Supplicatory Canon to St. John of Kronstadt
Ode One
The charioteer of Pharaoh
O Saint of God intercede for us
Thy goodness filleth me with courage, sinner that I am, to lift up my voice; thy kindness amazeth, for thou grantest even me to sing thy praise, O Father John. As a friend of that Shepherd Who ate with sinners and publicans, thou receivest all with unbounded love.
O Saint of God intercede for us
Thine ears were open unto all, thy heart contained all men with mercy and love; thou gavest so freely and so cheerfully, that God put kingly riches in thy hands, which thou gavest completely, while holding back nothing for thyself, since thy Master's love was all things to thee.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As thou didst lift thy hands in ardent prayer to God and every suffering ceased, we pray thee, O Father, intercede with God for us and turn our mourning into joy; for the boldness in prayer that thou hadst on earth is yet greater now, since thou hast been crowned by the hand of Christ.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages amen
Between our Maker and us men, there stood a bridgeless and immeas'rable gulf, until the division that no man or even Angel crossed, was ended in thy womb, when, O Virgin, the Most High was born a man and came forth to us, speaking face to face as a friend with friends.
Ode Three
Of the vault of the heavens
O Saint of God intercede for us
O fair boast and adornment of sacred priests of the Lord, thou didst serve His altar by off'ring Him as the Sacrifice; and in the midst of men, on thy heart's mystical altar, thou didst ever offer thy prayers for the suff'ring world.
O Saint of God intercede for us
If thou sleptest so little while in the flesh on the earth, how much less, now that thou dost stand with joy at the throne of God? With thine unsleeping prayer and never-shamed intercession, heal our souls and bodies and save us, O Father John.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
An implacable enemy unto all idleness, thou didst raise up houses to furnish work for the destitute; but as for me, O John, who live without heed and idle, rouse me up to labour aright while it yet is day.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages amen
Let thine infinite kindness come down to find even me; let thy mighty grace of salvation cover my nakedness; disperse the mist of sin wherewith my mind is benighted, and, O Virgin Mother, with hymns I shall honour thee.
Ode Four
I have hearkened and heard
O Saint of God intercede for us
While convicting ungodliness, laying bare the error of every false belief, thou didst reprimand the heretics, * but didst pray with tears for their return to God.
O Saint of God intercede for us
Since the eye of thy soul was pure, thou beheldest Angels and demons on the earth, and their presence in the lives of men, * as the choice and will of each admitted them.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Heavy mountains of unbelief fell before the heavenly power of thy prayer; bitter wolves became the sheep of Christ; * they who never thought of God forsook the world.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages amen
Ancient strongholds of wickedness fell with sudden ruin like frames of eaten wood at the blow of one small Infant's hand, * Whom thou heldest in thine arms, O Queen of all.
Ode Five
Wherefore hast thou deprived me
O Saint of God intercede for us
When a false accusation had been made against thee, the writing was blotted out by the Lord of wonders, to make known, through a wonder, thine innocence; by thy mediations, blot out our failings and transgressions, as we keep thy remembrance, O righteous John.
O Saint of God intercede for us
O ye fire-breathing Prophets who of old convicted iniquitous Israel, now accept among you as your peer and companion the preacher John, who doth wholly purge us of carnal pleasures and affections with the soul-cleansing fire of his holiness.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
To thy Lord thou wast watchful, rising early out of the night for the sake of Christ, when the suff'ring called thee to light up the dark night of their sore distress. Now thou rightly hearest, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: enter into the joy of thy Lord, O John.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages amen
With thy motherly boldness, turn unto thy Son and implore Him for clemency; and, O Theotokos, with thy motherly tenderness, look on us, weak with pain and sickness, bowed down with sin, and far from virtue, and restore us to life through thy ceaseless care.
Ode Six
O Lord, be gracious to me
O Saint of God intercede for us
Thy prayer was no mild request, but daring, ardent, exceeding bold; for thou becamest thy prayer, demanding the gift of God and pulling the hem of Christ, till thou hadst been given what thy burning love had sought with faith.
O Saint of God intercede for us
The piercing light of the truth within thee made sinners quake with fear; thy warmth of mercy and love compelled and encouraged them; and then at the call of life, gladdened in repentance, they drew near unto the Friend of man.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Thy heart and mind were nailed fast unto the love of the Trinity; and contemplating each day His goodness to sinners, thou in gladness didst cry aloud: Glory, praise, and honour to the Father, Word, and Comforter.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages amen
When Hades swallowed the Child to Whom thou painlessly gavest birth, then he was suddenly seized with pangs as a woman in travail, and he vomited them that he held captive; hence, O Virgin, we all honour thee.
Ode Seven
Once from out of Judea
O Saint of God intercede for us
At that Table of wonder, thou didst stand every day with divine and trembling joy, and Bread came down from Heaven, filling thee with power, and with love thou didst shout to Christ: * O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
O Saint of God intercede for us
From the springs of the Gospel, thou didst drink all thy life with abundant faith in Christ; and truly from thy belly streams of living water flowed forth unto those crying out: * O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Once again John the preacher crieth out now, Repent ye, unto the multitudes, who loudly make confession, not in River Jordan, but in tears that cleanse them who cry: * O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages amen
Our strong bastion of mercy, our impregnable hope, and the stronghold of our Faith: Rejoice, O Theotokos; defend us from the devil, and from all who refuse to cry: * O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
Ode Eight
Let us ever extol
O Saint of God intercede for us
As a child, thou wast wondrously enlightened, when thou soughtest the Lord to grant the gift of learning; and with the earthly knowledge that was given thee, thou didst learn the power hid within sincere prayer, whereby thou wast made mighty.
O Saint of God intercede for us
Thou didst ask that a spark be sent from Heaven, but the infinite Fire of God came down upon thee; and as a faithful steward of that fearful grace, thou didst spare no labours trading with the talent thou worthily wast given.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Near the end of thy sojourn, thou wast wounded, that thou also shouldst have the dignity of Martyr; for God, Who saw thy willingness to bear His Cross, granted thee revilements, pains, and tribulations, to make thy glory greater.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages amen
Overlook our unworthiness, O Lady, and alone have regard to thine own tender mercies; thou art the Mother of Him that doth send His rain on the just and unjust, and Whose sun ariseth on both the good and evil.
Ode Nine
The heavens were astonished
O Saint of God intercede for us
A cave gave rest to Anthony in his toils, and a pillar raised Symeon high above the troubled throng, but thou wast made great in the midst of men; though daily dashed with waves of praise, thou didst stand unshaken in fear of God; O wonder past believing! renowned, and working marvels, * in mind thou soughtest mercy like the thief.
O Saint of God intercede for us
What corner of the whole world is ignorant of the signs and the wonders that thou dost work for those in need? Is there left a place that hath not beheld thy healings and thy miracles and the endless streams of thy grace, O John? Be our protector also, the healer of our suff'rings, * our intercessor in that fearful day.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
The Prophets and the Gospels, the Fathers' choirs, the divine Seven Councils, the valiant exploits of the Saints, all the sacred hist'ry that went before, hath been confirmed beyond all doubt by thy life in Christ, O amazing priest; the faithful are established; deniers have no answer * before the testimony of thy life.
Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages amen
With all the generations that went before, we the latest and weakest fulfil thy words of prophecy, as with joy and longing, we call thee blest. Rejoice, O Virgin full of grace, with thee is the Lord, and through thee, with us. This cry of joy shall echo through every generation, * till heaven and the earth shall pass away.
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