The Supplicatory Canon to the Most Holy Theotokos

Troparion, Tone 4:

To the Theotokos let us run now most earnestly, we sinners all and wretched ones, and fall down in repentance calling from the depths of our souls: O Lady, come unto our aid, have compassion upon us; hasten thou for we are lost in a throng of transgressions. Turn not thy servants away with empty hands, for thee alone do we have as our only hope. Twice.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Never, O Theotokos, will we cease to speak of thy powers, unworthy as we are. For if thou didst not intercede in prayer, who would have delivered us from so many dangers? Who would have kept us free until now? Let us never forsake thee, O Lady, for thou dost ever save thy servants from all perils.

Canon, Eighth Tone

ODE I

Irmos: Having passed through the water as on dry land, and having escaped the malice of the Egyptians, the Israelites cried aloud: Unto our God and Redeemer let us now sing.

Refrain: O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Distressed by many temptations, I flee to thee, seeking salvation. O Mother of the Word, and Virgin, from ordeals and afflictions deliver me.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Outburst of passions trouble me and fill my soul with great despondency. Calm it, O Maiden, by the peace of thy Son and God, O all-blameless one.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

I implore thee who gavest birth to the Savior and God, O Virgin to deliver me from perils. For, fleeing now unto thee for refuge, I lift up both my soul and my reasoning.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Ailing am I in body and soul, do thou vouchsafe me the divine visitation, and thy care, O thou who alone art the Mother of God, for thou art good and the Mother of the Good.

ODE III

Irmos: Of the vault of the heavens art Thou, O Lord, the Maker and Builder of the Church; do Thou establish in me love of Thee, O Summit of desire, O Support of the faithful, O only Lover of Mankind.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

I have chosen thee to be the protection and intercession of my life, O Virgin, Mother of God. Pilot me to thy haven, O author of blessings, O support of the faithful, O thou only all-lauded one.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

I pray thee, O Virgin, to dispel the tumult of my soul and the storm of my grief; for thou, O Bride of God, hast given birth to Christ, the Prince of Peace, O only immaculate one.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Since thou broughtest forth Him Who is the Benefactor and Cause of good, from the wealth of thy lovingkindness do thou pour forth on all; for thou canst do all things, since thou didst bear Christ, the One Who is mighty in power; for blessed of God art thou.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

I am tortured by grievous sicknesses and morbid passions: O Virgin, do thou help me; for I know thee to be an inexhaustible treasury of unfailing healing, O all-blameless one.

Lord have mercy. Thrice.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Sessional Hymn, Second Tone:

O fervent advocate, invincible battlement, fountain of mercy, and sheltering retreat for the world, earnestly we cry to thee: O Lady Theotokos, hasten thou, and save us from all imperilment; for thou alone art our speedy protectress.

ODE IV

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, of the mystery of Thy dispensation, and I came to knowledge of Thy works, and glorify Thy Divinity.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

The turmoil of my passions, and the storm of my sins do thou bestill, thou who gavest birth to the Lord and Pilot, O thou Bride of God.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

O bestow, out of the abyss of thy compassion, on me thy supplicant; for thou didst give birth to the Kindhearted One and Savior of all that hymn thee.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

While delighting in thy gifts, O spotless one, we sing a song of thanksgiving to thee, knowing thee to be the Mother of God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As I lie on the bed of my pain and infirmity, do thou help me, as thou art a lover of goodness, O Theotokos, who alone art Ever-Virgin.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Having thee as our staff and hope, and as our salvation’s unshaken battlement, from all manner of adversity are we then redeemed, O thou all-lauded one.

ODE V

Irmos: Enlighten us by Thy commands, O Lord, and by Thy lofty arm bestow Thy peace upon us, O Lover of mankind.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Fill my heart with gladness, O pure one, by giving me thine incorruptible joy, O thou who didst bear the Cause of gladness.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Deliver us from dangers, O pure Theotokos, who didst give birth to Eternal Redemption, and the Peace that doth pass all understanding.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Dispel the darkness of my sins, O Bride of God, by the radiance of thy splendor, for thou didst bear the Light Divine and Pre-eternal.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Heal, O pure one, the infirmity of my soul, when thou hast deemed me worthy of thy visitation, and grant me health by thine intercessions.

ODE VI

Irmos: I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him will I proclaim my grief; for with evils my soul is filled, and my life unto hades hath drawn nigh, and like Jonah I will pray: From corruption raise me up, O God.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

My nature, held by corruption and death, hath He saved from out of death and corruption; for unto death He Himself hath submitted. Wherefore, O Virgin, do thou intercede with Him Who is thy Lord and Son, to deliver me from enemies’ wickedness.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

I know thee as the protection of my life, and most safe fortification, O Virgin; disperse the horde of temptations, and drive away demonic vexation; unceasingly I pray to thee: From corruption of passions deliver me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

We have acquired thee as a wall of refuge, and the perfect salvation of our souls, and a relief in afflictions, O Maiden, and we ever rejoice in thy light. O Sovereign Lady, do thou also now save us from passions and dangers.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Bedridden, I lie supine with sickness now, and there is no healing for my flesh; but to thee, O good one who gavest birth to God and the Savior of the world and the Healer of infirmities, I pray: From corruption of illness raise me up.

Kontakion, Sixth Tone:

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, O mediation unto the creator unfailing, disdain not the suppliant voices of sinners, but be thou quick, O good one, to help us who in faith cry unto thee; hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

Sticheron, same tone:

Entrust me not to human protection, O most holy Lady, but receive the supplication of thy servant; for sorrow hath fettered me, I cannot endure the demon’s darts; a shelter have I not, neither place to run, I the wretched one; always I am fleeing and no consolation have I but thee, O Sovereign Lady of creation, hope and protection of the faithful; turn not away from my supplication, do that which will profit me.

ODE VII

Irmos: Having gone down to Babylon from Judea, the Children of old by their faith in the Trinity trod down the flame of the furnace while chanting: O God of the fathers, blessed art Thou.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Having willed to accomplish our salvation, O Savior, Thou didst dwell in the womb of the Virgin, and didst show her to the world as the mediatress; O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

The Dispenser of mercy, Whom thou didst bear, O pure Mother, do thou implore to deliver from transgressions and defilements of the soul, those who with faith cry out: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

A treasury of salvation, and a fountain of incorruption is she who gave Thee birth; a tower of safety, and a door of repentance hast Thou proved her to them that shout: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

For weakness of body and sickness of soul, O Theotokos, do thou vouchsafe healing to those who with love draw near to thy protection, O Virgin, who for us gavest birth to Christ the Savior.

ODE VIII

Irmos: The King of Heaven, Whom hosts of angels hymn, praise ye and supremely exalt unto all ages.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Disdain not those who need thy help, O Virgin, and who hymn and supremely exalt thee unto the ages.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Thou healest the infirmity of my soul and the pains of my body, O Virgin, that I may glorify thee, O pure one, unto the ages.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Thou pourest forth a wealth of healing, on those who with faith hymn thee, O Virgin, and who supremely exalt thine ineffable Offspring

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Thou drivest away the assaults of temptations, and the attacks of the passions, O Virgin; wherefore do we hymn thee unto all ages.

ODE IX

Irmos: Truly we confess thee to be the Theotokos, we who through thee have been saved, O pure Virgin; with the bodiless choirs, thee do we magnify.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Turn not away from the torrent of my tears, O Virgin, thou who didst give birth to Christ, Who doth wipe away all tears from every face.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Fill my heart with joy, O Virgin, thou who didst receive the fullness of joy, and didst banish the grief of sin.

O most holy Theotokos, save us.

Be the haven and protection, and a wall unshaken, a refuge and shelter, and the gladness, O Virgin, of those who flee unto thee.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Illumine with the rays of thy light, O Virgin, those who piously confess thee to be the Theotokos, and do thou banish away all darkness of ignorance.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

In a place of affliction and infirmity am I brought low; O Virgin, do thou heal me, transforming mine illness into healthfulness.

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos

O my most blessed Queen, O Theotokos my hope, guardian of orphans, intercessor for strangers, joy of the sorrowful, protectress of the wronged: thou seest my misfortune, thou seest mine affliction; help me, for I am weak; feed me, for I am a strangers. Thou knowest mine offence: absolve it as thou wilt, for I have no other help beside Thee, no other intercessor, nor good consoler, except thee, O Mother of God. Do thou preserve and protect me unto the ages of ages.