Akathist to the Passion of Christ: a prayer chanting the last days of the Savior’s life

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The text of the akathist to the Holy Passion of Christ is a solemn hymn dedicated to the torture and martyrdom of the Savior, since the word “passion” translated from Church Slavonic means “suffering.” It may seem surprising to some that such a sad page of history as the murder of the Son of God is sung by Christians all over the world, but believers approach this differently. According to Orthodox doctrine, the suffering of Jesus Christ is the culmination of more than two thousand years of God's relationship with the Jewish people, which led to the salvation of all mankind. It is customary to read the akathist to the Passion of Christ in the last week before Easter, as well as whenever the soul requires it.

Orthodox akathist to the Divine Passion of Christ: a song of a repentant man

The theme of the Messiah's suffering highlights the last three days of His life, later called Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. The Akathist to the Passion of Christ describes these days in detail: Wednesday was remembered for the betrayal of Judas and the taking of Jesus into custody, on Thursday the unrighteous trial and scourging of the Savior took place, on Friday the Son of God was crucified and gave up his spirit to His Father. Each of these days is described in the Gospels; the Gospel of Matthew is particularly detailed in the events. Therefore, the text of the akathist to the Passion of Christ mentions not only the events of the indicated period, but also the feelings of the Lord, starting from His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and ending with the dying cry “My God! Why have you forsaken me?”, emitted on the cross.

In what cases is it customary to read an akathist to the Divine Passion of the Lord?

The church text of the akathist to the Passion of Christ also mentions Holy Saturday - the day when Jesus lay body in the tomb, and with his soul descended into hell in order to free all the Old Testament righteous from it. The repentant nature of this song is determined by its chorus, which is the prayer of a crucified thief: remember us, Lord, when you come into Your Kingdom.” Orthodox priests recommend reading the Christian akathist to the Passion of Christ during despondency and sadness, in moments of deep repentance, as well as in various sorrows. The akathist also helps those who doubt God: its strong words penetrate the soul and revive the flame of faith in it.

Listen to the video Akathist to the Passion of Christ

Orthodox text of the Akathist to the Passion of Christ in Russian

Kontakion 1

Chosen by the Voivode and Lord of Heaven and earth, You, the Immortal King, hanging on the Cross, all creation changed, the sky was terrified, the foundations of the earth were shaken. But we, who are unworthy, bring Your grateful worship to us for the sake of suffering, with the robber crying out to You:

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Ikos 1

Replenishing the angels of the ranks, you did not receive from the Angel, but for my sake, this God, having become a man, having died in sins with your life-giving Body and revived by Your Blood; In the same way, give thanks to the capital of Your love, crying out to You:

Jesus God, Eternal Love, has been pleased with us earth-born creatures;

Jesus, immeasurable mercy, descended to fallen people.

Jesus, who clothed himself in our flesh, and by His death destroyed the empire;

Jesus, you deify us with Your Divine Mysteries.

Jesus, through Your suffering and Your Cross you have redeemed the whole world;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 2

Seeing Thee in the helitown of Gethsemane, sweating bloodily in prayer, appearing to strengthen Thee, when the heavy burden of our sins weighed down on You: for you, Adam who perished on the frame, You presented to the Father, kneeling in prayer. For this reason I sing to You with faith and love: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

A mind that cannot comprehend Your free suffering did not understand the Jews: for this reason, always in the night with the lamps you proclaimed to those who were looking for You: I am, even though I had fallen to the earth, but for this reason I bound You, leading you to the judgment; We, on this path, falling to You, call with love:

Jesus, Light of the world, hated by the evil world;

Jesus, living in the Unapproachable Light, removed from the region of darkness.

Jesus, the Immortal Son of God, designated from the son of destruction to death;

Jesus, in Him there is no flattery, kissed by the traitor with flattery.

Jesus, give Yourself tuna to everyone, sold for pieces of silver;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 3

By the power of Your Divinity, You prophesied threefold rejection of the disciple. Therefore, even if he had renounced You with an oath, he, however, when he saw You in the courtyard of the bishops, his Lord and Teacher, was touched in his heart, and went out crying bitterly: “Look then upon me, Lord, and strike my cruel heart, and with your tears with mine I will wash away my sins, singing to You: Alleluia.”

Ikos 3

Truly have power according to the order of Melchizedek, as a Bishop forever, you have become before the lawless high priest Caiaphas, Lord and Lord of all; Having suffered torment from Your servants, accept from us the following:

Jesus, priceless, purchased with a price, gain me for Your eternal inheritance;

Jesus, the desire of all, from Peter, outcast for fear, do not reject me, a sinner.

Jesus, gentle Lamb, tormented by fierce boars, rescue me from my enemies;

Jesus, Bishop, who entered the Holy of Holies with Your Blood, cleanse me from the defilements of the flesh.

Jesus, bound, have the power to bind and decide, resolve my grave sins;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 4

The Jews breathing a storm of Christ-killing, having listened to the voice of the father of lies and murderer from time immemorial, the devil, rejected You, the right Path, Truth and Life; We are Thee, Christ, the power of God, in Him all the treasures of wisdom and reason are hidden, confessing, crying out: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing Your meek words, Pilate, like one worthy of death, delivered You up to be crucified, even though you yourself testified that you have not found a single guilt in You: defile your mind with your hands, but defile your heart; We, marveling at the mystery of Your free suffering, call with tenderness:

Jesus, Son of God and Son of the Virgin, martyred from the sons of iniquity;

Jesus, mocked and naked, give glory to the villages and clothe the sky with clouds.

Jesus, full of stripes, fed five thousand with five loaves;

Jesus, the King of all, received cruel torment instead of tribute to love and thanksgiving.

Jesus, for our sake you have been wounded all day, heal the wounds of our souls;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 5

You are all clothed with Your rich Blood, clothed in light, like a robe. We know, truly we know with the prophet, that Thy garments are scarlet: I, Lord, I have wounded Thee with my sins: For thee, for my wounded sake, I gratefully call: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Having seen You in the soul of God-speaking Isaiah, filled with dishonor and wounds, he cried out in horror: “I saw Him, and had no form or kindness”; We, seeing You on the Cross, call with faith and wonder:

Jesus, endure dishonor, crown man with glory and honor;

Jesus, the angels cannot see on the Ungozhe, he is pierced by the forehead.

Jesus, struck on the head with a reed, bow my head in humility;

Jesus, Thy bright hair darkened by blood, turn away my eyes from seeing vanity.

Jesus, who is not whole from head to foot, make me whole and healthy;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 6

Pilate appeared as a preacher of Your kindness, showing the people that nothing to be in You is worthy of death; but the Jews, like wild beasts who saw blood, gnashed their teeth at You, “Crucify, crucify Him,” crying out; We, kissing Your most pure wounds, call: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Thou shalt shine forth in shame and astonishment, as Angel and man spoke of Thee to Pilate: “Behold, man.” Come, let us worship Jesus, who was mocked for our sake, crying out:

Jesus, Creator and Judge of all, judged and tormented by His creation;

Jesus, Giver of wisdom, giving no answer to the foolish.

Jesus, Physician of those wounded by sins, give me the medicine of repentance;

Jesus, smitten Shepherd, defeat the demons who tempt me.

Jesus, Thou of broken flesh, crush my heart with Thy fear;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 7

Though you might deliver man from the work of the enemy, you humbled yourself before your enemies, O Jesus, and, like a silent lamb, you were led to the slaughter, you endured plagues everywhere, and healed all man, calling: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

Thou hast shown wondrous long-suffering, when the soldiers, swearing at Thee, according to the words of the unrighteous judge, wounded Thy Most Pure Body with the most cruel wounds, as if it were stained with blood from the feet to the head. For this reason we cry out to You with tears:

Jesus, lover of mankind, from the man crowned with thorns;

Jesus, impassive in Divinity, endure passions and free us from passions.

Jesus, my Savior, save me, guilty of all torment;

Jesus, forsaken by all, my affirmation, strengthen me.

Jesus, offended by all, O my joy, make me glad:

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 8

Marvelously and strangely, Moses and Elijah appeared to You on Tabor, speaking about Your exodus, which You are now ending in Jerusalem. There, having seen Your glory, and here having seen our salvation, they call: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

Persecuted everywhere by the Jews, for the sake of the multitude of my sins, you endured reproach and torment: for one thing they say that you are contrary to Caesar, the friends condemn you as a villain, and others cry out: “Take, take, and crucify.” Condemned by all, and led to death, to You, Lord, from the depths of our souls we say:

Jesus, unjustly condemned, our Judge, do not judge us according to our deeds;

Jesus, I faint on the way under the Cross, my strength, in the hour of my sorrow and embitterment do not leave me.

Jesus, cry to the Father for help, my hero, strengthen me in my weakness;

Jesus, accept dishonor, My Glory, do not take me away from Your Glory.

Jesus, Image of the Most Illustrious Hypostasis of the Father, transform my unclean and gloomy life;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 9

All nature was in turmoil, it was in vain that You were hanged on the Cross, in heaven the sun hid its rays, the earth shook, the veil of the temple was torn, the stone disintegrated, the hell of the dead was poured out: we worship in the place where Your most pure nose stood, singing: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The verses of many things, even if they speak a lot, are unable to render worthy thanksgiving to Thy Divine passion, O Lover of Mankind: but our soul and body, heart and all our limbs, cry out to Thee with tenderness:

Jesus, nail yourself to the Cross, nail and abolish the handwriting of our sins;

Jesus, stretch out your hand from the Cross to everyone, and draw me, the lost one, too.

Jesus, Door of the sheep, pierced in the ribs, lead me with Thy plagues into Thy palace;

Jesus, crucified in the flesh, crucify my flesh with its passions and lusts.

Jesus, die in agony, grant that my heart may not judge anything else, but You were crucified;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 10

You have saved the world, you have healed the blind, the lame, the lepers, the mute and the deaf, you have driven away the evil spirits; The foolish Jews, breathing malice and tormented by envy, nailed Thee to the Cross, not leading to sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

To the Eternal King, Jesus, who suffers all for my intemperance, so that you may make me all pure, give us an image in everything, so that we may follow Your footsteps, calling:

Jesus, unsearchable Love, we crucified You without committing sin;

Jesus, pray with a strong cry and with tears in Vertograd, teach us to pray too.

Jesus, having fulfilled all the prophecies about You, fulfill the good desires of our hearts;

Jesus, having commended Your spirit in the hands of the Father, at the hour of my departure, receive my spirit.

Jesus, you are not forbidden to share Your garments, meekly separate my soul from my body;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 11

Thy All-Immaculate Mother brought you an all-contrite song, saying: “Even though you suffered on the Cross, I know that you were born from the womb before the star of the Father, for I see that all creation will have compassion for you; commend your spirit to the Father, and receive my spirit and do not leave me, who calls: Alleluia.”

Ikos 11

Like a light-receiving light, at Your Cross, burning with love for You, and the Virgin Mother Immaculate, overcome by illness, I enter Your grave, the true Sun of Truth, from the outside of our hearts, accept the prayers:

Jesus, who ascended on the tree, and brought us fallen together to His Father;

Jesus, bestowed upon the Ever-Virgin as a Mother, teach us virginity and purity.

Jesus, You, who gave birth to God the Word, entrusted the disciple of the Theologian, entrust us all to Her Mother’s intercession;

Jesus, conqueror of peace and hell, conquer unbelief, worldly pride and the lust of the soul that lives in us.

Jesus, destroyer of death, deliver me from eternal death;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 12

Grant me Thy grace, Jesus, my God, accept me as Thou didst accept Joseph and Nicodemus, so that, like a clean shroud, I will bring My soul to Thee and anoint Thy Most Pure Body with the scent of virtues, and, as in the tomb, I have Thee in my heart, call: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing Your free crucifixion, we worship Your passion, O Christ, we believe with the centurion that You are truly the Son of God, coming upon the clouds with much power and glory; Then do not disgrace us, redeemed by Your Blood and crying out like this:

Long-suffering Jesus, with the weeping of Thy Virgin Mother, Thy eternal weeping snatched us away;

Jesus, forsaken of all, do not leave me alone at the hour of my death.

Jesus, touching Your feet with Magdalene, receive me;

Jesus, with the traitor and those who were crucified, do not judge me.

Jesus, lead me into paradise with the prudent thief;

Jesus, Son of God, remember us when You come into Your Kingdom.

Kontakion 13

O Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, take away the sins of the world, accept this little gratitude from all our souls offered to You and heal us with Your saving suffering from all mental and physical illnesses, protect us with Your Cross from enemies visible and invisible and at the end of our life do not leave having been delivered from eternal death by Thy death, we call to Thee: Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos and 1st kontakion

Christian prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ crucified on the cross

Nailed on the Cross for us, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God the Father, an inexhaustible abyss of mercy, love and generosity! We know that for the sake of my sins, out of unspeakable love for mankind, You deigned to shed Your Blood on the Cross, even though I, accursed and ungrateful, have trampled on my bad deeds and held them in vain. Therefore, from the depths of lawlessness and uncleanness, my mental eyes looked at You crucified on the Cross, my Redeemer, with humility and faith in the depths of the ulcers, filled with Your mercy, I cast myself down, asking for forgiveness of sins and the correction of my bad life. Be merciful to me, my Lord and Judge, do not cast me away from Your presence, but with Your omnipotent hand turn me to You and guide me on the path of true repentance, so that from now on I will lay the beginning of my salvation. By Thy divine sufferings tame my carnal passions; With Thy shed blood, cleanse my spiritual impurities; By Thy crucifixion crucify me to the world with its temptations and lusts; With Your cross, protect me from invisible enemies who are trapping my soul. With Thy pierced feet, forbid my feet from every evil way; With Thy pierced hands, restrain my hands from every deed that is displeasing to You. Nailed by the flesh, nail my flesh to Thy fear, so that, having turned away from evil, I do good before Thee. Having bowed Your head on the Cross, bow my exalted pride to the ground of humility; Protect my ears with Your crown of thorns, so that I may not hear the unprofitable; you who taste gall with your lips, put my unclean mouth under guard; Have a heart opened with a spear, create a pure heart in me; with all Your wounds, wound me all sweetly into Your love, so that I may love You, my Lord, with all my soul, with all my heart, with all my strength and with all my thoughts. Give me, strange and poor, where to bow my head; Give me the All-Good One, who delivers my soul from death; Give me Yourself, the All-Sweet One, who delights me in sorrows and misfortunes with His love, so that He whom I first hated, angered, drove out from myself and nailed to the Cross, this I will now love, rejoicing, I will accept and bear His sweet Cross until the end of my life. From now on, O my all-good Redeemer, do not allow a single will of mine to be fulfilled, since it is evil and indecent, lest I again fall into the hard work of the sin that reigned in me; but Your good will, which wants to save me, may it always be fulfilled in me, entrusting me to You, to You, my Crucified Lord, with the intelligent eye of my heart I imagine and pray from the depths of my soul, and even in my separation from my mortal body, You alone on the Cross I will see in Your hand accepting Your protection, and keeping me from the airy spirits of malice, and instilling with sinners who have pleased You with repentance. Amen.

Orthodox prayer to the Lord Jesus crucified

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Creator of heaven and earth, Savior of the world, here I am, unworthy and most sinful of all, humbly bowing the knee of my heart before the glory of Thy Majesty, I sing praise to the cross and Thy suffering, and thanksgiving to Thee, the King of all and God, I offer, as you have deigned to bear all the labors and all kinds of troubles, misfortunes and torments, like a man, so that you will all be our compassionate Helper and Savior in all our sorrows, needs and embitterments. We know, Omnipotent Master, that all this was not needed by You, but for the sake of human salvation, that You might redeem us all from the cruel work of the enemy, You endured the Cross and suffering. That I will repay Thee, O lover of mankind, for all that Thou hast suffered for me for the sake of a sinner; We don’t know, for soul and body and all that is good are from You, and all that is mine is Yours, and I am Yours. Just in Your innumerable Lord, I trust in Your mercy, I sing Your ineffable long-suffering, I magnify Your inscrutable exhaustion, I glorify Your immeasurable mercy, I worship Your most pure Passion and, lovingly kissing Your wounds, I cry out: have mercy on me, a sinner, and make me not barren in I receive Your Holy Cross, so that by sharing Your sufferings here with faith, I may be worthy to see the glory of Your Kingdom in heaven! Amen.

Prayer to the Lord Jesus Crucified

Be merciful to me, my Lord and Judge, do not cast me away from Your presence, but with Your omnipotent hand turn me to You and guide me on the path of true repentance, so that from now on I will lay the beginning of my salvation. By Thy divine sufferings tame my carnal passions; With Thy shed blood, cleanse my spiritual impurities; By Thy crucifixion crucify me to the world with its temptations and lusts; With Your cross, protect me from invisible enemies who are trapping my soul. With Thy pierced feet, forbid my feet from every evil way; With Thy pierced hands, restrain my hands from every deed that is displeasing to You.

Nailed by the flesh, nail my flesh to Thy fear, so that, having turned away from evil, I do good before Thee. Having bowed Your head on the Cross, bow my exalted pride to the ground of humility; Protect my ears with Your crown of thorns, so that I may not hear the unprofitable; you who taste gall with your lips, put my unclean mouth under guard; Have a heart opened with a spear, create a pure heart in me; with all Your wounds, wound me all sweetly into Your love, so that I may love You, my Lord, with all my soul, with all my heart, with all my strength and with all my thoughts.

Give me, strange and poor, where to bow my head; Give me the All-Good One, who delivers my soul from death; Give me Yourself, the All-Sweet One, who delights me in sorrows and misfortunes with His love, so that He whom I first hated, angered, drove out from myself and nailed to the Cross, this I will now love, rejoicing, I will accept and bear His sweet Cross until the end of my life.

From now on, O my all-good Redeemer, do not allow a single will of mine to be fulfilled, since it is evil and indecent, lest I again fall into the hard work of the sin that reigned in me; but Your good will, which wants to save me, may it always be fulfilled in me, entrusting me to You, to You, my Crucified Lord, with the intelligent eye of my heart I imagine and pray from the depths of my soul, and even in my separation from my mortal body, You alone on the Cross I will see in Your hand accepting Your protection, and keeping me from the airy spirits of malice, and instilling with sinners who have pleased You with repentance. Amen.

On what days of the week and to whom are the texts of the chants read?

The structure of church services involves intense prayer to one or another saint, as well as to the Angels, the Mother of God, and Christ, on every day of the week. In addition, on Saturdays the dead are remembered in commemoration of the Descent into hell of Christ, which took place after His death on the cross. Two days are dedicated to remembering the events of the betrayal of Judas (Wednesday) and the Crucifixion (Friday). Accordingly, at home akathists are usually read in the following order:

Sunday is “Little Easter,” so it begins with an akathist for the Resurrection, sometimes for Communion, if the believer is about to begin the sacrament;
on Mondays - arch. Michael, Guardian Angel; this day is honored by monastics, for Angels, according to the word of St. fathers, “light to the monks”;
On Tuesday St. John the Baptist;
on Wednesday akathists are read to the Sweetest Jesus and the Mother of God;
Thursday is the day of special commemoration of St. Nicholas of Myra, as well as the apostles; especially St. Peter and Paul;
Friday – remembrance of the Crucifixion of the Lord; therefore, on this day there are hymns to the Cross, the Passion of Christ;
on Saturdays, akathists to All Saints are traditionally read, about the repose of the departed; Some collections also include an akathist to the Mother of God for this day.

In Russia

From the middle of the 15th century. among the Greeks this genre begins to fade away. But in the Russian Church, on the contrary, he gained popularity. Moreover, the akathist is distributed among monastics. The monks sing hymns daily. This is how their collections appear for the first time, where a schedule of hymns is given for the days of the week.

However, until the 16th century. in Rus' only chants translated from Greek are known. But around 1522, the Belarusian spiritual writer, publisher, Francis Skaryna created original akathists to Christ and St. John the Baptist, written on the model of the chants “Cyr of Isidore” of Constantinople. Since the 17th century hymns appear dedicated to Russian saints, most often St. Sergius of Radonezh. It is believed that the first of them was written by the spiritual writer, Prince S.I. Shakhovsky.

The church genre experienced a special flourishing in the 18th-19th centuries, when akathists were written by clergy and laity. By 1901, there were 157 published hymns alone, with almost 300 texts not approved for church use. Many anthems appeared during the persecutions of the Soviet era. Now, with the closure of most churches, they have become part of the cell prayer rule of many Orthodox Christians.

Meaning

The name of the hymns means “unsaddled,” that is, sung or read strictly while standing.

History of origin

It is believed that the first chant of this kind was the so-called Great, addressed to the Mother of God. It was created, according to most church historians, in the 6th century, and the author of the hymn, most likely, was St. Roman Sladkopevets. The presence in its content of many songs dedicated to the Annunciation and the Nativity of Christ suggests that this work was originally intended to be sung during these church celebrations. However, something different happened:

Augusta

626

When the capital of Byzantium was besieged by tribes of Avars, Slavs, and their allies, an icon of the Most Pure One was carried along the city walls in a religious procession, singing, as they say, this very chant.

The inexplicable happened: the enemy fleet was swept away by the storm, after which the opponents fled in shame. Thus, this hymn to the Mother of God, which for a long time was the only one, appeared in liturgical use.

Only several centuries later the word began to mean not just one hymn, but a whole genre of church works written on the model of the first, Great.

Among them:

dedicated to Christ, now also known with the name “Akathist to the Sweetest Jesus”; the oldest known manuscript of the work dates back to the 13th century.
seven patristic hymns. Isidore of Constantinople (XIV century), dedicated to holidays and saints;
2 chants belong to Patr. Philotheus Kokkin, they also date back to the 14th century: in honor of all saints and the Resurrection of Christ.

Interesting fact

It is believed that the last of the hymns of this kind, which appeared before the fall of Constantinople (1453), is dedicated to St. John. Its author is considered to be the namesake brother of St. Apostle. Mark of Ephesus, John Eugenicus.

Another prayer to the Lord Jesus Crucified

We know, Omnipotent Master, that all this was not needed by You, but for the sake of human salvation, that You might redeem us all from the cruel work of the enemy, You endured the Cross and suffering. That I will repay Thee, O lover of mankind, for all that Thou hast suffered for me for the sake of a sinner; We don’t know, for soul and body and all that is good are from You, and all that is mine is Yours, and I am Yours.

Just in Your innumerable Lord, I trust in Your mercy, I sing Your ineffable long-suffering, I magnify Your inscrutable exhaustion, I glorify Your immeasurable mercy, I worship Your most pure Passion and, lovingly kissing Your wounds, I cry out: have mercy on me, a sinner, and make me not barren in I receive Your Holy Cross, so that by sharing Your sufferings here with faith, I may be worthy to see the glory of Your Kingdom in heaven! Amen.

Anthem structure

All akathists are written according to the model of the Great, consisting of 24 kontakia and ikos. That's how many letters there are in the Greek alphabet. With each of them, in order, each chant began. In translated texts, this rule, of course, is not observed, although the number of chants remains the same.

St. Roman Sladkopevets

The names of the parts of the akathist are Greek. Kontakion was originally a scroll or stick on which it was wound for convenience. Therefore, many assume that the kontakia during early Byzantium were significantly larger than the current ones. "Ikos" is translated as "house".

Each pair of kontakion and ikos is united by a common theme. But the first reveals its content briefly, and the second - more extensively. Ikos always consists of 12 “hairetisms” (“haire” - “rejoice”), dedicated to a saint or holiday.

The hymn ends with another special kontakion, containing a special prayer to Christ, the Mother of God or the saint of God, after which first 1 ikos is repeated, then 1 kontakion. In conclusion, a prayer is read.