Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos before the Three-Handed Icon
Kontakion 1
To the chosen Voivode, the God-delighted Ever-Virgin Mother of God, who visited Mount Athos with the appearance of Her miraculous icon and bestowed many graces on it to the Christian race, we now proclaim a song of praise; But You, O Mother of God, as having an invincible power and Motherly care for us, advance to our aid and deliver those who call upon You from all troubles:
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Ikos 1
The earthly angel and heavenly man, the Venerable John of Damascus, out of warm love for Thee, Our Lady, labored to build Thy holy icon and reverently placed it in his cell, saying before it to Thee in fervent prayers:
Rejoice, Eternal Joy, Who gave birth to the Savior of the world; Rejoice, thou who hast corrected the power of all-destroying hell through Thy Nativity.
Rejoice, you who brought the fulfillment of prophetic verbs; Rejoice, having atoned for the crime of Adam and Eve.
Rejoice, Thou who easily carried the One of the Trinity in Thy hand; Rejoice, Thou who didst contain the Fire of the Divine unburnt in Thy womb.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the Venerable John of Damascus, his right hand, who wrote a lot in defense of the honor and veneration of holy icons, was mercilessly cut off at the behest of the iconoclast king, I asked for it from the unfaithful tormentor and, adding it to the truncated composition, before Your honorable icon, Most Pure Virgin, tearfully praying to You, O let her be healed. You, the All-Good and All-Powerful Intercessor of our family, quickly heard his prayer and, appearing to him in a dream, you granted healing to his truncated hand, and sing with gratitude to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The human mind cannot comprehend the power of grace-filled healings, through Your icon, O Mother of God, miraculously revealed, nor can it explain the great miracle how the severed right hand of the saint was found whole and healthy in one night, on it only the scarlet sign of the former ulcer was left by the Good Physician, who heard This is our praise:
Rejoice, soon appearing as the comforter of sorrowing souls; Rejoice, joyful visitor of aching hearts.
Rejoice, you who encourage hopeless sufferers with the hope of healing; Rejoice, you who receive the sick in your hand, abandoned by doctors.
Rejoice, you who made the truncated right hand of God’s chosen one whole and healthy beyond nature; Rejoice, for nothing is impossible for You, Merciful Representative, who always shows us intercession.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 3
Having recognized the power of the right hand of the Most High in healing the truncated right hand of his own, the God-speaking John, sang with red songs to Thee, the All-Good Lady, and applied the likeness of his truncated hand to Thy healing image for the sake of the everlasting memory of the great miracle. Thus, this holy icon of Your Three-Handed One is now visible and is called, with three hands written on it, manifesting the mystery of the Holy Trinity, the miracles that happen from it, leading everyone to cry out in praise to the Lord: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Have great zeal for God, spirit-bearing hymn-writer of the Holy Church and her Divine glorifier, sweet Venerable John, with songs of praise until the end of his life glorify Your wondrous mercy towards him, Mother of God, in memory of the former miracle of robes, to which his truncated hand owed, on the head your burden, but leave your multi-healing icon, like a rich heritage, to the holy Lavra of the Venerable Savva the Sanctified, so that all the faithful call to the Healer of souls and bodies depicted on it:
Rejoice, strong champion of the enemies of the holy Orthodox faith; Rejoice, patroness of preachers of the Gospel teaching.
Rejoice, protection and praise of pious Christians; Rejoice, consolation of God-loving monks.
Rejoice, good companion leading the war against the world, the flesh and the devil; Rejoice, you have greatly assisted those who are zealous for chastity and purity.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 4
A storm of bewilderment confuses my mind, how can I be able to sing with unworthy lips Your glory, Most Pure Virgin, Who in Your icon revealed You as holy, Who gave us help and protection from enemies visible and invisible. Moreover, magnifying Your countless mercies towards the Christian race, I confess Your miracles and humbly sing to the Almighty: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard the monks of the Holy Lavra, Sava the Sanctified, about the great virtues of the Serbian High Hierarch Sava, who came to the Lavra to venerate, at the inspiration of You, Mother of God, gave him for blessing the holy icon of Your Three Hands, which he reverently, as a gift of great value, brought to the Serbian country, teaching his flock call you:
Rejoice, thou who proclaimest from the east to the west the power of the omnipotence of Christ through Thy icon; Rejoice, thou who quickly heals illnesses of soul and body through Thy icon.
Rejoice, Thou who bestowed Thy icon upon the Serbian country as a pledge of favor; Rejoice, having firmly established Orthodoxy in her through Your miracles.
Rejoice, you who graciously visited the region of Simeon the Myrrh-streamer; Rejoice, thou who hast shrouded the flock of Sava with Thy Motherly protection.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 5
More than a God-bearing star, Your icon appeared, the Mother of God, according to the will of Your saints, placed on a donkey and released from Serbia: the donkey, led by no one, was brought to Mount Athos by the gates of the Hilandar monastery, even as the monks received a heavenly gift, placing it in the altar of the cathedral church of the monastery, calling with deep emotion the good things to the Giver God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen the monks of Hilandarstia Your favor towards them, Most Blessed Virgin, in the miraculous coming to them of Your holy icon of the Three-Handed One, I worshiped it with joy and love, kissing and singing praises to You:
Rejoice, guide of the ascetics of piety to the mountainous Zion; Rejoice, you who lead desert-loving monks to heavenly Jerusalem.
Rejoice, thou who miraculously subdued the dumb ass to Thy holy will; Rejoice, you who wondrously brought Your blessed icon from Serbia to Mount Athos on a donkey.
Rejoice, you who filled the desert of Athos with the fragrance of the holy thing; Rejoice, you who have blessed the Hilandar monastery with Your favor.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 6
The monastery of Hilandar on Athos preaches the wealth of Thy mercies and bounties, O Virgin Mother of God, and flaunts itself brightly, having the holy icon of Thy Three-Handed Mother as abbot for itself, for such was Thy will that Thy icon should remain there in the abbot’s place in the temple of God and in the souls of the brethren, from To you is the only blessing for all obedience, accepting and calling in praise to the Creator who was well pleased with them: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Thou didst proclaim Thy will, O Bogomati, as a monk of Hilandar, by the disagreement in the election of an abbot to the troubled ones, having miraculously placed Thy holy icon in the abbot's place in the temple of God and revealing to one of them in a vision that Thou Thyself wouldst abide in the abode of their monastery by Thy honorable icon, and yes otherwise they do not elect an abbot. They, with tenderness of souls and hearts, cried out to You with joy:
Rejoice, known and all-powerful Patroness of monks who strive well; Rejoice, warm representative of your Son and God for them.
Rejoice, you who invisibly received the abbot’s rod at the Hilandarstei monastery; Rejoice, you who have preserved this monastery until now intact and well-maintained.
Rejoice, through the fear and reverence of the hearts of the brethren, the blessing from Thy icon is fulfilled by those who receive it; Rejoice, threateningly punishing the irreverent and impudent.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 7
Although you did not only Athos, but also all other Orthodox countries participated in the grace of great miracles, poured out and performed by Your Three-Handed Icon, the Most Pure Lady, you spread this in all cities, villages, churches and monastic abodes and glorified wondrous miracles. Moreover, all the faithful children honor the holy icon of Your Three-Handed Mother with love and on it, together with You, they earnestly call to the Christ depicted: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
You have wondrously shown, O Most Blessed Virgin, mercy to faithful people and through Your holy icon of the Three Hands, you have performed glorious miracles by the power of the Grace of Christ: you have enlightened the blind, strengthened the weakened, healed the sick, and to all those who resort to Your healing image, You have always shown Your immediate help, striving to call to You:
Rejoice, you who chose Holy Mount Athos as your lot; Rejoice, thou who hast overshadowed all the Orthodox countries with the cover of Thy mercy.
Rejoice, unchanging abbess of the Hilandar monastery; Rejoice, abundant treasure of healings in many places and deserts.
Rejoice, on Athos, in Russia, Serbia and other countries, gloriously working miracles with Your icon; Rejoice, you who love and honor Thee, delivering You from all troubles.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 8
It is strange to see the Hilandar monks approaching Your icon, as if they were coming to the abbot and receiving a blessing from Her for their obedience. But, O All-Blessed One, just as You accept them graciously and bless us, do not deprive us, the unworthy, of Your Motherly mercy and care, graciously accept our prayers offered before Your holy icon, cover us with Your gracious blessing, deliver us from all troubles and sorrows and teach It is godly to sing to the Triune God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
The whole world is filled with God-bright stars, your miraculous icons, O Virgin Mary, and in them, like a radiant star, your Three-Handed icon graciously shines with wondrous miracles and warms our cold hearts with the banner of your merciful contempt for us. For this reason, we honor Your most pure face, the holy image, and we cry out to You before it:
Rejoice, God-delighted and Immaculate Ever-Virgin; Rejoice, One Pure and Blessed One among women.
Rejoice, imperishable and incorruptible Lamb and Shepherd Mother; Rejoice, beautiful and luminous chamber of saints of the most holy Word.
Rejoice, thou who is snow-white and fragrant of virginity and purity; Rejoice, Queen and Lady of Heaven and earth.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 9
Every age of the faithful benefits from Your Mother's care, O All-Blessed Lady: you mercifully nourish babies, you invisibly guide youths, you strengthen men in piety, you strengthen elders in their infirmities, and you bestow upon all all that is good and beneficial to your soul by Your omnipotent intercession at the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, to whom we gratefully sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The revolutions of humanity cannot adequately praise Thee, the Mother of God, the most honorable Cherub and the most glorious Seraphim, who gave birth to the One from the Trinity, Christ the Life-Giver. We, inspired by love for You, humbly dare to bring You songs like these:
Rejoice, sovereign intercessor of the Christian race; Rejoice, compassionate Mother of all who mourn and are burdened.
Rejoice, through Your gentle radiance you disperse the darkness of our sins and passions; Rejoice, you who wisely instruct us on the path of repentance.
Rejoice, strong protector of all of us in the terrible hour of death; Rejoice, zealous intercessor gave us a good answer before the Righteous Judge.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 10
The guarantee of salvation has been given to us by Your holy and all-honorable icon, the Virgin Mother of God, for, just as You prophesied of old to the divine Evangelist Lutsa, Your power graciously abides with it to this day, glorious miracles confirm faith in us, heal the sick freely and lead us to the path of salvation of our souls, Let us call upon the one who has glorified Your name throughout the entire universe, the King of Heaven and earth: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Thou art the wall of virgins and monastic faces, the Blessed Virgin of God, to all who diligently come running to You, and to those who reverently honor Your holy icon, for the Lord has given us this gift of good things for help and healing for mental and physical ailments, and thus inspires us to sing to You:
Rejoice, kind nurse of virgins and motherless orphans; Rejoice, monks and nuns who grieved the leader for heavenly rewards.
Rejoice, you who visit those in chains and prison with grace-filled consolation; Rejoice, blessing of the homes and marriages of the pious.
Rejoice, teacher of chastity and abstinence to young people; Rejoice, you who lead the elders to a good life and a peaceful death.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 11
Our prayer song, offered to You before Your most pure image with faith and love, mercifully hear, O All-Merciful Lady, and save us from corrupting teachings, unbelief and superstition, in which the patristic Orthodox faith is instilled in us, deliver us from evil seductions, save us and the Fatherland ours from all sedition and from all disorder and evil corruption, raised up by the enemies of faith and our Fatherland, and vouchsafe in love and unanimity with all the faithful children of the Holy Church of Christ to sing to our Creator: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
The light-accepting light of Your holy icon, Virgin Mother of God, enlightens the whole world with the radiance of miracles, and inflames our hearts with love towards You, the Most Pure and Most Blessed Mother of our Sweetest Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us Your protection and protection against the hordes of Satan, who fear and tremble at Your very name. Yours, knowing Your power, we magnify and call to You:
Rejoice, our enemies, visible and invisible, wisely stumbling; Rejoice, invisibly punishing the blasphemers of the holy Orthodox faith.
Rejoice, thou who solemnly drives away the spirits of evil from us; Rejoice, you who do not allow him to take over us.
Rejoice, you who inspire us with love for God and our neighbors; Rejoice, all our good wishes will soon be fulfilled.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 12
Grace from above was bestowed upon the holy icon of Your Three-Handed Lady, the Most Blessed Lady: to console the sorrowing, to heal the sick, to enlighten the blind, to strengthen the weakened, to affirm the faithful in piety, to bring the unfaithful to the knowledge of the truth, with signs and miracles from it, which truly surpass human understanding and can only be comprehended by faith. , leading faithful souls to silent praise of the Creator with a divine song: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
We sing Thy miracles, O gracious Mother of God, we do not hide Thy bounty, we confess Thy good deeds, we glorify Thy innumerable mercy to the Christian race, which reaches all the ends of the earth, for from east to west Thy holy name is praised, blessed from all generations and invoked in prayers in all countries. Thou art most glorified and exalted by Thy Son and God, and we cry out in praise:
Rejoice, quiet refuge for those floating in the depths of the sea of life; Rejoice, pacifying the unrest of passions with Your compassionate participation.
Rejoice, you who lift up those who have fallen into despondency and despair with the hope of salvation; Rejoice, you who admonish those who doubt their faith with signs and wonders.
Rejoice, in the monastic monasteries those who strive in a manner pleasing to God are the giver of blessed repose; Rejoice, and those who live piously in the world do not deprive You of Your intercession.
Rejoice, our Helper, who helps us with Your three-handed icon.
Kontakion 13
O All-Singing Mother of the Sweetest Redeemer of our Lord Jesus Christ! Hear the voice of prayer, which we humbly lift up to You before Your holy icon, and Your Mother’s prayer to the most holy Word, born of You, from all misfortune and eternal torment, deliver from all misfortunes and eternal torment all who prayerfully call upon Your name and gratefully call upon God for You: Alleluia
This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos “Earthly Angel...” and the 1st kontakion “To the Chosen Voivode...”.
Prayer 1
O Most Holy and Most Blessed Virgin Mary! We fall down and bow to Thee before Thy holy Three-handed icon, remembering Thy glorious miracle by healing the truncated right hand of the Venerable John of Damascus, which was revealed from this icon, whose sign is still visible on it, in the form of a third hand, attached to Thy image. We pray to Thee and ask Thee, the All-merciful and All-generous Intercessor of our race: hear us, praying to Thee, and just as you heard Blessed John, who cried out to You in sorrow and illness, so do not despise us, who grieve and suffer from the wounds of many different passions and to To you from the heart of the contrite and humble those who diligently come running. You see, O All-Merciful Lady, our infirmities, our embitterment, our need, I will demand our help and intercession, as if we are surrounded by enemies everywhere, and there is no one who helps, less than one who intercedes, unless You have mercy on us, the Lady. To her, we pray to You, listen to our painful voice and help us to preserve the patristic Orthodox faith immaculately until the end of our days, to walk unswervingly in all the commandments of the Lord, to always bring true repentance for our sins to God and to be honored with a peaceful Christian death and a good answer at the Last Judgment of the Son Thy and our God, Whom we begged for us with Thy Motherly prayer, may He not condemn us according to our iniquities, but may He have mercy on us according to His great and ineffable mercy. O All-Good One! Hear us and do not deprive us of Your sovereign help, yes, having received salvation through You, let us sing and glorify You on the land of the living and our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of You, to whom befits glory and power, honor and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit , always, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer 2
O Most Holy Lady Lady Theotokos, who showed a great miracle to Saint John of Damascus, as if he showed true faith and undoubted hope! Hear us, sinners, before Your miraculous icon, fervently praying and asking for Your help: do not reject this prayer of many for the sake of our sins, but, as the Mother of mercy and generosity, deliver us from illnesses, sorrows and sorrows, forgive the sins we have committed, fill us with joy and joy to all who honor Your holy icon, may we joyfully sing and glorify Your name with love, for You are chosen and blessed from all generations forever and ever. Amen.
John of Damascus in the fight against heresy
There have been many moments in Orthodoxy when believers were persecuted. These dark periods were filled with tragic events, but often it was in difficult times that the Lord showed miracles that helped strengthen faith. This is exactly how the story of John of Damascus is interpreted.
The Monk John lived in Damascus and was known as a very religious man, who throughout his life condemned heresy and persecution of Christianity. During this period of time, a new emperor, Leo III, ascended the throne of Byzantium. The ruler decided that the veneration of icons could be equated to the worship of pagan idols and led the fight against holy images. He destroyed icons and imprisoned thousands of believers who did not obey him. This outraged John and began to write numerous letters to his friends and acquaintances in Byzantium.
His wise speeches penetrated directly into the hearts of believers and minions of the emperor. Many of them began to doubt the correctness of their actions, and with each new letter there were more and more such people. This infuriated the ruler of Byzantium.
Appeal to the Mother of God in case of a threat to the family
The Most Pure One always patronized families and women. After all, they are the custodians of the home and raise children. Therefore, almost any woman feels great when trouble is knocking on her house and the world in it disappears. If you feel that someone wishes you harm or is jealous of your happiness, then ask the Most Pure One for intercession. The most effective prayer in such a situation will be the prayer to the Mother of God, the Three-Handed One, which we present below.
We hope that our article will help you in a difficult situation, and you will be able to correctly turn to higher powers for help.
The further fate of the saint
After everything that happened, John of Damascus went to the monastery and took monastic vows there. After some time, he made a brush from silver and attached it to the miraculous icon, near which he prayed. From that time on, they began to call her “Three-handed.” It is also believed that in honor of the Mother of God he wrote a song of praise, which is still used in various services.
The icon itself was given to the monastery as a gift, where it remained after John’s death.
Prayer for the health of loved ones
Sometimes illness kills not us, but our loved ones. It is very difficult to cope with such a situation, because you really want to give everything to help a loved one.
If someone is sick, or you just want to ask the Mother of God for the health of your loved ones, then in front of the icon you can read the prayers that we have already given in the article. As an addition, some Orthodox Christians are advised to recite an akathist to the Most Pure Virgin. We present its text below.
Miracles in the Hilendar Monastery
Very soon after its appearance in the monastery, the icon began to work miracles. After the death of the abbot of the monastery, the monks could not make a decision about who would take his place. Without reaching a consensus, they were amazed to see that on the abbot’s chair there was an icon of the Mother of God. The monks put her in her place, but within a few days she found herself back in the chair. This continued even when the monks locked the monastery.
One night the Mother of God appeared to the monk. She said that she would manage the monastery herself and there was no need to look for a new abbot. From this time on, there is no position of abbot in the Hilendar monastery, there is only his assistant.
Martyrdom of John of Damascus
Leo III understood that the monk would not stop and would continue to write his letters, so he decided to destroy John. In order to get rid of the saint, the emperor wrote a forged letter. Its text allegedly contained an offer of assistance in the conquest of Damascus from John to the ruler of Byzantium himself. The slander reached the lips of the Caliph of Syria, and a letter was presented to him as evidence. For treason, the monk was instantly removed from his post as minister and imprisoned.
He tried to justify himself, but the caliph became increasingly enraged and ordered John's right hand to be cut off so that he could never write again. The sentence was carried out, and the brush was hung in the square as an edification to the townspeople.
The monk himself suffered greatly and prayed to the caliph to return the severed hand to him, in order to avoid shame on himself and his family. The ruler of Syria took pity on his former minister and ordered his limb to be thrown into prison with a prisoner.
