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Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
anonymous tr., 1919
Chapter 9
To thee, the Champion Leader . . . (see page 26).
Priest. New was the Creation which the Creator shewed to us His creatures, when He appeared born from the womb of a Virgin; and she was guarded, as she was, in perfect purity; so that when we see this marvel, we may praise her and sing:
Hail, Flower of incorruption; hail, Crown of chastity.
Hail, thou who flashest forth the Type of the Resurrection; hail, thou who showest clearly the life of the Angels.
Hail, Plant of goodly Fruit by which the faithful are nourished; hail, Tree of leafy branches by which many are sheltered.
Hail, thou who bearest the Guide of wanderers; hail, thou who engenderest the Redeemer of captives.
Hail, pleader before the Righteous Judge; hail, forgiveness for many transgressors.
Hail, Robe of boldness for the naked; hail, tenderness vanquishing all desire.
Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Choir. Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Priest. Our minds are transported to Heaven when we behold this strange birthgiving, so let us now be estranged from the world; it was for this that the Most High God appeared on earth as mortal man, and that He might raise on high those who sing to Him: Alleluia.
Choir. Alleluia.
Priest. Present in all completeness with those below, was the Uncircumscribed Word, yet in no way absent from those above; for this was a divine descent and not a mere change of place; and His birth was from a Virgin, and in her inspiration she heard words like these:
Hail, Space for the Uncontained God; hail, Door of solemn Mystery.
Hail, doubtful Rumour of the faithless; hail, undoubting Boast of the faithful.
Hail, all-holy Chariot of Him Who rideth upon the Cherubim; hail, all-glorious Chair of Him Who sitteth upon the Seraphim.
Hail, thou who makest things that differ to agree; hail, thou who yokest together Virginity and Motherhood.
Hail, thou by whom transgression is annulled; hail, thou by whom Paradise is opened.
Hail, Key of the Kingdom of Christ; hail, Hope of eternal blessedness.
Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Choir. Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Priest. Quires of Angels were amazed by thy great deed of Incarnation; for they saw the inaccessible God as Man accessible to all, dwelling among us and hearing from all: Alleluia.
Choir. Alleluia.
Priest. Rhetoric’s many followers were mute as fish when they saw thee, O Mother of God; for they dared not ask: How canst thou bear a Child, and yet remain a Virgin? But we marvel at this mystery, and with faith cry:
Hail, Vessel of the wisdom of God; hail, Treasury of His foreknowledge.
Hail, thou that showest philosophers fools; hail, thou that provest logicians illogical.
Hail, for the subtle disputants are confounded; hail, for the writers of myths are withered.
Hail, thou who didst break the webs of the Athenians; hail, thou who didst fill the nets of the fishermen.
Hail, thou who drawest us from the depths of ignorance; hail, thou who enlightenest many with knowledge.
Hail, Raft for those who desire to be saved; hail, Haven for those who swim on the waves of the world.
Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Choir. Hail, thou Bride unwedded.
Priest. Salvation it was that the Architect of all desired to bring to the world, and for this, by His own will, He came; and, though as God He is the Shepherd, for us He appeared to us as a Man, and called the same by the same, still as God He hears: Alleluia.
Choir. Alleluia.