AKATHIST TO OUR LADY, THE HEAVENLY LADDER
OF MYSTICAL HEIGHT
(This Akathist is a reflection on the mysteries of the Rule of the Mother of God or, as it is known in the West, the Rosary. It includes all 20 of the Rosary meditations recommended by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. It is written by Alexander Roman, PhD and is dedicated to Saint Seraphim of Sarov on the 100th anniversary of his glorification.)
Kontakion 1
To you, our Champion Leader and Holy Protection do we, your servants, sing a hymn of praise and thanksgiving in honor of the Mysteries of the Incarnation of our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. For the Word of God took Flesh from you as from a Most Holy Ladder on which He came down to earth and lived among us. Singing a triumphant hymn of thanksgiving for all that was accomplished for our salvation and sanctification, we sing:
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Ikos 1
O Holy Mother of God, you revealed your Psalter to a monk of the Thebaid to be said daily to enter into the Mysteries of Salvation. In it, we celebrate the sacred hymn of the New Testament first uttered by the Archangel Gabriel to you at the moment of the Divine Incarnation. By it, we celebrate all that the Lord Jesus accomplished with you to raise us up from the depths of sinful despair and helplessness into which we were cast with our Forefather Adam. With hearts filled to overflowing with love of you and your Son, we cry:
Rejoice for the treasury of your Psalter has shown you to be a new David!
Rejoice for by it all that is foretold in the Law and the Prophets is fulfilled!
Rejoice for it calls down into our souls the Incarnate Word of God!
Rejoice for you nurture your children in the ways of holiness!
Rejoice for you form in us the Image of your Son and our Lord!
Rejoice for when you come to our hearts, you bring with you the Pearl of Great Price!
Rejoice for you hold up to us your Infant to take our hand!
Rejoice for His Touch heals all our wounds!
Rejoice for you cry that a Child has been born unto us!
Rejoice for your prayer-rope bears the Sacred Knots which the Lord alone unties!
Rejoice for you help us ascend with confidence on the steps of the Ladder of Prayer!
Rejoice for you bestow on us the beads that blossom forth into fragrant rose-buds of salvation and holiness!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 2
The Holy Archangel Gabriel was overwhelmed to behold your beautiful holiness, the Sacred Ark of the New Covenant, as he announced God's Will concerning you for the salvation of fallen humanity. By you, He Whom the heavens cannot enclose became Man to raise us up to glory. The Archangel saluted you as more higher than the Seraphim and more resplendent than the Cherubim and we join with him in singing: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
The Holy Table on which the Bread of Life chose to rest hurried to her cousin, Elizabeth, who was also with child. The future Forerunner and Baptizer of the Lord Jesus then leapt in his mother's womb in the Presence of the Divine Word Incarnate. And we leap for joy in the presence of the Most Holy Mother of God and Her Child and sing:
Rejoice for your soul magnifies the Lord and your spirit exalts in God our Savoiur!
Rejoice for all generations shall truly call you Blessed!
Rejoice for He has scattered the proud in the imaginations of their hearts!
Rejoice for how are we worthy that the Mother of our Lord should come to us?
Rejoice Joy of all Joys!
Rejoice for we are bathed in the Light of your Holiness!
Rejoice O Mary Full of Grace!
Rejoice for the Lord is with you!
Rejoice for blessed are you among all women!
Rejoice for blessed indeed is the Fruit of your womb!
Rejoice for you bear Christ the Saviour!
Rejoice for He comes to redeem our souls!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 3
The Choirs of the Heavenly and Fleshless Powers of Heaven could not restrain their voices in hymning the birth of the Savior of in Bethlehem. Their voices became mute, however, when they saw the Creator of all things visible and invisible allow Himself to be placed on the poorest of mangers. Enthroned on your lap, O Mother of God, Your Child sat on a Throne that even King Solomon, in all his glory, did not. And we bow down and sing: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Taking your Son to the Temple to fulfill the Law of Moses, the eyes of the Righteous Simeon beheld the salvation of the Lord, the Light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of God's people Israel. Then turning to you, O Most Holy Mother of our Redeemer, he foretold that a sword would pierce your heart, so that the secrets of many might be laid bare. Silently meditating on his prophecy, we hymn:
Rejoice for you held Him Whom the foundations of the universe cannot hold!
Rejoice for wise men glorify the King of Kings and the Mother of the Sovereign of all!
Rejoice for those tending flocks prostrate themselves before the Good Shepherd!
Rejoice O Throne of God Incarnate!
Rejoice for the Ark of the New Covenant suddenly approaches the Temple of the Old!
Rejoice for you reward patience with unspeakable Joy!
Rejoice for you renew the spirit of the Righteous Elder Simeon!
Rejoice for he who is bent over with age is now ready for singing and dancing!
Rejoice his eyes see the Light of nations!
Rejoice even though swords will encircle your heart as you ponder all this therein!
Rejoice for your sadness will be turned to happiness that no one will take away!
Rejoice Aromatic Balsam that heals the secret wounds of the hearts of your children!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 4
O Precious Mother of the Word, you searched for your Son for three days before finding Him in the Temple about His Father's work. While yet at a tender age, His Divinity shone forth as He taught the elders and the scribes about the prophecies concerning His coming and their fulfillment in Him. Help us to always find Him for ourselves in His Church and here the answers that He gives us to every question, as we sing: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
Christ the Teacher went forth for yet another meeting with the son of Elizabeth, O Most Holy Mother, when He descended into the waters of the river Jordan to be baptized by the Holy Forerunner. Praised by him as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, our Savior continues to enlighten all with the waters of grace and baptism by which all things are made new in Him. In gratitude for the Power of God imparted to us through water, we sing:
Rejoice for through you the world has seen a great Light!
Rejoice for your Son enlightens those fallen in the darkness of sin!
Rejoice for the Lamb of God takes on our sins!
Rejoice for the Baptizer places his hand on Him whom the other prophets foretold!
Rejoice for a Dove of Peace appears to anoint the Messiah!
Rejoice for a Voice from above declares Him to be His well-beloved Son!
Rejoice for the Holy Trinity is now made manifest to us!
Rejoice for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob comes to save us!
Rejoice for we are called to be heirs of the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!
Rejoice for the Sun of Truth and Righteousness has shone brightly on us all!
Rejoice for scales fall from our spiritual eyes and the Lord Jesus heals our blindness!
Rejoice for like Moses of old, we see and hear God!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of mystical height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 5
At the wedding at Cana in Galilee, O Mother of the Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus performed His first miracle to show us His Divine Power and the power of a Mother's intercession with her Son. Through you, our Lord changed water into wine. Through you as well, He would change wine into His Divine Blood so that we also may taste and see the Goodness of the Lord! Overwhelmed by God's love for us and His providential care for sinners, we cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
"Do all that He tells you to," the Most Holy Mother of our Lord said at Cana at the beginning of Her Son's proclamation of the Kingdom of God. As children of so great a Mother whose one desire is to form within us the full stature of the Lord Jesus Christ, we obey your command, though we fall in so doing. Asking you for the grace to submit ourselves to the Divine Will of your Son for our salvation, we sing:
Rejoice Teacher in the Ways of the Lord Jesus!
Rejoice Silent Witness to the truth of the Gospel!
Rejoice Nourisher of those who seek the Bread of Life!
Rejoice Guide to holiness!
Rejoice Vessel of Purity!
Rejoice for he who finds you, finds the Son of God!
Rejoice for Christ's disciples in all ages find their help and support in you!
Rejoice for your Motherhood shines forth in your hearing and doing the Word of God!
Rejoice for you ponder your Son's words in your heart!
Rejoice for you lead us to your Son!
Rejoice for you place on us the swaddling clothes of His Grace and Truth!
Rejoice for blessed are the meek and the pure in heart!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of mystical height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 6
The Divine Glory of your Son, O Ever-Virgin Mary, shone forth on Mount Horeb before His Apostles. Moses the God-Seer and Elias of the Fiery Chariot appeared with Him Who was to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. The Lord of all calls us to partake of His own Divine Life in Theosis wherein we are transfigured forever. Awed by so great a salvation, pray for us that we may grow from strength to strength in the Love of your Son and we sing: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
The means of our own transfiguration in the Divine Life of God our Saviour was revealed at the Mystical Supper, O Ever-Virgin Mother of God. Your Son gave us His Most Holy and Most Pure Body and Blood to partake of it in living memory of Him. We eat His Body and drink His Blood and rejoice at the Table of the Lord with you, the Undrinkable Cup and sing:
Rejoice for you are the Field in which grew the Untilled Corn!
Rejoice Candlestick bearing the Light that enlightens all!
Rejoice Censor containing the Burning Charcoal that touches our lips and removes all our transgressions!
Rejoice Holy Altar on which is presented the Bread of Life!
Rejoice Sacred Chalice bearing the Mystic Wine of the Sacred Cluster hanging from the Tree of Life!
Rejoice Gate to Paradise through which enter all the righteous!
Rejoice for you transform us into Bearers of God!
Rejoice for He enters the walls of our hearts made hard by sin and bids us, "Peace!"
Rejoice for we receive the Peace that the world cannot give!
Rejoice for we are partakers in the Divinity of Christ!
Rejoice for salvation is by the Sacred Humanity of the Lord Jesus!
Rejoice for we are lost to find the gratitude that befits you!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of mystical height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 7
In the Garden, O Most Holy Theotokos, your Son and our Lord became so sorrowful that His Sweat became as great drops of His Blood as He prayed for three hours before His Passion. Returning again and again to the sleeping disciples, He lets them take their rest as his enemies come to arrest Him in the night, being given over by the traitor's kiss. We lament over our sins and cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
Taken as a common criminal, O Ever-Virgin Mother, the Lord Jesus is led before the authorities of this world. He is silent as a Lamb before His shearers. Our Lord turns to look at Peter after he denied Him three times. Handed over to be scourged, Jesus' Body is cruelly torn for our salvation. As if to console you, we hymn:
Rejoice for by His stripes we are healed!
Rejoice for Who is this that comes dressed in the purple of His Blood?
Rejoice for by His Wounds we are made whole!
Rejoice for on Him was a punishment that brings us peace!
Rejoice for you are the Mother of the Cornerstone that was rejected!
Rejoice for the Savior takes on Himself our own judgment!
Rejoice for He frees us from despair!
Rejoice for He enlivens souls deadened by the scars of sin!
Rejoice for He has taken on Himself our suffering!
Rejoice for by His bonds He has untied our enslavement to the evil one!
Rejoice for He has destroyed all his wiles!
Rejoice for He is the strength and consolation of His Martyrs!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 8
Your Son and our Lord was crowned with thorns, O Most Holy Theotokos, to destroy the sins of our pride by which we rebel against the Will and teaching of God. You are the Mother of the King of Glory. You gave birth to the Bridegroom in His extreme humility! You are one with Him in agony and suffering. And we praise Him and you, singing: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
Condemned by unjust judges, your Son and our Lord, O Most Holy Theotokos, willingly accepts His Cross. Like Simon of Cyrene, we are also called by Him to take up our Cross - and follow Him. You meet your Son on His way to Golgotha and the words of the Righteous Simeon resound in your heart and soul. Weeping at the sight of so sorrowful a meeting, we cry:
Rejoice Sorrowful Mother whom we magnify always!
Rejoice for you drank of the Cup of your Son!
Rejoice Mountain of Fortitude bedewed by great streams of tearful grief!
Rejoice for you help us to carry our crosses every day!
Rejoice the Lord consoles you with words of comfort!
Rejoice for Christ says to you, "Do not weep for Me, Mother!"
Rejoice for Christ assures you that He will rise on the third day!
Rejoice for our Lord affirms that your joy will be great on that day!
Rejoice for the Risen Jesus will quickly come to you!
Rejoice for God's ways are not ours!
Rejoice for the Lord Jesus bears our burdens for us!
Rejoice for a great weight is lifted from our souls!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 9
On the Precious Wood of His Cross, Christ our Lord bequeathed you to us as our Mother! Having felt no pain in giving birth to the Son of God, you now suffer the fullness of the Swords of Sorrow as foretold to you by the Prophet Simeon at the sight of Your Son on the Cross. How is it that God Who is the Creator of all suffers a horrible death at the hands of His creatures? Filled with awe at the Divine Mysteries of our salvation, we sing: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
We bow to the Cross of Your Son and our Lord, O Most Holy Mother of God and we glorify His Resurrection. For having suffered crucifixion, He has truly vanquished death by His Death. And you, Most Pure Ever-Virgin, do shine in radiant joy at His rising from the tomb, as we proclaim:
Rejoice O New Moses who leads us to the flowing Blood and Water from the Side of the Crucified Lord!
Rejoice for at the Cross, the Lord Jesus gave us yourself as a Most Precious Gift!
Rejoice your Son humbled Himself and became obedient to death on the Cross!
Rejoice for He was a Man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity for our sake!
Rejoice for He has borne our infirmities and we counted Him stricken and afflicted!
Rejoice for He was wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities!
Rejoice for God raised Him on the third day!
Rejoice for He hastened to reveal Himself to you before all others!
Rejoice and exult O New Zion!
Rejoice for your Son lives!
Rejoice for death could not hold Him!
Rejoice for this is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 10
Your Son and our Lord, O Most Holy Virgin, appeared to His disciples and followers for forty days speaking to them about the Kingdom of God, and presented Himself to them by many convincing proofs. Leading them all out to Bethany, He ascended back to the Father and a cloud took Him from sight. Praising God for all His wondrous works, we exclaim: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
The Son of God went so that He might send us the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Spirit of Truth that proceeds from the Father and is sent by Christ. Gathered with the Apostles in continuous prayer and praise of the All-Holy Trinity, you are lost in adoration of the One you once laid in a poor manger in Bethlehem. Overwhelmed by God's mysterious ways, we cry:
Rejoice for the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth!
Rejoice for God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet!
Rejoice for God is King over the nations, He sits on His holy Throne!
Rejoice for you adore your Son as He ascends to the Father with upraised arms!
Rejoice for you are our Unmoveable Wall of Protection!
Rejoice for He is with us always, even to the end of the ages!
Rejoice for He has sent forth His Spirit!
Rejoice for He has poured out His Spirit on all flesh!
Rejoice for your sons and daughters will prophesy!
Rejoice for your elders will dream dreams!
Rejoice for your young will see visions!
Rejoice for He has renewed the face of the earth!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 11
The moment of your departure from earth finally arrived, O Most Holy Theotokos. Your Son then appeared to you and gave you your wish of being our most steadfast Advocate at the Throne of His Glory, having every petition on our behalf granted! With the Apostles who have been transported by the Spirit to attend you at your Dormition, we cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
You are crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth, O Most Holy Mother, and you pray for us night and day. Your miracles on our behalf resound throughout the world and your wonder-working Icons fill us with indescribable joy! Praising you unceasingly, you, in return, fill us with the Spirit of the Lord Jesus by forming in us the full stature of your Son. Thanking God for you, the Mother of the Church, we cry:
Rejoice for the Lord has made known His victory!
Rejoice for He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the House of Israel!
Rejoice for the Princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes!
Rejoice for in many-colored robes she is led to the King!
Rejoice for behind her are the virgins, her companions that follow!
Rejoice for with joy and gladness they enter the Palace of the King!
Rejoice and hear, O Daughter, consider and incline your ear!
Rejoice for the King will desire your beauty!
Rejoice for He will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations!
Rejoice for therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever!
Rejoice, O Daughter, for you are blessed by the Most High God above all other women on earth!
Rejoice for your praise will never depart from the hearts of those who remember the power of God!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 12
O Most Holy Mother of God, your holy servant, Saint Seraphim of Sarov, joins with the choirs of Angels in giving you unceasing praise! For one thousand days and nights, he prays on a rock in the forests, interceding for all. He teaches your Rule of Prayer and Psalter to each one of his spiritual children and joyfully records your miracles that you make shower down on them from heaven. Praising your humble servant, we cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Three times you appeared to your servant, Saint Seraphim of Sarov, to heal him and guide him. Calling him "of our kind," you blessed him with many spiritual Gifts by which we derive great benefit from still! In thanksgiving for the wonders that you worked in the life of your servant and our Father Seraphim, we sing:
Rejoice Joy of all Joys!
Rejoice O Bride Unwedded!
Rejoice for you are the Highly Favoured One!
Rejoice for you gave your Rule of Prayer to us through our Father Seraphim!
Rejoice for you enjoin him to teach it to all Christians!
Rejoice for his spiritual flock praise you by it daily!
Rejoice for your Knotted Cord is like a new sling of David by which we slay the spiritual Goliath!
Rejoice for by your Ladder/Lestovka we climb up to Heaven!
Rejoice for we join the Archangel in singing to you the Hymn of the New Testament!
Rejoice for your servant, Saint Seraphim, reposes with his head touching your icon!
Rejoice for the candle-light of his unceasing prayer to you shines brightly still!
Rejoice for Saint Seraphim leads us to Christ through His Most Holy Mother!
Rejoice O Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height on which Christ descended to earth and by which we ascend to His Kingdom of Eternal Light!
Kontakion 13
O Most Holy Mother of God! Accept this our little hymn of praise and thanksgiving for having revealed to us your Ladder of Prayer by which we meditate on the Divine mysteries of the Incarnation of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. All creation rejoices in you, O Highly Favored One! You are the sacred temple and noetical paradise, the boast of virgins, from whom God, Who exists before time, was incarnate and became a child. For He made your body a throne and your womb He made more spacious than the heavens. Truly, all creation rejoices in you, who are full of Grace. As we glorify you, we sing: Alleluia! (Kontakion 13 is recited three times).
Then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1 are repeated once again.
Prayer to the Mother of God, the Heavenly Ladder of Mystical Height
O Most Holy and Most Blessed Mother of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ! August Temple of the Holy Trinity, Daughter of the Father, Mother of the Son and Spouse of the Holy Spirit!
We call upon you with the same words that the Archangel Gabriel once saluted you when he announced that the Mystery of the Divine Incarnation to you. May we ever keep that hymn of praise on our lips and in our minds in praying your Rule together with all the Saints.
May it remind us that you are the Mystical Rose of Sharon, unfading in its bloom, as we always keep before our spiritual eyes the great mysteries of our salvation, even as we follow you in maintaining all these things in our hearts. By this Holy Ladder of Prayer, may we obtain all that we ask for of your Son and our Lord for you are our Mother. As He taught us at Cana in Galilee, your Son will refuse you nothing.
Keep us under your Holy Mantle of Protection until we sing this Angelic Psalter of the New Testament before you, our Queen and Sovereign, in the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
