Akathist to the Venerable Elders of Optina
Kontakion 1
Chosen by God from the vanity of the world, to you, O Reverend Fathers of Optinstia, having reverently lifted up your cross and following Christ in faith, as our bold representative before the Lord, now offering earnest prayer, we cry out with love: Rejoice, Reverend Fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Ikos 1
Having sought the angelic monastic life with all your heart, rejected all worldly attachments, rejected the wisdom of God, and flowed into the arms of the Father with love into the monastery of Optina, walking along a narrow and sorrowful path until the end of your days. For this reason, we sing to the Lord: Rejoice, you who joyfully came to the call of the Lord; Rejoice, having followed Christ with all your desires. Rejoice, having accepted your cross on your frame; Rejoice, you who have loved nothing more than the Lord. Rejoice, having completely denied yourself for Christ’s sake; Rejoice, heiress of the Kingdom of God and bliss. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 2
Having seen the snares of the devil, like a spider spread out in the world, and having felt in the depths of your hearts that people are saved from them only by humility, you yourself, in warm prayer before the Lord, call out with tenderness: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Having understood with your heart and mind that everyone living is not justified by his deeds before God, and always contains his sins before your eyes, the currents of tears, visible to the only Lord, do not cease, bringing repentance of the soul to Him, His image is shown to us, crying: Rejoice, sins their own undisguised ones who have received the light; Rejoice, you who have received the gift of tenderness and tears from the Lord. Rejoice, you who have known the bliss of weeping for sins; Rejoice, you who have acquired never-ending sorrow for them. Rejoice, preacher in the land of repentance; Rejoice, you are now comforted in heaven by the Lord. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 3
Believe the power of the redemptive suffering of Christ, O saints, as the indestructible hope of salvation, for the worst of all people and the least worthy of mercy, thinking, and for this reason, with much humility and thanksgiving, you ever cry out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having in your hearts the Divine gift of humility, true disciples of Christ, who humbled Himself even to the death of the Cross, all your deeds and labors cannot be imputed to anything. By increasing feat, especially growing and humility, marveling at it, we say: Rejoice, obedience and humility taught by the Savior; Rejoice for the humility of the Lord of Glory ascension. Rejoice, having achieved freedom from anger and meekness through humility; Rejoice, for through humility and self-reproach your souls have found peace. Rejoice, chosen ones enriched by spiritual poverty; Rejoice, for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven, prepared for the poor in spirit. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 4
The storm of passions, raised up by the flesh and the devil, quenching the mind, the ruler over the destructive passions, postnically, having courageously forced the nature, venturing through the grace of God to subdue the worst to the better and enslave the flesh to the spirit, sing to the heroic Christ without ceasing: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing the word of the Lord, that the Kingdom of Heaven is in need and only the needy are delighted with it, with fasting, vigil and prayer, you constantly strived and crucified your flesh with the passions and lusts of Christ, inviolably observing the monastic rules. In the same way, we please you: Rejoice, you have not borne the good yoke of Christ; Rejoice, you have not quenched your spirit with sobriety of heart. Rejoice, you who set your lips on strong guardianship; Rejoice, you who mercilessly oppressed your own body. Rejoice, you who combined mental work with physical feats; Rejoice, in your patience your souls have gained. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 5
The luminous name of Jesus, like an invincible weapon against the demonic army, is constantly carried in the heart with faith, the ever-flowing source of grace is found, rising from strength to strength and adding fire to fire, you sing to God with purified meaning: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Constantly perceiving our own weakness and the saving, grace-filled power of the Jesus Prayer, never cease to do it, cutting through the temptations of passions and burning all the machinations of the enemy, in the silence of the heart a prayerful conversation with the Lord has mysteriously acquired, you teach us to cry out to you: Rejoice, having immersed your whole mind in prayer ; Rejoice, you who have had complete grief in your hearts. Rejoice, you who thought of nothing in vanity during prayer; Rejoice, you who continually called on the name of Jesus. Rejoice, heartfelt prayers made by the ascetic; Rejoice, all who ask in the name of the Lord and receive prayer books. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 6
Standing with your heart in prayer before the Cross for the sins of mankind of the suffering Lord, you weep, venerable one, sorrow for your sins, consumed and inflamed with unspeakable love for our Redeemer, until the end of your life you tremblingly cry out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
The light of Divine love has shone in your hearts, you have hated and abhorred earthly glory and praise, but you have joyfully accepted dishonor from men and all sorrows with an open heart, and have diligently embraced the reproach of Christ. For we have shown the image of suffering and patience, calling: Rejoice, you who bore the wounds of the Lord Jesus Christ on your body; Rejoice, reproach, like a cleansing medicine, you who drank diligently. Rejoice, having turned away from earthly honors with all your heart; Rejoice, you have prayed with love for those who hate you. Rejoice, those who have offended you, as you who have loved benefactors; Rejoice, give thanks to the Merciful Lord who has never passed away. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 7
Although the Lord saved all mankind and came into the mind of truth, seeing your good will and unceasing labor in fulfilling His commandments, He opened your mind to understand His ways and taught you by His justification. With the same enlightened heart I will sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Wonderful are Thy works, O Lord, that Thou didst admonish Thy servants even more than a scribe, who seek Thee with all their hearts, and open their eyes, that they may understand the wonders of Thy law. We bless Thy saints, our fathers Optinstich, who ever studied Thy commandments, even though we loved them dearly, and we sing to them: Rejoice, O words of God, for you have hidden much wealth in your heart; Rejoice, having loved the path of God’s commandments with all your heart. Rejoice, you who hate every path of unrighteousness; Rejoice, you who have strayed from the path of the Lord. Rejoice, having prepared yourself for the good fight and not being embarrassed; Rejoice, having embraced the word of God, having found much peace in Christ. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 8
Thinking of strangers and strangers on earth, do not desire to acquire anything from the corruptible things of this world, so that your hearts will not be drawn to the earth, but cling to the one God, purely lifting up the song to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Every carnal passion that separates you from the love of the Lord is wholeheartedly rejected, seeking the only need. Always sit at the foot of Jesus with unswerving love, not attaching your heart to the good things of this life, and placing all your trust in the Lord. We also praise you, saints: Rejoice, having ended your life without attachment to the world; Rejoice, having freed yourself from earthly worries and having known the sweetness of pure prayer. Rejoice, having put aside the cares of this life with firm faith; Rejoice, having slain the destructive passions through non-covetousness and obedience. Rejoice, having sacredly kept the monastic vow of non-covetousness; Rejoice, obedients of Christ who have cut off their will. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 9
All your prayers and all your strength, venerable one, strive to achieve purity of soul and body, without which, according to the words of Christ, no one will see God; In the same way, with a pure heart, in the paradise of the Lord you have been deemed worthy to sing the wonderful song of the righteous, calling: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
You do not allow carnal lusts to fight against your soul through fasting and taming prayer, and sinful thoughts to dominate you. Therefore, receive this praise from us: Rejoice, having attracted the grace of God in the struggle against the flesh with humility; Rejoice, having loved labors and hardships, having rejected bodily peace. Rejoice, by fasting and all-night prayers you have mortified the lust of the flesh; Rejoice, you who have conquered nature by the power of Christ. Rejoice, you have brought your bodies and souls pure to the Lord; Rejoice, pure of heart, seeing God in eternal bliss. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 10
If you want to save your souls for eternal life, all your thoughts about earthly and temporal things are given to our Savior, the great commandment about love was given by His disciple, followed by deed and truth. For the sake of your neighbors, then, with warm love, love the Heavenly Father of all people, calling: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Having loved your neighbor with all your soul, you have found the Kingdom of God within yourself, and in the same way, the fire of God’s love has descended into your hearts, which you are immeasurably satisfied with, completely sacrificing yourself in the deed of love. Now you hear this reverent singing from us: Rejoice, having loved all men with holy love; Rejoice, in some way to save, to all who have been. Rejoice, you who sighed tearfully over human sorrows; Rejoice, you who have contained all those who flow in your hearts. Rejoice, having vainly let go of no one; Rejoice, you who have given your souls for your neighbors. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 11
We offer prayer singing to you, our venerable fathers of Optinstia, for it is truly your right to walk in your path by knowledge. Blessed are you, who worked for Christ and put to shame the power of the enemy, the true rule of virtue was shown to all who call upon the Lord: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
We praise your bright deeds, our reverend fathers Optinstia, we bless you, as glorious mentors of monks and wonderful interlocutors of Angels now in heaven standing before the Throne of God and praying for us, singing to you with love: Rejoice, zealot of sobriety, unceasing zeal; Rejoice, guardian of the vigilant flame of the heart. Rejoice, steadfast pillars of obedience, having endured everything; Rejoice, having entered into the Kingdom of God through many sorrows. Rejoice, equal angelic ascetic of the monastic life; Rejoice, good servants of God, blasia and faith. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 12
Ask us from the Lord for the gift of grace, you who truly praise for blessing. Hear our sighs, do not despise our tears. Pray to the Lord to quench our fierce passions, to give us lamentation over our sins, so that with a pure soul and undefiled lips we may be worthy to sing with you in the paradise of the Lord: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing you now, O Reverend, with voices of praise, we know that you do not seek the singing of the lips, but by your feat of following, humility of heart and a life of correction. Moreover, in repentance we ask for your help, and strive for love, with the verb: Rejoice, you who protect the good of those who live; Rejoice, you who strengthen the weak and the orphaned. Rejoice, you who extend a helping hand to those who are falling; Rejoice, you who send down comforting tears to those who repent. Rejoice, to all who call upon you to be a quick helper; Rejoice, warm intercessors of our salvation before God. Rejoice, reverend fathers of Optinstia, for the grace of the eldership of the lamp.
Kontakion 13
About the glorification of the saints of Christ, the reverend fathers and elders, Moses, Anthony, Isaac, Hilarion, Anatoly, Joseph and the Second Isaac, Leo, Macarius, Ambrose, Barsanuphius, the Second Anatoly, Nektarios and Nikon, like the seven pillars and seven lamps in the Optina monastery that shone forth ! Hear our current prayer and ask the Lord for humility and remembrance of death, that the Lord will deliver us from all evil and grant the Christian death of all those who cry out to Him: Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, and then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
Prayer to the venerable father and elder who shone in the Optina Hermitage
O great saints of God, pillars and lamps of the Land of Russia, our venerable and God-bearing fathers Optinstia, Leo, Macarius, Moses, Anthony, Hilarion, Ambrose, Anatoly, Isaac and Joseph, Barsanuphius, Anatoly, Nektarios, Nikon and Isaac, according to the law of the Gospel of the Lord She loved God with all her heart and with all her soul and with all her mind and for the salvation of all God’s people; For this reason, under the protection of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos, we came to the monastery of Optina, founded by a repentant thief, who came along the narrow and sorrowful path of humility and self-reproach until the end of your days, having also abundantly acquired the grace-filled gifts of the Holy Spirit; old and young, noble and simple, wise of this age and weak-minded, deprived of no one from those who are coming to you, having let go of no one in vain and inconsolable, but with the light of the truth of Christ enlightening everyone and spiritually resurrecting them, your neighbors as yourself, who loved even those in your heart containing, according to the words of the Apostle, prophesying and edifying, exhorting and comforting. Pray to the Merciful Lord, into the heavenly abode of the prudent thief who has taken with him, to grant us, unworthy, like workers of the eleventh hour, a spirit of contrition, purification of the heart, guardianship of the mouth, righteousness of actions, humble wisdom, tears of repentance, unashamed faith, unfeigned love, peace of mind and physical health, may the Lord grant us a good answer at His Last Judgment through your intercession, saving us from eternal torment, and may the Kingdom of Heaven be honored with you forever and ever. Amen.
