Akathist to the Icon of the Mother of God ‘Inquiry of the Dead’

The Akathist to the Icon of the Mother of God ‘Inquiry of the Dead’ is a prayer read in churches to ask for the help and protection of the Mother of God for those who are in a state of death or need help in life. This prayer helps people feel the support and protection of the Mother of God, even in the most difficult situations.

Condak 1

We offer you thankful hymns, O Invincible Ruler, Queen of Heaven and earth, who has granted us the wondrous icon of the Intercessor. You, as a benevolent Mother, do not reject our prayer, but rather graciously accept it, and enable us to cry out to you thus:

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin Theotokos, all-holy Mother, who intercedes for the perishing.

Icos 1

When the heavenly voice of the holy Anna was heard, saying: ‘Conceive and give birth to the blessed Mary, through whom all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed and salvation shall come to the whole world’; we, who have come to know this, shall cry out to the Theotokos:

Rejoice, O Mother of God’s Son;

Rejoice, O immaculate Maiden.

Rejoice, O Mother of our salvation;

Rejoice, O unapproachable tabernacle.

Rejoice, O benevolence to mortals;

Rejoice, O boldness of mortals towards God.

Rejoice, O most chaste Cherub;

Rejoice, O most glorious and incomparable Seraphim.

Rejoice, O destruction of hell and death;

Rejoice, O gift of eternal life.

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin Theotokos, all-holy Mother, who intercedes for the perishing.

Condak 2

When your holy parents, Joachim and Anna, saw that you were, O Immaculate One, a blessed fruit, they gave thanks to God and, standing before the temple doors, made a vow to consecrate you to the Lord, singing to Him:

Alleluia

Icos 2

You have acquired perfect understanding, O Theotokos, having been nurtured in the holy of holies. May you also not cease to enlighten and instruct all Christians with the light of understanding, and may they cry out to you thus:

Rejoice, O one who leads to the knowledge of God;

Rejoice, O one who turns the deceived to the light of truth.

Rejoice, O one who fills the hearts with the fear of God;

Rejoice, O one who teaches reverence before the holy.

Rejoice, O one who stirs up zeal for salvation;

Rejoice, O one who teaches to reverence the temples of God.

Rejoice, O one who inspires to find refuge in them;

Rejoice, O one who stirs up a thirst for the Holy Mysteries.

Rejoice, O one who ignites faith and love towards God;

Rejoice, O champion of chastity and purity.

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin Theotokos, all-holy Mother, who intercedes for the perishing.

Condak 3

By the power of the Most High, Thou, O Blessed One, didst receive the tidings of the angel Gabriel, who brought the announcement of the birth of the Son of God, our Savior, to the world; and Thou, with humility, as a servant of the Lord, didst cry out to God:

Alleluia

Icos 3

Having within Thee the Christ, the Giver of Life, Thou didst shine forth, O Blessed One, to Thy kinswoman, the righteous Elizabeth, and Thou didst kiss her, both of you mothers, rejoicing in our God, the Savior. Therefore, as a source of holy joy, we cry out to Thee thus:

Rejoice, Thou who dost alleviate our heavy life;

Rejoice, Thou who dost drive away bitter troubles and afflictions.

Rejoice, Thou who dost save us from sorrow and despair;

Rejoice, Thou who dost guide us to receive the trials of God as blessings.

Rejoice, Thou who dost bring us comfort in all our sufferings;

Rejoice, Thou in whom our good desires are fulfilled.

Rejoice, Thou who dost cut off our wicked intentions;

Rejoice, Thou who dost warm the hearts of the faithful with the fire of Thy maternal love.

Rejoice, Thou who dost enlighten us with the gift of the Holy Spirit;

Rejoice, Thou who art the merciful Mother of all who suffer and are oppressed.

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin, all-holy Mother, who dost seek out those who have gone astray.

Condak 4

A storm of doubts assails my mind, how can I, with unworthy lips, praise Thee, O Most Holy Virgin, for Thy great help to us; therefore, with humility, I sing to the Almighty God, extolling Thy countless mercies:

Alleluia

Icos 4

The shepherds of Bethlehem heard the angels singing of the birth of Christ, and they hastened to the cave, where they found Thee, O God-bearer, holding in Thy arms the Eternal Infant. With them, in spiritual joy, we say to Thee, as our common Mother:

Rejoice, Thou who dost educate the young;

Rejoice, Thou who dost impart wisdom to the youth.

Rejoice, Thou who dost magnify the greatness of good deeds;

Rejoice, Thou who dost enrich the aged with wisdom.

Rejoice, Thou who dost bestow life through humility and gentleness;

Rejoice, Thou who dost bring peace to the elderly who reverence God.

Rejoice, Thou who dost provide a quiet refuge for the benevolent elderly;

Rejoice, Thou who dost establish the union of the righteous.

Rejoice, Thou who dost bestow blessings on the families of the righteous;

Rejoice, Thou who dost exalt the virtue of virginity.

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin, all-holy Mother, who dost seek out those who have gone astray.

Condak 5

O Heavenly Queen, Thou dost manifest Thyself as a divine star, to all who seek refuge beneath Thy omnipotent protection, and to those who continually lament to God with contrite hearts:

Alleluia

Icos 5

Beholding the righteous Simeon, Thou didst present Thyself with the Infant Jesus in the temple, and he said: “Thy soul shall be pierced by a sword, O Mother of God, foreseeing the sufferings of Thy Divine Son. For this reason, we cry to Thee:

Rejoice, O servants of God, who are mocked and comforted;

Rejoice, O defenders of the truth.

Rejoice, O patient sufferers, who are consoled by the anticipation of heavenly bliss;

Rejoice, O gentle one, who soothes the hearts of the wicked and those who are hostile to Thee.

Rejoice, O destroyer of cunning and deceit;

Rejoice, O protector of those who are waylaid on the path.

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, who seeketh the salvation of the perishing.

Condak 6

Thy gracious assistance has saved a multitude of people: the afflicted, the sick, the sorrowful, and those burdened by sin, who give thanks to God for Thee:

Alleluia

Icos 6

The divine light shone forth in Egypt, and the idols fell there, when Thou didst flee, O Immaculate One, with the Infant Jesus, escaping the slaughter of Herod; for Thou, O enlightener of the minds of all, dost illuminate them with the light of knowledge, delivering them from the allurements of the fleeting world, and casting out the idols of destructive passions that dwell within them. Therefore, we magnify Thee with these words:

Rejoice, O enlightener of those who doubt in faith;

Rejoice, O humbler of the proud in spirit.

Rejoice, O pacifier of the enraged and the wrathful;

Rejoice, O reconciler of those who lament the hardships of life.

Rejoice, O guide of those who have gone astray on the path of salvation;

Rejoice, O confuter of the superstitious and the diviners.

Rejoice, O reprover of the corrupt and the wicked;

Rejoice, O destroyer of soul-destroying teachings.

Rejoice, O helper of those who seek to know the truth;

Rejoice, O sower of the darkness of calumny, blasphemy, and all falsehood.

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, who seeketh the salvation of the perishing.

Condak 7

Though never to be separated from the Savior of the world, born of Thee, Thou, O blessed God, didst remain inseparable with Him in the city of Nazareth, guiding and nourishing Him as a Man, and singing in Thy heart as God:

Alleluia

Icos 7

Showing forth anew Thy maternal love for Thy Son, Thou didst seek Him with sorrow, a twelve-year-old Child, in the city of Jerusalem during the Paschal feast, thinking Him to be among the company. Guided by Thy paternal heart, Thou dost cry out to Thee with compassion:

Rejoice, Thou who exaltest the afflicted and the sorrowful;

Rejoice, Thou who dost crown the hated and the rejected with glory.

Rejoice, Thou who dost clothe the poor and the naked;

Rejoice, Thou who dost feed the destitute and the impoverished.

Rejoice, Thou who dost provide for the homeless, the strangers, the widows, and the orphans;

Rejoice, Thou who dost bring a safe return to those who journey.

Rejoice, Thou who dost lead the erring back to their dwelling;

Rejoice, Thou who dost grant wisdom to the simple-minded.

Rejoice, Thou who dost not forsake those who are simple in mind and in character with Thy aid;

Rejoice, Thou who dost grant delight to those who trust in Thy divine will.

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin, Thou who dost seek the salvation of the perishing.

Condak 8

Thy strange and wondrous care for Christians on all their paths of life, fraught with many trials and hardships, has been manifest. Therefore, all those who have been blessed by Thee sing to God with joy:

Alleluia

Icos 8

Thou didst accompany Christ when He served the human race, as the divine Luke recounts. The relatives of Thy Son came to Him, saying: “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.” Thinking, O all-blessed Mother, that Thou didst remain inseparable and with all those who toil for the glory of God and who praise Thee thus:

Rejoice, Thou who dost guide those who are in bondage to the triumph of good;

Rejoice, Thou who dost manifest the rule of faith and piety to the holy fathers.

Rejoice, Thou who dost supply the pastors with zeal for the salvation of the souls of their spiritual children;

Rejoice, Thou who dost grant perfect understanding to the instructors.

Rejoice, Thou who dost grant progress in knowledge to the students;

Rejoice, Thou who dost assist the monks and nuns in their struggle against the allurements of the world and the flesh.

Rejoice, Thou who dost serve as a holy mirror of righteousness to the judges;

Rejoice, Thou who dost grant skillful healing to the physicians.

Rejoice, Thou who dost cooperate with the farmers and art a good helper;

Rejoice, Thou who dost provide rest and a secure refuge for all those who toil.

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin, Thou who dost seek the salvation of the perishing.

Кондак 9

Every age of the faithful is blessed by Your providence, O all-merciful Mother, for You always bestow spiritual gifts upon those who approach You, provide for their needs in life, and zealously intercede on behalf of us, weak and sinful ones, at the throne of the Lord of glory, to whom we sing:

Alleluia

Икос 9

The many sufferings of the world cannot express Your maternal sorrow, O Mother of God, when You saw Your Son suffering unbearable torments for every human being at the cross; therefore, having been tried by all manner of afflictions and having endured the most severe sorrows and deprivations, help us. We cry out to You:

Radiant, You bring sight to the blind;

Radiant, You bring hearing to the deaf.

Radiant, You bring walking to the lame;

Radiant, You bring healing to the body.

Radiant, You bring health to the sick;

Radiant, You bring deliverance from demonic oppression.

Radiant, You bring enlightenment to those whose minds are clouded;

Radiant, You receive on Your all-powerful hands those who are incurably ill.

Radiant, You do not reject the prayers of desperate sinners;

Radiant, You snatch them from the destructive power of despair.

Radiant, O Blessed Virgin, All-Prayer, and All-Compassionate Mother, who seek out those who are perishing.

Кондак 10

May the Lord, who is Savior of all, who was crucified, grant to the whole world His most holy and most merciful Mother, saying to the immaculate and beloved disciple: “Woman, behold your son,” and “Behold, your mother.” Giving thanks for this gift of the all-beneficent God, we say to Him:

Alleluia

Икос 10

A strong wall has appeared to us, O blessed one, granting all blessings, peace, joy, and happiness, just as You yourself received from the risen Christ, the Savior, when You heard the salutary voice from Him:

Radiant, for all nations glorify You;

Radiant, for You quench all hatred, malice, strife, and enmity.

Radiant, for You bring the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of the faithful;

Radiant, for You destroy calumny, envy, and remembrance of evil.

Radiant, for You nourish the faithful with bread of life;

Radiant, for You put an end to the deadly plague.

Radiant, for You soothe the righteous wrath of God;

Radiant, for You hasten the fulfillment of righteous deeds.

Radiant, for You guide all Christians on their journey through life;

Radiant, for You comfort parents with the good behavior of their children.

Radiant, O Blessed Virgin, All-Prayer, and All-Compassionate Mother, who seek out those who are perishing.

Condak 11

Our humble hymn, offered to Thee from the fullness of love and zeal, do not despise, O God-entreated One, and do not turn away from us, sinful and unworthy, but help us to be cleansed from every defilement of flesh and spirit, that we may be able to pray to God with dignity and righteousness:

Alleluia

Icos 11

As a guiding light, Thou didst appear to the apostle, O All-Pure One, after the ascension of Thy Son to heaven; therefore, O All-Pure One, do not deprive us of this light, even to this day, of those who have remained and those who wish to be saved, and who have come to the understanding of truth through Thy holy guidance and deliverance:

Rejoice, O thou who burnest with unclean thoughts;

Rejoice, O thou who drivest away temptations and seductions from us.

Rejoice, O thou who dost train us to repentance and correction of life;

Rejoice, O thou who dost wash away the depths of our iniquities with tears of repentance.

Rejoice, O thou who dost help us to be spiritually vigilant;

Rejoice, O thou who dost bring us to sobriety and prayer.

Rejoice, O thou who dost prepare for us the blessedness of the spirit;

Rejoice, O thou who dost manifest the evident strengthening of the holy ascetics.

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin, All-Pure Mother, who dost seek out those who are perishing;

Condak 12

Ask for us the divine grace from Thy Son and God, stretch forth Thy hand of help, that we may not perish in sins and in the cruel circumstances that beset us from visible and invisible enemies; calm our hearts, filled with malice and strife, that we may be comforted by Thee and joyfully call upon God:

Alleluia

Icos 12

Singing Thy holy resurrection, we praise and glorify Thy protection, spread out over the whole world, especially over the Christian people, who glorify Thee thus:

Rejoice, O thou who dost prepare us for the end of this life through repentance;

Rejoice, O thou who dost cleanse us from sins through illnesses.

Rejoice, O thou who dost preserve the faithful from premature death;

Rejoice, O thou who dost make the worthy worthy of the last exhortation.

Rejoice, O thou who dost remove the fear of death from us;

Rejoice, O thou who dost send relief to those who are in the pangs of death.

Rejoice, O thou who dost grant us a peaceful end to our life;

Rejoice, O thou who dost deliver us from bitter tribulations.

Rejoice, O thou who dost not leave us without Christian burial;

Rejoice, O thou who dost intercede for us before Thy Son, our Lord.

Rejoice, O thou who dost abide with us both in life and in death;

Rejoice, O thou who dost open for us the gates of paradise.

Rejoice, O Blessed Virgin, All-Pure Mother, who dost seek out those who are perishing;

Кондак 13

О Владычице мира! Приими сие малое благодарение наше, от всего сердца Тебе приносимое, и не попусти нам николиже охладевати в сем благодарном чувстве, но вразуми нас всегда помнити Твоя неисчетныя милости и со слезами умиления вопити о Тебе Богу:

Аллилуиа

[Сей кондак глаголется трижды.]

[Далее повторяем 1‑е икос и кондак:]

Икос 1

Ангельский услыша глас святая Анна, вещаяй: зачнеши и родиши Дщерь, преблагословенную Марию, о Нейже благословятся вся колена земная и приидет спасение всему миру; мы же, сие ведуще, возопиим Богородице:

Радуйся, Мати Сына Божия;

радуйся, пренепорочная Дево.

Радуйся, Спаса душ наших родившая;

радуйся, Невместимаго вместилище.

Радуйся, к смертным благоволение;

радуйся, смертных к Богу дерзновение.

Радуйся, честнейшая Херувим;

радуйся, славнейшая без сравнения Серафим.

Радуйся, ада и смерти попрание;

радуйся, вечныя жизни дарование.

Радуйся, Благодатная Богородице Дево, всеблагая Мати, взыскующая погибающих.

Кондак 1

Возбранной Воеводе, Царице небесе и земли, даровавшей нам пречудную икону Взыскующую, благодарственное приносим пение. Ты же, яко благосердая Мати, не отрини нашего сего моления, но благоволи прияти е, и сподоби вопити Тебе тако:

Радуйся, Благодатная Богородице Дево, всеблагая Мати, взыскующая погибающих.

Молитва 1‑я

О, Пресвятая и Преблагословенная Дево, Владычице Богородице! Призри милостивым Твоим оком на нас, предстоящих пред святою иконою Твоею и со умилением молящихся Тебе, воздвигни нас из глубины греховныя, просвети ум наш, омраченный страстьми, и уврачуй язвы душ и телес наших. Не имамы иныя помощи, не имамы иныя надежды, разве Тебе, Владычице, Ты веси вся немощи и согрешения наша, к Тебе прибегаем и вопием: не остави нас Твоею Небесною помощию, но предстани нам присно и Твоим неизреченным милосердием и щедротами спаси и помилуй нас, погибающих. Даруй нам исправление греховныя жизни нашея и избави нас от скорбей, бед и болезней, от напрасныя смерти, ада и вечныя муки. Ты бо, Царице и Владычице, скорая Помощница и Заступница всем, притекающим к Тебе, и крепкое прибежище грешников кающихся. Подаждь убо нам, Преблагая и Всенепорочная Дево, христианский конец живота нашего, мирен