St. Cucis was a renowned Orthodox saint of Odessa, who helps people in their spiritual searches and provides them with strength to fight their inner demons.
Reading this akathist helps to deepen the understanding of the life and teachings of St. Cucis, as well as to receive his spiritual support and protection.
Kontak 1
Chosen wonder-worker and glorious saint of Christ, preeminent confessor and sleepless intercessor for us, venerable-monk Father Kuksho, who hast glorified the Lord whom Thou hast glorified, to thee we offer a praiseworthy hymn, we who are unworthy. Thou therefore, having great boldness before the Lord, deliver us from all our temptations and troubles crying out unto thee:
Rejoice, our venerable father Kuksho, the wonder-worker and confessor of Christ.
Ikos 1
We see thee, blessed father, an Angel in the flesh dispelling peace to the wicked world. Thou didst imitate the holy-monk-martyrs, who by faith performed righteous deeds, quenched the power of fire, stopped the mouths of lions, and turned to flight the hosts of strangers. Wherefore, with reverence we cry out unto thee thus:
Rejoice, chosen to be a lampstand of our Fatherland.
Rejoice, having confirmed the Orthodox faith through thy ascetic feats and miracles.
Rejoice, having confessed this even unto blood and bonds.
Rejoice, good imitator of the lives of the great saints of Holy Rus’.
Rejoice, having appeared like an unshakeable adamant in the tumultuous time of God-hating wandering.
Rejoice, having been granted unspeakable charisms.
Rejoice, gracious guide and teacher of monks.
Rejoice, God-wise spiritual father and insightful teacher of well-pleasing to all who flock to thee.
Rejoice, our venerable father Kuksho, the wonder-worker and confessor of Christ.
Kontak 2
Thy mother, seeing thy heavenly election and having deined upon thee in thy youth, rejoiced in heart and glorified the wondrous God among His saints. Having blessed thee by the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos for the passage through a narrow and laborious monastic life, she brought thee forth as fragrant fruit to the Lord. With this icon thou wast never parted, carrying the maternal blessing through all the earthly journey, crying out to God with contrition:
Alleluia
Ikos 2
Having attained wisdom illumined by the All-Merciful Savior, thou didst all beauties of the world from thy youth, taking up the cross and following Christ. Thou then went to worship in the holy city of Jerusalem, kissing the place where the Lord suffered, making a good vow of voluntary cross-bearing, which thou didst in the monastic rank. Wherefore, praising such thy will, we cry out unto thee thus:
Rejoice, having received the blessing of the holy city.
Rejoice, having clung with thy soul to Heavenly Jerusalem.
Rejoice, having been granted heavenly signs in this pilgrimage.
Rejoice, for the Pool of Siloam became unto thee a font of rebirth, in which thou wondrously received thy first washing.
Rejoice, as Thou didst appear as a sign of thy spiritual fruit and fruitfulness. Rejoice, at the Tomb of the Lord, the oil from a lamp was poured out upon thee suddenly.
Rejoice, as from this oil many people, touching thee, did receive anointing.
Rejoice, as this miracle was–to-be a sign of the inexhaustible Divine grace, granted through thee to the faithful.
Rejoice, our venerable father Kuksho, the wonder-worker and confessor of Christ.
Kontakion 3
The Power of the Most descended upon thee, O blessed one, when thou dwelt within the portion of the Theotokos, the holy Mount of Athos, so that thou might become a true disciple of the Most Holy Mother of God and the most venerable Abbess of all monastic monasteries, learning in angelic labor and ascending the mountain by the ladder of ascetic virtue, unceasing crying out to the Author of Salvation, Christ:
Alleluia
Ikos 3
Having truly possessed care for the salvation of the soul, thou didst thine own understanding and entered into total obedience to the elders of the Holy Mountain, so that thou might acquire the mind of Christ. For this reason, God sent to thee an experienced abba and infallible guide, the desert-dweller Melchizedek; and under his elderly guidance thou grew from strength to strength, becoming worthy of the monastic tons. Marveling at such great zeal, we joyfully cry out:
Rejoice, praise of the holy Mount Athos.
Rejoice, beloved of the Almighty Abbess of monastic monasteries.
Rejoice, disciple and follower of the venerable fathers of Athos.
Rejoice, zealous seeker of their labors.
Rejoice, sustaining the invisible warfare against the spiritual powers of evil under the heavens.
Rejoice, receiving the gift of the mental Jesus Prayer.
Rejoice, likening to the founder of monasticism in Russia, the venerable Anthony of the Kiev-Pchersk.
Rejoice, bringing the blessing of the God-saved mountain to the mother of the Russian cities.
Rejoice, our venerable father Kush, wonder-worker and confessor of Christ.
Kontakion 4
Having raised a storm of fierce temptations, the enemy of the race sought to sow discord upon the Holy Mountain to drive thee out from the boundaries of Athos. But thou, venerable one, didst endure this persecution with humility, and coming to the God-chosen city of Kiev, didst inhabit the Cave Lavra of the saints Anthony and Theodosius, so that together with the venerable fathers who rest here incorruptibly with their relics, thou mightest sing a song to the Most Holy Trinity:
Alleluia
Ikos 4
Hearing, O praiseworthy father, the brothers of the Kiev-Pchersk Lavra of thy God-pleasing life and seeing thy firm standing in godliness, marveled at such thy striving toward perfection, desiring to follow thee in all things. And when the devil sowed the destructive tares of innovation upon the field of the Church, thou didst prove an unshakable pillar of the purity of Orthodoxy, father, having confirmed the brethren in this, and dost thou ever hear these:
Rejoice, light of the Orthodox faith.
Rejoice, zealot for the ancestral traditions.
Rejoice, pillar of fire, showing the path of salvation amidst the darkness of godlessness.
Rejoice, having confirmed the brethren in the disastrous time of heretical movements by thy prayers.
Rejoice, having shown all people an example of true God-worshipping.
Rejoice, having quenched the fiercely inflamed cave of God-struggle with the dew of thy confession.
Rejoice, likening to the venerable Anthony, the confessor and martyr of the Kiev-Pchersk.
Rejoice, having inherited all the labors of the saints of Kiev-Pchersk.
Rejoice, our venerable father Kush, wonder-worker and confessor of Christ.
Kondak 5
O Star of God, appearing in the darkness of sin, thou hast shone forth, O holy one, illuminating the city and the great multitude with the radiance of thy wonders. Thus, thou hast fulfilled the prophetic promise of the blessed Serafim of Poltava, when the venerable elder, endowed with divine wisdom, bestowed upon thee the blessing of the archpastor, saying: “A place is prepared for thee in these caverns!” thereby indicating that the Lord would glorify thee through the discovery of thy incorrupt relics. Beholding now the fulfillment of this wondrous prophecy, we venerate thy holy relics with reverence, singing:
Alleluia
Icos 5
Beholding thee, O champion of faith and piety, the impious plotted against thee, casting thee into torments and imprisoning thee. Yet, thou, as a steadfast martyr, didst not heed the cunning of thy enemies, beholding the Divine Passion-bearer and following His patience. For this reason, we extol thee thus:
Rejoice, thou who hast followed the Lord even unto the sufferings of Golgotha.
Rejoice, thou who hast shone forth through thy confession.
Rejoice, thou who hast received many and various sufferings at the hands of the God-haters.
Rejoice, thou who hast been cast into the midst of wild beasts and robbers, like a sheep among wolves.
Rejoice, thou who hast tamed these beasts with thy humility.
Rejoice, thou who hast endured the unbearable cold and the harsh torment of the Siberian wilderness.
Rejoice, thou who hast received comfort from the Lord, as did Elijah, through the ravens of heaven, and hast been nourished by Him in thy hunger.
Rejoice, thou who hast been miraculously delivered from a grievous illness, from which thou wouldst have died.
Rejoice, O blessed Father Kuksha, thou wonderworker and confessor of Christ.
Kondak 6
A preacher of divine grace, a good shepherd, thou hast appeared, when thou didst receive the Divine Gifts from the Bishop of Kiev, Antony, which were sent to thee in secret, and not only didst thou receive them with reverence, but also didst establish the Mystery of Confession, making those who were imprisoned and the brothers and sisters who were being held captive partakers of the Life-giving Mysteries. This Holy Table became the Hidden Supper of the Lord’s disciples, a shining Pascha in the midst of sorrow, a Pentecost, pouring forth streams of fiery Spirit. Having received this blessing, we send forth warm thanksgiving to God and His servant, singing:
Alleluia
Ikos 6
Christ, the Redeemer, shone upon you the light of His mercy, when on the day of the church commemoration of the great martyr George the Victorious, you were led forth from the dark dungeons, an afflicted one, never defeated by the enemy, who sought to bring you low. However, a new trial was set before you, righteous father, when you were exiled far away to a place of settlement, and there you endured great need, having nowhere to bow your head. For this reason, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, O righteous one, who emulated the biblical saints.
Rejoice, O one who rivaled the life of those who passed through afflictions and the skins of goats.
Rejoice, O one who endured your path of tribulations, calumnies, and sorrows without complaint.
Rejoice, O one who, like those who were not worthy of the whole world, underwent a wandering in the deserts, caves, and earthly abysses.
Rejoice, O one to whom, as to the faithful, an oath of gifts was given.
Rejoice, O one to whom the gift of inexpressible miracles was bestowed by the Lord.
Rejoice, O one whom God comforted, and good people, like the widow of Elijah, sent to you.
Rejoice, O one through whom, as through Elijah, a great blessing came upon the houses, which received you.
Rejoice, O venerable father, our Kuksha, Christ’s wonderworker and confessor.
Kondak 7
Although the All-seeing Lord revealed you as a lamp of our dominion, and did not place you in the dust, but on a high candlestick, yet He brought you back again to the Lavra of Kiev-Pechersk, that you might be shown to the world. And the Orthodox people, having found you, the precious pearl, rejoiced inexpressibly and sent up thanksgiving hymns to God:
Alleluia
Ikos 7
You have shown us new wonders, venerable one, the Creator and Ruler of all, who from everywhere came to you, seeking healing from spiritual and bodily afflictions, and you healed them, freeing those possessed by unclean spirits, foretelling the future as if it were present, exposing sinful wounds, and giving all that is necessary for salvation. And the people, delivered from such afflictions by you, call out to you with joy:
Rejoice, O one in whom the holy Church has found a wondrous wonderworker.
Rejoice, O one whose glory of miracles has illuminated our entire land.
Rejoice, O blessed physician of souls and bodies.
Rejoice, O teacher of repentance, spirit-bearing.
Rejoice, O wise and holy schema-monk.
Rejoice, O blessed and gentle elder.
Rejoice, O one who fearlessly drives away the spirits of evil.
Rejoice, O one whom the demons, not tolerating the light of your countenance, flee from afar.
Rejoice, O venerable father, our Kuksha, Christ’s wonderworker and confessor.
Condak 8
Wandering and sorrowful, you appeared, O blessed Father, having fulfilled the words of the Apostle, for all who desire to live a virtuous life shall be persecuted. For the power of the godless has driven you out of the cave-like lair and has led you from Kiev to Pochaev. However, your departure from the Kiev Monastery to Pochaev was accomplished by the will of God, so that you may shine there with your life, singing to God:
Alleluia
Icos 8
All the holy hermits of the Pochaev Mountains have come in joyful trembling, seeing what a blessed father they have found, adorned and crowned with martyrdom’s wreaths by your monastic virtues. Therefore, I shall honor you with these words:
Rejoice, for you are the very Immaculate Mother of God, dwelling here in a miraculous icon, and leaving behind the footprint of your own foot on this mountain, you have taken up residence in this monastery.
Rejoice, for this mountain was for you a second Athos.
Rejoice, O holy Igumen Iov of the Pochaev Lavra, who in all things resembled you.
Rejoice, for you have often been granted the unseen co-servantship with the venerable Iov.
Rejoice, for just as he, you stood firm against the godless currents of the Uniates and schismatics.
Rejoice, for you guided the blinded by the destructive heresies into the bosom of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Rejoice, for you stood angelically in the radiant light of the Divine Eucharist before God.
Rejoice, for you granted the children of your spirit the gift of communion with God through prayer.
Rejoice, for through the tears of your spiritual children, you were delivered from a grievous illness and premature death.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Kuksha, Christ’s wonderworker and confessor.
Condak 9
All human nature has been amazed by your great divine favor, O blessed Father, for you have seen the Lord of Glory, who cannot be seen by angels, with your inner spiritual eyes, constantly directing your mind towards the heavens and singing to your Creator:
Alleluia
Icos 9
You were not skilled in controversies, O humble elder, but just as the Lord enlightened Mary of Egypt by His Spirit, He also enlightened you, and you knew the Gospel and the Psalms of David by heart, never faltering in the church service, and without having a theological education, you explained the Holy Scriptures like a divinely inspired theologian, revealing the sacred depths of God’s mysteries. Marveling at this, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, for you have been enlightened by divine wisdom.
Rejoice, for you have been anointed by the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, for in your weakness, the power of God has been fully accomplished.
Rejoice, for from your words, the poor in spirit are enriched.
Rejoice, for from your paternal teachings, the thirsty and hungry for truth are satisfied.
Rejoice, for you have taught us to despise the flesh, for it is transitory.
Rejoice, for by your example, you have stirred many to diligence, for the soul is immortal.
Rejoice, for your spirit is rejoiced with the angels, O venerable one.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Kuksha, Christ’s wonderworker and confessor.
Condak 10
Thou wert the Savior and deliverance from eternal perdition for all who come to thee with faith and hope, O holy Father, taking away from them the yoke of sinful passions and pernicious desires, and raising them up to the Heavenly Kingdom, where thou dost now stand before the throne of the Lord of Hosts, praying for us, thy children, and singing to God:
Alleluia
Icos 10
Thou wert altogether in the heavens, O most blessed one, stripping away the old man with his deeds and clothing thyself in Christ, whom thou didst love with all thy heart. For this reason, thou wert granted great grace from the Lord, that all might invoke thee with prayer:
Rejoice, O unwearied worker, who hast wrought many fruits.
Rejoice, O venerable Antonius, Pachomius, and Macarius, teacher and heir of the ancient fathers of monasticism.
Rejoice, O all-zealous servant of the Most Holy Trinity, Seraphim of Sаров.
Rejoice, O Serafim of Sаров, who dost greet each one coming to thee with the Paschal greeting, “Christ is risen!”
Rejoice, O venerable Ambrose of Optina, who dost liken thyself to thy children.
Rejoice, O venerable Siluan of Athos, who didst follow contemplation and divine thought.
Rejoice, for thou hast attained the spirit of peace, and thousands have found salvation through thee.
Rejoice, for through thee the Lord hath shown that there are not lacking holy men in Russia.
Rejoice, O holy Father Kuksha, thou wonderworker and confessor of Christ.
Condak 11
We, the inhabitants of the God-saved city of Odessa, offer to thee, O venerable Kuksha, a hymn of praise, for the Lord, like unending gold, hath given thee, having been tried in the furnace of affliction and purified seven times, that thou mayest be a powerful protector and intercessor for this city, preserving it from natural disasters and various afflictions. For this reason, the monastery of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, in which thy holy relics now repose, doth sing a hymn of thanksgiving and praise to God:
Alleluia
Icos 11
Thou wert revealed as a radiant lamp, pouring forth the oil of healing grace, O venerable one, for from thy relics flow streams of miracles, driving away sicknesses, raising the dead, gladdening souls, and conquering the wiles of the devil. For this reason, the fathers and brethren of the Holy Dormition Monastery, daily offering prayer before thy relics, do proclaim to thee with love:
Rejoice, O temple adorned with the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, O censer fragrant with sweet spices, offering incense of good deeds.
Rejoice, O holy shrine, treasure-house of inexhaustible riches.
Rejoice, O vessel of precious gifts, overflowing with inexhaustible treasures.
Rejoice, O one whose relics are not subject to decay, greatly glorified by God.
Rejoice, O one who hast been exalted by the Lord through the outpouring of miracles.
Rejoice, for from thy relics not a single petition is left unanswered.
Rejoice, for thy relics have become a powerful defense and ornament for this city and our monastery.
Rejoice, O holy Father Kuksha, wonderworker and confessor of Christ.
Condak 12
Grant us thy blessing, venerable father, and beseech the aid of God, that we may be able, by learning from thy corrections, to accomplish the good, pleasing, and perfect will of our Savior, and, having lived in piety and righteousness, we may be granted to sing to our Creator an unending hymn in the future age.
Alleluia
Icos 12
As we sing thy God-fearing and pure life, we praise thy many-suffering confessional labors, we venerate thy ascetic struggles, we exalt in prayer thy fiery zeal and boldness towards God, we reverence thy multifaceted care for the faithful and thy pastoral guidance, we glorify thy mortification of the flesh and thy patient endurance of sufferings, which thou hast borne for the sake of God’s love, O holy and great father. Thou hast appeared to us, living in the last days, as a burning lamp and a warm comfort, that we may rejoice little in its light. Do not leave thy children orphaned, grant the aid of thy paternal care, that, guided by thee to spiritual perfection, we may extol and call thee:
Rejoice, associated with the ranks of saints and venerable ones.
Rejoice, most honorable, received in the heavenly Jerusalem.
Rejoice, inscribed in the book of life with golden letters.
Rejoice, having ascended to the bridal chamber of the Lamb, pleasing to God.
Rejoice, having made thy bridal garment whiter than snow.
Rejoice, having inherited the crown of righteousness.
Rejoice, standing before the throne of the Lord, interceding warmly for us.
Rejoice, for all who invoke thy holy name, thou dost intercede boldly.
Rejoice, our venerable father Kuksha, wonderworker and confessor of Christ.
Condak 13
O venerable and God-bearing father Kuksha, great and wondrous worker of miracles! Look upon us, who are in a state of sin and stumbling in the darkness of ignorance, and, by thy God-pleasing intercession, instill the fear of God in our hearts, mortify the fleshly reasoning, preserve us from temptations, establish us in orthodoxy, that we may live a short number of days in piety and orthodoxy, and, delivered from eternal torments, we may be granted to hymn God, worshipped in the Trinity, together with thee in the endless age, singing:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
[This condak is repeated three times.] [We repeat the first ikos and condak:]
Ikos 1
Angel in the flesh, you have appeared to us, O blessed Father, and have shown yourself to the wicked world. You have imitated the holy and venerable martyrs, who by their faith accomplished righteousness, extinguished the fiery power, silenced the lions’ mouths, and caused the enemy’s armies to flee. Therefore, we hymn you with reverence, saying:
Glorify, O chosen one, for being a lamp of our homeland.
Glorify, for having established in it the Orthodox faith through your deeds and miracles.
Glorify, for having confessed it even unto blood and imprisonment.
Glorify, O good imitator of the lives of the great saints of Holy Russia.
Glorify, for appearing unshakeable like adamant in a time of godless turmoil.
Glorify, for having been endowed with inexpressible gifts.
Glorify, for being a blessed guide for monks and a teacher.
Glorify, for being a wise and prophetic spiritual father and teacher of love.
Glorify, O venerable Father Kuksha, Christ’s miracle worker and confessor.
Kondak 1
Chosen miracle worker and glorious servant of Christ, wonderful confessor and unwearied intercessor for us, venerable Father Kuksha, we hymn your hymnographer, the Lord who glorifies you, with a hymn of praise, unworthy as we are. You, having great boldness towards the Lord, free us from all temptations and afflictions, calling out to you:
Glorify, O venerable Father Kuksha, Christ’s miracle worker and confessor.
Prayer to the venerable Father Kuksha of Odessa
O venerable and God-bearing Father Kuksha, glory of the Uspenie of the Theotokos, unfading flower of the God-saved city of Odessa, gentle pastor of Christ and great intercessor for us. We hasten to you with zeal and with a contrite heart, beseeching you:
do not remove your protection from our monastery, in which you accomplished a good struggle. Be a good helper to all who live a blameless life and toil well in it. O good pastor and wise teacher, venerable Father Kuksha, look upon us with mercy, who humbly pray and ask for your help and intercession. Remember all who have faith and love for you, who invoke your name in prayer and come to venerate your holy relics, and graciously fulfill all their good petitions, blessing them with your patriarchal blessing. Deliver, O holy Father, our holy Church from every wile of the enemy, this city, our monastery, and our land. Do not leave us, weak as we are, to the mercy of the enemy, weighed down as we are by many sins and afflictions. Enlighten, O blessed one, our mind with the light of the face of God, strengthen our life with the grace of the Lord, that having been established in the law of Christ, we may walk without stumbling on the path of the holy commandments. Bless us with your blessing, and all who are afflicted in body and soul, granting them healing, consolation, and deliverance. Ask the Lord God and the Most Holy Theotokos to grant us a peaceful and sinless life. Remember us, unworthy as we are, at the throne of the Almighty, and ask for a peaceful Christian end, and enable us, by your help, to attain eternal salvation and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, that we may glorify the great mercy and inexpressible kindness of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, whom we worship in the Trinity, and your paternal intercession for all ages. Amen.