The Orthodox Church Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, Daughter of Zion - intro by Fr Lawrence Farley
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Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, Daughter of ZionIntroductory Essay: Zion as a Type of the Mother of God Christians have always read the Old Testament and found the Gospel contained therein. The realities revealed in the Law and the Prophets point not just to historical events, persons and truths the significance of which has now been exhausted; those realities also point beyond themselves to the Kingdom of God. Thus, when the Christians read in the Greek version of Is. 7:14 that a parthenos or virgin will conceive, and that her child will mean that God is with us, it is impossible for them not to think of Christ’s birth from the holy Virgin Mary. In the same way, when Zechariah prophesies that God would come to the daughter of Zion to dwell in her midst (Zech. 2:10), it is also impossible not to think of Christ’s Incarnation, of the time when Christ God did in literal fact come to dwell in the physical midst of Mary. Mary is thus revealed as the fulfilment of Jerusalem, the City of Zion. The Scriptures are remarkably consistent in pointing to Jerusalem (or Zion) as the locus of God’s Presence among men, and as the place where He would choose to dwell. This indwelling by God was thought to confer a certain blessing on Zion (Ps. 132:13f), even a measure of invincibility. The city was therefore referred to as the Virgin Daughter of Zion (Is. 37:22)—that is, she was considered to be intact, impenetrable, unconquerable. (It was a status many thought would remain regardless of the sins of its inhabitants; the Babylonian exile was to prove them wrong.) Zion is thus an image, a prophecy, a type, of the holy Mother of God. As God chose to dwell in Zion and thus blessed and glorified her (the city is often referred to in the feminine, as a woman), so God also chose to dwell in Mary, and to bless and glorify her. The glory of the holy City points forward to her glory as well. This is all the clearer in the New Testament. St. Paul refers to heaven, the dwelling place of God, as the “Jerusalem which is above,” as “our mother” (Gal. 4:26). Thus Jerusalem is revealed as both a virgin and as a mother—just like the holy Theotokos. She remains ever-virgin in her invincible purity, and also is Mother to Christ and (spiritually) to all His disciples. The following Akathist is therefore offered to the Church along with the passages of Scripture upon which each Kontakion and Ikos is a meditation. One may read the Scripture first, before the liturgical praises based on them. It is my prayer that this meditation may redound to the greater glory of Christ our God and His holy Mother, as we see anew His Gospel work revealed in the Old Testament. --Archpriest Lawrence R. Farley
KONTAKION 1 (Tone 8) Shine, shine, O holy Mother of God! You are the New Jerusalem, our Mother! The glory of the Lord has shone on you! Save us, your children and exiles, that we may return home and sing to you: Rejoice O Theotokos, Virgin Daughter of Zion! IKOS 1 (see Zechariah 2:8-13) The Lord of Hosts came to dwell in your midst, O holy Virgin, just as He promised through the holy prophet Zechariah. Seeing this, you sang for joy and were glad, knowing many nations would join themselves to the Lord and become His People, and from all of us you hear this song: Rejoice, for the Lord chose you for His own dwelling! KONTAKION 2 (see Is. 28:16) Christ was firmly placed in you as the precious Corner-stone, O Virgin Theotokos, mystical Zion, and those who believe in Him will not be ashamed. As living stones of His spiritual Temple, we marvel at this prophetic mystery and call out to you in peace, Alleluia! IKOS 2 (see Gen. 14, Heb. 7) Melchizedek, King of Salem, went out to bless Abraham after his victory, and he brought forth bread and wine as a priest of the Most High God. He was, by translation of his name, the King of Righteousness, and he abides a priest forever, a type and image of your Son, O holy Mother of God. Through him, your Son first united Jerusalem to Himself, and thereby taught us to sing to you: Rejoice, for through you the Lord’s peace shines forth! KONTAKION 3 (see Isaiah 59:20) Christ our Redeemer came to dwell in you, the mystical Zion, O holy Virgin; and we who have turned from our transgressions now sing to you, Alleluia! IKOS 3 (see Deut. 12:5-18) The great Moses revealed that God would choose a place out of all the tribes of Israel for His Name to dwell, that all His People should come there to find His glory. By so doing, he also foretold your glory, O holy Theotokos, showing how all Christians should turn to you with praises such as these: Rejoice, for God chose you out of all women on the earth! KONTAKION 4 (see 2 Sam. 5:6-7) By the power of God, David captured the stronghold of Jerusalem, which was called Zion, meaning “height”; thus he prophesied of the height of your glory, O Theotokos, whom God exalted to be higher than the cherubim. Amazed at such transcendent splendour, we lowly sinners cry out, Alleluia! IKOS 4 (see 2 Sam. 6:6-17) The city of Zion received the Ark of God’s Presence, O Mother of God, and you were overshadowed by the Power of the Most High. David offered sacrifices and danced before the Ark with all his might, and we his heirs also offer our spiritual songs: Rejoice, you that receive the Fire that breaks out against our enemies! KONTAKION 5 (see 2 Chron. 7:1-3) Solomon the son of David built a Temple for the Most High, and thus made Jerusalem the place where His Name dwelt. At the dedication of the Temple, the glory of the Lord descended in power and filled the House, foretelling the time when His glory would dwell in the handmaiden of Nazareth. Meditating on these ancient mysteries, we worshippers of God also prostrate ourselves before His might as we exclaim, Alleluia! IKOS 5 (see Ps. 2, Acts 4:25-27) The kings of the earth and its rulers, Pilate and Herod, took their stand against the Lord and against His Christ, but God had established His Son upon Zion, His holy mountain. We who take refuge in Him find our eternal blessedness as we worship Him, and we sing to His Mother with whom He now reigns, such songs as these: Rejoice, O bulwark against the darkness of this age! KONTAKION 6 (see Ps. 24:7-10) The ancient gates of Zion were lifted up, allowing the King of Glory with His Ark to enter the holy City, and foretelling the time when the divine Presence would enter the Handmaiden of God and dwell in her holy flesh. Amazed at such holiness dwelling among men, we royal soldiers sing to her, Alleluia! IKOS 6 (see Ps. 46) God our refuge and strength is with us; the God of Jacob is mighty in His City. He is in the midst of her, so that she will not be moved, and He will help her right early. Knowing the Theotokos to be a bulwark of protection for us weak sinners, we cry out boldly to her: Rejoice, O refuge from our enemies! KONTAKION 7 (see Ps. 65:1) There will be praise before God in Zion, as the holy Virgin of Nazareth receives from the angel Gabriel the Good News of Christ’s Incarnation. Worshipping her God, she lifted up her voice and sang, “My soul magnifies the Lord”, and we poor sinners also praise Him, singing, Alleluia! IKOS 7 (see Ps. 48) Great is Christ our God, and greatly to be praised, through you, O holy Virgin. Beautiful in the heights of holiness, you are the joy of the whole earth, and through you God is praised to the ends of the world. Because of His judgements and power through your birth-giving, all the universe cries to You: Rejoice, O radiant height of life-giving holiness! KONTAKION 8 (see Ps. 50:1-3) From you, the perfection of spiritual beauty, God has shone forth, O Theotokos; and the devouring Fire dwelt in your womb as in the Burning Bush. He has not kept silence, but has come as the Word from heaven, and through Him we are taught to offer you the hymn, Alleluia! IKOS 8 (see Is. 51:11) The Gospel-bearing Prophet Isaiah proclaimed that the ransomed of the Lord would return to Zion with singing, having everlasting joy like a crown upon their heads; and we, ransomed by Christ’s Blood, turn in prayer to you, O Theotokos, singing with gladness such praises as these: Rejoice, O Mother of the ransomer of our souls! KONTAKION 9 (see Ps. 122) David was glad to go to Jerusalem, the city to which all the divine tribes went up to give thanks to the Lord’s Name, and he prayed that they would prosper who loved Zion. We pilgrims on earth also resort to the heavenly Theotokos, offering her the glad song, Alleluia! IKOS 9 (see Ps. 78:67-72) God chose you, O holy Virgin, from all others in Israel, setting His love upon you. He made you a sanctified Temple, fit for His dwelling-place, setting your glory above the high heavens, and teaching us to chant to you praises like these: Rejoice, O holy Sanctuary, dwelling in the heights! KONTAKION 10 (see Ps. 125) Pilgrims knew that those who trusted in God were like the immovable Zion which abides forever, and we who have taken refuge in you, holy Mary, know the power of your invincible intercession. Trusting in the power of God in you, O Theotokos, all the upright in heart raise the triumphal shout, Alleluia! IKOS 10 (see Ps. 132) The Lord chose you for His mystical Zion, O holy Lady, desiring you for His holy habitation. You are His eternal resting place, for you gave birth to the Son of David, and we, your saints, shout for joy, saying: Rejoice, O sought out of the Lord! KONTAKION 11 (Lam. 2:18-19) Simeon the Righteous prophesied that the daughter of Zion would cry aloud to the Lord, pouring out her heart like water in His presence when she saw Him dying on the Cross. Even though her heart was pierced with a sword, she looked to Him in faith and prayed, Alleluia! IKOS 11 (see Is. 52:1-2) The angel cried to the Lady Full of Grace that her Son was risen from His three days in the tomb. In so doing, he bode Zion awake to a new day of joy, and exchange the garments of mourning for the beautiful garments of the Kingdom. Like her, we mourners also shake ourselves and arise from the dust, and cry to the Mother of our freedom: Rejoice, you upon whom the risen Lord has shone! KONTAKION 12 (see Is. 62:11-12) The Lord proclaimed your reward to the end of the earth, O daughter of Zion, for when He came to receive your soul, He bestowed salvation and translated you to life. He sought you out when you fell asleep, so that even then you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. Seeing you receive such a glorious recompense, even the angels fall down before you in awe, crying, Alleluia! IKOS 12 (see Ps. 87) The Theotokos stands forever as a holy mountain, chosen by the Lord above all others. Glorious things are spoken of her through all the world, for she is the Mother of the faithful from all nations on earth, and we her servants never cease to praise her, saying: Rejoice, for through you the heathen become the sons of God! KONTAKION 13, (said thrice) (see Zeph. 3:14-20) O Daughter of Zion and dwelling place of the Lord, you yourself rejoice in God and exult with all your heart, for Christ the King of Israel has come into the midst of you. Accept these our humble praises and gather us outcasts. Change our shame into praise and bring us home that we might all unite before the throne of God and sing, Alleluia! (And again,) IKOS 1 (see Zechariah 2:8-13) The Lord of Hosts came to dwell in your midst, O holy Virgin, just as He promised through the holy prophet Zechariah. Seeing this, you sang for joy and were glad, knowing many nations would join themselves to the Lord and become His People, and from all of us you hear this song: Rejoice, for the Lord chose you for His own dwelling! (And again,) KONTAKION 1 (Tone 8) Shine, shine, O holy Mother of God! You are the New Jerusalem, our Mother! The glory of the Lord has shone on you! Save us, your children and exiles, that we may return home and sing to you: Rejoice O Theotokos, Virgin Daughter of Zion! PRAYER TO THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS, DAUGHTER OF ZION: O most holy Lady Theotokos, our God has made you a city set upon a hill, and your light gives light to the world. Like Zion of old, you are our bulwark and protection; like the Jerusalem which is above, you are our Mother, and it is upon your maternal love and intercession that all Christians rely. Trusting in your prayers, we come to you for help: heal the sick, bind up the broken-hearted, lead back those who wander that they may return to the truth and find their home in the holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Do not despise the petitions we bring you in our brokenness and sin, but restore us through your powerful prayers. Thus restored, may we finally come to inherit the Kingdom of your Son, and to stand before His throne with rejoicing on the Last Day, ceaselessly giving thanks to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
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