Salutations to the All-Holy and All-Pure Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary, Mother of our Lord and True God and Savior Jesus Christ
(From an anonymous posting on an Orthodox forum with no copyright notation)
PREAMBLE
[Priest or Cantor]: As soon as the angel had received his command, he hastened to Joseph's house and said to the ever-virgin: "Behold, heaven was brought down to earth when the Word Himself was fully contained in you! Now that I see Him in your womb, taking a servant's form, I cry out to you in wonder: Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!"
FIRST CHANT
[Priest]: An Archangel was sent from heaven to greet the Mother of God, and as he saw you assuming a body at the sound of his bodiless voice, O Lord, he stood rapt in amazement and cried out to her in these words:
Hail, you, through whom Joy will shine forth!
Hail, you, through whom the curse will disappear!
Hail, restoration of the fallen Adam!
Hail, redemption of the tears of Eve!
Hail, peak above the reach of human thought!
Hail, depth even beyond the sight of angels!
Hail, you who have become a royal throne!
Hail, you who carry Him Who carries all!
Hail, star who manifest the Sun!
Hail, womb of the divine Incarnation!
Hail, you through whom creation is renewed!
Hail, you through whom the Creator becomes a Babe!
Hail, bride and maiden all-pure!
[Response]: Hail, bride and maiden all-pure!
KONTAKION
[Priest or Cantor]: Knowing that she was a virgin, the blessed one courageously answered the angel: "Your surprising words seem hard for my mind to accept: how can you speak of a birth that is to come from a conception without seed? And why do you cry, "Alleluia?"
[Response]: Alleluia!
SECOND CHANT
[Priest]: Trying to grasp the meaning of this mystery, the Virgin asked the holy messenger: "How is it possible that a son be born from a virginal womb? Tell me." And he answered her with awe, crying out in these words:
Hail, hidden sense of the ineffable intention!
Hail, belief in silence that must be so!
Hail, forecast of the miracles of Christ!
Hail, fountainhead of truths concerning Him!
Hail, heavenly ladder, by whom God came down!
Hail, bridge leading earthly ones to heaven!
Hail, wonder, ever-thrilling to the angels!
Hail, wound, ever-hurting to the demons!
Hail, you who gave birth to Light ineffably!
Hail, you who told no one how it was done!
Hail, you who surpass the wisdom of the wise!
Hail, you who enlighten faithful minds!
[Response]: Hail, O Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
KONTAKION
[Priest or Cantor]: When the power of the Most High overshadowed the one who had never known the nuptial bed, her fruitful womb conceived, and she became for all a delicious field: for those who wished to reap salvation by singing "Alleluia!"
[Response]: Alleluia!
THIRD CHANT
[Priest]: Pregnant with God, the Virgin hastened to Elizabeth, her unborn child rejoiced, immediately knowing her embrace. Bouncing and singing, he cried out to the Mother of God:
Hail, tendril whose Bud shall not wilt!
Hail, soil whose Fruit shall not perish!
Hail, tender of mankind's loving Tender!
Hail, gardener of the Gardener of Life!
Hail, earth who yielded abundant mercies!
Hail, table full-laden with appeasement!
Hail, for you have greened anew the pastures of delight!
Hail, for you have prepared a haven for the souls!
Hail, acceptable incense of prayer!
Hail, expiation of the whole universe!
Hail, you favor of God to mortal men!
Hail, you trust of mortals before God!
Hail, bride and maiden ever-pure!
[Response]: Hail, Bride and Maiden ever-pure!
DISMISSAL
[Priest]: Glory to You, Christ, our God and our Hope; Glory to You!
[Response]: Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; both now and ever, throughout the ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Give the Blessing!
[Priest]: May Christ our true God: (If a Sunday or during Paschaltide:] Who has risen from the dead: have mercy on us and save us through the prayers of His all-holy mother and of of the holy, glorious, and illustrious Apostles, through the prayers of St. [NAME], whose memory we celebrate today, and of all of the Saints; for He is gracious and cherishes the human race.
[Response]: Amen!
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