The Akathist to the Zimniy Icon of the Mother of God is a prayer read before the miraculous icon located in the Zimniy Monastery. This prayer helps devotees focus on the importance of prayer and veneration of the Mother of God, as well as to ask for her intercession and protection.
Kondak 1
We offer thee, O Most Exalted Commander, our Lady the Mother of God, warm intercessor of the land of Volhynia, a hymn of thanksgiving, before thy immaculate image. Thou, O Queen of Heaven and Earth, receive our supplications, that we may call to thee:
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Consolation and Comfort of Zimno and all Orthodox Christians.
Icos 1
The angelic choirs hymn thee, O Mother of God, in a manner befitting thy glory, for thou hast received the gift of God’s grace and hast given birth to the Divine Word, and hast not left us in thy Dormition, O Most Holy Maiden. Receive also our unworthy supplications on this mountain, that we may humbly cry to thee thus:
Rejoice, O Obedience of the Father without beginning;
Rejoice, O Dwelling-place of the Divine Word;
Rejoice, O Enfolding of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, O Ornament of True Orthodoxy;
Rejoice, O Fountain flowing from the Rock;
Rejoice, O Zimno, Transformed by Thy Own Grace;
Rejoice, O Volhynian Diadem, dear to me;
Rejoice, O Crown of Grace, wondrous and divine;
Rejoice, O Dawn of the Divine Sun;
Rejoice, O Dew of Mercy, nourishing us;
Rejoice, O Fountain, Enriching the Desert;
Rejoice, O Ark of the Divine Grace;
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Consolation and Comfort of Zimno and all Orthodox Christians.
Kondak 2
Thy holy image, O Most Holy Mother of God, was given to this monastery by the equal-to-the-apostles Prince Vladimir, and he beseeches thee to bless this Holy Mountain, and to provide for himself a dwelling-place here, that he may pray unceasingly:
Alleluia
Icos 2
Grant us, O Mother of God, to know thy presence on this Holy Mountain, as thou dost manifest thy wonders and aid through thy icon, and hear our supplications, for a thousand years Orthodox Christians have hymned thee thus:
Rejoice, O Sun, Illuminating the Darkness of Paganism;
Rejoice, O Firm and Unshakeable Meadow of Orthodox Lands;
Rejoice, O Field, Nourishing our Salvation;
Rejoice, O Enlightener of the Zimno Monastery;
Rejoice, O Righteous One, Softening the Wrath of God;
Rejoice, O Comforter of our Sorrows, by thy Prayer;
Rejoice, O Intercessor of ours before God;
Rejoice, O Destroyer of Human Enmity;
Rejoice, O Helper in Times of Need;
Rejoice, O Ornament of Virgin Chastity;
Rejoice, O Swift Deliverance from Harm;
Rejoice, O Ladder, Leading us to Heaven;
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Consolation and Comfort of Zimno and all Orthodox Christians.
Condak 3
Beholding the gracious power in Thy icon, O Theotokos, Patriarch of Constantinople, when Thou didst bless the union of Princess Anna with the illustrious Prince Vladimir, Thou didst manifest Thy grace unto the people of Volhynia, that they might sing unto God:
Alluia
Icos 3
Having Thy wondrous icon, as a blessing of the sacrament of marriage, and the life of the equal-to-the-apostles Prince Vladimir, Thou didst attract the grace of the monastery and his palace in Zimno, and the righteous people do cry unto Thee, O Theotokos:
Rejoice, O Patriarchal blessing foreseen;
Rejoice, O Princess Anna, Guide of Russia;
Rejoice, O Blessing of the Grand Ducal Marriage;
Rejoice, Thou who didst convert the thorns of paganism into the gardens of Christ;
Rejoice, Thou who dost protect our country;
Rejoice, Thou who art a strong Guardian of family ties;
Rejoice, Thou who art a good Educator of youth;
Rejoice, Thou who art a warm Refuge of the solitary;
Rejoice, Thou who dost grant wisdom to those who ask;
Rejoice, Thou who dost bring the pure and sinless to the heavenly habitations;
Rejoice, Thou who art a precious stone of faith;
Rejoice, Thou who art the foundation of the ancient monastery;
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Refuge and Comfort of Zimno Monastery and of all the Orthodox.
Condak 4
When the storm of many troubles assailed them, the holy hierarchs of Volhynia, Stephen and Amphilochius, fled to Thy wondrous icon, O Theotokos, and the venerable fathers Antony and Varlaam of the Kiev Caves, the venerable Moses of Ugria, and the igumen Niphon of Zimno, the illustrious archbishop of Novgorod, did offer due praise unto Thee, and, under Thy gracious protection, didst remain, ceaselessly singing unto God, Alluia.
Icos 4
Having heard of Thy wonders, O Theotokos, and beholding Thy church, as the ark of Noah, and Thy icon, as a radiant dawn, which hath enlightened this Holy Mountain, we do offer repentance unto Thy Son and our God, and, with tears of compunction, do cry unto Thee:
Rejoice, Thou who art the Hope of the hopeless;
Rejoice, Thou who art the unshakeable Pillar of a thousand years;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Volhynian Cup, unscathed;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Ark of Christ, unsinkable;
Rejoice, Thou who art the warm Lamp of the faithful;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Seed of our faith;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Light of our Mother;
Rejoice, Thou who dost hold the divine Fire, unquenchable;
Rejoice, Thou who dost comfort our sorrows;
Rejoice, Thou who dost enrich us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, Thou who art our hope in the hour of death;
Rejoice, Thou who art the glory of our ancestors;
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Refuge and Comfort of Zimno Monastery and of all the Orthodox.
Condak 5
By the divine providence of God, the star of the Volhynian land beheld Your icon, O Most Holy Theotokos, and the venerable inhabitants of the ancient monastery, especially the blessed Iosaph and Basil, bishops of Vladimir, proclaimed the saving faith, singing to God:
All-hail!
Icos 5
Beholding Your immaculate icon, O Most Holy Theotokos, as a font of heavenly manna, people ran to You, and receiving their petition, they adorned Your countenance with worthy gifts, which silently proclaim Your wonders, O Mother of God, and teach us to pray thus:
Rejoice, O boundless grace manifesting itself here;
Rejoice, surpassing the sun in warmth;
Rejoice, healing the wounds and diseases of sin;
Rejoice, healing the afflictions of those in distress;
Rejoice, comforting those who await Your mercy;
Rejoice, fulfilling the good intentions of those who pray to You;
Rejoice, reviving the stony heart;
Rejoice, making the desert of unbelief fertile;
Rejoice, pointing out the heavenly gates;
Rejoice, revealing the beauty of Eden;
Rejoice, visibly extending Your hand of help;
Rejoice, giving us Your icon, a precious pearl;
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Refuge and Comfort of the Zimneńskaya monastery and of all the Orthodox;
Condak 6
You revealed Yourself as a preacher of the divine grace, O Most Holy Theotokos, when, in the time of the Latin captivity, through Your wondrous icon, You punished the impious and sacrilegious man with blindness, who did not know how to pray to God:
All-hail!
Icos 6
You shone forth miraculously, O Most Holy Maiden, hearing the prayers of Your faithful children, when the Latins were removing the heads from the church, and Your holy image was being dishonored, and You deprived the leaders and their descendants of sight, so that in humility they might sing to You thus:
Rejoice, O lofty humility;
Rejoice, O swift and mighty power;
Rejoice, delivering the faithful from affliction;
Rejoice, putting the wicked to shame;
Rejoice, quickly driving away the enemies;
Rejoice, teaching us patience;
Rejoice, sending joy in times of sorrow and affliction;
Rejoice, extending Your hand of help to the faithful;
Rejoice, being the scepter of God’s guidance;
Rejoice, being the swift answer of the faithful;
Rejoice, being the unshakeable stronghold of the Orthodox;
Rejoice, being the rising of the humble and the downfall of the proud;
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Refuge and Comfort of the Zimneńskaya monastery and of all the Orthodox;
Condak 7
Although we desire to establish our land of Volhynia in the true faith, You have revealed Your grace, O Mother of God, in Your wondrous icons, and in the Zimneńskaya icon, which is the most ancient witness to the baptism of the equal-to-the-apostles Vladimir, so that, embracing You with prayer, we may receive the streams of healing blessings, and sing to God:
Alleluia
Icos 7
The Zimneńskaya monastery has undergone new trials and tribulations, when, having been torn away by the Latin heresy, it was, however, restored to the Orthodox faith after one hundred and thirteen years, so that it might worthily sing to You:
Rejoice, unshakeable stronghold of Orthodoxy;
Rejoice, provider of blessings to those who ask You;
Rejoice, unmerited Guide;
Rejoice, Comforter of those who suffer from bitter sorrows;
Rejoice, strict Teacher of those who have strayed;
Rejoice, loving Mother and Instructor;
Rejoice, Hope and Correction of those who have fallen;
Rejoice, correction of obstinate heresy;
Rejoice, warm intercession for the faithful;
Rejoice, Intercessor for the blessed repose;
Rejoice, Tabernacle of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, Mother of God, Zimneńskaya monastery, and all Orthodox, Refuge and Consolation.
Condak 8
We are strangers and travelers on earth, O Most Holy Mistress, and, having nowhere to lay our head, we flee to You, O Swift-to-hear and Guide, and our Hope, and we fall down before Your icons, as mirrors of heaven, sources of grace, especially the Zimneńskaya Patroness, singing to God:
Alleluia
Icos 8
All our hope is placed in You, O Mother of God, in times of tribulation, when this wondrous icon made the invisible visible and preserved it for the faithful, so that we might sing to You unceasingly:
Rejoice, unvanquished shield of our land;
Rejoice, impassable gates to our enemies;
Rejoice, terror of the impious;
Rejoice, blinding of the wicked;
Rejoice, peaceful consolation of the faithful;
Rejoice, strong aid to the Orthodox people;
Rejoice, unshakeable hope of those who desire salvation;
Rejoice, ancient monastery, renowned for its diadem;
Rejoice, tamer of our fierce passions;
Rejoice, resolver of our obstinacy and sloth;
Rejoice, wider than the clouds, Shelter of the world;
Rejoice, Restorer of churches and monasteries from the ashes;
Rejoice, Mother of God, Zimneńskaya monastery, and all Orthodox, Refuge and Consolation.
Condak 9
Thou hast not forgotten, O Theotokos, the Volhynian land, stretching out Thy hand of aid to those who have repented, and hast led them out of the darkness of sinful thoughts, and they cry out to Thee unceasingly, O God:
Alleluia
Icos 9
The many-faced vices cannot comprehend the worth of Thy mercies, O Most Holy Virgin, do not forsake us, O Mistress, deliver us from afflictions, diseases, and sorrows, that we may sing to Thee with joy:
Rejoice, Thou who art our Motherly Intercessor;
Rejoice, Thou who art our Good Inspirer;
Rejoice, Thou who art our Healer in afflictions and diseases;
Rejoice, Thou who art our Swift Listener in tribulations;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Comfort and Consolation of the afflicted;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Wonderful Renewer of our souls;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Deliverer from worldly needs;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Conqueror of the enemies of Orthodoxy;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Destroyer of heresies, like a spider’s web;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Ornament of our churches;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Transfiguration of the Volhynian land;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Mother of God, the Comfort and Consolation of Zimne, and of all Orthodox Christians.
Condak 10
Thou hast saved all those who were being overwhelmed by the waves of worldly passions, O Theotokos, by granting to the Orthodox people Thy wondrous icons, like heavenly lights, that they may sing to God unceasingly:
Alleluia
Icos 10
Thou art an unbreachable wall, a source of wonders, a staff that is anointed with oil – Thy icon, O Theotokos, has been a thousand years, like an unquenchable lamp, warming and enlightening the Volhynian land and all the lands, cities, and villages, and we praise Thee, O Immaculate One:
Rejoice, Thou who art the Torch that burns away the boldness of sin;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Gate that opens the heavens;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Ladder that leads to heaven;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Mirror of the eternal Light;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Scythe that cuts down heresies;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Unfailing Source of the faithful;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Ever-Fresh Spring;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Comforter of the aged;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Guide of the young;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Fountain of Love for monks;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Blessing of chaste marriages;
Rejoice, Thou who art the All-Merciful Mother;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Mother of God, the Comfort and Consolation of Zimne, and of all Orthodox Christians.
Condak 11
We hymn Thee, O Most Holy Theotokos, approaching Thy wondrous icon, which repels the evil winds and intentions of this world, and grant us Thy hand of assistance, covering us with Thy holy omophorion, that we may joyfully sing to God:
Alleluia
Icos 11
Thy icon, O Most Holy Theotokos, has appeared in the land of Volhynia, like a candle shining brightly, a mirror of God, a window of heaven, a fragrant incense, illuminating our souls with the light of the uncreated, O Most Holy Maiden, that we may learn to sing to Thee thus:
Rejoice, O Dawn, illuminating the path;
Rejoice, Thou who anointest us with the oil of mercy;
Rejoice, O Rod of the Eternal King;
Rejoice, Thou who dost terrify the foolish and the unwise;
Rejoice, O Zion’s Dwelling, warming many;
Rejoice, Thou who dost supply the needy and the rich;
Rejoice, Thou who art the unfailing Source of living water;
Rejoice, O Gentle Cloud, nourishing the earth;
Rejoice, Thou who art the fragrant Flower, delighting the soul;
Rejoice, O Tree of blessed fruit, upon which many are sheltered;
Rejoice, Thou who dost bestow the fruit of immortality;
Rejoice, Thou who art the firm Hope of those who pray;
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Refuge and Comfort of the Zimnen Monastery and of all the Orthodox.
Condak 12
O Unfathomable Treasury of Grace, Thy wondrous icons, O Most Holy Theotokos, in their light, the faithful are baptized, like those who were healed in Siloam, seeking healing and enlightenment. Awaken us, O Most Holy One, from the sleep of sin, open our eyes and mouths to pray to God:
Alleluia
Icos 12
As we sing of the wonders of Thy icon, O Most Holy Theotokos, hear our supplications, O Swift-Responding One, and assuage our sorrows, seek out the lost sheep, be our Savior, appear as the speedy joy of all who sorrow, loose our bonds of sinful ties, O Most Holy Maiden, hear our voices, singing thus:
Rejoice, Thou who dost teach us the Orthodox faith;
Rejoice, Thou who dost conquer the forces of evil;
Rejoice, O Ladder, leading us to heaven;
Rejoice, Thou who art our Joy and Comfort;
Rejoice, Thou who art the wonderful Mother of the monks;
Rejoice, Thou who dost heed the prayers of the faithful;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Illuminator of the ancient land;
Rejoice, Thou who art the blessing of the Volhynian monasteries;
Rejoice, Thou who art the Ark, sheltering us from the storms;
Rejoice, Thou who hast enriched us with Thy icon;
Rejoice, Thou who dost establish the Orthodox faith;
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Refuge and Comfort of the Zimnen Monastery and of all the Orthodox.
Kondak 13
O, All-Pure Mother, born of all the Holy Ones, the Most Holy Word, receive these humble prayers, offered to Thee, and do not remember our sins. By Thy prayers, fulfill our good desires, and do not deprive us of Thy grace, flowing from the icon. Enable us to sing to God without ceasing: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
This kondak is read three times, followed by the ikos 1st and kondak 1st.
Ikos 1
The angelic choirs magnificently hymn Thee, O Theotokos, for Thou hast received the blessing of God and hast given birth to the Divine Word, and hast not left us even in Thy Dormition, O Most Holy Maiden. Receive our unworthy prayers on this mountain, that we may humbly cry to Thee:
Rejoice, O Father of the Unbegotten, benevolence;
Rejoice, O vessel of the Divine Word;
Rejoice, O Enfolding of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, O ornament of true Orthodoxy;
Rejoice, O Fountain flowing from the Rock;
Rejoice, O Winter, transformed by Thy own grace;
Rejoice, O beloved Diademo of Volhynia;
Rejoice, O Crown of grace, wondrous and divine;
Rejoice, O Dawn of the Divine Sun;
Rejoice, O Dew of mercy, nourishing us;
Rejoice, O Source, making the desert fertile;
Rejoice, O Ark of the Divine Grace;
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Zimnen, and comfort and solace of all Orthodox;
Kondak 1
O, Thou, our Leader and Commander, O, our Lady, the Mother of God, warm intercessor of the land of Volhynia, we offer thanksgiving hymns to Thee, before Thy most pure image. Thou, O Queen of Heaven and Earth, receive our prayers, that we may cry to Thee:
Rejoice, O Mother of God, Zimnen, and comfort and solace of all Orthodox;
Mother of God Prayer
O, Most Holy Lady, Mother of God, Zimnen, the praise of the miraculous icon, warming the whole universe, calming the storm of heresy, freeing from troubles, and guiding to the peaceful harbor of the Kingdom of God. Hear us, O Most Holy Lady, loving and benevolent Mother, help us, that our souls and bodies may be healed from the afflictions that beset us, grant us the hand of help, that the bitter sorrows may disappear, and humility and patience may appear. Comfort the weak, strengthen the feeble, soften our hearts, that with one mouth, one heart, we may hymn the God of the Trinity, blessed forever and ever.
Amen.