Structure
When an akathist is chanted by itself, the Usual beginning, a series of prayers which include the Trisagion (thrice-holy) is often said as a prelude to the akathist hymn. The akathist may also be included as a part of another service, such as Matins or a Molieben.
The hymn itself is divided into thirteen parts, each of which is composed of a kontakion and an oikos (Greek: οίκος, house, possibly derived from Syriac terminology). The kontakion usually ends with the exclamation: Alleluia, which is repeated by a choir in full settings or chanted by the reader in simple settings. Within the latter part of the oikos comes an anaphoric entreaty, such as Come or Rejoice.
For example, the Akathist to the Theotokos:
- Queen of the Heavenly Host, Defender of our souls, we thy servants offer to thee songs of victory and thanksgiving, for thou, O Mother of God, hast delivered us from dangers. But as thou has invincible power, free us from conflicts of all kinds that we may cry to thee:
- Rejoice, unwedded Bride!
- An Archangel was sent from Heaven to say to the Mother of God: Rejoice! And seeing Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood crying to her such things as these:
- Rejoice, thou through whom joy will flash forth!
- Rejoice, thou through whom the curse will cease!
- Rejoice, revival of fallen Adam!
- Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!
- Rejoice, height hard to climb for human thoughts!
- Rejoice, depth hard to contemplate even for the eyes of Angels!
- Rejoice, thou who art the King's throne!
- Rejoice, thou who bearest Him Who bears all!
- Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear!
- Rejoice, womb of the divine incarnation!
- Rejoice, thou through whom creation becomes new!
- Rejoice, thou through whom the Creator becomes a babe!
- Rejoice, unwedded bride!
The thirteenth kontakion (which, unlike the preceding twelve, does not have a corresponding oikos) is usually followed by the repetition of the first oikos and kontakion. After the thirteen kontakia and oikoi, additional prayers are added, such as a troparion and another kontakion. The final kontakion is the famous "Tē Hypermáchō Stratēgō" ("Unto the Defender General"), a hymn addressing Mary as the savior of Constantinople in the 626 siege:
- Unto the Defender General the dues of victory,
- and for the deliverance from woes, the thanksgiving
- I, Thy city, ascribe Thee, O Theotokos.
- and for the deliverance from woes, the thanksgiving
- And having your might unassailable,
- deliver me from all danger
- so that I may cry unto Thee:
- deliver me from all danger
- Rejoice, O Bride unwedded.
Read more about this topic: Akathist
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