Sts. Joachim and Anna with their daughter, the Most-holy Theotokos (source)
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Akathist to the Holy and Righteous Joachim and Anna
For Blessed Married Life
For Blessed Married Life
Kontakion 1:
O holy and righteous Joachim and you Anna, the forbears of Christ, elect among the human race, who gave birth to the all-blessed, holy Maiden, of Whom the Son of God was born in the flesh! In that you have great boldness before Christ God and stand before His heavenly throne, earnestly entreat Him, that we may be delivered from misfortunes and thus may ever cry aloud to you: Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Ikos 1:
An angelic messenger was sent to you by God, O holy and righteous ancestors of God, when you both expressed your sorrow – You, Joachim in the wilderness, and you Anna in the garden – offering up supplication unto God. Thus the incorporeal one brought the joyful tidings that you would give birth to an all-blessed daughter, in whom the whole human race would be blessed. And with him we also offer you joyful praise:
Rejoice, branches of the vine of life who blossomed forth in holiness from the root of David!
Rejoice, you who gave birth to a daughter more blessed than all the generations of men!
Rejoice, most honored forbears of the incarnate Son of God!
Rejoice, most excellent disclosers of the mystery hidden from before time began!
Rejoice, closest relatives in the flesh to the Consolation of Israel!
Rejoice, blood relatives of the Savior Who was promised to the world!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 2:
Seeing himself belittled by the high priest in the Temple of Jerusalem because of his lack of children, the holy Joachim was sorely distressed. In bitterness of soul he withdrew to his flocks in the wilderness, and there he offered fervent supplication with tears, that the Lord grant that he might be called father by a child of his own. And thus he added fasting to prayer and in the contrition of his heart cried aloud to God Almighty: Alleluia!
Sts. Joachim and Anna embracing the Most-holy Theotokos (source)
Ikos 2:
Knowing the extent of her husband's grief, the holy Anna wept bitterly in her house and prayed that the Lord would remove from her the reproach of barrenness. And we, remembering the patience of the righteous ones, cry out:
Rejoice, O divinely chosen pair who gave birth to Her who would become the Mother of One of the Trinity;
Rejoice, you who produced an immaculate Mother for your creator!
Rejoice, you blessed pair who raised a Daughter who is most blessed among women!
Rejoice, you whom God heard amid your barrenness!
Rejoice, for your tearful entreaties passed up to heaven and reached the ear of the God of Israel!
Rejoice, for your temporal reproach has been transformed into eternal glory in heaven and on Earth!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 3:
Filled with the power of God, the angel of the Lord appeared to the holy Joachim in the wilderness and said to him, “God has heard your prayer and has been pleased to grant you His grace! Behold, Anna your wife will conceive and bear you a Daughter, who will be the joy of the whole world!” And having said these things the incorporeal one commanded him to return to the Temple of Jerusalem, where he would find his spouse praying, that with her he might also chant there the hymn of praise to the God of Israel: Alleluia!
Sts. Joachim and Anna embracing Panagia (source)
Ikos 3:
Having great sorrow in your heart, O holy Anna, you entered the garden of your home, where your eye saw little chicks lying in a bird's nest in a tree, and you immediately added supplications to your prayers, that the Lord might permit you to become the mother of a child. And lo!! The angel of the Lord appeared to you, saying: “Your prayer has been heard, your sighs have passed beyond the clouds and your tears have come before God! Behold, you will conceive and bear an all-blessed Daughter, in whom all the peoples of the earth will be blessed, and through whom salvation will be given to the whole world! Her name will be Mary!” Mindful of these most angelic tidings, let us chant these things to the ancestors of God:
Rejoice, you who were chosen for ineffable glory!
Rejoice, you who walked blamelessly in all the commandments of the Lord!
Rejoice, you who received eternal consolation amid your fleeing sorrow!
Rejoice, you who were exalted beyond expectation by the right hand of God!
Rejoice, for your humility and tribulation the Lord remembered you!
Rejoice, for you were chosen to become the forebears of the Son of God!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 4:
Beset by a storm of doubt and perplexed by the angel's tidings to him, the righteous Joachim immediately set out for the city of Jerusalem, where he found before the gates of the Temple the holy Anna, greatly glorifying the Lord, who declared to him the joy of the angelic appearance and the prediction of her childbirth. Wherefore, when he had told his spouse of his own vision, he cried with her unto the Lord: Alleluia!
St. Anna holding the Theotokos (source)
Ikos 4:
When Anna's relatives and friends heard of her all-glorious conceiving, they glorified the God of Israel. And he divinely wise Anna promised the fruit of her womb to the service of God and offered up fervent thanks to the Lord. And singing with splendor the most glorious conception of the holy Maiden Mary, we say upon her blessed parents:
Rejoice, joyous heralds announcing to us the Redeemer Who is come into the world!
Rejoice, grandparents of God Who in His mercy assumed our form!
Rejoice, you who through your blessed Daughter provided flesh for the Word of God!
Rejoice, you who called the incarnate God your grandson!
Rejoice, worthy servants of the great mystery of piety!
Rejoice, most excellent means of God's condescension to men!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 5:
You were chosen to give birth in the flesh to the all-holy Birth-giver of God, the divinely radiant star who showed forth Christ God, the Sun of Righteousness, O most blessed Joachim and Anna, and have received the enviable title of Ancestors of God. At her holy birth heaven and earth rejoiced and the whole human race was sanctified, crying out to the God of Israel Who is wondrous in His Saints: Alleluia!
St. Anna embracing the Theotokos (source)
Ikos 5:
Looking as parents upon the Mother of the Creator, the holy Maiden Mary who was born of you, you reverently ministered unto her as the ark of God; wherefore, do not turn away from us who fall down before you in prayer and say:
Rejoice, you who were filled with radiant jubilation at the birth of the holy Maiden Mary!
Rejoice, you who were filled with delight at the sight of the holy Maiden!
Rejoice, you who were moved to compunction at the sound of her voice!
Rejoice, you who after these tidings were blessed by the high priest of God!
Rejoice, you who tended well the unblemished ewe lamb in your house!
Rejoice, you who received the Mother of the Lamb and Shepherd as your Daughter!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 6:
You were shown to be proclaimers of the wonders of God, O Saints, when you fulfilled your vow to God and with glory brought the three-year old holy Maiden Mary to the Temple of God, that She might abide there in the Holy of Holies; and for these things you hastened with joy to chant unto the God of your fathers, the glorification: Alleluia!
St. Anna embracing the Theotokos (source)
Ikos 6:
The divine Maiden shown forth like the full moon at Her honored entry into the Temple of the Lord and the angels marveled at Her beauty. And taken Her from your hands, O holy Joachim and Anna, the High Priest Zachariah led Her into the Holy of Holies with honor, for She was truly the living ark of God; and he blessed you as is proper with such praises as these:
Rejoice, you who have given birth to the universal joy of the human race!
Rejoice, you who have nurtured the cause of the restoration of mankind!
Rejoice, you who brought the living ark of God to the Temple of the Lord!
Rejoice, you who gave your holy Daughter to dwell in the Holy of Holies!
Rejoice, you who are revealed as the relatives of God who will become incarnate!
Rejoice, you who conversed with the angels!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 7:
Having fulfilled the desire of your soul and given your promise to God, O al-blessed Joachim, you departed this earthly life in holiness and righteousness, passing on to the Lord. Wherefore, we ask you to petition Him that we also may be counted worthy to receive a peaceful and unashamed end, crying out to Him: Alleluia!
Sts. Joachim and Anna embracing the Most-holy Theotokos (source)
Ikos 7:
You led a new and God-pleasing life in your widowhood, O holy Anna, abiding at the Temple of God and ministering to your all-blesses Daughter, wherefore, we praise you as a true and God-pleasing widow and the grandmother of Christ and with love we fervently honor you and your husband, Joachim the grandfather of God, and offer you such hymns as these:
Rejoice, you just ones whose righteousness shines like the sun forever!
Rejoice, you friends of the angels, who truly dwell with the Saints in the presence of God!
Rejoice, you who stand near to the throne of heaven!
Rejoice, you who have great boldness before Christ God!
Rejoice, adornment of the Church Triumphant in heaven!
Rejoice, good supporters of the Church militant on earth!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 8:
O holy and righteous Anna, having reached the end of your earthly journey, in the arms of your holy Daughter, the Birth-giver of God Mary, you slept the sleep of death and were transported unto God with hope; wherefore, glorifying your holy dormition, we entreat you, O most honored grandmother of God; When we also begin to fall into the sleep of death, beseech Christ the Savior that our soul may part gently from our body and escape the power of the demons, and that we may be granted eternal salvation, and may cry out to Him in the joy of the Saints: Alleluia!
The first steps of Panagia, before her parents, Sts. Joachim and Anna (source)
Ikos 8:
The whole Christian world blesses you as is proper, O holy righteous and ancestors of God Joachim and Anna and in prayer glorifies your honored names. The Church of Christ celebrates your memory with splendor and offers hymns of praises unto you:
Rejoice, beacons who graciously illuminate the darkness of our souls!
Rejoice, you who mercifully look down upon mortals from the heavenly heights of your glory!
Rejoice, you who ever pray with Mary the Birth-Giver of God!
Rejoice, you who with great might move Christ God to mercy!
Rejoice, you who save from all misfortunes those who cherish faith and love for you!
Rejoice, you who deliver those who call upon your help in prayer from a violent and sudden death!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 9:
All the angels of God and the choirs of the Saints of God in heaven greet you, O holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, and on earth the generations of men praise you with prayerful hymns and cry out to God in thanksgiving for your intercession: Alleluia!
Sts. Joachim and Anna, with Christ and the Most-holy Theotokos (Source)
Ikos 9:
Our eloquence does not suffice to praise you fittingly, O holy forbears of Christ; yet as you are merciful, do not reject our inadequate praises, but be fervent intercessors and advocates for us before the Lord, fulfilling the deficiency of our souls with your holy supplications, that we may cry out to you this hymn of thanksgiving:
Rejoice, mediators who win for us the joy and eternal glory we desire!
Rejoice, fervent advocates before the Lord who acquire temporal and eternal blessings for us!
Rejoice, you who by your intercession preserve the faithful from deadly pestilence!
Rejoice, you who by your supplications dispel mortal plagues!
Rejoice, you who by your mediation cause earthquakes and violent storms to cease and restore calm!
Rejoice, you who amid all tribulations and misfortunes hasten to our aid!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 10:
O holy and righteous ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, you have shown yourselves to be beneficial helpers of those who desire salvation of soul and diligently strive for this. Being called the guardians of monks and nuns, and offering unto God common supplication for all the faithful, that in thanksgiving into Christ the King of glory, Who has glorified you throughout the world, they all may cry out: Alleluia!
Sts. Joachim and Anna embracing at the Golden Gate (source)
Ikos 10:
With the bulwark of your prayers, O holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, preserve and protect us from the temptations of the diabolical who seeks the destruction of our souls; for we know that your petition before the face of Christ our God, your Grandson according to the flesh, is able to accomplish much. Never cease to make supplications to Him on behalf of all who with love honor you and cry aloud:
Rejoice, fruitful olive trees pouring forth the oil of the mercy of God upon us in abundance!
Rejoice, you two cypress trees of excellent foliage who turn the burning heat of our passions into the stillness of dispassion!
Rejoice, purple and fine linen of which the tabernacle of God's dwelling place was wrought!
Rejoice, turtle doves mated for life, who brought forth the immaculate dove!
Rejoice, you who reign eternally with your Daughter the Queen of all!
Rejoice, you who celebrate with Her in splendor in Her heavenly mansion in Sion on high!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 11:
Mercifully accept our hymns of praise and do not deprive us of your compassions, O holy Joachim and Anna, ancestors of Christ; for though we are unworthy of your holy intercessions because of our sins, yet as you are good and full of pity, grant it to us and help us to cleanse ourselves of defilement of sin through repentance, that in purity of heart we may chant unto our Creator the hymn of praise: Alleluia!
Sts. Joachim and Anna embracing the Theotokos (source)
Ikos 11:
O Brethren, let us recognize the holy ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna, as two radiant candles which lit the universal Lamp. Illuminated with the brightness of their heavenly glory, let us sing to them such words as these:
Rejoice, you were counted worthy to raise Her who is beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim!
Rejoice, you who were resplendent with heavenly brightness!
Rejoice, you who were filled with the sweet fragrance of the Spirit!
Rejoice, you who bear unto God the incense of your prayers for the whole Christian world!
Rejoice, you who ever stand before the throne of Christ with Mary the God-Bearer and John the Baptist!
Rejoice, you who stand near the throne of heaven!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 12:
O holy ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, ask the Lord that He grant us divine grace and mercy, forgiveness of sins and correction of life; and never cease to entreat the countenance of Almighty God in our behalf, in that you have acquired great boldness before Him. Falling down before you with fervor for this purpose, we beseech you as our true intercessors and helpers and with real compunction cry out to the Creator of all: Alleluia!
St. Anna embracing Panagia (source)
Ikos 12:
Singing of the great might of your intercessions before God, O righteous Joachim and Anna, we magnify Christ the Lord Who has magnified you; we sing also the praises of His all-immaculate Mother who was born of you; and in our zeal we offer you these right fitting praises:
Rejoice, you who are glorified from the East even unto the West!
Rejoice, O our protectors whose vigilance in intercession is never wavering!
Rejoice, you who grant your gracious help to every Christian soul!
Rejoice, you who fulfill the entreaties and petitions of the pious!
Rejoice, most excellent healers of the infirmities of soul and body who exact no fee!
Rejoice, most diligent and pleasing mediators who obtain for us temporal and eternal good things!
Rejoice, O holy and righteous Joachim and Anna, Ancestors of God!
Kontakion 13:
O holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna! We entreat you with zeal and love, falling down before the footstool of your feet; we ask that you beseech the Lord God, that He will deliver us from the everlasting damnation prepared for sinners, that, saved by the loving-kindness of our God and aided by your holy prayers, we may sing in thanksgiving to Him the angelic hymn: Alleluia!
(Kontakion 13 is read 3 times, then read Ikos 1 è Kontakion 1)
The wondrous, myrrhstreaming icon of St. Anna embracing the Theotokos, treasured currently by St. Tikhon's Monastery in Waymart, PA (source)
Prayer to the Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna:
O ever-glorious and righteous forbearers of Christ, holy Joachim and Anna who stand before the heavenly throne of the great King and possess boldness before Him; He was well pleased to become incarnate of your all-blessed Daughter, the all-pure Birth-giver of God and Ever-virgin Mary. We, the sinful and unworthy, come to you as mighty intercessors and diligent advocates for us. Entreat His goodness, that He turn away His wrath from us, which we deserve because of our deeds and that, overlooking our countless transgressions, He may turn us to the way of repentance and set us firmly upon the path of His commandments. By your supplications preserve our life in peace. Ask that we may be successful in good things. By your intercession, may God grant to us all things necessary for life and piety and may He deliver us from all peril, misfortune and sudden death. May He allow us to live out our lives in peace and tranquility, in all piety and purity. Having thus passed from this transitory life in peace, we may attain unto everlasting rest, where by your holy entreaty, may we be granted the heavenly Kingdom of Christ our God, to Whom is due all glory, honor and worship with the Father and all-Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages.
(source)
St. Anna holding the Theotokos (source)
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!
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