Akathist to Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina

The Akathist to Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina is a prayer read on her feast day to ask for her intercession and help in one’s life. Saint Nina is credited with many miraculous deeds and wonders during her lifetime, and she is considered the protector of women, children, and all those in need of protection and assistance.

Кондак 1

Most faithful servant of the Word of God and emulator of the holy apostles, guarantor of the blessing of the Mother of God, you received the holy cross and erected it in the land of Iverstia, we hymn your thanksgiving, spiritual queen, holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino. You, having boldness towards the Lord, do not cease praying to deliver us from all afflictions and sorrows, so that we may call upon you with gratitude and humility:

Radiant, holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, enlightener of Georgia.

Икос 1

The Creator of all creation, who revealed to you the wonders of the land of Iverstia, turned the nations of the earth from darkness and the shadow of death, from the idolatrous snare, and called them to the holy language, to the people of renewal. Therefore, we, giving thanks to God, glorify you as our enlightener and intercessor, and we call upon you with diligence:

Radiant, wondrous elect of the divine Providence;

Radiant, wonderfully flourishing from the root of pious virtue.

Radiant, vessel of the most excellent grace;

Radiant, container of the holy power.

Radiant, faithful handmaiden of the Most Holy Theotokos;

Radiant, emulator of the apostles.

Radiant, who rivaled the apostle Andrew in the preaching of the Gospel;

Radiant, who was not deceived by the lie of idolatry.

Radiant, who sowed the holy faith;

Radiant, who showed us the earthly path to the heavens.

Radiant, holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, enlightener of Georgia.

Кондак 2

Beholding the fulfillment of the divine providence of the Father of Heaven, the Only-Begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit, who raised up prophets and apostles for the salvation of humanity and our conversion to the light of the Gospel truth, having chosen holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, we cry out to God:

Alleluia

Икос 2

The divine mind, desiring to understand holy Nino, repeatedly tested her by her teacher Nianfora, who was known for her knowledge of the Lord Savior and His holy icon, having been instructed by her in true knowledge, she desired to worship the all-holy icon and the place of the holy apostles’ struggles. We, filled with reverence for the holy life of Nino, glorify her thus:

Radiant, who understands the truth of the Kingdom of God;

Radiant, who loved Christ from youth.

Radiant, who was instructed in piety by her mother Susanna from childhood;

Radiant, who brought comfort to her father Zavulon.

Radiant, who was saved by the saint Iuvenal in the land of God;

Radiant, who was instructed by the words of God.

Radiant, who was restored in the holy city of Jerusalem;

Radiant, who in her youth astonished the righteous by her path to the glory of God.

Radiant, who preferred heavenly blessings to earthly goods.

Radiant, holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, enlightener of Georgia.

Kontakion 3

Raised by the power of the Most High, holy Nino, by the love of piety, the desire to venerate the Chiton of the Lord, and apostolic zeal, you established yourself as a radiant lamp, so that we, receiving from you the light of Understanding, may cry out to God:

Alleluia

Ikos 3

Having an unshakable zeal for the pleasure of the Lord, you burned with the desire to come into the land of Iberia and to venerate there the hidden holies. We, seeing in you such holy zeal, cry out to you:

Rejoice, having despised the vanity of the world;

rejoice, having loved true wisdom.

Rejoice, having found the faithful treasure of Divine Wisdom in godly teaching;

rejoice, having surpassed those who loved the vanity of the world through a virtuous life.

Rejoice, having established yourself upon the unshakable rock of Christ’s commandments;

rejoice, having astonished angels and men by devotion to the will of God.

Rejoice, having subdued your flesh to spirit by fasting and prayer;

rejoice, having taught many others the same by your love for that temple of God.

Rejoice, de-igned by gentleness of character, having prepared yourself for the service of the apostleship;

rejoice, having made yourself a vessel of the Holy Spirit through your virtuous life.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino, illuminator of Georgia.

Kontakion 4

Disturbed by the storm of worldly passions, we wonder how to worthily sing of your wondrous courage, holy God-chosen Nino, not being afraid to fulfill your desire to go in the name of Christ to the pagan city of Rome. But the Pure Mother of our Lord graciously pleased to give you with her honorable hands the Holy Cross and to call you to the Gospel of salvation in the land of Iberians for all who wish to cry out to God:

Alleluia

Ikos 4

Having heard Julian, the Bishop of the city, that the Holy Theotokos called you to preach the Word of God in her lot, in the land of Iberians, and granted to you in a vision the Cross which you wrapped with your hair, you began to glorify God, who saves mankind, and called unto you thus:

Rejoice, uplifted by divine grace;

rejoice, having acquired boldness toward the Lord Jesus and His purest Mother through humility of spirit.

Rejoice, gladdened by the manifestation of the Mother of God;

rejoice, having heard the sweetest words from the Mother of God.

Rejoice, having conversed with Her as with another;

rejoice, being honored reverently by the brethren of Jerusalem.

Rejoice, the preparation for our illumination by the unsetting Light;

rejoice, a lamp, lit by God, to once dispel the darkness of ungodliness.

Rejoice, having received the honorable Cross as a pledge of your success in the Gospel;

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino, illuminator of Georgia.

Condak 5

Appearing as a divine star, O holy Nino, you shone forth to us by the will of our most holy Lady, the Theotokos, and enlightened us with the preaching of the divine Word. We extol and praise the God who revealed you as our intercessor, and we cry out to Him:

Alleluia

Icos 5

Beholding the bride of Christ, who with holy Nino and Ripsime was saved by fasting and prayer from the wicked thoughts of Diocletian, who sought to take Ripsime as his wife and to teach her idolatry, they all fled secretly from the idolatrous city of Rome to the land of Armenia; there they were delivered over to death by the command of the pagan king Tiridates. But the Lord saved holy Nino from the snares of Diocletian and Tiridates and brought her to the land of Iberia for the sake of the preaching of the Gospel. And we, rejoicing in this providence of God for the salvation of humanity, extol His messenger, holy Nino, saying:

Rejoice, O holy Nino, who in Rome by your presence clarified the path of the Gospel for yourself;

rejoice, who by your unshakeable spirit and remarkable courage has been glorified in the service of the divine Word.

Rejoice, O holy Nino, who without complaint traversed the difficult path to Iberia for the glory of God;

rejoice, who by the grace of God was delivered from the hand of Diocletian and Tiridates.

Rejoice, O holy Nino, who with the voice of humility proclaimed the glory of the mountains of Trialete;

rejoice, who by your example established peace in the hearts of men.

Rejoice, O holy Nino, who by the fragrance of the words of Christ have made many fragrant;

rejoice, who by your presence have established us on the path of salvation;

rejoice, for by you we are made partakers of eternal blessings.

Rejoice, O holy Nino, equal to the apostles, enlightener of Georgia.

Condak 6

The great preacher, holy Nino, has shown herself, for by her labors and sufferings the Church of Christ was planted in Iberia, the darkness of ignorance was dispelled, and the light of truth appeared. And we, who were delivered from the darkness of idolatry by holy Nino, are worthy to cry out to the Lord:

Alleluia

Icos 6

The land of Iberia was enlightened by the preaching of the truth when holy Nino proclaimed the Gospel in the city of Urbnisi. Many from the land of Georgia would come to the capital city of Mtskheta to worship the false gods Ormizd and Zaden. Holy Nino, by her prayers, shattered these idols and overthrew them. And we, as conqueror of demons, extol her thus:

Rejoice, O holy Nino, who first showed the mighty power of the true God in the land of Iberia;

rejoice, who by the power of the Most High struck down the idol Ormizd.

Rejoice, O holy Nino, who by your prayers humiliated his pride;

rejoice, who by the remnants of his power revealed the weakness of the wicked spirit.

Rejoice, O holy Nino, who corrected the demon Zaden and his angels;

rejoice, who drove out the rulers of darkness.

Rejoice, O holy Nino, who destroyed their powerless kingdom;

rejoice, who quenched the fiery flame of wickedness.

Rejoice, O holy Nino, who by the stormy breath and heavenly fire overthrew the service of idols;

rejoice, who by your zeal has proclaimed the name of the true God in Iberia.

Rejoice, O holy N

Condak 7

Although King Mirian, with his servants, came to understand the power of the true God, who overthrows the powerless idols of the nations, he spoke in amazement: “What, then, is this, that our gods have fallen?” The house of the king’s gardener, with Abiathar, the Jewish high priest, his daughter Sidonia, and other maidens, who reverently received the good news of the holy Nina, having come to know the Lord Jesus, cried out to God:

Alleluia

Icos 7

A new life was given to the sons of Iberia by the reception of Nina’s words of truth, for all were baptized by the washing of water, cleansed from their sins and sanctified, and became worthy of receiving healing from God through the prayers of this intercessor; King Mirian, by the grace of God, saw the true God and confessed Christ; Queen Nana rose from her bed of illness, and the youth was freed from the evil spirit, and all were reborn in the font of rebirth. Therefore, all the nations, seeing this, in duty, praise the memory of the holy Nina, hymning her thus:

Rejoice, O King Mirian’s unbelief, which was turned to faith;

rejoice, O faithful one, who received the confession.

Rejoice, O healing of the blindness of King Mirian;

rejoice, O extinguisher of idolatry.

Rejoice, O freedom from pagan errors;

rejoice, O cleansing of morals.

Rejoice, O deliverance from temptations;

rejoice, O gift of blessings to those who ask.

Rejoice, O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina, enlightener of Georgia.

Condak 8

A strange wonder was shown to us by God, that He, in His benevolence, made the land of Iberia a lot of the Mother of God, and, as a sign of His benevolence to those dwelling in it, sent the holy Christ’s garment and placed the Living Pillar on it, from which the faithful even now receive healings; and He also revealed to her the wonderful and glorious evangelist, the holy Nina, and gave her the cross with her precious hair, as a confirmation of His holy faith. Having received comfort, we, earthly-born, lift up our minds and hearts to the heavenly Kingdom and praise the God who has blessed us, crying out to Him unceasingly:

Alleluia

Icos 8

You were filled with thoughts of the heavenly, O holy Nina, and for this reason, you called the earthly, who did not know the Savior of all, the Lord Jesus Christ, to communion with the heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom, that they might also lead the greatness of the glory of the one true Shepherd of heaven and earth to the praise of Him, together with the heavenly inhabitants, with one mouth and one heart. Therefore, we, looking at your zeal for our salvation, with compassion, call out to you thus:

Rejoice, O opening of the doors of baptism;

rejoice, O our leading to the heavens.

Rejoice, O holy baptism of Georgia, which you fulfilled with great joy, O holy angels;

rejoice, O King Mirian, who stirred you to the construction of the handmade temple of the true God.

Rejoice, O holy cross, which you raised from the very beginning;

rejoice, O pledge of your love to Christ, which you left to all the children of the Holy Church.

Rejoice, O summoner of your own band of ascetics to holy baptism;

rejoice, O receiver of the sons of Iberia from the font.

Rejoice, O many enlightener;

Rejoice, O holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina, enlightener of Georgia.

Condak 9

All heavenly powers rejoice when the sons of Iveria are baptized; for You alone, O Lord, in the form of a wondrous man, have appeared and established the miraculous pillar above Your garment, teaching all to hymn God with the holy Nino:

Alleluia

Icos 9

Many-tongued languages cannot express worthy praise to you, O equal-to-the-apostles Nino; for the glory of God and the salvation of the neighboring peoples flowed from Mtskheta, the Kartlian and Kakhetian land, where all the peoples of the lowlands and highlands, having heard Your words, O Lord, have received salvation. We, filled with joy and gratitude for Your great love towards us, cry out to You from the depths of our heart:

Rejoice, our garment of crimson baptism;

Rejoice, fountain of sweetness, nourishing us with the water of piety.

Rejoice, wondrous champion of the faith of Christ;

Rejoice, planting of the heavenly paradise on earth.

Rejoice, our liberation from the slavery of sin;

Rejoice, destruction of the snares of the enemy.

Rejoice, destruction of impiety;

Rejoice, glorious victory over unbelief.

Rejoice, abolition of evil customs and superstitions;

Rejoice, melodious pipe of faith.

Rejoice, holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, enlightener of Georgia.

Condak 10

Desiring to save your soul and the souls of your neighbors from eternal perdition, O equal-to-the-apostles Nino, you competed in zeal for the glory of God and undertook the laborious apostolic endeavor, and therefore, the Lord has crowned you with the apostolic crown in heaven, where, standing with all the saints, you pray to Him on our behalf:

Alleluia

Icos 10

The Lord has raised you up, O holy Nino, as an unshakeable bulwark and has shown you as a protection for us from all evils and a source of eternal healings, your incorruptible body in the land of Kizikis, in the village of Bodbe, where you enlightened the queen Sophia and her people, so that all, receiving mercy from God through your intercession, may cry out to You:

Rejoice, unshakeable bulwark and shelter, not hiding from our approach;

Rejoice, ready help for those seeking salvation and true enlightenment.

Rejoice, inexhaustible fountain of God’s blessings and mercies to those honoring You;

Rejoice, our protector from destruction and calamities.

Rejoice, faithful helper of our righteous rulers;

Rejoice, hope and establishment of peace and prosperity for those subject to them.

Rejoice, true mortification of the flesh in turmoil;

Rejoice, joy of our souls.

Rejoice, holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, enlightener of Georgia.

Condak 11

Thou hast brought forth a hymn of universal praise, O Most Holy Trinity, O holy Nino, who in thy mind and deeds hast loved the Triune God until the end of thy life. Accept, then, from those who glorify thee this hymn of supplication, and despise not our voice, for to thee we flee in times of affliction and tribulation, and, trusting in thy intercession, we call upon God:

Alleluia

Icos 11

O radiant lamp, O holy Nino, thou hast shone forth in the darkness, when thou didst depart from the earth to heaven, gathering thy faithful children from the font, as new shoots of the new planting, and healing some of them who were afflicted, and delivering thy pure spirit to God. Seeing thy blessed departure, King Mirian and his companions wept bitterly, and, singing hymns with tears, they cried out to thee thus:

Rejoice, O heavenly angel, who hast appeared in the form of a terrestrial man;

Rejoice, O bride of Christ, who hast betrothed the Iberian Church to the Heavenly Bridegroom.

Rejoice, O blessed enlightener of ours, who hast completed the course of thy daily and nocturnal struggles;

Rejoice, O unwearied nourisher, who hast fed us with the food of divine words.

Rejoice, O immaculate dove, who hast taken flight from the earth to the heavenly habitations;

Rejoice, for thy body hath been clothed in incorruption.

Rejoice, for thy holy relics have been filled with fragrance;

Rejoice, for we, thy children, now partake of this fragrance.

Rejoice, O holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, enlightener of Georgia.

Condak 12

Guided by the grace given thee by God, we celebrate thy all-honorable memory, O holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, and, approaching thy image, adorned with the holy cross, we beseech thee with all our heart: preserve us in this life in the Orthodox faith and in all righteousness and purity, that we may also be found worthy to sing to God in our dying breath:

Alleluia

Icos 12

Singing thy departure to God, O all-venerable Nino, we praise thy apostolic endeavor, we extol thy zeal for God, we praise thy patience, we glorify thy humility, and we bless thy departure, for thou hast been wonderfully glorified by many miracles after thy departure; and, marveling at these, we cry out to thee thus:

Rejoice, O one who hast been received into the fellowship of the angelic choirs and the saints;

Rejoice, O one who hast been associated with the apostolic council.

Rejoice, O one who hast been received into the heavenly kingdom with the elect;

Rejoice, O golden censer, who dost offer to God the incense of our prayers.

Rejoice, O one who hast partaken of the eternal bliss of the heavenly vision;

Rejoice, O one who art glorified with the equal-to-the-apostles Constantine and Helen.

Rejoice, O one who art glorified by the Georgian people and all the Orthodox;

Rejoice, O treasure of Christ’s wonders.

Rejoice, for we receive healing of souls and bodies through the holy cross, which thou hast wrapped thyself with;

Rejoice, for we obtain the necessary help from thy holy relics.

Rejoice, O holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, enlightener of Georgia.

Condak 13

Oh, most glorious and wondrous enlightener of the land of Iberia, most fervent intercessor before the Savior God and His Most Holy Mother, holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino! Accepting our present offering, entreat the Lord with your benevolent intercession to deliver us from all calamities, afflictions, and sorrows, and to grant us eternal blessings in heaven, that we may invoke God with you:

Alleluia

This condak is read three times, followed by ikos 1 and condak 1.

Ikos 1

The Creator of all creation, the Angel of wondrous Iberia, revealed you to all creation, turning the nations of the earth from darkness and the shadow of death, from the idolatrous snare, and calling them to the holy tongue, to the people of renewal. Therefore, we, giving thanks to God, extol you as our enlightener and intercessor, and zealously call to you:

Rejoice, wondrous elect of the divine providence;

Rejoice, divinely flourishing rose of the blessed root.

Rejoice, vessel of the most excellent grace;

Rejoice, receptacle of the blessed power.

Rejoice, holy Virgin, faithful messenger of God;

Rejoice, preeminent imitator of the apostles.

Rejoice, who, in the preaching, rivaled the first-called Andrew;

Rejoice, by whom the lie of idolatry was overthrown.

Rejoice, who sowed the holy faith;

Rejoice, who showed us the earthly path to heaven.

Rejoice, holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, enlightener of Georgia.

Condak 1

Most chosen servant of the Word of God, and imitator of the holy apostles by your deeds, pledge of blessing from the Mother of God, receiving the holy cross and erecting it in the land of Iberia, we, with grateful praise, extol you, spiritual queen, holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino. You, having boldness before the Lord, do not cease to entreat Him to deliver us from all afflictions and sorrows, that we may thanksgiving and gratefully invoke you:

Rejoice, holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, enlightener of Georgia.

Prayer

Oh, all-glorious and wondrous holy equal-to-the-apostles Nino, truly great ornament of the Orthodox Church and excellent praise of the people of God, who enlightened the entire land of Georgia with divine teaching and, by the deeds of apostleship, overcame our enemy of salvation, and, by labor and prayers, sowed the garden of Christ here and brought it to fruitfulness. Celebrating your holy memory, we approach your holy countenance and reverently kiss the all-glorious gift from the Mother of God, the miraculous cross, which you wrapped with your precious hair, and humbly entreat you, as our most fervent intercessor:

Guard us from all evils and sorrows, instruct the enemies of the Holy Church of Christ, and protectors of piety, preserve your flock, which you have saved, and entreat the all-beneficent God, our Savior, before whom you now stand, to grant peace, long life, and hasten in all good deeds to our Orthodox people, and to bring us to His Heavenly Kingdom, where all the saints glorify His holy Name now, and forever, and in the ages of ages. Amen.