Akathist to St. Barbara

The Akathist to St. Barbara is a prayer read in honor of this great saint. St. Barbara was a Roman girl who accepted Christianity and became known for her bravery and courage. She was martyred for her faith during the reign of Emperor Maximian. The Akathist to her helps to pray for protection, defense, and assistance in difficult situations.

Condak 1

Chosen by God from the idolatrous race and called to the language of holy renewal, O Virgin, as one who delivers us from various evils and afflictions, we offer to you thankful hymns and praises, O holy and all-venerable Great Martyr: you, having boldness before the Lord, free us from all our troubles, that we may call out to you with joy:

Rejoice, O Barbara, beautiful Bride of Christ.

Icos 1

Having preserved your chaste and all-loving purity unblemished, O Barbara, you were deemed worthy to be a companion of the angels, with whom you sang the triple hymn to God in heaven; hear us, who sing these praises to you on earth:

Rejoice, O maiden, foreordained by God the Father to be conformed to the image of His Son in suffering;

rejoice, O Son of God, Light from Light, called from darkness into the wondrous light of His faith and grace.

Rejoice, for the Holy Spirit called you, and you are holy in body and spirit;

rejoice, for you were preserved unblemished from the defilement of flesh and spirit.

Rejoice, for the Virgin Bridegroom Christ, born of the Virgin, betrothed you as a pure maiden;

rejoice, for you did not desire a earthly groom in preference to the Heavenly Bridegroom.

Rejoice, O crown of virginity, who in the midst of the thorns of idolatry has blossomed;

rejoice, O flower of purity, blooming in eternal glory.

Rejoice, O one who delights in the fragrance of Christ’s garden in heaven;

rejoice, O one who is comforted by the sight of the Most Beautiful, beyond all human sons.

Rejoice, O one whose robes were cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb on earth;

rejoice, O one who follows the Lamb in heaven, face to face.

Rejoice, O Barbara, beautiful Bride of Christ.

Condak 2

Seeing the holy Barbara standing on a high pillar, set up by her father, she thought to herself, “By God’s will, I am to be raised up to heaven.” Having placed reason in her heart, she wisely ascended from darkness to light, and from the idols to the True God, singing to Him:

Alleluia

Icos 2

Not understanding the Uncreated God, the Creator of all, the holy Barbara sought to understand Him with her reason, and spoke to herself, saying, “How was the mighty power of the heavenly lights created from the dark idols?” She replied to her reason, “All the gods of the nations are nothing, but there is one God and Lord, who created the heavens and all the lights.” Marveling at your reason, O wise maiden, we say:

Rejoice, O wiser than the elders of the idolaters;

rejoice, O wiser than the sages of this world.

Rejoice, for God has revealed His own secret wisdom to you;

rejoice, for God has taught you the true theology Himself.

Rejoice, O one who has surpassed all the wise men with the wisdom of Christ;

rejoice, O one who has seen the Heavenly Circle more clearly than they.

Rejoice, for you have seen the Creator Himself, like a mirror, in creation;

rejoice, for you have seen the Uncreated Light in the created lights.

Rejoice, for now you see the light of God’s face in heaven;

rejoice, for you are filled with joy by that light.

Rejoice, O wise star, whose radiance makes the face of God shine like the sun;

rejoice, O thought, whose light illuminates the night of error like day

Condak 3

Strength was given to you, O most holy Barbara, by the Most High, just as it was given to the prophet Ezekiel of old, a face like adamant, strong before all idolaters, so that they might not be afraid of your face, nor be terrified by the fierce threat. Therefore, with boldness, the wise maiden prayed: “I venerate the Trinity, the One God, and with this faith, I worship, and I sing with a loud voice:

Alleluia

Icos 3

Having received from above the wisdom given to you, O holy Barbara, you ascended to the bathmaker of the paternal bath, and by revealing the mystery of the Holy Trinity, you ordered three windows to be built in the bath. If, you said, the idolaters have mouths but do not speak the glory of the true God, then the stone walls of this bath, with three windows, like three mouths, shall bear witness that there is One God, who is glorified and worshiped in the Holy Trinity by all creation. Therefore, O holy Barbara, receive this praise:

Rejoice, in the three-windowed bath, the font of holy baptism, in the name of the Holy Trinity, you have depicted;

rejoice, in the font of water and Spirit, to which you have also applied your martyr’s blood.

Rejoice, because with three windows you have driven out the darkness of polytheism, contrary to the Holy Trinity;

rejoice, because with three windows you have clearly seen the light of the Holy Trinity.

Rejoice, because with those three windows you have looked upon you the Sun of Righteousness, which shone forth from the grave after three days;

rejoice, because with those windows the day of your salvation in the Holy Trinity has shone upon you.

Rejoice, because your heart has always been open to the One God in the Trinity;

rejoice, because your senses have been firmly closed against the three enemies: the flesh, the world, and the devil.

Rejoice, because in your soul you have established three mental windows: faith, hope, and love;

rejoice, because with those three windows you have seen the Church of the Body of Christ, which is exalted on the three days of the Holy Trinity.

Rejoice, because the heavens were opened to you by the three hierarchies of angels;

rejoice, because you have been received into the heavenly dwellings of the Holy Trinity with joy.

Rejoice, O Barbara, beautiful bride of Christ.

Condak 4

The great storm of your father’s wrath, breathing threats and murder, raged against the temple of your soul, O holy Barbara, but it was not able to shake you: for you stood firmly on the rock of Christ’s faith, and on it, O wise maiden, you stood unshaken, singing a hymn to Jesus Christ, who was strengthening you:

Alleluia

Ikos 4

Having heard from you, wise daughters, your father Dioscor, unhearing of the Holy Trinity, spoke unheard words, like a deaf asp, blocking his own ears, and, like a serpent with a venomous sting, he rushed with the sharp edge of a sword to slay you; but you, O Christ’s bride, Varvara, imitating your Bridegroom Jesus, who fled from Herod’s sword, fled from Dioscor’s sword, desiring to turn his heart from savage ferocity to paternal love. We, therefore, esteem your wise flight with these titles:

Rejoice, blessed one, expelled from the earthly house of truth;

Rejoice, rich in God, deprived of earthly riches for Christ’s sake.

Rejoice, for your poverty is the Kingdom of Heaven;

Rejoice, for an eternal treasure of blessings has been prepared for you.

Rejoice, verbal lamb, fleeing from the evil wolf, the tormentor, to the Good Shepherd Christ;

Rejoice, having entered the courtyard of His righteous sheep, standing at His right hand.

Rejoice, gentle dove, having flown from the earthly raven to the heavenly Eagle’s protection;

Rejoice, having found a good shelter in His bosom.

Rejoice, chaste daughter of the Heavenly Father, for you were persecuted to death by your earthly father for shame;

Rejoice, for you have been received into eternal life with glory from the immortal Lord of Glory.

Rejoice, our living intercessor, present at our life;

Rejoice, diligent prayer for us to God.

Rejoice, Varvara, beautiful bride of Christ.

Condak 5

You were like a star, a heavenly star, O holy and great martyr Varvara: fleeing before your father, you secretly guided him on the path leading to the Righteous Sun, who shone forth from the Virgin, Christ God. However, he, blinded by his soul’s darkness, did not see you fleeing before him, either with his bodily eyes, for you, by the divine command, passed through the stone mountain, which was parted for you, and hid yourself in the stone cave, so that, like a bird, you might give a voice to God, singing:

Alleluia

Ikos 5

The shepherds, seeing you, tending the sheep on the mountain, hiding in the stone, were amazed, saying: What is this verbal lamb? Whose wolf is it fleeing from? And behold, Dioscor, more ferocious than a wolf, ascends the mountain, and finds you hiding there, and, seizing your maidenly hair, drags you to his house on a cruel path, where, O faithful ones, you meet him with these greetings:

Rejoice, young gazelle, likened to the aromatic mountains;

Rejoice, mountain-dweller, who, more than those below, has established ascents in your heart, loving one.

Rejoice, one who has escaped the pit of idolatrous heresy;

Rejoice, who has ascended to the mountain of the worship of the Holy Trinity.

Rejoice, having passed through the stone, fleeing from the stony-hearted persecution;

Rejoice, having found the Stone of Christ, who upholds you, in the midst of the stone.

Rejoice, having entered the stone cave, seeing Jesus in the stone tomb;

Rejoice, already seeing Him sitting on the throne of Glory.

Rejoice, for your hair has been torn out for Christ, who preserves you, and the hair of humanity will not perish;

Rejoice, for it has been taken from you to be crowned with glory in heaven.

Rejoice, Varvara, beautiful bride of Christ.

Condak 6

As a blessed preacher, the Apostle of Christ, you boldly proclaimed Christ, the True God, in the face of tormentors. And for His sake, you endured the painful wounds, the lacerations of your own flesh, and the sharp scourging, O holy Barbara. Even in prison, you rejoiced in Christ Jesus, singing to Him:

Alleluia

Icos 6

As the light of true understanding shone in your heart, so too did the light of the Divine Face of Christ, the Lord, shine in your eyes. For He, your beloved Bridegroom, came to you in the dead of night, as your chaste Bride, and lovingly visited you, healing your wounds and filling your soul with the unutterable joy of His countenance. Teach us, O faithful ones, to pray to you with these words:

Rejoice, for you were severely beaten for Christ;

rejoice, for you killed the invisible enemy with the patience of a martyr.

Rejoice, for you bore the wounds of the Lord on your body;

rejoice, for you were healed of all wounds by the Lord Himself, who dwelt within you.

Rejoice, for the Lord, the Light of Peace, Himself appeared to you in prison;

rejoice, for the Lord, the Healer of souls and bodies, Himself visited you in your illness.

Rejoice, for you, through earthly prison, entered the heavenly palace with radiant light;

rejoice, for your blood washed and adorned your bridal garment.

Rejoice, for through you, many are healed of their wounds;

rejoice, for through you, those who call upon you with faith are healed of all diseases.

Rejoice, swift resolver of the knots of sin;

rejoice, good healer of many wounds.

Rejoice, beautiful Bride of Christ;

Condak 7

Desiring to entice the mad tormentor to his own desires, and to turn the one who was attempting to seduce you with sweet words away from the idols, you, O wise maiden, replied to him: “You would sooner transform the hard adamant into soft wax than turn me away from Christ, my God.” For I confess, praise, and sing to Him, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, as the One True God:

Alleluia

Icos 7

The ferocious beast, the tormentor, showed his new cruelty when he ordered you, O holy Barbara, to be hanged on a tree, to be scourged with iron chains, to be burned with fiery torches, and to be beaten on the head with a hammer. Remembering your extraordinary patience, we, the blessed ones, praise you with these words:

Rejoice, for you were hanged on the tree, for Christ’s sake, who was crucified on the Cross;

rejoice, for you were scourged on the ribs, as Jesus was pierced with a spear.

Rejoice, for you kindled the fire of love for God in your heart;

rejoice, for you were burned with fiery torches for His sake.

Rejoice, for you are harder than adamant in patience;

rejoice, for you are stronger than a stone pillar in courage.

Rejoice, for the hammer that beat you on the head brought you the crown of the Kingdom;

rejoice, for the same hammer crushed the head of your enemy.

Rejoice, for you suffered on earth for Christ’s sake;

rejoice, for you are glorified with Him, and in Him, in heaven.

Rejoice, O Barbara, beautiful Bride of Christ;

Condak 8

Beholding the wondrous and terrifying sufferings of the holy martyr Barbara, the blessed Juliania was astonished, for she saw a young maiden, in the prime of youth, enduring such hardships with manly fortitude for Christ. Filled with tears of compassion, she gave thanks to Christ God and cried out to Him:

Alleluia

Icos 8

O most sweet Jesus, you are the sweetness of all things, and you are the desire of all, O holy Barbara; for you endured bitter sufferings for His sake, saying, “Shall I not drink the cup of sufferings which my beloved Bridegroom has given me?” And thus you yourself became a cup, overflowing with the sweetness of wondrous healings, pouring forth to all who cry out to you:

Rejoice, O one who rejected the idolatrous sorrow of the abyss;

rejoice, O one who loved the heavenly sweetness of Jesus.

Rejoice, O one who was filled with the manna of the bread of creation, according to the will of God;

rejoice, O one who fulfilled the desire of the faithful in good things.

Rejoice, O one who was filled with the waters of the grace of God;

rejoice, O fountain, overflowing with the wonders of outpouring.

Rejoice, O like a bee, having flown away from the foul smoke of idolatrous sacrifices;

rejoice, O one who hastened to the sweet fragrance of the peace of Christ.

Rejoice, O one who, with thy wounds in all thy body, wast like a sot;

rejoice, O one whose blood drops were sweeter than honey to the Most Sweet Jesus.

Rejoice, O one who art a sweet remembrance to all the faithful;

rejoice, O one whose name is revered in the whole Church of Christ.

Rejoice, O Barbara, beautiful bride of Christ.

Condak 9

The whole angelic host was greatly rejoiced at the sight of thy courageous strength, O holy and unconquered martyr Barbara; for, beholding the angelic host, the proud prince of darkness, with all his demonic and idolatrous army, was put to shame, defeated, and cast under thy feet, and with a mighty voice, they cried out to God:

Alleluia

Icos 9

No multitude of rhetorical tongues can express the greatness of thy sufferings, O Barbara! Who can describe thy disease, the colic, when thy breasts were cut off? Who can recount the shame of thy maidenly face, when thou wert led naked through the whole city by the lawless tormentors? We merely mention thy disease and shame, and we shudder with compassion, and we say thus:

Rejoice, O good harvest of the garden of Jesus;

rejoice, O true vine of the vineyard of Christ.

Rejoice, O two breasts of thine, which were cut off, like two vessels offered to God;

rejoice, O blood of thine, which, like wine of compassion, flowed from them.

Rejoice, O one who, for Christ’s sake, was stripped naked, and thou too didst strip off thy garments;

rejoice, O one who, for His sake, was led through Jerusalem, reviled, and thou too wert led through the city, exposed to shame.

Rejoice, O one who was clothed with the radiant garment of the angel in thy nakedness;

rejoice, O one who was invisibly protected from the cold by the angel’s warmth.

Rejoice, O one who, by the angel and by men, was made a spectacle of shame;

rejoice, O one who, by thy patience, didst astonish even thy tormentors.

Rejoice, O one who was looked upon by the Lord Himself from above;