The Akathist to St. Alexis, Carpatho-Russian Confessor, is a prayer that helps believers approach this great saint, known for his profound understanding of God’s love and his ability to assist those suffering from sin and ignorance.
Troparion, Tone 8
Having loved the truth with all thy heart, thou didst patiently endure the manifold sufferings, and didst bring the blessing of the Holy Mountain of Athos to Russia, and didst revive Orthodoxy in the land of Zakarpattia, O blessed Father Alexius, pray to Christ God to root out discord and to grant us peace and great mercy.
Kondak, Tone 4
We venerate the star of the Carpathians, which shone forth with radiant light and was likened to the Apostle, our God-bearing Father Alexius, who loved Orthodoxy and led his people back to the true faith. We, too, shall thank him with joy: Rejoice, O mighty light of the Carpathian Rus’.
Kondak 1
Chosen by the wise providence of God to be the reviver of the Holy Orthodox Faith, and having been elevated to the rank of a holy monk, thou didst zealously labour in the dissemination of the faith of our ancestors in the land of the Carpathians. For this reason, we, thy later descendants, call upon thee from the heart:
Rejoice, O venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Icos 1
Having foreordained thee, O Father Alexius, from thy earliest youth to be a preacher of the saving Orthodox faith among our people, and having freed thee from the bondage of Latinism, but drawing thee to the Orthodox Eastern confession, thou didst serve the conversion and salvation of many. For this reason, we cry out to thee with boldness:
Rejoice, O one who from thy youth loved Christ with all thy heart;
Rejoice, O one who from thy earliest life served the One God.
Rejoice, O one whose spirit was enkindled by fervent prayer;
Rejoice, O one who in thy youth showed the image of the holy life.
Rejoice, O one whose good deeds bring joy to the faithful;
Rejoice, O one who from thy earliest years was beloved by God.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Kondak 2
Seeing thy father lying on his deathbed, thou didst alleviate his bodily and spiritual sufferings, O blessed one, and didst comfort him with thy fervent prayer and words, and didst show him honour, according to the commandment of the Lord. And we, taught by thee to fulfill the commandments of God, sing to the Creator of heaven and earth:
Alleluia
Ikos 2
Thy mind, enlightened by God, hath understood, O all-honorable one, that piety is the greatest of all things, and that thou hast striven to enrich thy soul with it, learning from the Law of the Lord.
Rejoice, O gentle follower of Jesus;
rejoice, O zealous fulfiller of the Lord’s commandments.
Rejoice, O humble imitator of Christ;
rejoice, O fervent advocate of the angelic life.
Rejoice, O zealous defender of piety;
rejoice, O radiant beacon of Orthodoxy.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls;
Kondak 1
By the power of the Most High, we have been guided to direct thy footsteps to the wise and prophetic Elder Archadius, that he might instruct thee in the path of virtue.
And having received the desired blessing, thou didst sing a hymn of praise to the Lord, who doth arrange all things for good: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Thou hadst a good desire, O blessed one, to preserve thy virginity and to be united with the Orthodox Church, to endure hardships and struggles for the salvation of thy own immortal soul and the souls of those around thee.
Rejoice, O faithful teacher of godliness;
rejoice, O guardian of the purity of soul and body.
Rejoice, O bold preacher of Orthodoxy;
rejoice, O one who hath turned many to sincere faith through the fiery power of thy preaching.
Rejoice, O mighty sword of truth, who hast opposed the world;
rejoice, O one who hast endured many sufferings for this cause.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls;
Kondak 4
Thy soul, O most glorious Father, was not shaken by the storm of persecutions and afflictions, but, firmly established in the truth of the path thou hadst chosen for salvation, thou didst continually sing to God:
Alleluia
Ikos 4
Having heard the account of the lives of the ancient ascetics, how they, instructed and strengthened by the Lord, applied themselves to labors for the sake of labors, thou didst strive to emulate them, O venerable Father, spending thy days and nights in prayer and preparing thyself for the struggles ahead.
Rejoice, O one who hast taken upon thyself many labors for the sake of truth, like the apostles;
rejoice, O one who hast been worthy of the name of apostle of Orthodoxy in the land of the Carpathians.
Rejoice, O blessed one, who hast contended for the salvation of many;
rejoice, O one who hast sought not thine own interests, but those of thy neighbor.
Rejoice, O unshakeable pillar of apostolic traditions;
rejoice, O good shepherd of Christ’s flock.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls;
Condak 5
O Star of God, guiding the Magi to the Christ Child born in Bethlehem, lead me to the holy city of Jerusalem, that I may offer thee worship and prayer. Thou, O thou who dost praise God for this great mercy, didst sing:
Alleluia
Icos 5
Beholding thy holy zeal for the true faith, brethren of the Panteleimon Monastery, thou didst receive the icon of the Mother of God, “Akathist”, that it might be thy patron and protector for all. For this reason, we call to thee:
Rejoice, thou who hast come to the Holy Mountain of Athos, the inheritance of the Mother of God;
Rejoice, thou who hast been joyfully met by the brethren of the Panteleimon Monastery.
Rejoice, thou who hast been united to the Holy Orthodox Church;
Rejoice, for thy heart’s desire hath been fulfilled.
Rejoice, thou who hast received the icon of the Mother of God “Akathist” from the brethren of Athos, as a blessing for our land;
Rejoice, for with this icon and many other Orthodox holy things, thou hast returned to thy homeland.
Rejoice, venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Condak 6
Thou wast a preacher of the Orthodox faith and piety until the end of thy earthly life, venerable Father, continually asking for help from the Queen of Heaven, praying before the wondrous icon “Akathist”, and it is through this icon that we are enabled to sing:
Alleluia
Icos 6
A great and pure gift of God shone forth in thee, venerable Father Alexius, at thy ordination as a hieromonk, that thou mightest perform the sacred mysteries of the Church. For this reason, the people of the Carpathian land rejoiced, calling to thee:
Rejoice, thou who hast received the angelic form;
Rejoice, thou who hast been counted among the heavenly powers.
Rejoice, thou who hast been endowed with the gift of the angelic form at the reception of the priesthood;
Rejoice, thou who hast been a reverent celebrant of the sacred mysteries.
Rejoice, thou who hast been a zealous leader at the Holy Table;
Rejoice, thou who hast been a constant intercessor for thy people before God.
Rejoice, venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Condak 7
Although the merciful Lord hath revealed in thee a new vessel of His grace, He hath sent thee to our sorrowful people, that thou mightest enlighten and sanctify them through the sacred mysteries, which thou hast zealously performed, singing to God:
Alleluia
Ikos 7
When the Lord God revealed to the world the new confessor, the impious bound the innocent man with chains and led him to prison. The Orthodox people, beholding this, were filled with great sorrow, crying out to thee thus:
Rejoice, for thou didst endure bonds and a dungeon with courage, as a witness to the Christian faith;
Rejoice, for thou didst follow the example of the holy martyrs.
Rejoice, for thou didst emulate their confession;
Rejoice, for thou didst conquer the devil with thy patience.
Rejoice, for in thy preaching thou didst resemble the Apostle Andrew, the First-Called;
Rejoice, for thou didst glorify the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Methodius and Cyril as a worthy imitator.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Kondak 8
Thou didst pass through the earthly journey in glory, O blessed Father, proclaiming the word of Christ to men and calling all to repentance, that, having repented of their sins, they might sing to Christ God with a pure heart:
All-hail!
Ikos 8
Thou didst burn with heart-felt love for God and men, and didst not spare thy bodily and spiritual energies for the proclamation of the divine word and the revival of the Orthodox faith among our people. We, being grateful, humbly entreat thee thus:
Rejoice, O venerable Father Alexius, lamp of Orthodoxy;
Rejoice, thou who art filled with the virtues of the holy confessor and the truth.
Rejoice, for thou didst have a great zeal for the revival of the Orthodox faith;
Rejoice, for thou didst become a partaker of the company of the holy confessor-martyrs.
Rejoice, O good pastor, who art ready to lay down thy life for thy flock;
Rejoice, for thou didst protect thy flock from the ferocious wolves.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Kondak 9
Thou didst endure all sorts of afflictions and troubles from the impious, O much-suffering Father, but nothing could separate thee from the love of God. And, having endured all these sufferings by the grace of Christ, thou didst continually hymn Him:
All-hail!
Ikos 9
The cunning vices cannot comprehend the truth of the Orthodox faith, nor can they grasp its saving powers, for they have fallen away from the One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church in their pride. We, as children of God, being taught by thee, O Father Alexius, we extol thee with these praises:
Rejoice, thou who art an unquenchable lamp of Orthodoxy;
Rejoice, thou who art a blessed ornament of our people.
Rejoice, for thou hast been crowned with the wreath of confession by Christ;
Rejoice, for thou hast been glorified by His Church.
Rejoice, for thou hast transferred thyself from the lamentable Jerusalem on high to the Kingdom of Heaven;
Rejoice, for thy body hath been glorified without corruption on earth.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Condak 10
Save us, O Lord, from false teachings and heresies, for thou didst bear the labors of the apostles, preaching the word of God’s truth everywhere and teaching all to worship God in the Orthodox manner:
Alluia
Icos 10
Thou wert a strong and unshakeable bulwark to thy people, O venerable father, praying ceaselessly to the Lord, that He might look upon His people and establish in them the right faith. We, however, in glorifying thy labors and exploits, cry out to thee with fervent zeal:
Rejoice, firm establishment of Orthodoxy;
rejoice, shining light of the Gospel.
Rejoice, rule of faith and piety;
rejoice, vigilant intercessor for us before God.
Rejoice, most excellent teacher of Christian perfection;
rejoice, ever-present helper in the trials of life.
Rejoice, venerable father Alexis, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Condak 11
All manner of song is vanquished by the countless labors of thy life, O venerable father Alexis. Who, born of the earth, shall extol thy life of manifold toil, thy sacred exploits, thy humility, thy ceaseless prayer, and thy genuine love, whereby thou hast merited to sing with all the blessed the eternal hymn:
Alluia
Icos 11
Thou didst appear as a radiant lamp, O all-blessed father, dispelling the darkness of unbelief and enmity in our land with the light of the faith of Christ, and for this reason we hymn thee:
Rejoice, despiser of worldly glory, as fleeting;
rejoice, one who, for Christ’s sake, hath accepted spiritual poverty.
Rejoice, beautiful flower of Orthodoxy;
rejoice, illuminator of the darkness of our souls with thy radiance.
Rejoice, participant in apostolic service;
rejoice, one who stirrest thy heart with zeal for the Orthodox faith.
Rejoice, venerable father Alexis, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Condak 12
A special grace from the Lord was given to thee when thou wert approaching the blessed end of thy earthly life, O venerable father, and thou didst receive the angelic form, that thou mightest sing with the heavenly choirs the hymn to God:
Alluia
Ikos 12
We sing the apostolic labors and deeds of you, blessed one, and we extol your blessed end, glorifying your praise in the likeness of the blessed confessors of Christ, and standing before your most sacred relics, we spiritually rejoice, for we have a new intercessor and advocate before God, crying out to you thus:
Rejoice, inheritor of the Heavenly Kingdom;
Rejoice, for you behold the glory of God face to face.
Rejoice, companion of all the saints;
Rejoice, for you intercede for us sinners before God.
Rejoice, for with your uncorrupted relics you manifest wonders on earth;
Rejoice, for you grant a blessed aid to all who come to you.
Rejoice, venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Kondak 13
O blessed one, newly glorified Father Alexius, preacher of Orthodoxy and guide of piety, accept from us, sinful and unworthy ones, this small prayer and ask the All-Merciful God to strengthen the Holy Church and protect it from heresies, schisms, and disturbances, and to grant us all to remain in true faith until our last breath, that we may uninterruptedly hymn our Savior with a pure heart: Alleluia.
This kondak is read three times,
and again:
Ikos 1
Having foreordained you to be a preacher of the saving Orthodox faith among our people, and having chosen you from childhood to be a guide of the Latin people, who were bound by the yoke of error, but were drawn to the Orthodox and Eastern confession, you served as a zealous defender and guardian of the true faith, and for this reason, we cry out to you with boldness:
Rejoice, one who from youth loved Christ with all your heart;
Rejoice, for you have served the One God from the beginning of your life.
Rejoice, for your spirit was enkindled by fervent prayer;
Rejoice, for in your youth you showed the image of the holy life.
Rejoice, for your piety has made you a true joy to the faithful;
Rejoice, for from childhood you have been beloved by God.
Rejoice, venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Kondak 1
Chosen by the wise Providence of God to be the reviver of the Holy Orthodox faith, and having been elevated to the rank of a hieromonk, you zealously labored in the spread of the faith of our ancestors in the Carpathian Rus’. For this reason, we, your later descendants, call out to you from the heart:
Rejoice, venerable Father Alexius, glorious confessor of Christ and intercessor for our souls.
Molitva prepodobnomu Aleksiia, Karpatoruskomu ispovedniku
O sacred head, venerable Father Alexius, we know that you had great boldness in prayer before the Lord, standing before the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity. Look upon us, sinful and unworthy children of yours, who now come to you and pray with fervor: ask the Lord to grant us the resolve to acquire the piety of our ancestors, which you acquired from your youth. You were a zealous defender and guardian of the true faith in your life, help us to unshakeably preserve the Orthodox faith. Your soul was greatly perfected in divine humility, teach us to cultivate our reason with humble knowledge of the will of God, not with human wisdom, but with the humility of the knowledge of God. O servant of God, do not despise us, who pray to you, for we do not ask only for deliverance from troubles and afflictions, but also for strength and firmness, for magnanimity and love, that we may endure these trials without complaining. Ask for us unshakeable patience even until the end of our life, peace with the Lord, and forgiveness of sins. O holy Father, calm the storms of heresy and