Lenten Akathist to the Theotokos

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The Order of 
The Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos
as chanted on the Friday evenings of the Great Fast

Page numbers refer to the green soft-bound booklet "Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn" which is published by and available through our Archdiocesan Bookstore

 

On the First Friday Evening of the Great Fast
  1. After the Creed, the reader says It is truly meet (p. 8); then the Canon is chanted (pp. 9-16). NOTE: The apolytikion With mystic apprehension (p. 8) is to be omitted.
  2. After the Canon, the kontakion To thee, the Champion Leader (p. 17) is chanted.
  3. Then the First Stasis is chanted (pp. 17-20). NOTE: The first sentence of Oikos 1 An angel chieftain was sent from heaven to say "Hail!" unto the Theotokos is chanted thrice in succession.
  4. At the conclusion of the Stasis, the kontakion To thee, the Champion Leader (p. 29) is chanted.
  5. Then the service continues with Holy God and the trisagion prayers (p. 29). NOTE: The apolytikion With mystic apprehension (p. 30) is to be omitted. In its place on the First Friday is said (not chanted) the following kontakion of St. Theodore the General:
  6. "In courage of soul, and furnished with the arms of faith, thou tookest in hand the word of God as though as spear and didst put thy foe to flight, thou great boast of Martyrs, O Theodore; now together with them, O Saint, cease not to entreat Christ God for all of us."
  7. Following the kontakion, Little Compline continues with the forty-fold Lord, have mercy (pp. 30-35).
  8. After In thee, O Mother of God (p. 32) the priest chants the appointed Gospel.

 

On the Second, Third and Fourth Friday Evenings of the Great Fast
  1. As #1 above.
  2. As #2 above.
  3. On the Second Friday, the Second Stasis (pp. 20-23).
  4. On the Third Friday, the Third Stasis (pp. 23-26).
  5. On the Fourth Friday, the Fourth Stasis (pp. 26-29).
  6. As #4 above.
  7. Then the service continues with Holy God and the trisagion prayers (p. 29). NOTE: The apolytikion With mystic apprehension (p. 30) is to be omitted. In its place on the Second, Third and Fourth Fridays is said (not chanted) the following kontakion of the Martyrs:
  8. "Unto thee, the Author of creation, the universe doth offer the God-bearing martyrs as the first-fruit of nature. By whose prayers, through the Theotokos, do thou preserve thy Church in peace profound, O most merciful One."
  9. As #6 above.

 

On the Fifth Friday Evening of the Great Fast
  1. After the Creed, the reader says It is truly meet (p. 8); then the apolytikion With mystic apprehension is chanted three times.
  2. Then the Priest says the First Stasis (pp. 17-20), followed by the 1st and 3rd Odes of the Canon (pp. 9-10). Then the kontakion To thee, the Champion Leader (p. 17) is chanted once.
  3. Then the Priest says the Second Stasis (pp. 20-23), followed by the 4th, 5th and 6th Odes of the Canon (pp. 10-13). Then the kontakion To thee, the Champion Leader (p. 17) is chanted once.
  4. Then the Priest says the Third Stasis (pp. 23-26), followed by the 7th, 8th and 9th Odes of the Canon (pp. 13-16). Then the kontakion To thee, the Champion Leader (p. 17) is chanted once.
  5. Then the Priest says the Fourth Stasis (pp. 26-29). He ends by again saying Oikos 1 (pp. 17-18). NOTE: The first sentence of Oikos 1 An angel chieftain was sent from heaven to say "Hail!" unto the Theotokos is chanted thrice in succession. Then the kontakion To thee, the Champion Leader (p. 17) is chanted once.
  6. Then the service continues with Holy God and the trisagion prayers (p. 29). NOTE: The apolytikion With mystic apprehension (p. 30) is said (not chanted).
  7. Following the apolytikion, Little Compline continues with the forty-fold Lord, have mercy (pp. 30-35).

 

IMPORTANT NOTE

When the Annunciation falls on a Saturday during the Great Fast

If the great feast of the Annunciation, March 25, falls on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th Saturday of the Great Fast, on Friday evening, instead of Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn, the Great Vespers of the Annunciation is celebrated with the Akathist Hymn. Immediately after the Hymn of St. Simeon the God-bearer Lord, now lettest the kontakion To thee, the Champion Leader is chanted followed by the appointed Stasis of the Akathist Hymn. At the conclusion of the Stasis, the kontakion To thee, the Champion Leader is chanted. Then Great Vespers ends as usual with the trisagion prayers being said followed by the chanting of the apolytikion of the Annunciation (three times without Glory and Both now) and the usual ending of Great Vespers with the Great Dismissal.

If the great feast of the Annunciation, March 25, falls on the 5th Saturday of the Great Fast, on Friday evening, instead of Little Compline with the Akathist Hymn, Great Vespers (combining texts for the Annunciation with those for Akathist Saturday) is celebrated with the Akathist Hymn. Immediately after the Hymn of St. Simeon the God-bearer Lord, now lettest the apolytikion With mystic apprehension is chanted; then follow the order listed above for the Fifth Friday (#2 through #5). Then Great Vespers ends as usual with the trisagion prayers being said followed by the chanting of the apolytikion of the Annunciation (three times without Glory and Both now) and the usual ending of Great Vespers with the Great Dismissal.

 

 

Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America -- Bishop BASIL
Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America -- Metropolitan PHILIP, Primate