Russian translation of the Akathist to the Blessed Virgin Mary

The translation into Russian of the Akathist to Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is one of the many works of the Hierarch of the Russian Land, the greatest figure of the Russian Church of the 19th century, Philaret (Drozdov), Metropolitan of Moscow. The multi-volume collections of works that came from the pen of Saint Philaret demonstrate the thoughtfulness and multifaceted activity of a church hierarch, preacher, learned theologian, and devotee of the highest holiness and moral purity. To the military leader who fights in battle for us, gifts of victory, and, as having been delivered from troubles, we bring gifts of gratitude to You, Mother of God, we are Your servants: but You, as You who have an invincible power, free us from all dangers, and let us cry to You: Rejoice, unbridled Bride. The Primate Angel was sent from heaven to say to the Mother of God: Rejoice. And contemplating You, Lord, with the disembodied voice of the Incarnate One, I was in horror, and stood, shouting the following speech to Her: Rejoice, through Whom joy will shine forth. Rejoice, through whom the oath will disappear. Rejoice, proclamation to fallen Adam. Rejoice, deliverance from Eve's tears. Rejoice, height unattainable by human thoughts. Rejoice, depth, difficult to contemplate even with angelic eyes. Rejoice, for You are the King's seat. Rejoice, for you bear Him who bears everything. Rejoice, star manifesting the sun. Rejoice, receptacle of the Divine Incarnation. Rejoice, through Whom creation is made new. Rejoice, in whom the Creator is born as a child. Rejoice, unbridled Bride. The saint, seeing herself in purity, boldly says to Gabriel: your extraordinary word is inconvenient for my soul. How do you talk about pregnancy from seedless conception? and you cry: Alleluia. The Virgin seeks unknown knowledge, and cries out to the minister of the sacrament: from a clean womb, how can a son be born? Tell me. And the Angel, although he speaks to Her with fear, nevertheless calls out like this: Rejoice, Mystery of ineffable advice. Rejoice, faithful guardian of that which requires silence. Rejoice, forerunner of Christ's miracles. Rejoice, reduction* of His dogmas. Rejoice, ladder above heaven, by which God descended. Rejoice, bridge that leads from earth to heaven. Rejoice, multi-pronounced wonder for the Angels. Rejoice, much-lamented defeat of the demons. Rejoice, you who inexpressibly gave birth to light. Rejoice, you who did not reveal it to anyone: how? Rejoice, thou who surpassest the knowledge of the wise. Rejoice, illuminating the minds of the faithful. The power of the Most High then overshadowed the woman who had not experienced marriage for conception, and her fertile womb showed as if it were a pleasant field for all who wished to reap salvation, while they sing: Alleluia. Having a God-receiving womb, the Virgin flowed to Elizabeth. The sowing baby, immediately recognizing her kiss, rejoiced: and with leaps, as if in songs, he cried out to the Mother of God: Rejoice, stem of unfading vegetation. Rejoice, acquisition of immortal fruit. Rejoice, thou who cultivates the earth, and who loves mankind. Rejoice, you who planted the planter of our life. Rejoice, field that increases the abundance of bounties. Rejoice, table full of propitiations. Rejoice, for You grow a meadow of food. Rejoice, for you are preparing a refuge for souls. Rejoice, God-pleasing incense of prayer. Rejoice, purification of the whole world. Rejoice, calling upon God's favor to mortals. Rejoice, you who give mortals boldness towards God. Having a storm of doubtful thoughts inside, the chaste Joseph was confused, in vain of You, immaculate, unmarried, and tempted to think of You as one who had been robbed of marriage: but having learned of Your conception from the Holy Spirit, he said: Alleluia. The shepherds heard the angels chanting the coming of Christ in the flesh, and running to Him like a shepherd, they saw Him like a blameless lamb in the womb of Mary, and, chanting Her, they said: Rejoice, Mother of the Lamb and Shepherd. Rejoice, fence of verbal sheep. Rejoice, reflector of invisible enemies. Rejoice, opener of the gates of heaven. Rejoice, for those in heaven rejoice with those on earth. Rejoice, for the earthly rejoices in the heavenly. Rejoice, for through You the Apostles have silent lips. Rejoice, for through You the ascetics have invincible boldness. Rejoice, strong affirmation of faith. Rejoice, bright knowledge of grace. Rejoice, through Whom hell is laid bare. Rejoice, through whom we are clothed with glory. Seeing the God-moving star, the Magi followed its brilliance: and, holding it like a lamp, through it they sought the Strong King: and having reached the unattainable, they rejoiced and exclaimed to Him: Alleluia. The sons of the Chaldeans, seeing Him who created men with the hand of the Virgin in the arms, and perceiving in Him the Master, although He took the form of a slave, hastened to serve Him with gifts and cry to the Blessed One: Rejoice, Mother of the Unstoppable Star. Rejoice, dawn of the mysterious day. Rejoice, thou who quenched the furnace kindled by delusion. Rejoice, enlightener of the mysteries of the Trinity. Rejoice, thou who cast out the inhuman tormentor from the authorities. Rejoice, you who showed the Lord who loves mankind, Christ. Rejoice, deliverer from cruel evil. Rejoice, thou who deliverest from the slumber of unclean deeds. Rejoice, you who extinguished the worship of fire. Rejoice, you who deliver us from the flames of passions. Rejoice, teacher of the faithful to chastity. Rejoice, joy of all generations. The Magi, having become God-bearing preachers, returned to Babylon, fulfilling Your revelation and preaching Your Christ to everyone, leaving Herod as an empty talker who did not know how to sing: Alleluia. Having illuminated Egypt with the enlightenment of Your truth, Savior, You drove away the darkness of lies; for his idols, unable to bear Your power, fell. And those delivered from these evils cried out to the Mother of God: Rejoice, correction of men. Rejoice, casting down demons. Rejoice, thou who hast corrected the power of deception. Rejoice, you who exposed the idolatry’s deceit. Rejoice, sea that drowned the mental Pharaoh. Rejoice, stone that gives drink to those thirsty for life. Rejoice, pillar of fire, guiding those in darkness. Rejoice, cover of the world, vast cloud. Rejoice, you who provide food that succeeds manna. Rejoice, servant of holy sweetness. Rejoice, land of promise. Rejoice, from Whom honey and milk flow. Before Simeon had to repose from this deceiving age, You were given to him like a child, but you were also known to him like God. Therefore, he was amazed at Your ineffable wisdom, and exclaimed: Alleluia. The Creator who appeared showed us a new creation, created by Him. He grew from a seedless womb, and kept it incorruptible, as it was: so that we, seeing the miracle, would sing about it, crying: Rejoice, crown of abstinence. Rejoice, You, in Whom the image of the resurrection shines forth. Rejoice, manifesting angelic life. Rejoice, bright-fruiting tree from which the faithful feed. Rejoice, blessed-leaved tree, under which many take refuge. Rejoice, womb-bearing guide to the lost. Rejoice, you who give birth to the redeemer of the captives. Rejoice, imploring the righteous Judge. Rejoice, you who grant forgiveness of many sins. Rejoice, clothing for those who, like naked people, lack boldness. Rejoice, love, conquering all love. Having seen a strange Christmas, let us withdraw from the world and transfer our minds to heaven: for for this very reason the High God appeared on earth as a humble man, wanting to lift to the heights those who cry out to Him: alleluia. The Indescribable Word was all in the lower regions of existence, and did not deviate at all from the higher ones. For this was not a local passing, but a Divine condescension, and a birth from the Virgin who received God, who hears this from us: Rejoice, container of the incontainable God. Rejoice, door of the venerable sacrament. Rejoice, You, about Whom the unbelievers are wavering in their thoughts when they hear. Rejoice, in whom the faithful do not hesitate to boast. Rejoice, Most Holy Chariot resting on the Cherubim. Rejoice, most beautiful village residing on the Seraphim. Rejoice, you who brought the opposite objects into unity. Rejoice, you who combined virginity and Christmas. Rejoice, through Whom the bonds of crime are loosed. Rejoice, through Whom paradise has been opened. Rejoice, key of Christ's kingdom. Rejoice, hope of eternal blessings. Every angelic nature is surprised by the great work of Your incarnation: for it saw the unapproachable God as a man accessible to all, Who abides with us and hears from everyone in heaven and on earth: Alleluia. We see the oracles of many-pronounced voiceless fishes before You, Mother of God. For they do not find a way to explain how You remain a virgin and could give birth. But we, marveling at the mystery, truly cry out: Rejoice, friend of God's wisdom. Rejoice, secret repository of His providence. Rejoice, You, before Whom the wise are unwise. Rejoice, before Whom the artists of words find themselves deprived of words. Rejoice, for the cruel interrogators have gone mad. Rejoice, for the creators of fables have faded away. Rejoice, thou who tearest apart the intricacies of the Athenians. Rejoice, filler of the fishermen's ponds. Rejoice, thou who bringest forth from the depths of ignorance. Rejoice, you who enlighten many with knowledge. Rejoice, ship for those who want to be saved. Rejoice, haven of life's voyage. Wanting to save the world, the self-proclaimed Decorator of all creatures came to this: and being a shepherd, like God, for our sake he appeared as a man similar to us. For, having called like to like, He, like God, accepts the praise: alleluia. Most Pure Mother of God! You are a wall for the virgins and for all who resort to You: for this is how the Creator of heaven and earth designed You, Who dwelt in Your womb, and taught everyone to cry to You: Rejoice, leader of the intelligent re-creation. Rejoice, giver of Divine goodness. Rejoice, for You have given birth to those who were conceived shamefully. Rejoice, for You have enlightened those whose minds were stolen. Rejoice, making the corrupter of understanding ineffective. Rejoice, you who gave birth to the sower of purity. Rejoice, palace of seedless bridehood. Rejoice, you who united the faithful with the Lord. Rejoice, beautiful nurse of virgins. Rejoice, bride-adorner of the souls of the saints. Every song, when it tries to follow the many bounties of Thy, is overcome by their abundance. For if we had brought hymns equal to the sand to You, Holy King, we would not yet have accomplished anything worthy of Your gifts to us who cry out to You: Alleluia. We see the luminous lamp, which appeared to those in darkness, in the face of the Holy Virgin. For she, kindling an immaterial light, guides everyone to Divine knowledge, illuminating the mind with the dawn, and is honored by these invocations: Rejoice, ray of intelligent sun. Rejoice, brilliance of the everlasting radiance. Rejoice, lightning that illuminates souls. Rejoice, terrifying enemies like thunder. Rejoice, for from You arises a multi-illuminated enlightenment. Rejoice, for You bring forth a multi-streamed river. Rejoice, painting the image of the font. Rejoice, you who take away the filth of sin. Rejoice, laver that washes the conscience. Rejoice, cup that draws joy. Rejoice, aroma of Christ's fragrance. Rejoice, life of the mysterious sweet food. Wishing to grant forgiveness of ancient debts, the Lord of all men Himself approached those who had departed from His grace: and, tearing apart the handwriting, He heard this from everyone: Alleluia. Singing Your Generation, we also glorify You, Mother of God, as an animated church: for the Lord, who contains everything with His hand, dwelling in Your womb, sanctified You, glorified You, and taught everyone to cry out to You: Rejoice, tabernacle of God and the Word. Rejoice, thou who exceedest in holiness the Holy of Holies. Rejoice, ark, gilded by the Spirit. Rejoice, inexhaustible treasury of life. Rejoice, precious crown of pious kings. Rejoice, venerable praise of the reverent priests. Rejoice, unshakable pillar of the Church. Rejoice, unbreakable wall of the Kingdom. Rejoice, You by Whom signs of victory are erected. Rejoice, by whose power enemies fall. Rejoice, healing of my body. Rejoice, salvation of my soul. O all-sung Mother, who gave birth to the most holy Word of all saints! Having accepted the present offering, take away from all misfortune, and deliver from future torment all who collectively cry out: Alleluia. *“Reduction” here in the sense of “much in little.” Archimandrite Epiphanius (Theodoropoulos) explains: “The Mother of God occupies a fundamental place in the Christian faith. The very name “Mother of God” expresses a summary of the tenets of our faith. This name, say the holy fathers, “constitutes the entire sacrament of the House of God. After all, if the Mother of God gave birth, then He who is born of Her is certainly God, but certainly also man” (John of Damascus, St. An exact statement of the Orthodox faith. Chapter 56).” You might be interested in: