When to read an akathist. Akathist to the Guardian Angel

An akathist is a song of praise in honor of the Mother of God, the Savior or other saints. Like many religious traditions, reading the akathist has its own characteristics and strict traditions. Let's figure out how to read the akathist.

Akathist structure

Any akathist consists of 25 songs, which are arranged in accordance with the Greek alphabet. Thirteen of them are called kontakia (songs of praise), and twelve are called ikoses (extensive songs), which explain the essence of the festive event. It is because of this that ikos is never read independently, but only after reading the kontakion. All ikos end with the word “rejoice,” and at the end of the kodak you can always hear “hallelujah,” which means “praise God.” After the reading of the kontakion there is always an ikos, which, as a rule, is divided into two parts. The last line of the kontakion is considered an appeal to the one to whom the song is dedicated. By tradition, it is repeated three times in a row. The akathist is always followed by reading a prayer.

An interesting fact is that the akathist is not a biography of the saint, but only an expression of praise in the form of a poetic hymn.

Rules for reading the akathist

Which akathist to read can be chosen by the person himself. Often, akathists are always dedicated to the one whose help the believer currently needs. However, the most popular is the akathist to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which has not changed since the distant year 620. It is sung only once a year, on Saturday of the fifth week of Lent. This day is usually called “Saturday of Akathist”.

Akathist translated from ancient Greek means “unsaddled singing.” And, indeed, it is not permissible to listen or read an akathist while sitting, an exception is made only for sick people. When reading the akathist, you need to stand facing the icon of the saint to whom the chant is dedicated. If this is not possible, then reading the akathist is permissible while standing facing the window.

In addition, reading the akathist refers to cell prayers, in other words, home prayers. Therefore, you can read the akathist at home, without receiving the blessing of a priest for this. Before reading, you should read the intended prayer (morning or evening), and only then move on to the song itself. After you finish the akathist, you should read a prayer to the Guardian Angel. Remember that an akathist is, first of all, a song of praise, so the most important thing is not how well you read it, but what will be in your soul and thoughts during this reading.

So, I hope now you know how to read the akathist correctly. But remember that even if you break some reading rules, this is not the worst thing. Only bad deeds and thoughts of a person are terrible.

Number of entries: 64

God bless you! Tell me, is it possible, when reading the Akathist before the Icon of the Queen of Heaven “The Inexhaustible Chalice,” to name the names of not only those suffering from the disease of drunkenness, but also people suffering from other ailments? God bless you.

Alexander

Yes, you can, you pray to the Queen of Heaven, and in front of which icon is not so important.

Deacon Ilya Kokin

Hello, please tell me, according to a legend prevailing among the Orthodox people, the akathist “Quick to Hear” should be read 40 times for a cancer patient - is this true?

Ksyusha

Dear Ksenia, it is true that through fervent prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos, miraculous healings of the sick occur. But to think that this happens depending on the number of akathists read is wrong. It is very good to take on such a spiritual feat as prayer, reading an akathist for a loved one. This is an active manifestation of our love, and it is this love that opens the way to God’s mercy. “Ask and it will be given to you,” said the Lord. So we will ask, without wondering how much we need to pray. May God help you!

Priest Sergius Osipov

Hello, father! I have a very difficult situation in my family with loan repayments. I always go to church, pray, light candles. I was advised to read a prayer to Spyridon of Trimifutsky and the Akathist, I started reading, they say it helps. Tell me, please, was it necessary to take a blessing from the priest in order to read the akathist? Now it’s very difficult and difficult for me. I don’t have the opportunity to go and venerate his relics.

Natasha

Natasha, personally, I am generally opposed to loans. I believe that you need to live with what you have, and then there will be no such problems. You always want more in life, but you need to learn to live within your means and not into debt. A blessing is not required to read the akathist; pray for the Lord to help. In the future, I would advise you to refrain from loans.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello, father! I had such a problem - in August my head and neck began to tremble violently. Hospitals didn't work! Now I read morning prayers, then the akathist to St. PANTELEMON. In the evening - prayers for the coming sleep. I didn’t take the priest’s blessing because I didn’t know it was necessary! I read every day. Am I doing the right thing and what akathists should I still read?

Victor

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello, father. Tell me how to correctly read the akathist to Saint Spyridon, how many days the akathist is read, and is it necessary to take a blessing from the priest?

Olga

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello! After a trip to the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon in the Serpukhov Monastery, I began to read an akathist to this icon. I learned that you need to read for 40 days. In my prayer I mentioned several names of those suffering from the disease of drunkenness, including the name of my friend’s husband. Now he has begun to drink even more, the situation in the family is tense. What should I do, continue reading the akathist? Is it possible to receive a priest’s blessing to read this akathist in absentia?

Irina

Irina, to read the akathist you had to take a blessing right away, in the temple. In this case, you would pray not relying only on your own strength, but with God’s help. The priest is the conductor of God's grace. Therefore, when they take a blessing, they apply it not to the hand of the priest, but to the Hand of the Lord. Let's say we want to receive God's blessing, but how will we know whether He blessed or not? For this, the Lord left a priest on earth, gave him special power, and the grace of God descends on believers through the priest. In addition, during personal communication, you will be able to ask the priest all your questions about what you are taking the blessing for. And the priest will advise what will be useful for you. Through the Internet you can only give general advice, but you can receive grace, as well as hear something specific from the priest, only in church.

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Hello, father. On the Internet there is an Akathist to St. Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg performed by a church choir. How should you listen to him correctly, what should you do before him? I read the correspondence below: “Hello, Sergey! If you have completed the prayer rule for a Christian before going to bed, then why not listen to the church choir before going to bed.” What does it mean “they have completed the prayer rule prescribed for a Christian for the coming sleep”? Thank you.

Svetlana

Svetlana, the correspondence refers to “Prayers for those who are coming to bed,” which can be found in any Orthodox Prayer Book. Morning prayers and Prayers for bedtime are mandatory for every Christian. As for church hymns, they can be listened to in a pious atmosphere, with reverent attention. Although, it is best, of course, to read the Akathist to St. blzh. Ksenia on her own.

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Galina

Galina, if you are going to read the akathist loudly and publicly in church, then the blessing of the abbot is, of course, mandatory. The fact is that such a reading is no longer entirely private, not yours personally, but rather a public service, and it may somehow not be consistent with the rules or schedule of the church, with other subtleties of parish life.

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello, father! I have a question. Is it possible to read an Akathist for a person who died every day if he died seven months ago?

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Tatyana, Valery

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello! I would like to read the akathists of St. Ksenia of St. Petersburg, Peter and Fevronia, Vera, Nadezhda Love and their mother Sophia, and “Softening Evil Hearts”, in the hope that prayers will help me maintain a relationship with my loved one. But I doubt it, I found out that reading akathists requires a blessing! Tell me, is this true? Do you think I have a chance to maintain a relationship with my loved one and melt his heart, which has become a little clouded and cooled towards me? And with the help of what prayers can you help your loved one get rid of past memories that weigh on his soul, heart, thoughts and mind? I see how hard it is for him. Give me strength God! Forgive me, save you, Lord!

Natalia

Natasha, dear! Why do you turn akathists into a love spell, do you expect such a return from them?! Shouldn’t you tell us about real problems with your loved one, “about memories”, etc.? Maybe it's better to start with problem analysis? By the way, I understand that you had cohabitation and not a legal marriage?

Archpriest Maxim Khizhiy

Good afternoon My question is a little strange. Why do akathists end with kontakion 13, no more and no less? Just wondering. Thank you!

George

Georgy, a very good article about akathists is posted on the Orthodox Encyclopedia website http://azbyka.ru/dictionary/01/akafist-all.shtml. Read it, you will learn a lot of new things; by the way, it says that the number of ikos and kontakia is determined historically and is associated with the way of musical performance of akathists in ancient times.

Hegumen Nikon (Golovko)

Hello, father! A year ago my mother died. When she was buried, an icon of the martyr Tatiana was placed in her hands, although she is Valentina. Why? And the second question: I am very much in love with a man who is 12 years younger than me. I broke up with him on my own initiative, because I don’t see in him the desire to build a family with me, and I don’t want to live in sin with him. Did I do the right thing, and what akathist should I read in order to forget this person and find peace and peace of mind (six months have passed since we broke up, and it hurts a lot). Thanks in advance.

Alexandra

Alexandra, women usually put an icon of the Mother of God in their coffins. It’s hard for me to say why they did it differently. Perhaps they got mixed up. The fact that you broke up with this person is very correct. It’s better to be alone than to build your “happiness” in sin. Fornicators will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, always remember this, and your soul will be calmer and easier.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Hello! Is it possible to pray and read the Akathist at home without an icon, because the Saints will hear it anyway? I can’t find the icon of the 9 Martyrs of Kizi in our city. Few people know about them. And I really want their intercession and help! For a long time I have not been able to find a suitable job, but it is so needed, I have prayed to many, but it seems to me that they do not hear me or that I am praying incorrectly... I try to confess and receive communion. Thank you for your reply! Save me, God!

Anastasia

Anastasia, the Gospel says: “Ask and you will receive.” It's always good to pray. Even if there is no icon in front of which we want to pray, then, of course, we still need to pray - the saints will definitely hear us. Without any doubt, you can pray to these Saints, even if you do not have their icon. God help you.

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Please tell me, is there a special rule for how many days to read the akathist?

Ksenia

Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)

Dear priests! I read 3 akathists: Ksenyushka, Spiridon and Tryphon. These are my favorite saints. I started it myself out of ignorance, without blessing. Now I have a lot of problems (my grandfather is very sick, difficulties at work, the issue of a mortgage, etc.), so my soul asked, and my hand reached out to the akathist. Today I read on your website that you need to take a blessing on this site. I can only go to church on weekends - there is a lot of work. And I want to continue with blessings. Please bless me to continue reading.

Ksenia

Hello, Ksenia! You've got something wrong. The blessing for reading akathists should be taken not on the website, but from the priest in the temple. You can recommend something through the Internet, but the Grace of God can only be received in church. Therefore, you can be blessed when you come to church. God help you!

Priest Vladimir Shlykov

Hello! I decided that I would read the akathist to Spyridon of Trimythous for 40 days. I read it for 3 days, on day 4 I didn’t have the opportunity to do it, I missed one day. I'm very worried about this. What should I do now? Is it possible to continue, or should I start over?

Printed italics the explanations are not readable.

The reading of the canons and akathists separately from the morning and evening prayer rules must be done, asking for blessings, after the “beginning of the seven-veneration”:

B O God, be merciful to me, a sinner (bow).
B O God, cleanse me, a sinner, and have mercy on me (bow).
WITH Thou hast rewarded me, Lord, have mercy on me (bow).
B Beyond the number of sinners, Lord, forgive me (bow).
IN my lady, Most Holy Theotokos, save me a sinner (bow).
A My holy Guardian Angel, save me from all evil (bow).
WITH holy apostle ( or martyr, or reverend father, the name of the rivers), pray to God for me (bow).

Then:
M Through the prayers of the saints, our fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.
WITH Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us

(three times, with the sign of the cross and bows from the waist).
WITH
P Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse our sins. Master, forgive our iniquities. WITH Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
G Lord have mercy (three times).
WITH Lava to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
ABOUT our dear, who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done as it is in Heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
G Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
Amen.
G Lord have mercy (12 times).
WITH Lava to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
P come, let us worship our God the King (bow).
P Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ our King God (bow).
P Come, let us bow and fall before Christ Himself, our King and God (bow).

Psalm 50.

P have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your mercies, cleanse my iniquity. Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my iniquity and bear away my sin before me. I have sinned against You alone, and I have created evil before You, so that You may be justified in Your words and overcome, never judge You. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. Behold, Thou hast loved the truth, Thou hast revealed to me Thy unknown and secret wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Give joy and gladness to my hearing; humble bones will rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins, and cleanse all my iniquities. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Reward me with the joy of Your salvation, and strengthen me with the Master’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked Your way, and the wicked will turn to You. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise. As if you had wanted sacrifices, you would have given burnt offerings, but you would not have been pleased. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a contrite and humble heart, God will not despise. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then you will be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, the wave offering and the burnt offering, then they will lay the bullock on Your altar.

Symbol of faith

IN I believe in One God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible. And in the One Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, Who was born of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, true God from true God, born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were. For our sake, man and our salvation came down from heaven and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became human. She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried. And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And again the coming one will be judged with glory by the living and the dead, His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giving One, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets. Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I hope for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the next century. Amen.

Then the canon and (or) akathist are read.

Upon completion of the reading of the canon - a prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ or the Mother of God, a saint - according to the meaning of the canon and akathist. Then:

D It is fitting that You are truly blessed, Theotokos, Ever-Blessed and Most Immaculate and Mother of Our God.

H The most natural Cherub and the Most Glorious without comparison Seraphim, who gave birth to God the Word without corruption, the real Mother of God, we magnify You.

WITH Lava to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

G Lord have mercy ( three times).

At the end, you should make the same bows as at the beginning.

Canon called a prayer sequence in honor of a holiday or saint, consisting of 9 songs written in the image of the so-called. "prophetic songs" or "songs of the Holy Scriptures". In fact, there are 8 songs in the canon, because... the second is sung only on special occasions (usually during Lent). Each hymn consists of an irmos and troparia. Irmos(Greek connection) is the first stanza of the song, which sets the musical tone for all the rest (in ancient times all canons were sung), and also connects the canon in meaning with the corresponding prophetic song. However, it is not necessary to read the irmos at a prayer service, so sometimes it is given in abbreviation - only the initial words. Tropari- all subsequent stanzas of the song. Usually there are 4-5 of them, although in some cases there may be more. Before each troparion, a chorus (chorus) corresponding to the given canon is read (usually indicated at the beginning of the canon). If the chorus is not specified, we read the choruses according to the following rule:
To the festive canons of the Lord:
WITH Lava to You, our God, glory to You.
TO prayer canons to the Lord:
M O merciful Lord, hear the prayers of Your servants who pray to You.
TO Canons of the Most Holy Theotokos:
P Holy Mother of God, save us.
TO canons of saints:
WITH holy prophet or martyr or saint (name of the rivers), pray to God for us.
To the penultimate troparion of the song the chorus:
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit- often abbreviated Glory:
To the last one: And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen- abbreviated as And now:

Akathist(Greek bareback) consists of 25 stanzas, which, according to their meaning, are combined in pairs into links consisting of short kontakia and more extensive ikos. Ikos contains up to 12 greetings - cheretisms, starting with the word "rejoice" (Greek - here). The last, 25th stanza, is a prayerful appeal to the glorified, read three times.

How to read the akathist correctly? After the akathist, a prayer is read. How to read akathists - out loud or silently, in a chant, in what order? Then the akathist itself is read, three times the thirteenth kontakion, the first ikos and the first kontakion. Tell me, please, is it possible to just read akathists to different saints every day or every other day?

An akathist is a song of praise in honor of the Savior, the Mother of God, saints or any holidays (events). Any akathist consists of 25 songs (in accordance with the Greek alphabet). It is because of this that ikos is never read independently, but only after reading the kontakion. Akathists in honor of holidays are sometimes read at Matins of a festive service or at a prayer service on the very day of the holiday.

This is how the order of reading the Paraklisis of the Mother of God developed, where at the prayer service after the sixth song of the canon, an akathist to the Mother of God (or to her icons) is read. But a rule can be deduced from general church practice: during the period of Great Lent it is not customary to read akathists, except for the Akathist to the Mother of God on the 5th week (on Saturday) and the Akathist to the Passion of Christ.

The akathist itself has a special sequence. At the end of the akathist, a prayer is read. Akathist to the Intercession of the Most Holy TheotokosThe icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos depicts an event that took place at the end of the 10th century in Constantinople. Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of Her icon “Quench My Sorrows” On the icon, the Mother of God seems to listen to the prayers of believers who resort to Her in their needs, sorrows and sorrows.

Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of Her icon “Softening Evil Hearts” Read to soften evil hearts and pacify those at war. Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of Her “Healer” icon. The image comes from Georgia and received its name from the miraculous healing given to a seriously ill person when the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him.

Reading akathists during the week

Akathist to the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Daniel, the Moscow Wonderworker With covetousness, love and brotherly love, he elevated Moscow and laid the foundation for the unification of Rus' into a single powerful power. Akathist to the Righteous Saint John of Kronstadt In childhood, the saint is right. John had trouble reading and writing, and after fervent prayer, it was as if a veil fell from the boy’s eyes, and he began to read. Akathist to the Holy Wonderworker John the WarriorSaint John the Warrior, sent to persecute and kill Christians, provided great help to the persecuted.

Akathist to Saint Nicholas Saint Nicholas, one of the most revered saints in Rus', was glorified by God for the gift of miracles and healings. Akathist to the holy great martyr and healer Panteleimon He dedicated his entire life to the suffering, sick and wretched. Akathist to the Holy Great Martyr BarbaraThe saint asked the Lord that everyone repent and receive communion before their death.

Akathist to the holy righteous Godfather Joachim and Anna. These saints bore bitter barrenness until their old age, then, with the blessing of God, they gave birth to the Most Holy Theotokos. Come, let us bow down and bow down to Christ our King God (bow). And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.

When reading an akathist or canon in private (at home), the usual beginning and end of prayers are used. The same usual beginning and ending are found in morning prayers. Hello, please tell me, according to a legend prevailing among the Orthodox people, the akathist “Quick to Hear” should be read 40 times for a cancer patient - is this true? But to think that this happens depending on the number of akathists read is wrong.

Akathists to the icons of the Mother of God

I was advised to read a prayer to Spyridon of Trimifutsky and the Akathist, I started reading, they say it helps. I didn’t take the priest’s blessing because I didn’t know it was necessary! I read every day. Am I doing the right thing and what akathists should I still read? Victor, you can read these prayers boldly and without blessing; there is nothing special or impermissible for a Christian here. Olga, akathists can be read an unlimited number of days, as much as you wish.

Is it possible to receive a priest’s blessing to read this akathist in absentia? Irina, to read the akathist you had to take a blessing right away, in the temple. In this case, you would pray not relying only on your own strength, but with God’s help. On the Internet there is an Akathist to St. Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg performed by a church choir. How should you listen to him correctly, what should you do before him?

After all, reading the akathist belongs to cell prayers, that is, home prayers

Although, it is best, of course, to read the Akathist to St. blzh. Ksenia on her own. Galina, if you are going to read the akathist loudly and publicly in church, then the blessing of the abbot is, of course, mandatory.

Valery, the akathist can be read at any time of the day, whenever you want. First, the opening prayers are read, then the akathist itself. But I doubt it, I found out that reading akathists requires a blessing! Why do you turn akathists into a love spell, do you expect such a return from them?! Why do akathists end with kontakion 13, no more and no less? Read it, you will learn a lot of new things; by the way, it says that the number of ikos and kontakia is determined historically and is associated with the way of musical performance of akathists in ancient times.

Before reading the akathist, you must read all the initial prayers

Why? And the second question: I am very much in love with a man who is 12 years younger than me. Anastasia, the Gospel says: “Ask and you will receive.” Without any doubt, you can pray to these Saints, even if you do not have their icon. God help you.

An akathist is the same prayer book, and you can read it as much as you like, whenever you want. It often happens that a person takes on an unbearable burden, and as a result he has spiritual problems. If you pray obediently and with blessings, then such problems can be avoided. If at the moment you do not have the opportunity to get to the temple, you can read the akathist, and when you are in the temple, tell the priest about it and take the blessing.

Sometimes, just like that, looking at an icon of a saint, you want to read an akathist. Hello, Allah! You can read akathists if you wish, but it is still better to take a blessing for this so as not to act arbitrarily. You can read the Psalter for the departed, litia for the laity, there is a prayer for the departed in the morning rule in the prayer book. And, of course, the main thing is prayer in church during the Liturgy, commemoration of the baptized departed at Proskomedia. An akathist is a very complex chant that glorifies Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, a specific saint, or some Christian holiday.

There are no special instructions in the Charter for reading akathists in church and during cell (home) prayer. Is it possible to read the akathist at home? Certainly. What should I do, continue reading the akathist? On all other days of the year, reading akathists is permitted. Tell me, please, was it necessary to take a blessing from the priest in order to read the akathist? Tell me how to correctly read the akathist to Saint Spyridon, how many days the akathist is read, and is it necessary to take a blessing from the priest?

Among the variety of genres of church hymnography, there is one that deserves special attention because it is inextricably linked with services in honor of church holidays, so beloved by everyone, and the days of remembrance of various saints. We will talk about akathists - thanksgiving singing in honor of the saints of God or the events of biblical history. Let's try to figure out what akathists are and what their history is.

Features of this genre

This word itself is translated from Greek as “unsaddled song,” that is, a chant that is prescribed to be performed while standing. Of course, it is impossible to even imagine that in an Orthodox church it would occur to someone while sitting to perform, for example, an akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. But the fact is that this name came to us from the first centuries of Christianity, and in those distant years the order of services was different. Among the Old Believers, this term sounds differently - they say “akafisto”.

Speaking about what akathists are in their modern form, one cannot fail to emphasize their main difference from the ancient kontakia - the presence of “hairetisms”. This is the name given to repeated repetitions of laudatory epithets, accompanied by the exclamation: “Rejoice!” For example, the akathist to the Mother of God in the Russian translation contains the following words: “Rejoice, you through whom joy has shone; Rejoice, she through whom the ancient curse was lifted from us!” and so on. This is an essential feature that gives this form a unique originality. If we look at the akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, we will see exactly the same picture.

Structural requirements

In accordance with established tradition, the akathist contains twenty-five songs, and their arrangement corresponds to the order of the letters of the Greek alphabet. Among them are thirteen “kontakia”—short hymns of praise—and twelve “ikos”—long, lengthy verses. Each kontakion ends with the word “Hallelujah,” which translated from Hebrew means: “Praise God.” At the end of each ikos there is an exclamation: “Rejoice!”

The Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker, for example, contains at the end of each of the kontakia the phrase: “Rejoice, Nicholas, great wonderworker!”, and its ikos starting with the word “Rejoice!” and list all the good qualities of the saint’s soul, as well as the godly deeds performed by him. In addition, a characteristic compositional feature of the genre is the indispensable condition of ending each ikos with the same words that appear at the end of the first kontakion, and ending all subsequent kontakia with the exclamation “Hallelujah.” This rule can also be illustrated by the akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, or any other one from their huge list.

Some historical information

For quite a long time, Russian Orthodox hymnography knew only the akathist to the Mother of God, and only in relation to it was the term that interests us used. He was also known as "The Great". It was its form that served as the blueprint for the creation of all subsequent works of this kind. This akathist to the Mother of God, according to researchers, was written no later than the 6th century, and its authorship is attributed to Saint Roman the Sweet Singer, which, however, has no documentary evidence.

We can only say with complete confidence that the time of its creation occupies the period between the third and fourth Ecumenical Councils. Proof of this can be the reliably known date of composition of the beginning of “The Mounted Voivode...” - 626. This part of the work is also called “proimy”, which translated into Russian means “hood”, or, in the church, “kukuliy”.

Reflection of real events

Later, numerous hymns of praise were written, such as an akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Holy Trinity and many others, but the peculiarity of the first of them, created to glorify the Mother of God, is that its proimium (introductory part) is a later addition associated with an important historical event - the siege of Constantinople in 626 by the Slavs and their allies the Avars.

The Queen of Heaven miraculously saved the capital of Byzantium from mortal danger, in honor of which a new introductory part was added to the previously created akathist. Subsequently, akathists were often written to saints in connection with certain historical events or striking facts from their earthly life. This was part of the writing tradition. In other words, what are akathists if not a reflection of real reality, separated from us by a time interval?

Byzantine patriarch-poets

Experts attribute the writing of hymns based on the Mother of God scheme to the end of the Byzantine era. The later works of this genre are associated with the names of the Patriarchs of Constantinople Isidore Vouhiras and Philotheus Kokkin. The akathists they wrote became widespread in the Slavic lands. Among them, one of the most famous is the akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. In addition, in Orthodox churches, hymns of praise written by them are often heard: to John the Baptist, Archangel Michael, the Cross of the Lord and many others.

Hymnographic creativity of modern times

In Russia, writing akathists became widespread in the 19th century. Documents have been preserved indicating that by the beginning of 1901, the ecclesiastical department had approved one hundred and fifty-eight works of this genre for publication, and rejected more than three hundred. Nowadays, when after many decades of fighting against God, the Orthodox Church again takes its rightful place in society, there is also a creative upsurge in this area. Every year at least forty new works appear from the pens of church authors. This genre is becoming a favorite among newly converted church members, although many of them are learning for the first time what akathists are.

Speaking about the use of works of this genre in liturgical practice, it should be noted that the Church Charter mentions only one - the Great Akathist, which was discussed above. It is read on the fifth Saturday of Lenten. On this day the Feast of the Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated. It is customary to include other akathists in prayers and other various services. The church also blesses their reading at home during cell prayers.