Akathist to
The Divine Passion of Christ
Kontakion 1
Supreme Ruler and Lord of Heaven and earth, seeing Thee,
the Immortal King, hanging on the Cross, all creation was
changed, Heaven was horrified, and the foundations of the
earth were shaken. But we, unworthy as we are, offer Thee
thankful adoration for Thy Passion in our behalf, and with
the robber we cry to Thee:
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Oikos 1
In completing the choirs of angels, Thou dist not take on
the angelic nature, but being the Eternal God, for my sake
Thou becamest man, and Thou didst restore to life men who
were dead through sin with Thy Life-giving Body and Blood.
Therefore, in gratitude for Thine amazing love, we humbly
cry to Three:
- Jesus, God, Eternal Love, Who was pleased to save
us who are born of earth!
- Jesus, Infinite Mercy, Who didst come down here to
us fallen creatures!
- Jesus, Who was clothed in our flesh and didst destroy
the dominion of death by Thy death!
- Jesus, Who dost deify us with Thy Divine Mysteries!
- Jesus, Who hast redeemed the whole world by Thy Cross
and Passion!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 2
Seeing Thee in the Garden of Gethsemane struggling in prayer
till Thou didst sweat blood, an angel appeared and strengthened
Thee when our sins weighed upon Thee like a heavy burden.
For, having taken lost Adam on Thy shoulders, Thou didst bring
him to the Father by bending Thy knees and praying. For this
I sing to Thee with faith and love:
Oikos 2
The Jews did not know the incredible truth of Thy voluntary
Passion. Therefore, when Thou didst say to those who were
seeking Thee at night with lanterns: I AM HE, even though
they fell to the ground, yet afterwards they bound Thee and
led Thee to the judgment hall. But we fall down before Thee
on the Way of the Cross and cry with love:
- Jesus, Light of the world, hated by evil and worldly
people!
- Jesus, Who dwellest in unapproachable Light, seized
by the realms of darkness!
- Jesus, Immortal Son of God, condemned to death by
a son of perdition!
- Jesus, in Whom there is nothing false, falsely kissed
by the traitor!
- Jesus, Who givest Thyself freely to all, sold for
a sum of silver!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 3
By the power of Thy divinity Thou didst foretell to Thy disciple
his threefold denial. But even though after this he denied
Thee with an oath, yet when he saw Thee, His Lord and Master,
in the high priest's court his heart was touched, and he went
out and wept bitterly. Look, then, also upon me, O Lord, and
strike my hard heart, that with my tears I may wash away my
sins and sing to Thee:
Oikos 3
Having true power as High Priest for ever, after the order
of Melchizedek, Thou didst stand before the criminal high
priest Caiaphas. O Lord and Master of all, Who didst accept
torture from Thy slaves, accept from us these prayers and
praises:
- Jesus, Priceless One Who was bought for a price, adopt
me into Thine eternal inheritance!
- Jesus, desire of all nations, denied from fear by
Peter, reject me not a sinner!
- Jesus, Innocent Lamb, torn by cruel scourges, rescue
me from mine enemies!
- Jesus, High Priest, Who hast entered the Holy of
Holies with Thy Blood, cleanse me from fleshly impurity!
- Jesus bound, Who hast power to bind and to loose,
absolve my grievous sins!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 4
Breathing a storm of murderous thoughts, the Jews having
listened to the voice of the father of lies and manslayer
from time immemorial, the devil, rejected Thee, the right
Way, the Truth, and the Life. But we confess Thee to be Christ,
the power of God, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge, and we cry:
Oikos 4
Having heard Thy meek and gentle words, Pilate delivered
Thee up to be crucified as deserving death, even though he
himself bore witness that he had found not a single fault
in Thee. Then he washed his hands, but defiled his heart.
And wondering at the mystery of Thy voluntary Passion, with
compunction we cry to Thee:
- Jesus, Son of God and Son of the Virgin, tortured
by the sons of iniquity!
- Jesus, mocked and stripped, Who givest the flowers
of the field their beauty and deckest the sky with clouds!
- Jesus, covered with wounds, Who satisfied the hunger
of five thousand men with five loaves of bread!
- Jesus, King of all, who instead of a tribute of love
and gratitude receivest cruel tortures!
- Jesus, Who art wounded all the day long for our sake,
heal the wounds of our souls!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 5
Thou wast all arrayed in Thy divine blood, O Thou Who coverest
Thyself with light as with a garment. I know, indeed I know
with the Prophet why Thy garments are purple. I, Lord, it
is I who wounded Thee with my sins. So to thee Who was wounded
for my sake I thankfully cry:
Oikos 5
Foreseeing Thee in spirit covered with shame and wounds,
the divinely inspired Isaiah cried in horror: We have seen
Him, and He had no form or beauty. And we, seeing thee on
the Cross, with faith and amazement cry:
- Jesus, enduring dishonour, Who hast crowned man with
glory and honour!
- Jesus, on Whom angels cannot gaze, slapped in the
face!
- Jesus, Who was struck on the head with a reed, bow
my head in humility!
- Jesus, Whose bright eyes were darkened with blood,
turn away my eyes from beholding vanity!
- Jesus, Who from head to feet hadst not part whole,
make me perfectly whole and healthy!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 6
Pilate proved a preacher of Thine innocence, when he told
the people that he found nothing in Thee deserving death.
But the Jews, like wild beasts that have seen blood, gnashed
their teeth at Thee and cried: Crucify, crucify Him! We, however,
kiss Thy most pure wounds and cry:
Oikos 6
Thou wast a spectacle and marvel to men and angels, and to
Pilate who said of Thee: Behold the Man! Come, then, let us
worship Jesus Who suffered abuse for our sake, as we cry:
- Jesus, Creator and Judge of all, judged and tortured
by Thy creatures!
- Jesus, Giver of Wisdom, Who gavest no answer to foolish
questions!
- Jesus, Healer of those wounded by sin, grant me the
healing of repentance!
- Jesus, Shepherd Who was struck, strike the demons
that cause me temptation!
- Jesus, crushed in body, crush my heart with Thy fear!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 7
Wishing to deliver mankind from slavery to the enemy, Thou
didst humble Thyself before Thine enemies, O Jesus, and like
a lamb that is dumb Thou wast led to the slaughter, and didst
endure wounds all over, that having healed the whole man,
he might cry:
Oikos 7
Wonderful patience didst Thou show when, after the sentence
of the unjust judge, the soldiers reviled Thee and inflicted
cruel wounds on Thy Most-pure Body, so that it was purple
with blood from head to foot. Therefore with tears we cry
to Thee:
- Jesus, Lover of mankind, crowned with thorns by mankind!
- Jesus, impassible in Thy Divinity, enduring thy Passion
to free us from our passions!
- Jesus, my Saviour, save me who deserve all sufferings!
- Jesus, forsaken by all, my Strength, strengthen me!
- Jesus, my Joy, from all insults gladden me!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 8
Strange and wonderful it was when Moses and Elijah appeared
to Thee on Tabor and spoke of Thy death which Thou wast about
to accomplish in Jerusalem, that having beheld Thy glory there
and seen our salvation here, they might cry:
Oikos 8
Everywhere persecuted by the Jews on account of the great
multitude of my sins, Thou didst endure my shame and torment.
For some say that Thou art opposed to Caesar, others accuse
Thee of being a criminal while some cry: Take Him, take Him,
and crucify Him. So to Thee, our Lord, condemned by all and
led to crucifixion, from the depth of our souls we say:
- Jesus, unjustly condemned, our Judge, condemn us not
according to our deeds!
- Jesus, Who was exhausted on the way under Thy Cross,
my Power, forsake me not in the hour of my sorrow and suffering!
- Jesus, Who didst cry for help to the Father, mine
Exemplar, strengthen me in my weakness!
- Jesus, Who didst accept dishonour, my Glory, deprive
me not of Thy glory!
- Jesus, radiant image of the Father's Being, transfigure
my dark and impure life!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 9
All nature was confounded at the sight of Thee hanging on
the Cross: in the heavens the sun hid his rays, the earth
quaked, the veil of the Temple was torn, the rocks split,
and hell gave up her dead. But we worship on the place where
Thy most pure feet stood, crying:
Oikos 9
Eloquent orators, even if they speak much, cannot render
sufficient gratitude for Thy Divine Passion, O Lover of mankind.
But our souls and bodies, our hearts and all our members with
compunction cry to Thee:
- Jesus, Who was nailed to the Cross, nail down and
annul the handwriting of our sins!
- Jesus, Who stretchest out Thy hands from the Cross
to all, draw me to Thyself, for I too have gone astray!
- Jesus, Door of the sheep, pierced in Thy side, lead
me through Thy wounds into Thy bridal chamber!
- Jesus, crucified in the flesh, crucify my flesh with
its passions and desires!
- Jesus, Who didst end Thy life in agony, grant that
my heart may know nothing but Thee crucified!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 10
Desiring to save the world, Thou didst heal the blind, the
lame, the lepers, the deaf and the dumb, and didst drive out
evil spirits. But the foolish Jews, breathing envy and malice,
nailed Thee to the Cross, not knowing how to sing:
Oikos 10
Jesus Eternal King, Thou sufferest in every limb for my intemperance
and incontinence, that Thou mightest make the whole of me
pure, giving us a pattern in everything that we might follow
in Thy steps and cry:
- Jesus, unfathomable Love, Who didst not charge with
sin those who crucified Thee!
- Jesus, Who didst pray earnestly with crying and tears
in the garden, teach us also to pray!
- Jesus, Who hast fulfilled all prophecy in Thyself,
fulfill our heart's desire for goodness!
- Jesus, Who didst surrender Thy spirit into thy Father's
hands, in the hour of my death receive my spirit!
- Jesus, Who didst not prevent the division of Thy
garments, separate my soul from my body gently!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 11
Tenderest songs did Thine immaculate Mother offer to Thee,
saying: Even though Thou sufferest on the Cross, yet I know
Thee from the womb to be begotten of the Father before the
morning star, for I see that all creation is suffering with
Thee. Thou surrenderest Thy spirit to the Father. Receive
also my spirit and forsake me not as I cry:
Oikos 11
Like a light-receiving lamp the immaculate Virgin stood at
Thy Cross burning with love and torn with a mother's sorrow
for Thee, the true Sun of Righteousness that was setting in
the grave, and with Her accept these prayers of our heart:
- Jesus, Who was lifted up on the Tree that with Thyself
Thou mightest lift us fallen creatures to Thy Father!
- Jesus, Who didst give the Ever-Virgin as a mother
to the virgin Apostle that Thou mightest teach us purity
and virginity!
- Jesus, Who didst entrust Thy Mother to Thy disciple,
the Theologian, commit us all to Her maternal protection!
- Jesus, Conqueror of the world and hell, conquer the
unbelief, the pride of life, and the lust of the eyes that
lurks within us!
- Jesus, Destroyer of the power of death, deliver me
from eternal death!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 12
Grant me Thy Grace, O Jesus my God. Receive me as Thou didst
receive Joseph and Nicodemus, that I may offer to Thee my
soul like a clean shroud, may anoint Thy most pure body with
the fragrant spices of virtue, and may have Thee in my heart
as in a tomb, as I cry:
Oikos 12
Praising Thy voluntary Crucifixion, we venerate Thy Passion,
O Christ. We believe with the centurion that Thou art truly
the Son of God Who art coming on the clouds with power and
great glory. Put us not then to shame, who are redeemed by
Thy blood, and thus cry aloud:
- Jesus, long-suffering, by the lamentation of Thy
Virgin Mother rescue us from eternal weeping!
- Jesus, forsaken by all, forsake me not in the hour
of my death!
- Jesus, with Mary Magdalene who touched Thy feet,
receive me!
- Jesus, condemn me not with the traitor and those
who crucified Thee!
- Jesus, bring me with the good thief into Paradise!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 13
(thrice)
O Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of
the world, accept this small act of thanksgiving offered to
Thee with all our soul, and heal us by Thy saving Passion
from all sickness of soul and body. Protect us by Thy Cross
from enemies visible and invisible, and forsake us not at
the end of our life, that saved by Thy death from eternal
death, we may unceasingly cry to Thee:
Oikos 1
Repeated
In completing the choirs of angels, Thou dist not take on
the angelic nature, but being the Eternal God, for my sake
Thou becamest man, and Thou didst restore to life men who
were dead through sin with Thy Life-giving Body and Blood.
Therefore, in gratitude for Thine amazing love, we humbly
cry to Three:
- Jesus, God, Eternal Love, Who was pleased to save
us who are born of earth!
- Jesus, Infinite Mercy, Who didst come down here to
us fallen creatures!
- Jesus, Who was clothed in our flesh and didst destroy
the dominion of death by Thy death!
- Jesus, Who dost deify us with Thy Divine Mysteries!
- Jesus, Who hast redeemed the whole world by Thy Cross
and Passion!
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Kontakion 1
Repeated
Supreme Ruler and Lord of Heaven and earth, seeing Thee,
the Immortal King, hanging on the Cross, all creation was
changed, Heaven was horrified, and the foundations of the
earth were shaken. But we, unworthy as we are, offer Thee
thankful adoration for Thy Passion in our behalf, and with
the robber we cry to Thee:
- Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in
Thy Kingdom!
Prayer to the Lord Jesus Crucified:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,
Creator of Heaven and earth, Saviour of the world,
Behold I who am unworthy and of all men most sinful,
humbly bow the knee of my heart before
the glory of Thy majesty and praise Thy Cross and Passion,
and offer thanksgiving to Thee, the King and God of all,
that Thou wast pleased to bear as man all labours and hardships,
all temptations and tortures,
that Thou mightest be our Fellow-sufferer and Helper,
and a Saviour to all of us in all our sorrows, needs, and
sufferings.
I know, O all-powerful Lord, that all these things
were not necessary for Thee,
but for us men and for our salvation Thou dist endure Thy
Cross and Passion
that Thou mightest redeem us from all cruel bondage to the
enemy.
What, then, shall I give in return to Thee, O Lover of mankind,
for all that Thou hast suffered for me, a sinner?
I cannot say, for soul and body and all blessings come from
Thee,
and all that I have is Thine, and I am Thine.
Yet I know that love is repaid only by love.
Teach me, then, to love and praise Thee.
Trusting solely in Thine infinite compassion and mercy, O
Lord,
I praise Thine unspeakable patience,
I magnify Thine unutterable exhaustion,
I glorify Thy boundless mercy,
I adore Thy purest Passion,
and most lovingly kissing Thy wounds, I cry:
Have mercy on me a sinner,
and cause that Thy holy Cross may not be fruitless in me,
that I may participate here with faith in Thy sufferings
and be vouchsafed to behold also the glory of Thy Kingdom
in Heaven.
Amen.
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