For all Akathists published on our site, click here. This Akathist was translated by Maxim, who kindly asks all Orthodox Christians to keep him in their prayers for his repentance. Original source at the bottom. Explore more prayer: Relatives of Christ, Akathists for Spiritual Struggles, Death and Remembering the Reposed
Feast Day: 14 March
This Akathist is read for the deliverance of the enslaved souls of the departed
Kontakion 1
Most Pure Mother and Mother of God, You gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shattered the gates of Hell; and through You the locks of Heaven are opened, death is vanquished, and life finds the Tree of Life, the Saviour, You being the Fountain of Healing. Behold, we sinners too call upon you, and shedding bitter tears of sorrow we pray: Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Ikos 1
No one reaches Heaven alone, but through the many intercessions of the Angels, the Saints, and above all through your help, Mother of God. Show yourself, Queen, and illuminate the darkness of those who have fallen asleep with the incorporeal radiance of your light, and we glorify you:
Hail, thou who art the Gate leading to the divine Lights;
Hail, the golden chamber revealing the open entrance to Life;
Hail, thou who bestowest eternal bliss upon souls;
Hail, thou who openest the doors of repentance;
Rejoice, thou who quenchest the fierce flame of unconfessed sins;
Rejoice, thou who extinguishest the fire of carnal passions;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 2
You alone are the Life-giving Spring and the gate of the Unwaning Light, most beloved Mother; through your prayers the Gate of Mercy is opened, so that the souls of the departed may attain their well-deserved rest and delight in the eternal joy of the heavenly abodes: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
Most pure Bride of God’s glory, show us the unhindered path to peace and open the heavenly gate, which is the entrance to eternal life, and we honour you:
Rejoice, Holy of Holies, who sanctifies those who call upon you;
Rejoice, thou who revealst those who have fallen asleep as inhabitants of the land of the meek;
Rejoice, the saving Gate of the King of Glory;
Rejoice, thou who holdest the Key to the gates of the eternal dwelling;
Rejoice, as with this Key thou unlockest the rusted bolt of the prison of the departed soul;
Rejoice, as you send down your Light so that the soul may have the strength to break free from bondage;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy so that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 3
Most Holy Mother of God, you are the spotless tabernacle, the Gate of Light, the table and the cup entirely of gold; you are the dense shade within which the Creator dwelt; we bless you and sigh, beseeching you to open wide the gate leading to the paths of salvation for the souls of the departed, and we glorify you: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Overcome, O Queen, those who ever strive against nature and who distort the Will of God; and, making the lowest chamber bright and open, let your mercy descend into it, whilst we call upon you with fervent prayers:
Rejoice, you who dispel the cloud of cunning thoughts;
Rejoice, you who break the bonds of demons;
Rejoice, you who shatter the chains that keep the gates closed;
Rejoice, for you do not allow to be closed what God has ordained to be open;
Rejoice, as you guide us along the paths of salvation;
Rejoice, for judgement is at the door – who can stand against your power?
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 4
The souls of the departed weep inconsolably and cry out in faith to Christ: ‘Lord, save us, through the prayers of the Mother of God’, but beyond death, tears are of no avail, for the snare of death has broken the circle of repentance, and you, O Mother, remain our only hope: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
Since the repentance of those who have fallen asleep loses its power after death, here we, the living, stand with knees bent in prayer and shed tears of sorrow for them, that you, O most merciful Mother, may open for them the Gate leading to Life; and with voices full of humility we cry out to you:
Hail, guide of those who have gone astray;
Hail, you who open the grey coffin of strife;
Hail, torch bearing divine fire;
Hail, you who burn the bonds that keep the gates shut;
Rejoice, for you are the boat, the Door, the Ladder and the Bridge;
Rejoice, the house opened in the likeness of the Light;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Door of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 5
You have opened the gates of Paradise which our foremother closed through her disobedience! You, O Queen, have triumphed over Eve, for you have crushed the head of the venomous serpent under your heel; therefore we call upon you now to open the gates that wash away the stain of sin, so that those who have fallen asleep may rest for ever: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
Yours is the power, Mother of God; you are the undefeated Warrior in Heaven and on earth; you are the Conqueror of the seen and unseen worlds; you hold in your hand the Sword with which you break the chains bound by darkness; you are the Key that unlocks the seal of death; therefore we pray:
Rejoice, chariot bearing lightning;
Rejoice, most radiant candlestick;
Rejoice, royal throne;
Rejoice, O thou who possessest all power;
Rejoice, for no one has greater strength than thou;
Rejoice, the strength of those who make you their Refuge;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 6
You are the throne of God in the likeness of fire, Mother of God, consuming the schemes of those below who turn the natural into the unnatural, and those saved from the snares of sorcery glorify you for ever: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
You break the locks of the earth, Most Blessed Mother, and open the doors to the eternal rest of God’s departed servants, illuminating the darkness of their souls with the radiance of your incomparable Light, and we glorify you:
Rejoice, thou who saturatest the sleeping souls with eternal delight;
Rejoice, thou who breakest the bonds that hinder the order of things;
Rejoice, thou feast from which every sleeping soul is nourished;
Rejoice, thou who adornest their path to Heaven with drops of sunlight;
Rejoice, the proper conduct of those who have their purpose;
Rejoice, spring of sweetness for those who have fallen asleep and been freed from their chains;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 7
O Lady of all the Heavenly Powers, Queen above the Cherubim and Seraphim, command the Saints, the Archangels and the Angels who guard the gates with swords of fire to step aside, that the gates may be opened! Command the Angels and all the incorporeal forces to obey you, so that the Gate of Mercy may open to the joy of the souls of the departed who cry out to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
Cut through the devil’s bonds with your Sword, Mother of God; in the blink of an eye, shatter all the spells and magical arts of the occult sciences, known and unknown, which prevent the departed from finding peace; have mercy on their tormented souls, for they themselves can no longer pray now; but we offer this sacrifice of prayer and lay it at your feet:
Rejoice, Paradise planted by God;
Rejoice, bed of golden porphyry;
Rejoice, bed of Light and of divine Grace;
Rejoice, thou who break open the locked door;
Rejoice, for thou leadest through it all those ordained by God;
Rejoice, for thou leavest no soul behind but leadest it on its path;
Rejoice, for your mercy towards mankind extends even beyond death;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 8
You have been revealed, O Mother, as a Paradise planted by God and a fragrant garden cultivated by God; you have blossomed as the Flower of Immortality, yet people perish as mortals do, and the souls of the departed await from you the great mercy which you bestow upon those who call upon you: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
Most Holy Mother of God, open the gates of Heaven which our forefathers locked through disobedience, lest the souls of the departed perish in the darkness of error, and we beseech you fervently:
Rejoice, you who sweeten the bitterness of the venomous serpent’s poison;
Rejoice, you who crush the scorpion’s head;
Rejoice, you who cut the spider’s web woven by demons;
Rejoice, you who pour forth the healing remedy;
Rejoice, you who are unashamedly partial to the faithful;
Rejoice, you who heal the heart through which the sword of temptation has passed;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 9
You have called back those estranged from God by the serpent’s deception, Beloved Mother of God, by giving birth to God who became man from your womb; for this we praise you: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
Send now, O Queen, the souls of the departed to their place of rest, that they may no longer cry out for the sweet Light but may delight in it, and dispel the gloom of darkness in which they lie, and we pray:
Rejoice, Church in which the Son of God dwelt;
Rejoice, most sweet Virgin, who are like the sun;
Rejoice, you who shine with light: enlighten the souls of the departed servants;
Rejoice, cleanse them of the defilement in which they lie;
Rejoice, accept our prayers for their eternal rest;
Rejoice, do not put these tears to shame;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 10
God has opened the door of death, and you open the Door of Mercy, Most Pure Mother, for you are the most pure Altar of the Lamb of God, and you have become the Heaven that proclaims salvation: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
Through you, the Burning Bush, matter is sanctified and the soul is delivered for ever from corruption; and we call upon you to reveal to the departed servants of God, who find no rest, the realities of Heaven, and to hear these prayers:
Rejoice, O Pure One, who conceals within you the image of the Kingdom of God;
Rejoice, O Way open to those burdened by sin;
Rejoice, O One who lightens the burden;
Rejoice, O Spring of unwavering love;
Rejoice, Key that unlocks the bolts of the past;
Rejoice, you who break the lock of the future;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Door of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 11
Your mercies flow towards the souls of the departed, ceaselessly pouring forth the sweetness of your motherly love for their comfort and solace, lifting them up in love and breaking the chains that hold them in bondage; and the Saints, the Angels and Archangels bow before you, heed you and serve you, trembling at your power: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
Who would open the Door of Mercy if not you, Queen of Heaven and earth? You had the power to love forever those who crucified your Son, so we too beseech you not to turn away from us with your love, though we have sinned greatly, but to accept our prayers for those who have fallen asleep:
Rejoice, O boat that carries the souls of the departed across the waves;
Rejoice, O bridge by which they pass from tears to joy;
Rejoice, O ladder by which they ascend to boundless peace;
Rejoice, O open door to the fulfilment of God’s Will;
Rejoice, ever-Virgin, with your sleepless motherly love;
Rejoice, you who protect us until the end of the world;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Door of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 12
You are the sanctified Church and the speaking Heaven, for through you the Door-Christ is opened, having the power to unlock the gates of Heaven, and the faithful offer prayers for those who have fallen asleep and glorify you: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
You have ascended into Heaven, leaving behind corruption, yet you have not left us orphaned; and just as your Son, who is no longer in the world, cares for us, so too do you not deprive us of your protection, and we give you thanks, O Mother, and honour you:
Rejoice, O good gatekeeper;
Rejoice, commanding the Saints, Angels and Archangels to open the gate;
Rejoice, rising to meet the souls of the departed;
Rejoice, leading them through the open gate;
Rejoice, bringing joy;
Rejoice, as you bring eternal life to the world;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 13
Just as the Angel broke open the door of the Holy Sepulchre, proclaiming the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, so now break the seals of the doors and open them with the golden Key, Most Holy Mother of God, that, fulfilling God’s Will, the souls of the departed may find their rest, and guide them to their rightful place: Alleluia!
This Kontakion is sung three times.
Ikos 1
No one reaches Heaven alone, but through the many intercessions of the Angels, the Saints, and above all through your help, Mother of God. Show yourself, Queen, and illuminate the darkness of those who have fallen asleep with the incorporeal radiance of your light, and we glorify you:
Hail, thou who art the Gate leading to the divine Lights;
Hail, the golden chamber revealing the open entrance to Life;
Hail, thou who bestowest eternal bliss upon souls;
Hail, thou who openest the doors of repentance;
Rejoice, thou who quenchest the fierce flame of unconfessed sins;
Rejoice, thou who extinguishest the fire of carnal passions;
Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
Kontakion 1
Most Pure Mother and Mother of God, You gave birth to the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shattered the gates of Hell; and through You the locks of Heaven are opened, death is vanquished, and life finds the Tree of Life, the Saviour, You being the Fountain of Healing. Behold, we sinners too call upon you, and shedding bitter tears of sorrow we pray: Rejoice, our Lady, and open the Gate of Mercy, that those who have fallen asleep may find their peace!
PRAYER:
Immaculate and Most Pure Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Mistress of all the Heavenly Powers! We cry out to you and call upon you to come to the aid of the souls of God’s departed servants who are suffering, and to free them from all bonds and hindrances.
Open for them, with your Key, the Door of Mercy, that they may find their way to the Light, and command all the Saints, Archangels and Angels to help them, so that they may rejoice in beholding the glory of the Kingdom of the Holy Trinity, of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
