The Akathist to the Forerunner John the Baptist is a prayer that helps to deepen our understanding of this important figure in Christianity. John the Baptist was the precursor to Jesus Christ, who prepared the way for Him to come into the world, and his life and ministry have a profound impact on our faith.
Кондак 1
Chosen from the ages of old as the Forerunner and Baptizer of the Savior of the world, Christ God, we hymn you, O John the Baptist, as the greatest of all born of women, in the flesh an Angel, preacher of repentance; and you, having great boldness towards the Lord, free us from all afflictions and raise us up to repentance, those who call upon you with love:
Raduisia, velikii Ioanne, Prorochi, Predteche i Krestitele Gospodne.
Икос 1
Archangel Gabriel, standing before God, was sent to the priest Zachariah, when he, serving according to his customary order, entered to pray in the Lord’s church; and, standing on the right side of the altar, he announced to him your birth, O great John, proclaiming to Zachariah joy and gladness, and that many would rejoice at your birth. For this reason, we, marveling at the divine will of God and rejoicing, hymn you with reverence:
Raduisia, Soveta Bozhia neizrechennago tainniche;
raduisia, divnago smotreniia Ego ispolnenie.
Raduisia, predshe dni mnozhestvom Isaii obnaruzhennyi;
raduisia, vestnichte pred litsom Gospodnim, drevle prorechenyi.
Raduisia, prednaznachennyi byti velikim prorochom Vyshniago;
raduisia, po obetovaniyu Angela rozhdeny.
Raduisia, eshe vo chrevi materi tvoei Dukh Sviatego ispolnenyi;
raduisia, predshe rozhdestva tvoego na velikoe sluzhenie osviashchenyi.
Raduisia, neplodstva roditelei razreshenie;
raduisia, ierei Bozhii radost i veselie.
Raduisia, dshcheri Aarony prorazhdenie;
raduisia, plod molitvy Bogodarovannyi.
Raduisia, velikii Ioanne, Prorochi, Predteche i Krestitele Gospodne.
Кондак 2
When Zachariah saw the Angel appearing to him, he was troubled, and fear seized him, and he did not believe the words of the announcement about your birth; but when he was bound by dumbness for his unbelief, he wondered at the wondrous miracle, and with all his heart cried out to God:
Alilouia
Икос 2
Men, seeking to understand the incomprehensible, waited for Zachariah, and were amazed, expecting him to speak to them in the church; but when he came out and could not speak to them, but only made signs, all understood that he had seen a vision in the church. We, hymning the wondrous Creator of miracles, God, hymn you thus:
Raduisia, blagii vinovnichte bezglasot otcha;
raduisia, slezi materi tvoei premene na radost.
Raduisia, toia ponoshenia v lyudekh ot’yatie;
raduisia, velikoe rozhdyashchee tebia uteshie.
Raduisia, ya ko v shestyi mesyats o zachatii tvoem Presvyataya Dva Maria v Nazarete ot Angela izvestisya;
raduisia, ya ko o rozhdestve tvoem mnozhi vovseselishas.
Raduisia, ya ko imya blagodatnoe, ot Angela narechennoe, poluchivshii;
raduisia, ya ko imenem tvo
Condak 3
By the power of the Most High, thou didst resolve the sterility of the righteous Elizabeth, who, in her days, didst conceive thee, O blessed Forerunner of the Lord, and for five months didst conceal thyself, saying: “Thus hath the Lord done for me in the days wherein He looked upon me to take away my reproach among men.” When thou didst receive the one bearing Christ in her womb, thou didst fulfill the Holy Spirit and didst cry out with a great voice: “Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?” From her, thou didst rejoice and didst pray to God:
Alleluia
Icos 3
Having gone before the Lord in spirit and power, thou didst fulfill the Holy Spirit even from thy mother’s womb, and from thence didst thou appear as a wondrous Prophet, for when thou didst stir in thy mother’s womb, thou didst rejoice at the coming of the Mother of the Lord. For thou didst know God, who is borne in the bosom of the Blessed, and didst proclaim Him with thy mother’s voice, saying: “It is fitting that the things of God should be the beginning of great glory.” Therefore, we, in awe, do wonder at thee and cry out to thee with joy:
Rejoice, for thou didst precede in the womb of thy mother the Lord, who didst manifest thee in a wondrous joy;
Rejoice, for through thee and thy mother Elizabeth, the Incarnation of Christ was revealed.
Rejoice, for thy mother didst fulfill the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, for she didst appear as a wondrous Prophetess.
Rejoice, for the fruit of thy womb was blessed and named;
Rejoice, O Wisdom of the Divine, who didst manifest thyself.
Rejoice, for the blessing of holy matrimony;
Rejoice, for the wondrous fruit of the womb.
Rejoice, for thy birth didst astonish men;
Rejoice, O radiant Voice of the Word.
Rejoice, O great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord;
Condak 4
Zechariah the priest, troubled by the storm of doubt, could not speak, according to the angelic word. But when, O Forerunner of the Lord, thy birth didst occur, and thy blessed name was written, then thy mouth and tongue were opened, and thou didst speak, blessing God, and didst prophesy, saying: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and wrought salvation for His people, and thou, O child, shalt be called a Prophet of the Most High, singing to Him:
Alleluia
Ikos 4
When the surrounding inhabitants heard of your glorious and wondrous nativity, O blessed Forerunner of the Lord, they exclaimed in amazement, saying, “What then will this child be?” We, however, O glorious Forerunner, worthy of honor and praise, do thus glorify you:
Rejoice, O one filled with the blessings of your conception from the very beginning;
Rejoice, O one glorified by God at your birth.
Rejoice, O one called a Prophet of the Most High from your father;
Rejoice, O one enlightened and strengthened by the Holy Spirit in your childhood.
Rejoice, O one who became a kinsman of God incarnate;
Rejoice, O one who received the high office of Forerunner and Baptizer from God.
Rejoice, O dawn, who announced a new light to the world;
Rejoice, O star, who illuminated the path leading to Christ.
Rejoice, O daybreak, of the sun that never sets;
Rejoice, O lamp, of the unquenchable light.
Rejoice, O one preparing the way for the coming Christ;
Rejoice, O one manifesting yourself as both Angel and Man.
Rejoice, O great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord.
Kondak 5
The wicked decree of the child-murdering Herod, driven by his lawless will, expelled you from your father’s house into the impassable wilderness, O Forerunner of the Lord, carrying your mother’s burden, where you remained until the day of your manifestation to Israel, feeding on locusts and wild honey, and crying out to God:
Alleluia
Ikos 5
Beholding the wondrous providence of God concerning you, O blessed Forerunner, as one who from infancy showed yourself a lover of the ascetic life, you were therefore sent by the will of the Most High to proclaim to men the salvation that is to come in Christ, and thus we call out to you with wonder and love:
Rejoice, for even as a child, you terrified King Herod;
Rejoice, O one preserved by the right hand of the Most High from the vain slaughter.
Rejoice, O fragrant balm of the thorns of the wilderness;
Rejoice, O one who astonished all by the heights of your virtues.
Rejoice, O faithful guide of the right path;
Rejoice, O one who preserved the purity and chastity of all.
Rejoice, O one who perfectly embodied the self-denial of the Gospel;
Rejoice, O refuge and confirmation of monks.
Rejoice, O enlightenment of theologians’ minds;
Rejoice, O one who opens the doors of God’s mercy to sinners.
Rejoice, O one who grants forgiveness from the Lord to repentant sinners;
Rejoice, O one who helps to produce the fruits of worthy repentance.
Rejoice, O great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord.
Condak 6
Thou art glorious, O preacher of the divine Forerunner, appearing in the wilderness of the Jordan during the days of Christ’s manifestation to the world. For this reason, thou didst show the people the One who was to come to thee, saying: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world!”; and we, having come to know Him by faith, sing to Him:
Alleluia
Icos 6
Thou didst shine forth as a light of truth, O blessed John, the Forerunner, revealing the glory of the Father to all, which had been manifested in the flesh for our sake. Thou didst cry out in the wilderness to the people: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand: make worthy fruits of repentance.” For behold, He is coming after me, who baptizeth with water and the Spirit.” For this reason, we praise thee with the hymn:
Rejoice, herald of the Messiah’s coming;
rejoice, preparer of the Lord’s paths.
Rejoice, advocate of old and new grace;
rejoice, beginning and end of the prophets.
Rejoice, renowned voice of the Word;
rejoice, herald of repentance with a loud voice.
Rejoice, one who turned many sons of Israel to the Lord;
rejoice, one who prepared people for the Lord.
Rejoice, one who boldly rebuked Pharisees and Sadducees;
rejoice, one who taught the creation of worthy fruits of repentance.
Rejoice, guide of spiritual enlightenment;
rejoice, unceasing intercessor for those seeking thy help.
Rejoice, great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord.
Condak 7
Wishing to be baptized by thee in the Lord Jesus, O blessed John, thou didst say: “I need to be baptized by thee,” but obeying, I said to Him: “Leave me now,” thou didst raise thy hand on His head and, baptizing one who did not require cleansing, thou didst cry out:
Alleluia
Icos 7
Having willed to baptize with new grace, the Lord, who had mercy on thee, enabled thee to see the Lord’s coming and to hear the Father’s voice from heaven, testifying to His Sonship. From this, thou didst teach us to worship the One God in Three Hypostases. With our feeble lips, we praise thee in honor of this, saying:
Rejoice, first preacher of the Theophany of the Triune God;
rejoice, true worshipper of the One God in Three Hypostases.
Rejoice, one who clearly saw the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove;
rejoice, witness to His descent from the Father to the Son.
Rejoice, one who heard the voice from heaven, the Father’s voice;
rejoice, beholder of the Father’s love for the Son.
Rejoice, chosen Baptizer of the Son of God;
rejoice, fulfiller of His holy will.
Rejoice, zealous guardian of glorious service for the salvation of humanity;
rejoice, first fulfiller of the great Mystery of Baptism.
Rejoice, herald of divine joy;
rejoice, first teacher of the New Covenant.
Rejoice, great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord.
Condak 8
Beholding the strange and ineffable humility of the incarnate God, O blessed Forerunner, thou didst incline thy divine head in reverence and didst receive the servile baptism, thereby filling thyself with great humility. Pray, therefore, that we, who are beset by pride, may be granted this blessed virtue, that we may cry out to Him with a humble heart:
Alleluia
Icos 8
Having been filled with all the blessings of the divine gifts, O blessed John, thou didst bring the temporal course of life to a close, teaching all men the fulfillment of the Law and repentance, whereby to please the Lord. Therefore, we offer thee this grateful hymn of praise, O great teacher of truth:
Rejoice, O sower of the Lord’s laws and justifications;
Rejoice, O reprover of Herod’s lawlessness.
Rejoice, O guardian of correction;
Rejoice, O sufferer of the dungeon and chains for the sake of righteousness.
Rejoice, O one whose head was severed for the sake of truth;
Rejoice, O one whose body was honorably buried by thy disciples.
Rejoice, O one whose head was preserved by divine providence;
Rejoice, O one whose head was given as a consolation, sanctification, and example to Christians.
Rejoice, O one whose hand, which baptized the Lord, is venerated by the faithful;
Rejoice, O one by whom many miracles are wrought to this day.
Rejoice, O great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord.
Condak 9
All the angelic host was amazed at the height of thy service, O blessed John, and the Church reverently glorifies thee as the friend of Christ, who preceded Him in spirit and power, like Elijah. Envious of the truth, thou didst boldly rebuke the Pharisees and the lawless Herod, and thou didst receive a martyr’s end from him. Therefore, we, who venerate thy glorious head, pray to thee:
Alleluia
Icos 9
It is not worthy for mortal men to praise thee, O blessed John, the divine hymnographer, for the lips of Christ have praised thee, and the highest of the prophets and the greatest of those born of women have named thee. Therefore, we, who are unable to offer thee worthy praise, cry out to thee with the following hymn:
Rejoice, O great glory of the Church of Christ;
Rejoice, O wondrous miracle of the angels.
Rejoice, O joy and glory of the patriarchs;
Rejoice, O high praise of the prophets.
Rejoice, O radiant crown of the apostles;
Rejoice, O wondrous beauty of the holy fathers.
Rejoice, O beginning of the new grace of the martyrs;
Rejoice, O completion of the righteous.
Rejoice, O nourishment of the virtuous;
Rejoice, O foundation of the virgins and the ascetics.
Rejoice, O great consolation of all Christians;
Rejoice, O one whose name is glorified by all Christian peoples.
Rejoice, O great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord.
Condak 10
You have proclaimed to the world the coming of Christ, the God in the flesh, and to those dwelling in Hades: just as the dawn precedes the sun, you have illuminated those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. From this, you have soon led forth the Lord, along with all the righteous from the beginning of the ages, singing to Him as the Savior and Conqueror of death.
Alleluia
Icos 10
O divine John, a refuge and a salvation for all who come to you with prayer, we hymn you with praises:
Rejoice, our mighty intercessor and faithful guardian from harm;
rejoice, swift helper and deliverer from the wiles of evil spirits.
Rejoice, bestower of blessing upon the barren from God;
rejoice, deliverer from the turmoil of passions for those who come to you with faith.
Rejoice, peacemaker in times of strife;
rejoice, provider of swift aid in every need and sorrow.
Rejoice, one who frees from the deception of self and from the allure of sin;
rejoice, helper in the hour of death, presenting our supplications to you.
Rejoice, liberator from the aerial temptations through your intercession;
rejoice, one who grants eternal life through your prayers to those who honor your glorious memory.
Rejoice, protector of the poor, widows, and orphans;
rejoice, refuge and hope of Christians, through God and the Mother of God.
Rejoice, great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord.
Condak 11
No hymn can suffice to extol your virtues, O Baptizer of the Lord, but we, moved by love, dare to sing your praises, that you, the first among the throne of the Holy Trinity, may graciously accept them from us, and intercede for us to be freed from all impurities of sin, that we may sing to God with a pure heart and lips:
Alleluia
Icos 11
You, O John, are filled with the light of the Unapproachable Light and with all the blessings of the Holy Spirit, and we joyfully offer you these:
Rejoice, one who has been enlightened by the divine Light from above;
rejoice, one who has glorified God through your virtues.
Rejoice, one who has revealed the glory of the Holy Trinity;
rejoice, one who has shown the right and wonderful path to heaven.
Rejoice, herald of God, who has appeared in the flesh;
rejoice, one who has gladdened the souls of the righteous, held in Hades from the beginning of the ages.
Rejoice, faithful friend of Christ, the God;
rejoice, one who has revealed the true Light to the world.
Rejoice, shining light of the evangelical radiance;
rejoice, glory of the Christian race.
Rejoice, fulfillment of the divine counsel;
rejoice, for your name is praised from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Rejoice, great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord.
Condak 12
Thou art blessed, O Theophoros, the Forerunner of the Lord, and by that name thou hast been enriched, O glorious Victor, who didst appear: for thou hast conquered the enemies and all wickedness, and thy great service hath been sealed by thy martyrdom. Now, standing before the Throne of the King of Kings, pray that He grant the faithful victory over their enemies and all blessings, and a strengthening in virtues to those who sing to Him:
Alleluia
Icos 12
Singing the God who is glorified in thee, we praise thee, O blessed Forerunner, as the sincere friend of Christ, we extol thy great deeds, we bless thy martyrdom, and we joyfully cry to thee:
Rejoice, O Universal Apostle and First Martyr of the New Testament;
Rejoice, O First Preacher of the Kingdom of Heaven, who revealed Christ on earth.
Rejoice, O Herald of the Divine Calling of the Nations;
Rejoice, O Revealer of the hidden and mysterious wisdom of God to the world.
Rejoice, O Fruitful Doer of Divine Works, surpassing the others;
Rejoice, O One who has glorified the Heavenly Father through the light of thy deeds.
Rejoice, O One who in thy memory causes the Church of Christ to rejoice beyond measure;
Rejoice, O One who now enjoys an abundance of eternal joy.
Rejoice, O One who is illuminated by the rays of the Triune Light;
Rejoice, O One who unceasingly sings the Triune Hymn to God.
Rejoice, O Great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord;
Condak 13
O Great and Glorious Forerunner and Baptizer of the Lord John, accept from us the prayer we offer to thee now, and through thy prayers, which are pleasing to God, deliver us from all evil, and from eternal sufferings, and make us heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, that we may sing to God:
Alleluia
[This condak is repeated three times.]
[We repeat the first ikos and condak:]
Icos 1
Archangel Gabriel, standing before God, was sent to the priest Zachariah, when he, performing his customary service, entered the church of the Lord; and, standing on the right side of the altar, he announced thy birth, O Great John, proclaiming to Zachariah the joy and gladness, and that many would rejoice at thy birth. For this reason, we, amazed and rejoicing at the wondrous will of God, and with reverence, sing thy praise:
Rejoice, O Unseen and Unutterable Mystery of the Divine Council;
Rejoice, O Fulfillment of His wondrous consideration.
Rejoice, O One who was manifested before many years by the prophecy of Isaiah;
Rejoice, O Herald before the face of the Lord, foretold from ancient times.
Rejoice, O One who was destined to be a great prophet of the Most High;
Rejoice, O One born according to the promise of the Angel.
Rejoice, O One who was filled with the Holy Spirit in thy mother’s womb;
Rejoice, O One who was sanctified for great service before thy birth.
Rejoice, O One who brought an end to the barrenness of thy parents;
Rejoice, O Joy and Gladness of the Priest of God.
Rejoice, O Daughter of Aaron, who sprouted;
Rejoice, O Fruit of Prayer, blessed by God.
Rejoice, O Great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord;
Кондак 1
Thou hast been chosen from the ages of old to be the Forerunner and Baptizer of the Saviour of the world, Christ God. O blessed John, we hymn thee, hymning thy hymner, the Lord, as the greatest of all born of women, in the flesh an Angel, preacher of repentance. Thou, having great boldness towards the Lord, dost free us from all afflictions and raise us to repentance, those who call upon thee with love:
Rejoice, O great John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptizer of the Lord.
Molitva
O Baptizer of Christ, preacher of repentance, do not despise me, a sinner, but, uniting thyself with the heavenly hosts, pray to the Lord on my behalf, unworthy, sorrowful, weak, and afflicted, having fallen into many afflictions, tormented by the turbulent thoughts of my mind. For I am a den of evil deeds, without end to the habit of sin: my mind is bound to earthly things. What shall I do, I do not know, and to whom shall I turn, that my soul may be saved, but to thee, O holy John, bearer of the same name, as I know thee to be greater than all born of women, having been privileged to touch the very top of Christ, the King, who takes away the sins of the world, the Lamb of God. Pray to Him on behalf of my sinful soul, that from now on, until the eleventh hour, I may bear the good burden and receive the reward with the last. Yea, O Baptizer of Christ, venerable Forerunner, last Prophet, first martyr in grace, guide of ascetics and hermits, teacher of purity, and near friend of Christ, I beseech thee, I turn to thee, do not turn me away from thy protection, but raise me up, fallen by many sins: renew my soul by repentance, as a second baptism, for thou art the leader of both: by baptism, thou dost wash away sin, and by repentance, thou dost preach cleansing from any wicked deed. Purify me, then, who am defiled by sin, and grant me to enter, as is possible, into the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.