The Akathist Hymn - Birkbeck-Woodward

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The Akathist Hymn - Birkbeck-Woodward

To the Most Holy Mother of God Translated into English verse by the Rev. G. R. Woodward, in The Acathist Hymn of the Holy Orthodox Eastern Church, ed. W. J. Birkbeck and G. R. Woodward (Oxford, 1917; public domain). TO THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD CONTAKION. FOURTH PLAGAL TONE By thee the Champion Leader, Mother of God our Lord, Do I, thy faithful City,+ Glad hymns of thanks accord For victory, and redemption From famine, plague and sword. But since thy might, O Maiden, Resistless is and free, Do thou from every peril, Deliver me thy bedesman, That I may chant for thee: The stanzas of the Acathist Hymn, alphabetically (in the Greek). Hail, an Angel chief," With goodly message laden, Down from heav’n to earth. was sent To hail the Mother-maiden. While with fleshless voice he spake, And born on earth fore-told thee, Lord, he stood and stood aghast, For why he did behold thee Taking flesh in Mary’s womb, And, as thou wouldest make her Very Mother of his God, Thus Gabriél bespake her: Hail Mary! by the help of whom? Joy shall enlight this vale of gloom: Hail Mary! for by thee the curse? Shall fail from off the universe. Hail Mary! who, for once and all, Restorest Adam’s shameful fall: Hail Mary! Maid, that shall conceive Hail Mary! Altitude sublime, Which human reason cannot climb: Hail Mary!

Depth, far deeper than E’en Arch-angelick eye may scan.* Hail Mary! for thou art the throne Of Christ our royal Solomon :? Hail Mary! Bearer of that King, Himselt who beareth every thing. Hail Mary! Star, that shall display ‘* The Sun of justice’ brighter ray: Hail Mary! of whose generous womb The Word of God doth flesh assume.° Hail Mary! for, by thee subdued, The whole creation is renew’d: Hail Mary! for the Holy One,° The world’s Creator, is thy Son. Like none other. > John i. 14. © Luke i, 43. renicious of her chastity, Answer made to Gabriél, ‘Sir, though thou speakest truly,? Yet thy word, so thinketh me, Is hard to be believed, When thou say’st, apart from man, A Son shall be conceivéd !? Alleluya. Ὡς the Envoy spake the pure And Ever-Virgin, yearning For to learn a mystery Beyond the range of learning: ‘Tell me how shall babe be born Then he answer’d, full of awe, As one that inly dreaded: Hail Mary! Mystic, knowing well God’s counsel thrice ineffable: Hail Mary! steadfast to conceal What trust would have thee not reveal. * Luke 1.

34. Hail Mary! Overture unpriced Of all the miracles of Christ : Hail Mary! Chapter number one Of all the doctrines of thy Son. Hail Mary! Ladder, stair whereby * Our God descended from on high: Hail Mary! Bridge, that doth convey To heaven the vessels form’d of clay. Hail Mary! Vaunt and theme of love, Oft utter’d by the Hosts above: Hail Mary! ‘Daunt’ and ‘deathly blow’, Oft mutter’d by the Fiends below. Hail Mary! Parent of the Light Beyond the bound of mortal sight: Hail Mary! who hast, up to now, Declared to none the manner How. Hail Mary! that dost over-span The wisdom of the worldly man: Hail Mary! that dost light impart Unto the simple faithful heart. EP hen did Power of God most high* Anon right over-shade her, To conceive in Virgin womb; By means whereof he made her Fruitful as wheat-harvest field, Which health and wealth supplieth To each willing reaper-man, And joy to him that crieth: W hen, with God enshrined within, Our Lady had proceeded And had met Elizabeth, Whose matters well had speeded, Quick Elizabeth’s unborn Man-child with rapture bounded, And, at sound of Mary’s voice, The praise of Mary added Hail Mary! Branch of vine, whereout There sprung the Amaranthine Sprout: Hail Mary! Branch and virgin Shoot, Possest of rare untainted Fruit. Hail Mary! Land, whose fruitful acre Gave man his philanthropick Maker: Hail Mary!

that dost gender, rife With bliss, the Gardener of our life. Hail Mary! Blest, and fertile field Which doth abundant mercy yield: Hail Mary! Rich, as banquet-board, With reconciliation stored. Hail Mary! for, Maid-Mother bright, Thou grow’st the Arbour of delight: Hail Mary! for thou dost a fair Safe Harbour for the soul prepare. Hail Mary! for thy pleas from hence Rise welcome as the frankincense: Hail Mary! since, for all mankind, Thy bedes with God acceptance find. Hail Mary! for by thee we ken That God hath Good-will unto men: Hail Mary! for by thee our race Hath boldness at the throne of grace. OB ei by sea of thoughts within," Just Joseph much did doubt thee: And was minded, though thou wert A maid, to dwell without thee, Deeming thee an other’s wife: But, after comprehending That *twas by the Holy Ghost, He sung, with joy unending : Alleluya, * Matt.

1. I 9 . a a When in flesh came hither Christ, And Angels sung to greet him, Shepherds heard their merry strain, And ran anon to meet him, As their Shepherd. There they spied The Lamb of God, and proffer’d Praise to Christ on Mary’s lap, And homage to her offer’d: Hail Mary! Mother, and as dam Alike to Shepherd and to Lamb: Hail Mary: for thou dost enfold Mankind, as sheep upon the wold. Hail Mary! for thou art a screen, Defence against the foe unseen: Hail Mary! for thou dost suffice To ope the gates of Paradise. Hail Mary! for with earth to-day The heav’ns entune a merry lay: Hail Mary! for to-day glad earth Unites with heav’n in holy mirth. Hail Mary! for thy praise is sung Aloud by Apostolick tongue : Hail Mary! Courage unsubdued For all the Martyr-multitude. Hail Mary! Corbel, that up-stay’th The cornice of the Christen Faith: Hail Mary! Token, bright and fine, Of Charity and grace divine. Hail Mary! Hell, though well equipt, Is by thee of his armour stript: Hail Mary! for ’tis with thine aid That we in glory are array’d. W hen the Mages eyed the Star, The which to God-ward pointed, By his rays, as by a lamp, They sought the Lord’s Anointed. Thus did they approach and reach The mighty King of Ages, God the unapproachable : Then sung for joy the Sages: God handled by his Mother, Him whose hands have fashion’d high And low folk, one with other.

Him they *knowledged, Lord supreme, In servile robe if dresséd ;* Swift they honour’d him with gifts, And call’d his Mother, “ Blesséd’: Hail Mary! Mother of the bright Eve-star, that sets not day nor night: Hail Mary! Dawn, precursor-ray Of Christ, the living Star of Day. Hail Mary! quick to quench the blaze Of heresy and erring ways: Hail Mary! in whose light we see The mystery of the Trinity. Hail Mary! able to depone Th’ inhuman tyrant from his throne: Hail Mary! for of thy pure strain Was gend’red Christ, that Lord humane. Hail Mary! Thanks to thee, we see No barbarous idolatry: Hail Mary! for by thee we shun Grim Tartarus, where filth is done, Hail Mary! who didst quench desire Of worshipping created Fire: Hail Mary! Maiden, for thou dost Be-free the soul from flame of lust. Hail Mary! Guide, whose influence Doth teach the Faithful continence : Hail Mary! who, without alloy, Hast brought all generations joy. Fricke again in Babylon, The Magi spread the tiding Of the Gospel to the folk In all that land residing. But, obedient to their dream,? Their journey they did alter, Shunning Herod, foolish king Unversed to sing the psalter: Alleluya. Τὰ. in Egypt-land thy light Dispersed the shades of error: Truth in lieu of falsehood shone, For, at thy face, in terror, Saviour, Egypt’s idols fell,* Unskill’d to stand afore thee: But thy ransomed people there Extoll’d the Maid that bore thee.

Hail Mary! Means, whereby we men, Once fallen low, uprise agen: Hail Mary! Means whereby, we know, Full many a Fiend is laid below. Hail Mary! who beneath thy feet Defeatest Satan’s arch-deceit: Hail Mary! thou that dost convict False God and idol maledict. Hail Mary! Red-Sea wave profound,? Wherein proud Pharao’s host is drown’d: Hail Mary! Rock with water rife, Refreshing thirsty souls with life. Hail Mary! Pillar, fiery bright,* That leadeth folk in mirky night: Hail Mary! Shelter, that could shroud The race, yet broader than the cloud. Hail Mary! Pyx, whereof is fed? The soul with Manna, heav’nly Bread: Hail Mary! that dost mix and give Supernal joy to all that live. Hail Mary! who, upon my chart, The very Land of Promise art: Hail Mary! out of thee, I trow, Sweet streams of milk and honey flow. Fire he left this present life Which fawneth but deceiveth, Thee, Babe Jesu, in his arms The agéd Symeon heaveth,* He confess’d thee perfect God, And sung, in pure amazement At thy boundless wisdom, Lord, His latest chant of praisement : Alleluya. a (oe Creation there was shown ? A new thing by our Maker, When he raised a tender shoot From out an unsown acre: In this miracle of grace That so we may descry her Maid before and after birth %, And singing magnify her: Hail Mary!

for in thee we see The flower of immortality: Hail Mary! for we reckon thee The garland-wreath of Chastity. Hail Mary! for thy life depaints The Resurrection of the Saints: Hail Mary! for thy deeds declare The life of Angels, bright and fair. Hail Mary! Plant with goodly Fruit That well the Christen taste doth suit: Hail Mary! Tree, with leaf array’d, And many rest beneath thy shade. Hail Mary! who dost bring to birth A Guide for waifs and strays on earth: Hail Mary! Mother, whose good Son Shall free poor caitiffs, many one. Hail Mary! in the time of need Who with the righteous Judge shalt plead: Hail Mary! for thou shalt prevail For many that do fall and fail. Hail Mary! Over-mantling stole Emboldening the naked soul: Hail Mary! who more tender art Than earthly lover’s fondest heart. Like none other. | this strange and wondrous birth From love of earth estrange us; Pilgrims here turn we our hearts Above, where he would range us; For for this the lofty God Became right lowly, lying In a manger, fain to draw Aloft his people crying, The Infinite, but never Him from God the Father’s side Might this abasement sever; For, for all that he was Man, Being born of Mary Maid, Hail Mary! Land that doth embrace Her God, uncircumscript by space: Hail Mary! Gate, that we revere: In mysteries thou hast no peer.

Hail Mary! Name, the cause of doubt To unbeliever stiff and stout: Hail Mary! Theme of holy pride To all believers far and wide. Hail Mary! Sacred Car of him Who rideth on the Cherubim :? Hail Mary! Chamber, meet for him, Who bideth mid the Seraphim. ay Hail Mary! Mother of that Child Who man to God hath reconciled: Hail Mary! whom on earth alone? The Mother and the Maid we own. Hail Mary! for thou dost achieve The undoing of the fault of Eve: Hail Mary! for, at all device, Thy Seed doth open Paradise. Hail Mary! for thou art the Key To Christ and to his Kingdom free: Hail Mary! for we look through thee For bliss and aeviternity. Me endear saw aghast, Good Lord, thine Incarnation. Mighty work of grace divine, When men of every station To the Unapprcachable Were let approach, conversing With their God in mortal flesh, And sung, his praise rehearsing: Alleluya, rators of many a tone Stand, mute as fish, confounded By thee, Mother of thy God; For when hath speech propounded How thou skilled’st to remain Aye-maiden? But astounded We believe this Mystery, And let thy praise be sounded: Hail Mary! Shrine and casket stored With all the wisdom of the Lord: Hail Mary! Magazine and Mine Fulfill’d of providence divine. Hail Mary! for, outside thy school, Philosopher becometh fool. Hail Mary!

from thy tribune high Professor proud is giv’n the lie. Hail Mary! swift to mock the cant Of hypocritick disputant : Hail Mary! speedy to disable And wither poets’ tale and fable. Hail Mary! thou dost solve the maze Of Athens and her quibbling ways: Hail Mary! for thou fill’st agen The seine-nets of our fisher-men. Hail Mary! drawing souls to ground From ignorancy’s depth profound : Hail Mary! in the Name of Christ, Through thee shall many be baptized. Hail Mary! Ark upon the sea,? Where, whoso will, in safety be: Hail Mary! Port, where mortal-kind, Life’s voyage o’er, Fair Haven find. W iting to retrieve the world, He, who did beautify it, God, of his free-will and choice, Good Shepherd-like, drew nigh it, God and man, for mortal sake, He is known as ‘God with us’, In flesh to flesh appealing : And all that seek and sue thee, God, of earth and heaven King, With virtue did endue thee, When he chose thy virgin-womb, To be his holy dwelling ; Yea, he taught all Faithful folk To sing, thy praise forth-telling : Hail Mary! thee we mortals call Pillar of Virgins, one and all: Hail Mary! Portal, bolted fast," Where in and out our Saviour pass’d. Hail Mary! Leader, in due season Renewing minds with sense and reason: Hail Mary! Ruler of the quire With heavenly Virtue’s heat afire.

Hail Mary! for thy Seed afresh -Regenerated fallen flesh: Hail Mary! for thy blesséd Kind Doth call the madman back to mind. Hail Mary! for by thee to nought Th’ o’erthréwer of the soul is brought: Hail Mary! for was born of thee The Sower sowing chastity. Hail Mary! in whose wemless womb Thy Maker found him cloister-room : Hail Mary! bringing Faithful folk Beneath thy Master’s easy yoke. Hail Mary! Nursing Mother-Queen To other Virgins clear and clean: Hail Mary! whose good care provides Safe escort for these holy brides. Like none other. Ε aileth Hymn that would recount The tithe, Lord, of thy mercies; Were the sands upon the shore Out-number’d by our verses, Yet, O Holy King, e’en so We could in no-way show thee Due return for half the bliss That we thy singers owe thee: Alleluya. its men in darkness set, Pure Virgin, we descry thee Sheen as lamp, equipt with oil For light, but kindled by thee. Dame, thou leadest by thy ray To one true Light Supernal, All mankind, who by their lay Extol thy name maternal: Hail Mary! Beam of nothing less Than Christ the Sun of Righteousness : Hail Mary! Gleam of yonder Light, Which setteth never, day nor night. Hail Mary! Lightning-flash, that can lume the darkest mood of man: Hail Mary! e’en as thunder-blast To smite the enemy aghast.

Hail Mary! Plenteous Source of Light That shineth in baptismal rite: Hail Mary! Springing well of waters, Wherein bathe Adam’s sons and daughters. Hail Mary! from whose Shoot we trace The Font-stone, with new Birth by grace: Hail Mary! from whose Fruit we win Free shrift for after-deeds of sin. Hail Mary! Laver, that doth scour The conscience clear as noon-day hour: Hail Mary! Mazer-goblet fine, Whose grapes are joyaunce, drink divine. Hail Mary! Perfume, sweetly spiced, .And redolent of Jesu Christ: Hail Mary! Life of mystick feast For Christen people, West and East. Wining to bestow free grace, That Lord, to whom are holden All mankind for grievous debts From days that now are olden, He in person, of himself, *Mid graceless men sojourneth, Thanks universal earneth: Waite we hymn thy Son, our Lord, We sing thee too, his Mother, © Thee the Temple, by whose gate Came God, and not an other. He, that holdeth in his hand The world, from thee progressed, Hallowing, blessing, teaching all Mankind to call thee, Blesséd: Hail Mary! Tent, o’er all preferr’d By God, e’en God the heavenly Word: Hail Mary! Saint by all confest More saintly than the saintliest. Hail Mary! Ark of beaten gold, Of God the Holy Spirit’s mould: Hail Mary! Treasure-cofter, rife With never-failing gifts of life. Hail Mary! Diadem unpriced Of Princes leal to Jesu Christ: Hail Mary!

Boast and Crown august Of Bishops faithful to their trust. Hail Mary! Strong, unshaken Tower Of Holy Church, hour after hour: Hail Mary! City-wall intact ; The fortress of our realm unsack’d. Hail Mary! for by aid of thee We lift the song of Victory: Hail Mary! with thy succour must Our adversaries bite the dust. Hail Mary! who dost gently tend THE SYNAXARION OF THE AKATHIST HYMN (The historical Lesson read on the Saturday of the Akathist) At the end of the Akathist, the first stanza and the Kontakion are said again; then follows the Synaxarion, or Lesson, appointed to be read on this day, translated from the Greek Triodion. In the reign of the Roman Emperor, Heracleius,* Chosroés,? King of Persia, perceiving that the Roman power had been utterly brought down by the Emperor, King Phocas,° sent one of his Satraps, Sarbarus by name, with very many thousand men, to bring all the East under his dominion. For, even before this time, Chosroés had destroyed some hundred thousand Christians, the Hebrews probably buying and butchering them. Anyhow, after ravaging all the East, the chief Satrap Sarbarus arrived as far even as Chrysopolis, now called Scutari. Whereupon the Emperor Heracleius, finding himself in need of public money, turned the sacred property of his churches into small coin (on the condition of a greater and fuller restitution of the same), and by way of the Euxine attacked, with a fleet, the coast of Persia, and devastated it.

Thus was Chosroés, with the rest of his army, defeated. Not long after this, moreover, Seiroés, the son of Chosroés, rebelled against his father, usurped his kingdom, and after slaying his father Chosroés, made a treaty with the Emperor Heracleus. Chaganus, however, Duke of Mysia and Scythia, learning that the Emperor had crossed the sea into Persia, brake his covenant with the Romans, and, at the head of an immense army, invaded the land of Constantine by the West, uttering words of blasphemy against God. Anon, therefore, the sea teemed with ships, and the land with an innumerable host of foot-men and horse-men. Now Sergius, * Emperor from A.D. 610-641. 2 Chosroés II, 590-628. 3 Emperor from 602-610. the Patriarch, did earnestly exhort the people of Constantinople not to be downcast, but, with heart and soul, to uplift all their hope to God-ward, and to His Mother, the allspotless Bearer of God. Moreover, Bonus, a Patrician, the then governor of the City, made all preparations necessary to repel the enemy ; for, together with help from above, needs must we ourselves do our duty. And the Patriarch, calling to his aid the Eikons of the Mother of God,* went round the wall from the heights, thereby assuring the safety of his flock. But when Sarbarus from the East, and Chaganus from the West, began to burn and sack the suburbs of the City, then did the Patriarch carry the Eikon of Christ (that made without hand of man),° with the precious quickening Wood of the Cross,° and the precious vestment 7 of the Mother of God; and thus he compassed the whole length of the walls.

And Chaganus the Scythian attacked Constantinople by way of the walls on the land-side, with a countless host of men protected with weapons from top to toe; and so numerous that clearly one Roman was fighting against ten Scythians. But the unconquerable Conqueresschampion, by means of the handful of soldiers found by her side in her Church of the Fountain,® further destroyed very many of the enemy. And hence the Romans took courage 4 With the Holy Child. See St. John Damascene (Migne’s ed.), vol, ii, p. 322 C.

5. This (ἡ ἀ χειροποίητος εἰκών; also called τὸ ὥγεον woevdyAsov) is that likeness of our Lord, that was once possessed by Abgar, King of Edessa, in the first century. It is commemorated in the Greek Menaeon and Horologion on Aug. 16; and is mentioned by St. John Damascene (Migne’s ed.), vol. ii, 320 A, 352 B. In his Hymns of the Eastern Church, - 34, Neale considers that St. Germanus’ ‘most poetical work A.D. 634-734) is perhaps his Canon on this wonder-working Image’. Commemorated by the English Church, as well as by the rest of Western Christendom, on May 3 and Sept. 14. 7 Ἢ τιμία ἐσθής; or τὸ μαφόριο. This precious relic was deposited in her Church at Blachernae in 458. See the Greek Menaeon and Horologion for July 2; also Neale’s Hist. of the Holy Eastern Church, vol.ii, Ρ.

777. Compare 2 Kings ii. 8,14; xili. ; Ecclus. xlviii. 13, 143 St. Matt. ix.20; xiv. 36; St. John xiv. 12; Acts v. 153 xix.

12. A Church, near the Golden Gate, in another part of the City; praised by Nicephorus Callistus (Migne’s ed.), vol. 111, pp. 72, 73. and leapt to their feet, and, under the leadership of the unconquerable Mother of God, continued mightily discomfiting the foe. Now the citizens, that looked to treaties as well (as to Divine assistance), were driven back: for Chaganus spake openly, saying, ‘Be not deceived about that God in whom ye trust; for, without fail, to-morrow I shall occupy your City’. But when the people of the City heard tell thereof, they stretched forth their hands unto God. So by previous agreement, both Chaganus and Sarbarus attacked by land and by water, eagerly desirous to capture the City by stratagems.? But so utterly were they routed by the Romans that the living were not enough to burn with fire the corpses of the dead. And their log-boats,*° full of men-at-arms, were driven through the Bay, called the Horn," against the Church of the Mother of God at Blachernae,'? by a vehement tempest that suddenly burst in ~ upon the sea, dividing it into choppy waves; and these log-boats were destroyed with the residue of the enemy’s fleet. And here one might have seen a marvellous masterpiece of work wrought by the all-holy Mother of God. For every man of them she cast up along the sea-shore that is at Blachernae.

And the people there, with all possible haste, threw open the gates and slew the enemy, even women and children, quitting themselves as men. And the leaders of the foe returned home, weeping and mourning. As for the God-loving people of Constantinople, they rendered due thanks to the Mother of God, chanting all night long the Acathist Hymn in honour of her who had guarded them, and had, by supernatural power, gotten them the victory over their adversaries. From that day, therefore, ever after, in remembrance of this supernatural marvel, the Church hath received the tra- 9 διὰ μηχανημάτων, perhaps, ‘by battering rams’. 70 μονόξυλα (σλοϊαλ). Xen. An. v. 4. 11, boats made of one solid trunk: canoes. *¥ The Golden Horn. 12 The Church at Blachernae is one of three buile at Constantinople, in honour of Our Lady, by the Empress St. Pulcheria (c: 395-453): See J. M. Neale’s Annals of Virgin Saints, pp. 138-152. dition to devote the Festival at this present season to the Mother of God: and Acathist they call it, because then all the people of the City, clergy and lay-folk alike, performed it thus (ot sitting). Now, after an interval of six-and-thirty years, in the reign of Constantine ‘the Bearded ’,*? the Agarenes τ brought an innumerable host, and again attacked the City of Constantine, and for seven years besieged the place ; when also they wintered in the coasts of Cyzicus ᾽5 and lost many of their forces.

Then failing of their purpose, they turned back, and had sailed as far as the Sulaean,’® when, by the succour of the all-holy Mother of God, in our behalf, they were all drowned at sea. But again, and for the third time, in the days of Leo the Isaurian,’’ the children of Agar, numbering more than many times ten thousand, destroyed first the kingdom of Persia, and then Egypt and Libya, after over-running India also, and Ethiopia and Spain. Last of all, they made war against the Queen of Cities herself, bringing a navy of a thousand and eight hundred sail. When therefore they had surrounded her, they waited expecting to sack the place forthwith. But the devout people of the City, bearing the venerable Wood of the life-giving Cross, and the venerated Eikon of their leader, the Mother of God, encircled the wall, with tears entreating the mercy of God. So it seemed good to the Agarenes to depart themselves into two companies, whereof the one marched against the Bulgars, and the other was left behind, for to take the City. But, being let and hindered by the chain reaching from Galata‘? to the City walls, they set sail, and were now somewhere nigh 13 Pogondtus ; emperor from 668-685. *4 The descendants of Hagar and Ishmael; Arabs or Saracens. *3 A city on the Propontis in Mysia, on the neck of a peninsula.

* Apparently a promontory in Pamphylia, some 400 miles distant from Constantinople. *7 Emperor from 717-740; leader of the Iconoclasts in 726, and vigorously opposed by St. Germanus, poet- patriarch of Constantinople. *° A promontory on the north side of the Golden Horn, below Pera, and facing Constantinople. to the place called Sosthenium,’? when by the rage of a furious northerly gale, the greater part of their fleet was wrecked, and the men perished. The remainder were overtaken with a mighty famine, insomuch that they ate human flesh, and kneaded little bits of dung and devoured them. Then they took to flight, and had reached the open fEgean, when all their ships and men were sunk in the depths of the sea; for a tempestuous hail-storm fell from heaven, which set the waves a-raging, and loosened the pitch-tar timber of their vessels: and thus perished the countless multitude of their forces, three only surviving to tell the tale. Wherefore, by reason of these supernatural wonders wrought by the all-holy Mother of God, we celebrate the present Festival. Acathist it is called, because standing up throughout the night the people then sung this Hymn to the Mother of the WORD; and because, while it is customary to sit during the saying of the other Stanzas, during these of the Mother of God, we all listen to them standing. At the prayers of thy Mother, our unconquerable Champion, do thou, O Christ our God, deliver us from the troubles that surround us, and, Have mercy upon us, thou who art alone the Lover of mankind!