The Akathist to the Icon of the Mother of God ‘Comfort’ is a prayer that helps us find comfort and protection in difficult situations. Reading this akathist helps strengthen our faith and trust in the Mother of God, who is always ready to help us in our life.
Kondak 1
We extol thee, O Most Pure Virgin Mother, the joy and praise of the heavenly hosts, the correction of the entire human race, and our sole hope. Grant us, O Most Pure One, a blessed consolation, that we may sing to thee in reverence, beholding thy wondrous image:
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our radiant Consolation.
Icos 1
The faces of the angels marvel at thy wondrous image, O Most Pure Virgin and Mother, wherein thou dost gently extend the hand of the Eternal One, bearing the Infant’s right hand. What is this sign of thy image? We say, singing thus:
Rejoice, O Mother of the Most High;
Rejoice, O wondrous haven of grace;
Rejoice, O heavenly Consolation;
Rejoice, O known Hope of humanity.
Rejoice, for thy image proclaims salvation to the entire earth;
Rejoice, for thy gaze brings comfort to those who endure affliction.
Rejoice, O heavenly Light, illuminating the darkness of our days;
Rejoice, O eternal Flower, reviving the transience of our deeds.
Rejoice, for thou dost intercede for peace with the Son;
Rejoice, for in fervent prayer, thou dost shine like a lamp.
Rejoice, for we joyfully exclaim to thee;
Rejoice, for we sing to thee in hymns.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our radiant Consolation.
Kondak 2
The human mind is bewildered by the mysteries of thy nature, O Most Blessed Virgin, for thou, by the action of the Holy Spirit, hast received the Word of the Father without seed, and hast united God with humanity, commanding all to sing thy hymn:
Alleluia
Icos 2
O Virgin, the Holy Mountain of Athos, given to thy Son as a gift, dost protect it with thy patronage from above, preserving it from harm and affliction. The wonders of thy blessed icons are celebrated in the monasteries of Athos, and the voices of the saints praise thee:
Rejoice, O Virgin, Consolation in sorrow;
Rejoice, O swift listener in affliction.
Rejoice, O Odigitria, guiding those on the path;
Rejoice, O guardian of the sacred gates of the temples.
Rejoice, O good herald of hope to those in distress;
Rejoice, O sure consolation for those who come to thee.
Rejoice, O Eleousa, treasure of the poor;
Rejoice, O secret benefactress of those who honor thee.
Rejoice, O Virgin, who in the cell of the elder said “Rejoice” in a wondrous manner;
Rejoice, O life-giving Mother.
Rejoice, for thou dost deserve to be praised;
Rejoice, for we are bound to honor thee.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our radiant Consolation.
Canon 3
O, humble and proud beauty of the Virgin, the gentle “Be it so” in the eyes of the Merciful One annuls all; behold, the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin and the Unapproachable God dwells with men, and we offer thanksgiving hymns with unceasing lips:
Alleluia
Ikos 3
Standing on the shore of the sea, the light of prayer shines before God, the holy places of Athos, and the glory of the All-Holy Mother of God illuminates Athos, calling the monks to hymnody at all times, and we sing:
Rejoice, O glory of the most desired deserts;
Rejoice, O wonder of the heavenly heights.
Rejoice, O dew of the mountains;
Rejoice, O sanctification of the rocks and ravines.
Rejoice, O one through whom the path to heavenly countries is opened;
Rejoice, O one through whom the gate of eternal spring is opened.
Rejoice, O fragrance of consolation, sweet delight;
Rejoice, O red flower, ever-flowing sweetness.
Rejoice, O light of the east, illuminating the depths of the earth;
Rejoice, O life-giving stream, revealing living water.
Rejoice, O voice of unceasing prayers;
Rejoice, O shield of sacred settlements.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our shining Refuge.
Canon 4
O, humanity, for our salvation, O Virgin, you stand in prayer before the most sweet Son; O, Mother, our good Refuge, you behold the abyss of our bitter sins, and we, fallen in the abyss of despair, dare not lift our eyes or sing:
Alleluia
Ikos 4
The Vatopedi monastery is renowned for its wondrous image, which bears the ancient name of Refuge. The tradition of the blessed elders preserves the blessed and wondrous account of the intercession of the Mother of God, that, hearing this, we may sing to the Immaculate One:
Rejoice, O good Refuge of peace;
Rejoice, O firm wall and bulwark.
Rejoice, O wonder beyond telling;
Rejoice, O heaven of heavens, resplendent with glory.
Rejoice, O silence of those who love;
Rejoice, O peace of those who seek the desired heaven.
Rejoice, O one through whom every soul is quickened;
Rejoice, O one through whom the dead mind is resurrected.
Rejoice, O furnace of faith, where unbelief is melted;
Rejoice, O secret power, which raises from the ashes.
Rejoice, O glory of the sober hermits;
Rejoice, O stronghold of the vigilant monks.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our shining Refuge.
Condak 5
O Most Holy Theotokos, who hast given life to all the world, and hast revealed the depths of Thy mercy, behold with Thy most piercing gaze the depths of our sorrows, and with Thy most attentive ear, hear the sighs of mortals, and hasten to our aid, and teach us to pray to the All-Beneficent:
Alleluia
Icos 5
Those who are greedy for gold and blood, and who, like robbers, assail Thy holy monastery by sea, and who, in the dead of night, break open the doors, and slay the monks, and plunder the sacred treasures. But Thou, O unwearied Protectress, dost defend Thy own inheritance, and dost cause us to glorify Thee:
Rejoice, O Vatopedi, our joy;
Rejoice, O barrier against the enemy’s cunning.
Rejoice, O manifestation of the wicked’s counsels;
Rejoice, O shield against the fierce enemies.
Rejoice, O Thou who dost not sleep, guarding Thy own inheritance;
Rejoice, O Thou who dost ward off the clouds of deadly arrows.
Rejoice, O Thou who dost venerate those who reverence the holiness of Thy icons;
Rejoice, O Thou who dost glorify the hymns of Thy many wonders.
Rejoice, O Thou who dost conquer the humble, and dost bring low the proud;
Rejoice, O Thou who dost defend the righteous, and dost bring shame to the liars.
Rejoice, O Thou who art the rudder of the lost;
Rejoice, O Thou who art the censer of our prayers.
Rejoice, O Theotokos, our shining hope.
Condak 6
Thy virgin gaze, O blessed Mother, pours forth streams of love and mercy: Thou dost preserve us in our comings and goings, dost save the faithful on land and sea, and dost deliver us from the depths of sin, if only a spark of repentance be kindled in our hearts, to sing:
Alleluia
Icos 6
Having completed the common prayer at the hour of morning, and having gone to the cell until the Liturgy, the igumen of the monastery, alone praying in the church, heard the voice of Thy icon, saying: “Do not open the doors today.” Trembling, the old man exclaimed:
Rejoice, O Maiden, for Thou art the guardian of the sanctuary;
Rejoice, O Thou who dost save Thy house now.
Rejoice, O Thou who art a shield both by day and by night;
Rejoice, O Thou who art a mighty force.
Rejoice, O Thou who dost show mercy to sinners;
Rejoice, O Thou who dost vanquish those who rise up against us.
Rejoice, O Thou who art the crown of hope, the sign of peace;
Rejoice, O Thou who art the rod of victory, the promise of glory.
Rejoice, O Thou who art like a sapphire, shining with the beauty of heaven;
Rejoice, O Thou who art the radiant throne and chariot of the King.
Rejoice, O Thou whose voice is sweet to our ears;
Rejoice, O Thou whose image is fair to behold.
Rejoice, O Theotokos, our shining hope.
Kondak 7
Behold, the Son of Man is near, and His fearful Judgment is at the door, as the sacred Scriptures proclaim to us. Yet we are unmindful of our end, slothful and idle, and we do not heed the stern warning, for we are all bound by the whims of the world. But, with faith and love, we flee to you, O Theotokos, and cry out to God:
Alleluia
Icos 7
The venerable elder igumen raises his gaze to the icon and beholds: behold, the faces before him come to life, and the threatening Infant with His hand covers the mouth of the Virgin, saying: “O Mother, do not prophesy, lest they be punished.” The elder, filled with awe, sings the hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos thus:
Rejoice, O Virgin, Mistress of the World;
Rejoice, O Queen of the Heavens, blessed one.
Rejoice, for you assuage the wrath of God;
Rejoice, for you avert the fearful Judgment.
Rejoice, O All-merciful Mother, deliverance from affliction;
Rejoice, O gracious Helper, hope of souls.
Rejoice, for you quickly dispel our sorrows;
Rejoice, for you miraculously heal the diseases of the wicked.
Rejoice, as the dawn, you pour forth a gentle light;
Rejoice, as the sun, you warm the cold hearts.
Rejoice, O wondrous Maiden of the Lord;
Rejoice, O divine Intercessor.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our shining Refuge.
Kondak 8
Unitedly, O Virgin, we direct our gaze to you, for you will not abandon us on the day of reckoning. Stretch forth, therefore, your merciful hand to us, for we have fallen into the abyss of eternal torment, and who will deliver us from the coming torments, and who will establish us, that we may pray:
Alleluia
Icos 8
The Mother holds out the hand of the sweet Son and, turning her face aside, says to the elder: “Let all the brothers go out to the walls and repel the fierce robbers!” The elder proclaims the whole brotherhood, and, seeing the wonder, they all sing the hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos thus:
Rejoice, O blessed Mother of Christ;
Rejoice, O peaceful haven of the desert.
Rejoice, though we do not know how to praise you with worthy words;
Rejoice, though we do not know how to bring you worthy praise.
Rejoice, for you bear the eternal Light unapproachable;
Rejoice, for you hold the fiery Essence incomprehensible.
Rejoice, for you are our unshakeable wall;
Rejoice, for you are the boundless sea of your mercy.
Rejoice, O most honorable of Cherubim;
Rejoice, O most glorious of Seraphim.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our shining Refuge.
Condak 9
Job, the sufferer before God, wisely teaches us, saying: Behold, piety is wisdom and a blessing for all who depart from the world, and a sweet labor of prayer for those whom the Mother of God helps and strengthens in their prayers, that they may cry out:
Alleluia
Icos 9
Let us rejoice in the temple, beholding the precious list of the icon of the Consolation of the Athonite monasteries, and let us mentally unite ourselves with the hymns of the Athonite fathers, who from the mountain heights, above the clouds, pray for us to the Immaculate One:
Rejoice, O Holy One of the nations and of the peoples;
Rejoice, O blessed one of all Christians.
Rejoice, O One who received the Fire in the womb;
Rejoice, O One who revealed the Word in the flesh.
Rejoice, O Light that clothed itself in light, bringing Christ into the world;
Rejoice, O Ladder leading from earth to heaven.
Rejoice, O Bread of Manna, sweet food for the hungry;
Rejoice, O Golden Cup, new wine for the thirsty.
Rejoice, O Silent Glory of the Angels;
Rejoice, O Good Hope of men.
Rejoice, O Heavenly Heaven, shining light for the faithful;
Rejoice, O Fertile Field, bringing joy to all souls.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our shining Refuge.
Condak 10
Stretching our mind to heaven, raising our senses above the fleeting world, O how wondrous it is to be saved from the world, having one spirit’s aspiration towards the higher things, and one heart’s hope in God. Help us, O Virgin Theotokos, and lead us on the right path, that we may cry out:
Alleluia
Icos 10
Guiding us on the path from Mount Athos to the north, under the shelter of the monasteries’ blessing, as a pledge of heavenly aid, the holy Athonite monk says: Behold, the blessing of the Mistress! Pray and believe, and sing:
Rejoice, for you are our shelter of blessings;
Rejoice, for you are our pledge of hope.
Rejoice, as a comfort in troubles;
Rejoice, as a soothing balm for those in sin.
Rejoice, as one who strengthens hearts in the hour of God’s wrath;
Rejoice, as one who enlightens minds in the day of trial.
Rejoice, as one who drives away the clouds of evil counsel;
Rejoice, as one who saves us from destruction in times of need.
Rejoice, as our one safe harbor in times of turmoil;
Rejoice, as one who delivers us from the snares of false wisdom.
Rejoice, as our peaceful joy in life;
Rejoice, as our heavenly glory in eternity.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our shining Refuge.
Condak 11
Dark forces in the world rule by power and glory, and they do not know the light of Christ, but only prayer is the strength of the faithful, and their tears are the pledge and victory, and glory. O Mother of God, grant us a shower of tears and raise us up with a refreshing wind, singing:
Alleluia
Icos 11
The joy shines on the faces, the voice cries out from Mount Athos: The Lady is approaching you, come out, meet the Heavenly Maiden with candles, meet her with tears of joy, love, and compassion, and celebrate, and sing with a bright voice:
Rejoice, O most holy and immaculate one;
Rejoice, O throne exalted above;
Rejoice, O heavenly choirs’ hymn;
Rejoice, O trembling of the demonic powers.
Rejoice, as you are the joy of human hearts;
Rejoice, as you are the salvation of souls who have strayed.
Rejoice, as your voice proclaims eternal joy;
Rejoice, as your gaze promises us eternal peace.
Rejoice, as you intercede for us with the Son and God;
Rejoice, as you open the doors of the heavenly palaces for us.
Rejoice, O temple of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, O tabernacle of the living God.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our shining Refuge.
Condak 12
Today we sing the hymn of the most blessed Mary: She is the sweetness, the paradise, and the blessedness, the refuge in times of trial and wrath, and the hope of eternal blessedness after death. Rejoice, then, O zealous Intercessor, and grant us joy before God:
Alleluia
Icos 12
May the image of the Mother of God, the Refuge, protect this monastery and the churches, and may the lampada before the saving face of the Maiden never cease to burn, and may the monks and the laity sing with one voice, unceasingly:
Rejoice, O temple, shining brighter than Zion;
Rejoice, O light and glory of Mount Athos.
Rejoice, O monks, with unceasing thoughts;
Rejoice, O hymns of the virgins, unceasingly sung.
Rejoice, as you send us the dew of consolation in the day;
Rejoice, as you wipe away our tears of sorrow at night.
Rejoice, O wondrous name, working wonders in secret;
Rejoice, O holy myrrh, poured out in the world.
Rejoice, as you pour out upon us an endless light;
Rejoice, as you are with us eternally, the eternal Infant.
Rejoice, O shining light of the people who honor you;
Rejoice, O joy of us, who sing your praises.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, our shining Refuge.
Condak 13
Oh, all-praiseworthy Maiden, radiant our Consolation, eternal Mother of the sweet Son! Guard us from all afflictions and sorrows, and from future sufferings, O blessed one, and enable us to sing eternal hymns at the heavenly throne:
Alleluia
[This condak is repeated thrice.]
[We then repeat the first ikos and condak:]
Ikos 1
The faces of the angels marvel at Your image, O most holy Virgin and Mother, wherein You gently extend Your right hand, holding the hand of the Eternal Child. What is this sign of the image? We say, singing thus:
Rejoice, O Maiden, Mother of the Most High;
rejoice, O wondrous paradise of grace,
Rejoice, O heavenly Consolation of ours;
rejoice, O known Hope of humanity.
Rejoice, for Your image proclaims salvation to the whole earth;
rejoice, for Your gaze is comfort to those who dwell in darkness.
Rejoice, O heavenly light, illuminating the darkness of our days;
rejoice, O eternal flower, reviving the withering deeds of mortals.
Rejoice, for You bring prayers to the Son for peace;
rejoice, for You burn like a lamp in fervent prayer.
Rejoice, for we joyfully exclaim to You;
rejoice, for we sing hymns to You.
Rejoice, O Mother of God, radiant our Consolation.
Condak 1
The joy and praise of the heavenly hosts, and the correction of all humanity, we extol You, O all-praiseworthy Virgin Mother. You, our sole hope, graciously bestow upon souls the gift of consolation, that we may sing hymns to You, extolling Your wondrous image:
Rejoice, O Mother of God, radiant our Consolation.
Prayer
O, most holy and blessed Lady, Mother of God, Virgin, and Bride unwedded, our radiant Consolation, and most desired Comfort!
Receive this bold and unwavering prayer, offered to You from the lips of sinful and unworthy souls, and presented before Your holy and radiant image.
Have mercy on us, O merciful and compassionate, and lovingly benevolent our Intercessor, and do not deliver us to the judgment and wrath of Your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom we have sinned without number, and are guilty of condemnation and His righteous decree, whereby we shall be punished according to our sins, exceeding the measure of His patience.
Look down from Your lofty heights, where the angels tremble to praise You, and behold our lowly poverty: how we are impoverished in faith, how we are afflicted in hope, and how we are barren in love, how our minds are darkened, and our hearts hardened. Heal us with Your prayer, O Virgin, our healer.
Raise us, who have fallen in spirit, strengthen those whose minds are weakened, stir up those who are sorrowful and despairing, and heal those who are suffering in soul and body.
Look upon this city [or: this monastery, or: this entire place] and have mercy on it, O God, through Your intercession, and restrain the wrath of God. Tame the proud ambitions of men and their apostasy. Let the gentle breath of Your grace fall upon troubled souls and crushed hearts.
Preserve the chastity of marriage, the honor of motherhood, and the blessing of virginity. Send the illuminating ray of divine light upon the dwellings of our homes, that our deeds may be revealed as unworthy, and our words may be ashamed, and our wicked thoughts may be subdued.
O, most peaceful, blessed, and tranquil Mother, who sorrow for our falls and yearn for our salvation! Soothe the storms of the Church, calm the schisms, gather the scattered, bring back the apostates, and lead all to the unity of the Holy Church, that we may praise, as on earth, so also in