Kontakion 1
O Chosen One of all generations,
Mother of God and Queen, Who went up from earth to Heaven, reverent hymns upon
Thy most honorable Dormition do we Thy servants offer to Thee, O Theotokos. Having victory over death free us from every mortal danger that we may cry to
Thee:
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Ekos 1
An angelic messenger was sent to
announce to the Theotokos Her ascent above and the coming unto Her of Her Son
and God; standing in radiance because of Her, he cried out:
Rejoice, O most joyful Mother of
the King!
Rejoice, Heavenly Queen, Mother
of the God and Lord of Heaven and earth!
Rejoice, Thou Who art honored by
the most exalted descent unto Thee of Thy Son and God!
Rejoice, Thou Who art magnified
by the message of Thy departure unto Thy Son!
Rejoice, O chosen by God of all
generations! Rejoice, holy vessel of God the Word!
Rejoice, fulfillment of prophetic
foretelling!
Rejoice, most honorable crown of
the disciples! Rejoice, embellishment and authority of kings!
Rejoice, adornment of hierarchs
and goodness of priests!
Rejoice, O elevation of divinely
wise monastics to the Kingdom on high!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst open the
gates of Paradise to the Christian race whoever blesseth Thee!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 2
Upon seeing the apostolic choir
by an all-powerful command being presented upon clouds from the ends of the
earth for Thy most honorable Dormition, O most blameless, One, the hierarchs
Dionysius the heavenly initiate, Hierotheus the wondrous, Timothy, all with the
majestic honor of the priesthood cried out unto God: Alleluia!
Ekos 2
All intelligent creation, the
chief leaders of the angelic orders, came together with their King, Who
received into His most life-giving hands the soul of His Mother, while Peter
with fervent faith and abundant tears exclaimed to Her, crying out:
Rejoice, Mother of the Creator,
ascending to the world on high!
Rejoice, Thou Who wast taken
above the heavens, being more spacious than Heaven!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst sanctify
the four elements with Thine ascent!
Rejoice, Thou Who brought
gladness unto the heavenly with Thy passage above!
Rejoice, Thou Who are received
into the most splendid Jerusalem on high!
Rejoice, Thou Who are entering
most joyfully the temples not made with hands! Rejoice, Queen of the cherubim
and seraphim!
Rejoice, Sovereign Lady of the
archangels and angels!
Rejoice, refuge and deliverance
of the faithful! Rejoice, help and defense of Thy inheritance!
Rejoice, O intercessor unto God
for all the Christian world!
Rejoice, O all-good bestower of
all that is good!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 3
By the power of the Most High was
Thomas taken from India, since by the will of God he had not been brought to
the most honorable Dormition of the Mother of God, and standing before Her
life-bearing tomb, he stooped down to see and understood that She had ascended
to Heaven in the body, and believing, he cried out: Alleluia!
Ekos 3
The disciple, having thoughts
within himself, since by Divine Providence he had not been brought to the
funeral procession of the Mother of God with the others, rejoiced in Her
immortal Dormition, crying out to Her these things:
Rejoice, Thou Who wast taken from
the earth in the hands of Thy Son!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst ascend on
high to enjoy His glory!
Rejoice, Thou Who was escorted
above by all the leaders of the angels!
Rejoice, Thou Who wast elevated
by the cherubim to Heaven and above Heaven!
Rejoice, Thou Who wast extolled
with majestic hymns at the gates of Heaven by the supreme hosts!
Rejoice, Thou Who was surrounded
and blessed by all the heavenly inhabitants!
Rejoice, O earthly heaven raised
up unto the tabernacle on high!
Rejoice, O throne of the Lord,
Who ascended from earth into the heavenly Kingdom!
Rejoice, O our mediator and
strong defense!
Rejoice, surety of sinners unto
salvation!
Rejoice, Queen of Christians and
after God the hope of the heavenly Kingdom!
Rejoice, Mother of Life, and
after the Lord, unto us hope of life eternal!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 4
Having within himself a storm of
disbelieving thoughts, the Hebrew Aphthonius, seeing the God-bearing Apostles
carrying the all-venerable body of the all-honorable Mother of God, rushed to
overturn it; but suddenly, with blindness in his eyes and with his hands
severed, clinging and hanging from the bier, in faith he confessed Her to be
the Mother of God, crying out to God: Alleluia!
Ekos 4
The initiates and eyewitnesses of
the Word, having heard the angels singing loftiest hymns during the burial of
the God-received body of the Mother of God, and being desirous to give honor
pleasing to God, in unity hastened to chant, saying:
Rejoice, Thou Who received good
tidings of Thy coming into the Kingdom on high!
Rejoice, Thou Who from Gabriel at
the Annunciation received the revered prize of the Paradise of joy!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst illumine
the most honored cherubic multitude!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst rejoice
the most glorious seraphic nature!
Rejoice, Thou Who wast prefigured
by the patriarchs!
Rejoice, Thou Who was foretold by
the prophets!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst swiftly
avenge the evil boldness of the Jew!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst grant
healing to the same!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst turn the
unbelief of Aphthonius into belief!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst receive
his faithful confession!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst elevate
to Heaven those who have love and faith in Thee!
Rejoice, Thou Who savest those
who call upon Thy name with faith!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 5
The divinely-moving stars, the
holy Apostles, scattered across the earth for the sake of the Gospel, were
translated upon clouds across the breadth of the air to the burial of the
Mother of the Lord, whom they escorted with chants and hymns, crying out
together with the immaterial beings: Alleluia!
Ekos 5
The God-seers, having beheld
their Master receiving into His hands the soul of His Mother, and knowing Him
to be the Lord, hastened to sing unto Her blessed hymns of sacred psalmody:
Rejoice, O Queen, Who didst carry
Him Who reigneth over all!
Rejoice, Thou Who wast thyself
borne upon His filial hands!
Rejoice, O royal scepter in the
right hand of Christ!
Rejoice, O branch of the dove in
the hands of Noah!
Rejoice, O rod of Aaron,
sprouting forth incorruption!
Rejoice, O unfading lily,
flowering with immortality!
Rejoice, O God-inspired flute of
David the ancestor of God!
Rejoice, O rising glory of his
prophecy, psaltery and harp most beautiful!
Rejoice, O living ark of the
holiness of the Lord!
Rejoice, O our life, Who didst
rise into the rest of the Lord!
Rejoice, O tabernacle
overshadowed by cherubim!
Rejoice, O holy of holies, spoken
of by the seraphim!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 6
The God-bearing preachers, the
Apostles, following the departure unto the world above of the Mother of God,
when seated as accustomed at the common meal and lifting up a portion of bread
as an offering in the name of the Lord, suddenly beheld the Theotokos and Queen
come from above with luminous angels; and hearing Her grant them peace from the
Son and God, they exclaimed: Alleluia!
Ekos 6
The Sun of Righteousness, Christ
God, arose for us from Thy most pure womb, enlightening the world through the
will and wise preaching of the Apostles, and He hath glorified Thee. O Mother
of God from generation to generation. Wherefore, we also bless Thee, crying
out:
Rejoice, Thou Who art
ever-blessed from all generations unto the ages!
Rejoice, Thou Who art
compassionate and merciful unto mankind!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst fulfill
the promise made unto the choir of disciples!
Rejoice, Thou Who by the
visitation from Thy Son and God didst grant unto them peace!
Rejoice, O all-desirable and
sweet vision of the saints!
Rejoice, O all-glad rejoicing of
venerable mothers and holy virgins!
Rejoice, O Thou Who didst purpose
the paradisiacal dwelling of the righteous!
Rejoice, Thou Who visited all
those that are in heavenly glory!
Rejoice, O beginning of man's
salvation!
Rejoice, O fulfillment of all
good desires!
Rejoice, O Theotokos and Queen,
Who reignest after God the King!
Rejoice, O Lady and Sovereign,
Who ruleset after the Lord our Master!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 7
All those who come in faith into
Thy holy temple, O Theotokos, Thou ever savest, and those who glorify Thee does
Thou deliver from every assault and danger; wherefore do Thou grant to Orthodox
people, whoever bless Thee, victory over adversaries and every request unto
salvation do Thou grant unto us who pray unto Thee, and sing unto God:
Alleluia!
Ekos 7
A new creation was manifest unto
us by the Lord and Creator of all, through Thee, O Theotokos; and looking with
favor on us who honorably revere Thy most-honorable Dormition, do Thou receive
such praises as these from those that cry out to Thee:
Rejoice, Mother of God chosen
from among the earthly!
Rejoice, Thou who art higher than
the earthly and the heavenly creation!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst ascend
higher than the cherubim and the seraphim!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst gather
the choir of disciples on clouds for Thy burial!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst bring
Thomas by the power of God after Thy burial!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst convince
all through him of Thy translation into Heaven bodily!
Rejoice, Thou Who art adorned
with the beauty of all the virtues!
Rejoice, Thou Who wast united to
Thy Son, more beautiful than all the sons of men!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst flourish
like the palm tree by rising in the flesh!
Rejoice, Thou Who has multiplied
like the cedars in the celestial Lebanon!
Rejoice, O tree of life, planted
in the midst of the Paradise above!
Rejoice, O noetic ark, raised on
the mountains above the flood of mortality!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 8
Thou art known in the highest
place, O Chosen Lady, like the sun in most heavenly, inconceivable beauty and
in ineffable goodness, since Thou didst go up to Thy Son and God, held
mercifully in His arms; wherefore bowing down most joyfully before His
life-giving right hand, we unceasingly cry out: Alleluia!
Ekos 8
Having been translated into
Heaven on high and yet not abandoning those on earth, O Mother of God, Thou
wast borne upon the hands of Thy Son and didst enter into the inaccessible
regions, into that city, the all-radiant and most beautiful Jerusalem on high,
surrounded by the cherubim with all the heavenly hosts whom Thou hearest
singing:
Rejoice, Thou whose most holy
soul dwelleth in the all-radiant Sion on high!
Rejoice, Thou whose incorruptible
body is glorified there together with the soul!
Rejoice, Thou Who dist enter into
the Royal City of the very Ruler of all!
Rejoice, Thou Who wast raised
unto the most beautiful Paradise of the Husbandman on high!
Rejoice, Thou Who wast bourne
into the city founded on stones all-brilliant!
Rejoice, Thou Who wast led
through the embattlements of the surrounding heavenly hosts!
Rejoice, Thou wast taken into the
highest heaven and the majesty of God!
Rejoice, Thou Who art honored
beyond all the immaterial minds!
Rejoice, Thou Who dost offer the
supplications of the faithful to Thy Son and God!
Rejoice, Thou Who dost
continually intercede for all before the throne of Thy Son and God!
Rejoice, O mediatress before God
Who savest the world!
Rejoice, O intercessor given by
God for the Christian race!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 9
All angelic nature exalteth Thee,
O Theotokos, and the whole human race glorifieth Thee as Mother of God, and we
glorify Thy most honorable Dormition, O Queen, since for Thy sake the earthly
are gathered together with the heavenly, harmoniously chanting to God:
Alleluia!
Ekos 9
The eloquence of God-proclaimed
prophetic sayings we now see coming to pass in Thee, O Theotokos, for truly God
in the flesh hast Thou bourne for us. Wherefore, believing in the mystery of
the oracles of God, we cry out:
Rejoice, Thou perfect
fountainhead of the law and prophets!
Rejoice, O star of Jacob
prophesied by Balaam!
Rejoice, O couch of the great
King, spoken of by Solomon!
Rejoice, O fleece bedewed of
Joshua, symbolized by Gideon!
Rejoice, O bush unburnt, foreseen
by the law-giver!
Rejoice, O holy mountain,
discerned by the man of desire!
Rejoice, O heavenly ladder
foreseen by Jacob! Rejoice, O door impassable, foreseen by Ezekiel!
Rejoice, O sun, tabernacle of
Christ, foreshown by the psalmist!
Rejoice, O complex mystery,
foretold by the prophets!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst bring to
fulfillment all the prophetic words forespoken of Thee!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst bring to
perfection the economy of the Most High for the salvation of the world!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 10
Desiring to save the world, the
Lord of all chose Thee out of the earthly race to be His Mother, and for our
sake became man; He ascended from earth to Heaven, from whence He came, and
took Thee with him to abide in eternal glory and to reign with Him without end.
Wherefore as God He heareth from all: Alleluia!
Ekos 10
A bulwark art Thou for the
faithful, O Theotokos Virgin, and intercession for all who flee to Thee; for
the Creator of Heaven and earth took flesh of Thee, O Most-pure One, and
brought Thee in spirit and body to the heavens in the closest mediation for all
who have been taught to proclaim:
Rejoice, O city of the great King
above the heavenly heights!
Rejoice, O wall and shelter Who
dost not hide from our approach!
Rejoice, Thou Who givest aid to
faithful kings against their enemies!
Rejoice, Thou Who gainest victory
over the invasions of the Hagarenes!
Rejoice, O immovable preservation
of the faith of the pious!
Rejoice, O ruination of the
regiments of the heretics!
Rejoice, joy and reconciliation
of the world!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst trample
upon the all-destructive hades!
Rejoice, O special coronation of
those warring by chastity against the flesh!
Rejoice, all-honorable
glorification of martyric ascetic struggles!
Rejoice, O intercessor of monks
for a blessed repose from their monastic labors!
Rejoice, O giver of eternal
rejoicing to monks in blessed affliction!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 11
Our singing of every God-inspired
hymn sufficeth not for the praise of Thine all-honorable Dormition, O
all-praised Lady and Queen, the Theotokos; but ardently we offer Thee as the
Mother of the King of all, our humble supplication, singing with the heavenly
ranks to God, Who alone worthily glorifieth Thee: Alleluia!
Ekos 11
A light-receiving candle of the
true Light does Thou appear to us on earth, enlightening souls and guiding unto
divine understanding those who revere Thine all-honorable repose, that we may
sing to Thee:
Rejoice, O torch of the
inextinguishable material Fire!
Rejoice, O unfading glow of the
unsetting Light!
Rejoice, O moon, gleaming from
the Sun of Righteousness!
Rejoice, O light Who shinest in
the darkness!
Rejoice, O lamp, placed upon the
highest of candlesticks!
Rejoice, O source of Life, led
from the tomb into the Light!
Rejoice, O Mother of the noetic
Light, Who enlightenest the souls of the pious!
Rejoice, O Mother of the God of
all, Who comfortest tormented souls!
Rejoice, Thou Who grantest an end
without shame to the lives of those who hope in Thee!
Rejoice, Thou Who at the right
hand of Thy Son at the Last Judgement preparest a Divine inheritance for His
servants!
Rejoice, most blessed one, for we
are blessed to have Thee as a helper!
Rejoice, Thou Who art most
blessed from generation to generation, for the Lord is with Thee, and through
Thee, with us!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 12
The intelligences on high see the
Grace of the Heavenly Throne granted unto the Mother of God, Who is honored by
Her place at the right hand of Her Son and God; wherefore the Thrones and
Powers upraise Her, the Principalities and Authorities surround Her, the
terrible Cherubim, Seraphim and Dominions bow down, and with the Archangels and
Angels they sing: Alleluia!
Ekos 12
Hymning Thine all-venerable
Dormition, we all extol Thine ascent to the most heavenly regions, O Queen and
Mother of God; do thou sanctify, glorify, and save all who with love sing unto
Thee:
Rejoice, Thou Who didst purify
the earth with the footsteps of Thy most pure feet!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst sanctify
the air with Thine ascent into the heavens!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst enter the
heavenly sphere!
Rejoice, Thou Who didst behold
all ineffable goodness!
Rejoice, Thou Who in glory didst
sit upon the throne of Thy Son and God!
Rejoice, Thou Who reignest
eternally with Thy Son and God!
Rejoice, O beauty at the right
hand of the Lord, Who dost adorn all the heavenly dwellers who bless Thee!
Rejoice, Thou Who dost gladden
all those on earth who hope in Thee!
Rejoice, Thou Who art clothed in
the Sun, Who dost irradiate Grace and glory upon all the world!
Rejoice, Thou Who promisest to
preserve and save all who call upon Thee beneath the heavens!
Rejoice, Thou Who art revered as
the Mother of God by all Christian generations and art called the Theotokos!
Rejoice, Thou Who from the rising
of the sun unto the going down thereof art glorified most gloriously and in
Orthodox manner by all the pious!
Rejoice, O Joyful One, Who in Thy
Dormition hast not forsaken us!
Kontakion 13
O all-hymned Mother of the
immortal King of Heaven and earth, Christ our God, living even after death,
accept from us the present offering for Thine all-honored Dormition, and in
this life and in our mortal repose, deliver us from every assault, danger, and
torment, and vouchsafe us the heavenly Kingdom, O Queen, who cry unto Thee:
Alleluia! Thrice.
And again Ekos 1 and Kontakion
1.
Prayer to the Most
Holy Theotokos
O Most Holy Theotokos, Virgin,
Lady, Who art higher than the Angels and Archangels, and more honored than all
creation, the great wonder of angels, the lofty sermon of prophets, the most
glorious boast of apostles, the special saving adornment of hierarchs, the
strong support of martyrs, the saving precept of monastics, the inexhaustible
abstinence of fasters, the purity and glory of those in virginity, the peaceful
gladness of mothers, the wisdom and learning of children, nourisher of widows
and orphans, garment of the naked, health of the ailing, deliverance of the
imprisoned, calm of those that sail upon the sea, stormless haven of the
tempest-tossed, untiring instructress for the erring, easy passage of the
travelling, good repose of laborers, quick defender of those in trouble,
shelter and refuge of the wronged, hope of the despairing, helper of the needy,
inexhaustible wealth of the poor, everlasting comforter of the grieving, loving
humility of the hated, salvation of sinners and re-acquisition to God, firm
stronghold of the right-believing, unconquerable help and intercession: through
Thee, O Lady, the Invisible became visible and unto Thee, O Lady, we Thy sinful
servants offer petition:
O most merciful and most
wonderful Queen of noetic light, Who gave birth to Christ the King, our God and
Giver of Life unto all, Who art glorified by the celestial, and praised by the
earthly: the mind of angels, luminous star, most holy one of the saints, queen
of queens, mistress of all creation, divinely-majestic virgin, spotless bride,
palace of the Most Holy Spirit, fiery throne of the invisible King, heavenly
ark, vessel of God the Word, fire-like chariot, resting-place of the living
God, ineffable source of the flesh of Christ, nest of the heavenly Eagle,
divinely speaking turtle-dove, meek dove, gentle and kind, child-loving mother,
abyss of mercies, disperser of the cloud of the wrath of God, immeasurable
depth, inexpressible mystery, incomprehensible miracle, church
not-made-with-hands of the only King of all ages, fragrant censer, honorable
robe of purple, divinely-woven porphyry, animate paradise, branch from the
life-bearing garden, most beautiful flower that hath blossomed heavenly
gladness for us, cluster of our salvation, chalice of the King of Heaven, in
which is poured from the Holy Spirit the wine of inexhaustible Grace,
intercessor of the Law, inception of the true Faith of Christ, unshakeable
pillar, destruction of heretics, sword of the divine wrath against those
inimical to God, intimidation of demons, victory of those in warfare, true
preserver of all Christians, and known salvation of all the world.
O all-merciful Sovereign, Virgin,
Lady, Theotokos, hearken unto us who pray unto Thee and manifest Thy mercy upon
Thy people, pray unto Thy Son to deliver us from all evil and preserve our
monastery (or city), and every monastery, and city, and country of the faithful
and of the reverent people who flee to Thee and call upon Thy holy name, from
every assault, destruction, famine, earthquake, flood, fire, and sword,
invasions of enemies and civil war, from every illness, and difficulty; let not
wounds, nor privation, nor plague, nor any righteous wrath of God humiliate Thy
servants; but keep and save us by Thy mercy, O Sovereign Lady, and by Thy
prayers grant unto us healthful, seasonable weather at the time of fruitful
harvest; relieve, restore, and have mercy, O most merciful Lady, most praised
Theotokos, upon those in every trouble and need.
Remember Thy servants and do not
disdain our tears and sighs, and renew us with the goodness of Thy mercy that
we who find in Thee a helper may be gratefully comforted.
Be compassionate, O Lady most
pure, our hope, towards Thine infirm people: gather the dispersed, set upon the
right path those who have strayed and bring back those who have fallen away
from the pious faith of our fathers, support the aged, admonish the young,
nurture the children, glorify them that glorify Thee, and especially keep the
Church of Thy Son and preserve it unto length of days.
O merciful and most-merciful
Queen of Heaven and earth, ever-virgin Theotokos, through Thine intercessions
have mercy upon Orthodox Christians, preserving them under the protection of
Thy mercy, defending them with Thy precious mantle, and pray unto Him Who was
incarnate of Thee, Christ our God, that He gird us with power from above
against all our enemies visible and invisible, against the foreign and domestic
forces fighting against us and our Orthodox Faith.
Save and have mercy, O Lady upon
our most reverend Orthodox metropolitans, archbishops, and bishops, priests and
deacons, and all the Clerical orders of the Church and all right-believing
people who reverence and pray before Thy precious icon.
Look down upon us all with the
gaze of Thy merciful intercession; raise us up from the depths of sin and
enlighten the eyes of our hearts unto the vision of salvation, be merciful unto
us here and plead for us at the terrible Judgement of Thy Son, when Thy
servants have departed this life in piety into eternal life, and number them
with the angels and archangels and all the saints, that they may stand at the
right hand of Thy Son and God: and through Thy prayers vouchsafe all Orthodox
Christians to live with Christ and to enjoy the gladness of the angels in the
heavenly mansions.
For Thou, O Lady, art the glory
of the heavenly and hope of the earthly; Thou art the hope and protection of
all who flee unto Thee and ask Thy holy help; Thou art our fervent pleader to
Thy Son and our God: for Thy maternal prayers are powerful to entreat the
Master, and through Thine intercession we dare to approach, even though we are
unworthy, the throne of the Grace of His most holy and life-creating Mysteries.
Wherefore, beholding Thine
all-honorable icon and seeing the God Who holds all things held in Thy hands,
we sinners rejoice, falling down in contrition, and we kiss it with love,
expecting, O Lady, through Thy prayers which are pleasing to God, to enter into
everlasting, heavenly life and to stand without shame on the Day of Judgement
at the right hand of Thy Son and our God, glorifying Him together with His
Unoriginate Father, and the Most Holy, Good, Life-creating and Consubstantial
Spirit unto the ages of ages. Amen.
