The Akathist to Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a prayer that helps us to deepen our understanding of the life and martyrdom of this great woman. Reading this akathist helps us to draw closer to God, gain strength and faith to do good and help those in need.
Condak 1
Let us extol the chosen and crowned martyr, the bride of Christ, Saint Catherine, with hymns of praise, as a glorious victor over her tormentors and a wise instructor of philosophers: you, O great martyr Catherine, having boldness before the Lord, incline graciously to the supplications of those who invoke you:
Rejoice, O Catherine, wise bride of Christ.
Icos 1
Having been endowed with the purity of the angels, O holy maiden Catherine, you were deemed worthy to be enlightened by the divine illumination of the angels, and to sing the Trisagion hymn with them; hear us, who sing to you on this earth:
Rejoice, O chaste dwelling of the holy ones;
Rejoice, wondrous sign of the fulfilled will of God.
Rejoice, vessel of the Father’s benevolence;
Rejoice, fulfillment of Christ’s sufferings.
Rejoice, dwelling of the Holy Spirit’s purity;
Rejoice, enlightened by the light of pious faith.
Rejoice, reborn from the holy baptism;
Rejoice, having washed your garments in the Blood of the Lamb.
Rejoice, rejoicing with the sacred maidens in heaven;
Rejoice, O Catherine, wise bride of Christ.
Condak 2
Having seen visions, Saint Catherine was drawn to the holy elder, and showed him the icon of the Mother of God, which had been given to her beforehand by the elder; and she told him how Christ, appearing to her with His Mother, had called her a foolish, poor, and barren woman, until she renounced idolatry. The elder, having heard this, instructed her in the mysteries of the faith and baptized her. She, having been renewed in spirit, gave thanks to God:
Alleluia
Icos 2
Having acquired the riches of spiritual rebirth, O holy Catherine, you became worthy to appear before the Heavenly Bridegroom, Christ, who, appearing to her again, loved her and betrothed her to Himself with the ring of His gift. She, having known this benevolence of God towards her, was so inflamed with love for Him that she no longer thought of earthly things, but constantly thought of her Beloved. Having been endowed with such grace, she hears from us:
Rejoice, O one who has hated the stench of the world;
Rejoice, flowing with the fragrance of Christ.
Rejoice, O good lover of the Bridegroom Eternal;
Rejoice, treasure of the benevolence of the Most High.
Rejoice, O radiant dawn;
Rejoice, full moon.
Rejoice, O olive tree, planted in the house of God;
Rejoice, O cedar, towering in Lebanon.
Rejoice, O Catherine, wise bride of Christ.
Condak 3
By the power of the Most High, Saint Catherine was granted boldness to confront the impious Emperor Maximinus about the idolatrous sacrifice, and she remained unyielding for many hours, unable to be silenced by his words. She, giving thanks to God, sang:
Alleluia
Icos 3
Having received from above the wisdom granted to her, Saint Catherine, when the impious Emperor asked her about her lineage and station, confessed herself to be a royal daughter, well-versed in philosophical and rhetorical sciences, and above all, she called herself the Bride of Christ, openly rejecting idolatrous service. For this reason, we hymn her thus:
Rejoice, O glorious Catherine;
Rejoice, royal consecration.
Rejoice, bee, who hast flown from the smoke of idolatry;
Rejoice, dove, with golden wings.
Rejoice, censer of Christ’s fragrance;
Rejoice, O Catherine, wise Bride of Christ.
Condak 4
The tempest of wrath arose in the Emperor against the holy maiden, saying to her, “Do not speak evil of our gods.” Saint Catherine replied, “If you wish to remove the veil of deception from the eyes of your soul, you will understand the wickedness of your gods and come to know the true God, whose name alone, or the cross depicted in the air, drives away your gods and destroys them. And if you will, I will reveal to you the truth, singing to my God:
Alleluia
Icos 4
Having heard your free and wise response about the faith of Christ, the impious Emperor, fearing lest he be defeated by you, gathered from the farthest reaches of his dominion fifty wise men to dispute with you. You, however, having been strengthened by the Archangel Michael and being confident in victory, rejoiced at the opportunity to engage in dispute with them. Receive, therefore, O maid, this praise from us:
Rejoice, revealer of Christ’s wisdom;
Rejoice, one who has acquired knowledge of God.
Rejoice, inflamed with seraphic love for God;
Rejoice, wisest of the wise.
Rejoice, spiritual sword that has pierced unbelief;
Rejoice, destroyer of wickedness.
Rejoice, guide of the faithful;
Rejoice, O Catherine, wise Bride of Christ.
Condak 5
You were like a star of divine seed, O Catherine, having surpassed fifty adversaries and guiding them on the path of Christianity, leading to the righteous Sun, Christ God, who shone forth from the Virgin, with your wise words, which even condemned men, having been sentenced to burning for Christ, went to the fire with joy, singing:
Alleluia
Ikos 5
Beholding the sovereign’s decrees, thou didst despise them and scorn his exhortations, turning instead to wickedness, which promised to entice thee with flattery, offering to grant thee half of the kingdom. Thou, however, didst prefer the treasures of the earth to faith, and didst love Christ, the Bridegroom, more than the earthly kingdom, and didst spurn his words of comfort, choosing the garment of martyrdom over the purple robe. For this reason, we hymn thee thus:
Rejoice, maiden, who didst refute flattery;
rejoice, serpent-tamer.
Rejoice, daughter of the king;
rejoice, maiden, adorned with golden raiment.
Rejoice, who hast surpassed all created things;
rejoice, who hast ascended to the mountain of divine vision.
Rejoice, enlightened by the light of divine knowledge;
rejoice, trumpet of the Spirit, singing the true theology.
Rejoice, steadfast in the confession of faith;
rejoice, shining light of the Gospel.
Rejoice, guardian of the eternal laws;
rejoice, our helper.
Rejoice, Catherine, wise bride of Christ.
Condkak 6
As a preacher of the divine, thou didst rival the apostles, boldly proclaiming Christ, the true God, before the face of the tormentor, and didst sing in His wounds and in prison:
Alleluia
Ikos 6
As the light of true understanding shone in thy heart, thou didst drive away the darkness of sorrows, and didst not cease to receive the food of the dove, nor didst thou succumb to disease, for the Lord Himself visited thee in prison, comforting thee and promising many crowns. Thou, steadfast in patience, didst thereby strengthen thyself, and didst turn the empress Augusta and the governor Porphyrius, along with their soldiers, to the light of the faith of Christ, and didst teach them to sing to thee thus:
Rejoice, bringer of peace through divine love;
rejoice, strong Adamant.
Rejoice, wine of the unutterable wonders;
rejoice, who didst slay the enemy through patience.
Rejoice, who didst bear the wounds of the Lord on thy body;
rejoice, guide of the empress Augusta and those who came to the martyrdom.
Rejoice, for thou wast light in the darkness;
rejoice, for the Lord, the Light of the World, didst reveal Himself to thee in prison.
Rejoice, swift resolver of the knots of sin;
rejoice, swift healer of diseases.
Rejoice, helper of our salvation.
Rejoice, Catherine, wise bride of Christ.
Condak 7
Thou dost desire to lead the impious king to detestable idolatry, and again thou dost lay snares for him, O wise one, that thou mayest entice him with the sweet praise of thy beauty; but thou didst call thy beauty a fleeting and transitory thing, and didst confess Christ as the living and true God, and didst sing to Him:
Alleluia
Icos 7
The king showed forth a new display of wrath and inhumanity, commanding the bishop to have thy chaste, pure, and holy body torn apart by the wheels, but miraculously, by the hand of an angel, thou wert delivered unharmed, and the wheels were shattered, by which many of the unfaithful were slain, so that the king himself and the people standing before him were amazed, and the king cried out: “Great is the God of Christians.” We, marveling at this, cry out to thee:
Rejoice, martyr, thou art a chaste and holy angel;
Rejoice, thou art the glory of the armies of the afflicted.
Rejoice, thou art a shining victory over enemies;
Rejoice, thou art the fear of the unfaithful.
Rejoice, thou art a vessel of the manifold powers of God;
Rejoice, thou art the joy of the faithful.
Rejoice, O Catherine, thou art the wise bride of Christ.
Condak 8
Strange is the change of glory, and the suffering for Christ of the queen and the generals and soldiers, who saw it, have turned away from the love of the world and the flesh, and have come to the understanding of God; for this is the beauty, and the glory, and the crown for us who sing:
Alleluia
Icos 8
Thou hast been all sweetness, all desire for thee, O holy Catherine, was Jesus; for His sake thou didst endure bitter sufferings, and thou didst spurn the scepter offered to thee, foreseeing the future reward. Accept from us this praise:
Rejoice, thou art chaste, thou art chaste, thou hast loved the Chaste One;
Rejoice, thou art a dove, longing for the Red Bridegroom in the desert, seeking the peace of the world.
Rejoice, thou art fragrant with the scent of His garments;
Rejoice, thou art a sheep on the mountains, seeking the One born before the eternal hills.
Rejoice, thou hast accomplished a martyr’s struggle for the love of Christ;
Rejoice, thou hast brought forth a martyr’s hymn to God.
Rejoice, for by thee the virtues have received the Kingdom of Heaven;
Rejoice, for by thee we hope to receive it.
Rejoice, thou art our shelter and our cloak;
Rejoice, O Catherine, thou art the wise bride of Christ.
Condak 9
All angelic nature rejoiced at the joy, beholding you, O Catherine, who having conquered the ruler of the world, proceeds as a victorious warrior to the unwritten realms, following the company of the suffering, and singing with triumph:
Alleluia
Icos 9
The many-tongued vices were silenced: for they were unable to counter the divine words of your mouth, and they venerate your gifts with silence; but we, weak ones, how can we open our mouths to praise you? Nevertheless, we dare and pray, O good one, enable us to offer this hymn to you without hindrance:
Rejoice, organ of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, dawn of the ineffable illumination.
Rejoice, pincer of divine dogmas;
Rejoice, cunning that surpassed the philosophers.
Rejoice, chalice of wisdom;
Rejoice, one who shattered the snares of the wicked.
Rejoice, one who releases those bound by sin;
Rejoice, O Catherine, wise bride of Christ;
Condak 10
Desiring to save your soul, O your body, you did not heed, O Catherine, and on the sword’s edge, giving the murderer that saying, you flowed forth joyfully, singing to the Holy Immortal:
Alleluia
Icos 10
A strong and impenetrable wall you appeared to be, O women, to those who were leading you to beheading and lamenting you, calling you a hard-hearted and senseless one: for you did not spare the sweet life in the flower of youth, you despised the earthly kingdom and blessedness offered to you. You, however, rejected their useless lamentation and foolish talk, hastening to be united with your Beloved through death, therefore you hear:
Rejoice, who, having bent your head under the sword, showed yourself a leader of the Church of Christ;
Rejoice, one who endured to the end.
Rejoice, one who hastened to a good end;
Rejoice, for you were not turned from the path of Christ’s confession by sorrows, wounds, or sword.
Rejoice, one who preserved the flame of love in the source of blood unquenched;
Rejoice, beauty of martyrs.
Rejoice, strong refuge of Christians;
Rejoice, O Catherine, wise bride of Christ;
Condak 11
We dare to offer you a hymn of praise, but our word is meager and our mind is perplexed, how to speak; but your word, O wise one, which has delivered many from ignorance and idolatry, raises us up. Give us your word, that we may praise you to the God who is glorified in you:
Alleluia
Ikos 11
Beholding the lampstand of the heavenly tabernacle, where the extinguished lamp, cut off by the sword, had been placed before the throne of the Holy Trinity, the holy angels prostrated themselves before the Living One, who is eternal. Having received the command from the Lord, they buried your virginal body on Mount Sinai, that it might not be seen by the enemy, as you yourself had desired. We, therefore, offer this hymn to you:
Rejoice, O sun-like maiden, who hast ascended into the heavens by the Spirit;
Rejoice, O Zion, who hast reached the heights.
Rejoice, O crown of goodness, held in the hand of the Lord;
Rejoice, O chalice, which dost draw joy from the abundance of the house of God.
Rejoice, O one who hast approached the tabernacle of the uncreated, the eternal;
Rejoice, O one who hast rested in body on the mountain of the law.
Rejoice, for there thou wast seen by the procession of the God of Sinai, the God of Jacob;
Rejoice, O one who hast conquered the place of the vision of Moses.
Rejoice, O one who hast received the indication of the zeal of Elijah;
Rejoice, O one who hast appeared as an unburnable bush.
Rejoice, O maiden, O Virgin Queen, who hast been clothed in golden robes, resplendent with glory;
Rejoice, for by thee the Lord is hymned among the maidens.
Rejoice, for on thee is His majesty;
Rejoice, O throne of the Eternal, who dost stand before the throne.
Rejoice, O one who dost watch over the prayers of the whole world from the temple;
Rejoice, O one who dost offer a fragrant incense to the Most High on our behalf.
Rejoice, O Catherine, wise bride of Christ.
Kondak 12
May the grace be given to thee from God to guide us to the knowledge of His truth, which is hidden in secret, and to give to all that which is for our benefit. Therefore, we, who are darkened, humbly ask thee, O wise maiden: enlighten our understanding eyes and place a path before us to heaven, that we may sing with thee now and in all ages to the One, the All-wise:
Alleluia
Ikos 12
Singing the strong exploits of thy martyrdom, we praise thee, O one who hast been the vessel of salvation for men: by thy mind, O God, hast destroyed the wisdom of the wise of this age; by thee hast called the unclean to the holy language, to the people of renewal, that they might suffer for Christ. Enlighten us, O blessed maiden, who are darkened, that we may call to thee:
Rejoice, O mirror of the wisdom of God;
Rejoice, O one who hast been clothed with the power of the Most High.
Rejoice, O one who hast been anointed with the oil of joy of the mind;
Rejoice, O one who hast led the host of God to eternal glory.
Rejoice, O one who hast entered the light of the holy;
Rejoice, O one who hast appeared before the face of the Living One, in the presence of the fiery servants.
Rejoice, O one who dost multiply the voice of the thrice-holy hymn with thy voice;
Rejoice, O one who dost taste the unspeakable sweetness of goodness.
Rejoice, for thy praise and joy are upon thy head;
Rejoice, for eternal glory is upon thee.
Rejoice, O one who hast been crowned with the wreath of the Triune Godhead, the heavenly Oh, holy and great martyr Catherine! Receive this hymn of praise and deliver us from visible and invisible enemies and from eternal torment through your benevolent intercession, preserving us, that we may forever sing to God with you: Alleluia [This condak is repeated three times.] [We then repeat the first ikos and condak:] You, holy and immaculate maiden Catherine, having been endowed with angelic purity, were enlightened by the divine illumination of the angels and, with them, sang the Trisagion hymn. Hear us, who sing to you on this earth: Rejoice, holy dwelling of the sacred; Rejoice, wondrous sign of the fulfilled will of God. Rejoice, vessel of the Father’s benevolence; Rejoice, fulfillment of Christ’s sufferings. Rejoice, dwelling of the Holy Spirit’s purity; Rejoice, enlightened by the light of pious faith. Rejoice, reborn in the holy baptism; Rejoice, having washed your garments in the Blood of the Lamb on earth. Rejoice, rejoicing with the sacred maidens in Heaven. Rejoice, Catherine, wise bride of Christ. We will sing hymns of praise to the chosen and crowned maiden martyr, the bride of Christ, Catherine, as a glorious conqueror of the passions and a wise teacher of the philosophers: Rejoice, Catherine, wise bride of Christ. Oh, holy Catherine, maiden and martyr, true bride of Christ! We beseech you through your special grace, by which your Bridegroom, the sweetest Jesus, has prepared you beforehand: just as you, having despised the temptations of the torturer, conquered the fifty demons with your wisdom and, having nourished them with heavenly teaching, led them to the light of true faith, so we ask you to grant us that same divine wisdom, that we, having broken the snares of the adversary and having rejected the temptations of the world and the flesh, may be worthy to appear in the glory of God and become vessels worthy of the expansion of our Orthodox faith, and with you, in the heavenly tabernacle of the Lord and our Lord Jesus Christ, we may praise and glorify Him forever. Amen.Condak 13
Ikos 1
Condak 1
Prayer