the fraud of idols!
Hail, O Sea
who drowned the symbolic Pharaon!
Hail, O Rock who quenched those who thirst for Life!
Hail, O Pillar of Fire who guided those in darkness!
Hail, O Shelter of the World, wider than the clouds!
Hail, O Food
who took the place of Manna!
Hail, O Handmaid of holy delight!
Hail, O Land of the promised good!
Hail, O you who flow with milk and honey!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]:
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION
As Simeon
was about to leave the present deceitful world, You were entrusted
to him as an infant, but You made Yourself known to him as the
perfect God. Wherefore he marveled at your wisdom beyond words, and
cried out: "Alleluia!"
[RESPONSE]:
Alleluia!
SEVENTH CHANT
The Creator
displayed a new creation to us who had come from Him: He came forth
from a womb that had received no seed, and He left it intact as it
had been, so that at the sight of this marvel, we would sing to her
and cry out:
Hail, O
Blossom of Incorruption!
Hail, O Crown of Self-mastery!
Hail, O you who shone forth as a Sign of Resurrection!
Hail, O you who displayed the Life of Angels!
Hail, Fruitful
Tree from whom believers feed!
Hail, Shady Glen where many are sheltered!
Hail, O you who have born the Guide of the Lost!
Hail, Source of Life to the captives' Release!
Hail, O you
who unsettled even the Just Judge!
Hail, Indulgence of many who have fallen!
Hail, O Stole for those who lack freedom to speak!
Hail, O Tenderness who exceed all desire!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]:
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION
Now that we
have seen this strange birth, let us estrange ourselves from the
world and turn our minds to heaven: indeed, it is for this that the
God Most High appeared on earth as a lowly man, desiring to draw up
to heaven those who cry out to Him: "Alleluia!"
[RESPONSE]:
Alleluia!
EIGHTH CHANT
While fully
present amid those below, the uncircumscribed Word was in no way
absent from those above: for what happened was a divine
condescension, and not a moving from one place to another: and it
was a birth from a Virgin inspired by God, who heard these words:
Hail, O Space
of the Spaceless God!
Hail, O Gate of the Sublime Mystery!
Hail, O Message unsure to men without faith!
Hail, O Glory most certain to those who believe!
Hail, O Sacred
Chariot of the One above the Cherubim!
Hail, Perfect Dwelling of the One above the Seraphim!
Hail, O you who reconciled opposites!
Hail, O you who combined maidenhood and motherhood!
Hail, O you
through whom Paradise was opened!
Hail, O Key to the Kingdom of Christ!
Hail, O Hope for the Ages of Bliss!
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]:
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION
The whole
order of the Angels marveled at the great work of your becoming a
man: for they saw the One inaccessible as God become a Man
accessible to all, living with us and hearing us cry out:
"Alleluia!"
[RESPONSE]:
Alleluia!
NINTH CHANT
O Mother of
God, we see the best of speakers become as mute as fish in your
regard, for they could not explain how you could give birth while
remaining a virgin. As for us, while marveling at the mystery, we
cry out to you with faith:
Hail, O
Container of God's Wisdom!
Hail, O Treasury of His Providence!
Hail, O Reproof of foolish philosophers!
Hail, O Confusion of speechless wise men!
Hail, for you
perplexed the inquisitive minds!
Hail, for you dried up the inventors of myths!
Hail, for you ripped the Athenians' meshes!
Hail, for you filled the Fishermen's nets!
Hail, O
Retriever from the Abyss of Ignorance!
Hail, O Lamplight of Knowledge to many!
Hail, O Ship for those who seek Salvation!
Hail, O Harbor for the Sailors of Life!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]:
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAK1ON
Desiring to
save the world, the Creator of All came down to it of His own will.
Being at the same time our Shepherd and our God, He appeared among
us. And so the like called upon the like, and as God He heard:
"Alleluia!"
[RESPONSE]:
Alleluia!
TENTH CHANT
O Virgin
Mother of God, you are the strength of Virgins and of all those who
have recourse to you. For the Maker of heaven and earth covered you
with His shadow, O Pure One, and came to dwell in your womb, and
taught us all to cry out to you:
Hail, O Pillar of
Virginity!
Hail, O Gateway of Salvation!
Hail, O Principle of the New Creation!
Hail, O Dispenser of God's bounties!
Hail, for you restored
those born in shame!
Hail, for you gave sense to those who had lost it!
Hail, O you who stopped the corruptor of minds!
Hail, O you who bore the Sower of Chastity!
Hail, Holy
Chamber of virginal wedlock!
Hail, O you who join the faithful with God!
Hail, O gracious Foster-Mother of virgins!
Hail, O Bridesmaid of holy souls!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]:
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION
Because He
wished to grant release from all the ancient debts, the One who pays
men's dues came down Himself to those who had spurned His grace; He
tore up their obligations, and heard from all of them this cry:
"Alleluia!"
[RESPONSE]:
Alleluia!
TWELFTH CHANT
By singing
praise to your maternity, we all exalt you as a spiritual temple,
Mother of God! For the One Who Dwelt With in Your Womb, the Lord Who
Holds All Things in His Hands, sanctified you, glorified you, and
taught all men to sing to you:
Hail, O
Tabernacle of God the Word!
Hail, O Holy One, more holy than the saints!
Hail, O Ark that the Spirit has gilded!
Hail, Inexhaustible Treasure of Life!
Hail, Precious
Crown of rightful authorities!
Hail, Sacred Glory of reverent priests!
Hail, Unshakable Tower of the Church!
Hail, Unbreachable Wall of the Kingdom!
Hail, O you
through whom the trophies are raised!
Haii, O you through whome the enemies are routed!
Hail, O heating of my body!
Hail, O salvation of my soul!
Hail, O Bride
and Maiden ever-pure!
[RESPONSE]:
Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION
O Mother
worthy of all praise, you who have given birth to the Word, the
Holiest of the Holy, accept this present offering, deliver all men
from every affliction, and save from the future punishment those who
cry out to you: "Alleluia!"
[RESPONSE]:
Alleluia!
Gabriel was
rapt in amazement as he beheld your virginity and the splendor of
your purity, O Mother of God, and he cried out to you: "By what name
shall I call you? I am bewildered; I am lost! I shall greet you as I
was commanded to do: Hail, O Woman full of Grace!"
DISMISSAL
GLORY TO YOU, O CHRIST, OUR
GOD AND OUR HOPE: GLORY BE TO YOU!
[RESPONSE]:
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER AND TO THE SON, AND TO
THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOW AND EVER, AND FOREVER AMEN, LORD, HAVE MERCY!
LORD, HAVE MERCY! GIVE THE BLESSING!
MAY CHRIST OUR
TRUE GOD (If a Sunday or the Easter Season: WHO IS RISEN FROM THE
DEAD) HAVE MERCY ON US AND SAVE US, THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF HIS MOST
PURE MOTHER AND OF ALL THE HOLY, GLORIOUS, AND ILLUSTRIOUS APOSTLES,
THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF ST. (N) WHOSE MEMORY WE CELEBRATE TODAY, AND
OF ALL THE SAINTS, FOR HE IS GRACIOUS AND LOVES MANKIND!
