Akathist to Righteous Job the Long-Suffering

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Feast Day: May 6

Troparion of Saint Job the Righteous (Tone 1)

Seeing the wealth of Job’s virtues, the enemy of the righteous plotted to steal it, and breaking the tower of the body, he did not steal the treasure of the spirit; for he found the soul of the blameless one armed, and emptying me, he enslaved me. Therefore, before the end, meet me, deliver me from the deceitful one, Savior, and save me.

Kontakion of Saint Job the Righteous (Tone 8)

As a true and righteous man, honoring God and blameless, and showing yourself to be holy, O most glorious servant of God, you enlightened the world with your patience, O long-suffering and all-brave one; for this reason, all of us, wise Job, praise your memory.

Kontakion 1

To the righteous man chosen by the Lord, the great man of the Old Testament, son of the sons of Esau, who was the fifth from Abraham, to Saint Job the long-suffering, we offer songs of praise for his wonderful virtues and for his whole life, teacher of the entire universe. And you, righteous Job, receive this praise offered with love, warm our hearts with the desire to imitate your deeds, and we call out to you with one voice: Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering one, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Ikos 1

It came to pass one day that the angels of the Lord came before the Lord. The devil also came with them. The latter, when asked by the Lord about Job, began to speak ill of the righteous man, saying that Job honors the Lord for the sake of well-being and wealth, for God has rewarded him according to his way of life. We see with bitterness the slander of the evil devil against the great righteous man, and we praise Job thus:

Rejoice, Holy Job, for the Lord Himself has blessed you with many gifts;

Rejoice, for you have received all good things on earth from the Lord;

Rejoice, for you had many servants and thousands of animals in your flock;

Rejoice, for you raised the sons and daughters that the Lord gave you with great piety;

Rejoice, for you showed great concern for your children;

Rejoice, for you did not set your heart on any of the earthly blessings;

Rejoice, for through your wisdom you stood above all others;

Rejoice, for you were a king among the brave;

Rejoice, for you were the noblest being since the rising of the sun;

Rejoice, all-glorious, true servant of God;

Rejoice, you who did great and good deeds;

Rejoice, for you have enlightened the world with your patience;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 2

Knowing the unshakeable faith and great devotion to God’s will of his servant, the Lord gave the devil the power to take away all the blessings of the earth from Job and to destroy his children. But we marvel at this special will of the Lord, crying out to the Wise God: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

With his evil mind, the devil rejoiced greatly after receiving such willingness from God. One day, when all of Job’s children were rejoicing at the table in their older brother’s house, the devil, doing his evil will, killed Job’s ten children. But these temptations did not shake Job’s faith, and wise words came out of his mouth: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return to the earth; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away! As the Lord willed, so He did. Blessed be the name of the Lord from now until forever!” Seeing such devotion to God from the righteous, we praise Saint Job thus:

Rejoice, Saint Job, for you saw yourself as sinful before the Lord;

Rejoice, long-suffering one, for you did not blaspheme God;

Rejoice, for you opened the doors of your house to all;

Rejoice, for no stranger remained outside your house;

Rejoice, for you did not despise the weeping widow;

Rejoice, for you were the eyes of the blind and the feet of the lame;

Rejoice, for you ate your bread with the poor;

Rejoice, for you accepted trials without angering God;

Rejoice, for you wept for every weakness of yours and of your children;

Rejoice, for when you saw your wife saddened, you sighed heavily.

Rejoice, for you are our quick helper in every need and sorrow;

Rejoice, for you are a vigilant intercessor for those who seek your intercession;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 3

Relying on his power, the devil slandered Job again and said to God, “Skin for skin; all that a man has, he will give for his soul! So, no! But send Your hand and touch his flesh and bones, and then you will see if he will not curse You to Your face!” And the Lord said to the devil, “Behold, I give him to you, but do not touch his soul.” And the sower of evil, after leaving the Lord, joyfully struck Job with leprosy from his feet to his head. And the righteous man stood outside the city, covered with leprosy, and hid his disease with a piece of cloth. But we, blessing God, who allowed his illness, glorifying Him for the sake of His servant, cried out to the Lord: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

Truly, patience is more than words, for the disease in the leper’s body was multiplying, and the wife of the righteous man, seeing her husband’s suffering and taught by Satan, gave Job advice: “Say a word of blasphemy against God and die.” But he, lifting up his eyes, spoke to her: “Why do you speak like a foolish woman? Am I not Job, who was rich and honorable in the world? Do you not remember how honored we were on earth, how much wealth and how many servants we had? Then, since we received the good things from the hand of the Lord, should we not also suffer the bad things?” And in all these things that happened to him, Job did not sin in any way before God, nor did he blaspheme Him. Where can we find words to praise the righteous Saint Job? We are captivated by Job’s love and praise his long-suffering with words of joy:

Rejoice, for your bones have been crushed by pain and your strength has weakened;

Rejoice, for your skin has darkened;

Rejoice, for your body has been eaten by leprosy;

Rejoice, for from evening until morning you have been filled with sickness;

Rejoice, for worms lived in your wounds;

Rejoice, for your body was foul-smelling;

Rejoice, for those who saw you hated you and stood against you;

Rejoice, Saint Job, unshaken by all the temptations of the evil one;

Rejoice, devoted to the Lord until death;

Rejoice, unjustly condemned by the words of your wife;

Rejoice, courageous pillar, for in your grave illnesses you did not fall into despair;

Rejoice, blessing God in your sufferings;

Rejoice, Saint Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 4

It is difficult for anyone to understand that when Job’s three friends came to him, seeing him from afar without knowing him, they cried out in a loud voice, weeping, tearing their clothes, and striking their heads with their hands; but then for seven days and seven nights none of them spoke a word of comfort to him. In vain are they called friends of Saint Job, for he, suffering innocently, hastened to God, trusting in Him alone and crying out to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

Hearing the great noise and the cries of your friends, you understood, long-suffering Job, that they would not give you comfort. In the sadness of your soul, you opened your mouth before the Lord, Holy Job, and began to speak, saying that it would have been better for you not to be born than to live other than in the presence of God. Sympathetic to the righteous man in his boundless sorrow, we praise the greatness of Saint Job’s devotion to the Lord with these words:

Rejoice, great righteous man of the Old Testament, believing that all your blessing is in the presence of God;

Rejoice, you who were tested with fear of God in the temptations sent to you;

Rejoice, you who preferred death to a life forsaken by God;

Rejoice, enduring your pains unwaveringly in the hope of God’s comfort;

Rejoice, for you spoke of the endless life beyond;

Rejoice, for in death you believed in eternal rest;

Rejoice, for you saw in earthly pains a skillful preparation for the life to come;

Rejoice with eternal, enduring, visionary joy;

Rejoice, calling upon the Lord for immortal happiness;

Rejoice, for in earthly blessings you wanted to live only with the Lord;

Rejoice, for you have revered the beauty of God’s heaven;

Rejoice, for you have waited for a new heaven and a new earth with all your soul;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 5

The three friends did not believe Job’s words, not understanding his righteous devotion to the Lord, but murmured against God. We pray to you, Holy Job, turn us back with prayer and give us repentance for our sins, and to the innocent one who suffers God’s punishment, may the Lord give him strength in his innocent sufferings, to understand how to God, the source of wisdom and reason, from his pure heart continually to cry out: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

To show the inscrutable ways of the Lord, to understand His Will, you, Holy Job, taught your friends, Holy Job, to live according to God’s will. We, praising the wise words of the innocent and suffering one, bring these to him:

Rejoice, for you did not speak lies against God;

Rejoice, wisely exposing the lies of your friends;

Rejoice, for not understanding the ways of God, you humbly prophesied about His Will;

Rejoice, for the life of the righteous in the Old Testament is understood by those who desire it;

Rejoice, for you have kept your eyes from looking at the unclean;

Rejoice, for you have received the request of your pious heart to become a mediator between God and men;

Rejoice, you who thirsted for the love of God the Father;

Rejoice, for you implored the Lord in tears that He would not take away your fear;

Rejoice, for you honored your temptations sent by God;

Rejoice, for you believed that you would receive eternal life through your earthly sufferings;

Rejoice, wise revealer of the ways of God;

Rejoice, good guide to the Kingdom of Heaven;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 6

You were a preacher of the depths of God’s understanding, of God’s wisdom and reason, long-suffering Job, and you denounced your hypocritical friends, showing them the ways of wisdom and understanding of God. Seeing that people are weak in doing His Will, the righteous pray to be judged before God with mercy, so that the Lord may take His hand and not terrify them with His fear. Carrying in his heart a humble prayer to the Lord, Job tenderly cried out to the One Judge and God: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

With the divine ray of grace rising rightly in your soul, in your great sorrow you awaited death, Holy Job, and prepared yourself for the irrevocable journey into eternal darkness. Loving the Lord with all your soul, you were ready to depart at God’s call to the afterlife and did not reject in your heart the hope of a new life in the presence of God. Rejoicing in such a brilliant aspiration of the righteous man who suffers, we sing with love:

Rejoice, humble and wise one of God, suffering innocently;

Rejoice, constantly thinking of the approach of death;

Rejoice, for the day and hour of man’s death is in God’s wise will;

Rejoice, sincere servant of Christ;

Rejoice, for you desired to see God with your pure heart;

Rejoice, for you had deep faith in the Lord;

Rejoice, for you did not stray in any way from His truth;

Rejoice, for you sought true wisdom from God;

Rejoice, for you called your friends unjust doctors;

Rejoice, for in their words you see flattery before God;

Rejoice, for you kept your soul pure and blameless;

Rejoice, for you stood without fear before the Lord at the fearful judgment;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 7

Help us understand God’s will, Saint Job, we who desire true wisdom. By revealing your false friends, you showed them that the blessings of the earth and the sufferings of mankind are in God’s hands, for the Lord distributes them wisely: even the righteous suffer fiercely and the wicked prosper. Man cannot understand the unknown ways of God’s Will, but for all things he must thank the Lord and praise Him, saying: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

We hear wonderful sermons from the mouth of the righteous man of the Old Testament. The hypocritical friends of Saint Job cause him new pains in his heart, but the righteous man directs his thoughts only to the Lord, to the One Protector and Judge God in whom he trusts, for from Him comes the only comfort. Seeing such profound striving in the long-suffering Job, we magnify him:

Rejoice, wise accuser of hypocrisy;

Rejoice, you who called out your evil comforters;

Rejoice, seeing your friends nodding their heads over the great sufferings of their friend;

Rejoice, seeking only comfort from the Lord in your heart;

Rejoice, for only in heaven have you seen the True Mediator;

Rejoice, for your heart is filled with awe before God;

Rejoice, for you have drawn near to God with your pure prayer;

Rejoice, for you had strong confidence in your truth;

Rejoice, unworthy in your humility to speak with God;

Rejoice, for you prayed only to God;

Rejoice, for you confess your innocence before the whole world;

Rejoice, for your eyes are filled with merciful tears;

Rejoice, Saint Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 8

It is difficult for us to hear the bold words of the righteous man of the Old Testament. The great secrets of the world are known beyond the grave only with long patience, and Job prayed with his faithful heart to God, that the Mediator of such mysteries would enlighten him about Who is in heaven. The long-suffering eye of Job weeps to the Lord, and the righteous sing to God with tenderness: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

Feeling the approach of your death, enduring heavy sufferings on earth, seeing that there was no relief from the pains of the earth, you prayed to the Lord. When God’s wrath ceases, the sin and lawlessness of men will be covered, and then the Lord, through His grace, will draw near to them. We, having the hope of the suffering, praise you, Holy Job:

Rejoice, wise and enlightened by God;

Rejoice, holy and great suffering;

Rejoice, you who suffered with your body and are free from sin;

Rejoice, soul undaunted in your love for the Lord;

Rejoice, for you were filled with the bright hope of the life to come;

Rejoice, you who believed in God’s infinite love with all your soul;

Rejoice, you who thirsted to show us the mysteries of the world beyond the grave;

Rejoice, you who awaited God’s mercy in the gloomy lands of hell;

Rejoice, trusting in a bright life beyond the grave together with David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and other prophets of God;

Rejoice, for through this hope you have entered the same path as the righteous of the great Old Testament;

Rejoice, preaching to all the righteous the joy of the bright blessing of being beyond the grave;

Rejoice, wise confessor of the evangelical truths of Christ;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 9

Through all kinds of temptations and pains you grew spiritually, Holy Job, but the Lord delighted your soul with special revelations, long-suffering one. Enlightened by God’s grace, you, God’s chosen one, prophesied: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He, on the last day, will raise up again from the dust this skin of mine that is decaying. And out of my flesh I shall see God. I shall see Him, and my eyes shall behold Him, not another’s.” Seeing in our hearts this faith in the resurrection of the body, we, being taught by such a revelation, cry out to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

Truly you appeared unjust to your friends, Holy Job, because they reproached you with untrue things, as if you had not fed the hungry, clothed the poor, cared for widows and orphans, and quenched the thirst of your neighbors. O, great patience of the great sufferer! Praising such patience and the pure and virtuous life of Job, we sing to him thus:

Rejoice, for you humbly endured the reproach of your friends;

Rejoice, for you accepted their mockery;

Rejoice, for your servant forgot your love for them;

Rejoice, for your wife was not wise enough to not heed evil advice;

Rejoice, for the evil Satan, after breaking the pillar of your body, could not steal the treasures of your soul;

Rejoice, great warrior, pious victor in all the intrigues of the enemy;

Rejoice, for you wanted to see the One God and Lord;

Rejoice, for you are glorified according to your devotion to the Lord;

Rejoice, astonishing all with the height of your deeds;

Rejoice, spiritual enlightenment;

Rejoice, great comfort to all people;

Rejoice, for salvation comes to many in this world through you;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher to the whole world.

Kontakion 10

Salvation for you came only from the Lord, with hope for a renewed life beyond the grave, Holy Job, long-suffering, righteous man of the Old Testament. We, being saddened and feeling compassion for you, worship the Holy Will of God, and cry out to the Loving and Wise God: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

A strong wall devoted to the Lord, you appeared to the whole world, long-suffering Job, when you spoke firmly about your integrity and the hypocrisy of your friends. With a heart full of compassion for the righteous man who suffers innocently, with our lips we tenderly call you thus:

Rejoice, great righteous man, keeping your devotion to the Lord in terrible temptations;

Rejoice, not receiving good comfort from people;

Rejoice, that the loss of children and wealth did not discourage you;

Rejoice, for you taught us all to overcome the temptations of the love of money;

Rejoice, for you received sickness with wisdom;

Rejoice, for you saw no eternal joy in this world;

Rejoice, for you found joy and truth only in the One God;

Rejoice, you who are worthy of the great and true revelation from God;

Rejoice, for you have overcome the lies of your friends and their reproaches with the strength of your soul;

Rejoice, for you have cleansed every passion without words, through the purity of your heart;

Rejoice, for you will not be ashamed in all your bright hopes;

Rejoice, for you have immersed yourself in the mysteries of the world beyond the grave with the breath of the Holy Spirit;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 11

Let us sing with all our hearts to those who are long-suffering, whose innocence we have seen and who have overcome the sin of their ancestors. Glorifying his unshakeable faith and trust in God, who can ease Job’s heavy pain, we cry out with him to the All-Merciful Lord: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

Light is the illumination of the long-suffering, of their lives and hopes. Time passed and Job was silent, and his three friends ceased to contradict him, for he had become righteous before them, and behold, the Lord Himself appeared to His servant Job through the storm and stormy clouds, calling him, instructing him, and healing him. But he listened to the word of God with humility, knowing especially that there is nothing before Him. Seeing such profound humility before the Lord, we joyfully sing to Saint Job:

Rejoice, great man in the purity of your words before the Lord;

Rejoice, great in humility before the Lord;

Rejoice, for knowing your insignificance, you put your hand over your mouth;

Rejoice, for like Abraham, you called yourself dust and ashes;

Rejoice, wise man, after living your fate before Christ;

Rejoice, faithful servant of the Lord, not daring to speak of your wisdom;

Rejoice, for you never uttered a word about the words of your friends;

Rejoice, for you listened reverently to the Lord, glorifying the almighty power of God;

Rejoice, for you never blasphemed against God;

Rejoice, bowing down with the wisdom of the One God with all your soul;

Rejoice, in your humility, for you humbled yourself before the Lord, listening to Him with joy;

Rejoice, for you denied all your bold words before the Lord and repented in dust and ashes;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 12

You experienced great joy and blessing in your heart, long-suffering Job, when you saw your Lord in the storm and the cloud. You heard the word of the Lord blessing you and His angry word against your unfaithful friends, for God gave you terrible leprosy, Holy Job, and for your patience you received again all the blessings of the earth in greater number from the Lord. As a reward for your sorrow, you gained a long life, and by the grace of God you joyfully contemplated your ten children born again, and the Lord promised you the Resurrection with all His chosen ones. Despising all our sorrows, Holy Job, we too desire to reach Him with all our hearts, crying out joyfully to the Lord: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

After enduring immeasurable tribulations and having complete faith in the holy will of God, after showing great mercy for the pains sent by Him, you were the conqueror of the devil through the cross of suffering, singing your wonderful life, praising your immeasurable long-suffering, receiving the words of the Lord Himself, of His prophets and apostles, and we praise you with ecclesiastical words thus:

Rejoice, righteous man, who praises God;

Rejoice, for you have revealed the truth of God’s words to your deceitful friends;

Rejoice, for the Lord was a prayer book for your friends;

Rejoice, for the Lord forgives us such sins because of your prayers;

Rejoice, for you were a true servant of God;

Rejoice, great prayer book of the Old Testament together with Noah and Daniel;

Rejoice, for the name of your icon is suffering and patience;

Rejoice, for like the apostle James, we praise your life and your glorious end in the Lord;

Rejoice, for the Church of Christ commands that your holy book be read during Holy Week;

Rejoice, prototype of the one who suffered without sin for the Lord;

Rejoice, for St. John Chrysostom has called us to imitate your deeds in the image of your sufferings;

Rejoice, for in the Holy Church your name is honored and glorified;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 13

O great righteous man of the Old Testament, Saint Job, long-suffering one, receive our praise for your immeasurable deeds for the glory of God. We bow our knees before your long suffering, for you remained steadfast in temptation and endured suffering for eternal life, and help us with your powerful prayers before the throne of God, that we may receive through God’s grace the crowns of the righteous at the terrible judgment of Christ, so that together with you and all the saints we may be worthy to behold and sing forever to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(This kontakion is said 3 times).

Ikos 1

Rejoice, Holy Job, for the Lord Himself has blessed you with many gifts;

Rejoice, for you have received all good things on earth from the Lord;

Rejoice, for you had many servants and thousands of animals in your flock;

Rejoice, for you raised the sons and daughters that the Lord gave you with great piety;

Rejoice, for you showed great concern for your children;

Rejoice, for you did not set your heart on any of the earthly blessings;

Rejoice, for through your wisdom you stood above all others;

Rejoice, for you were a king among the brave;

Rejoice, for you were the noblest being since the rising of the sun;

Rejoice, all-glorious, true servant of God;

Rejoice, you who did great and good deeds;

Rejoice, for you have enlightened the world with your patience;

Rejoice, Holy Job, long-suffering, wonderful teacher for the whole world.

Kontakion 1

First Prayer

A great righteous man, Job the long-suffering, shining with your pure life and holy closeness to God. You lived on earth before the time of Moses and Christ, but you fulfilled all of God’s commandments by carrying them in your heart. You were honored with profound revelations to be a partaker of the mysteries of the Holy Spirit, of the mysteries revealed to the world through Christ and His Holy Apostles. You endured all the intrigues of the devil, in the special temptations sent to you by the Lord, and you overcame them with your true humility, being an icon of patience for the whole universe. Your love was great for God and for all people, for from your immeasurable troubles the Lord then brought you joy, which you awaited with a pure heart. Now you rejoice in Heaven among the righteous and stand before the Throne of God. Hear us sinners and unworthy ones, standing before your holy icon and zealously asking for your intercession. Pray for us to the God who loves mankind, that He may strengthen us in faith, that we may be pure and strong in faith, that He may protect us from all evil, from visible and invisible enemies, that He may give us strength in pain and temptation, to always keep the memory of death in our hearts, to strengthen us in patience and brotherly love, and to help us, Holy Job, at the fearful judgment of Christ, to give a good answer so that we may rejoice together with all the saints in our God, glorified in the Trinity forever and ever. Amen.

Second Prayer

O holy and righteous Job, beloved of God! After striving on earth to do good deeds, you received in Heaven the crown of righteousness that the Lord has prepared for all who love Him. Likewise, looking at your holy icon, we rejoice in the glorious end of your life and honor your holy memory. But you, standing before the Throne of God, receive our prayers and bring them before the All-Merciful God, that He may forgive our sins, help us to prevail against the cunning of the devil, and deliver us from pain, sickness, troubles, misfortunes, and all evil things, so that we may live righteously and piously forever and, through your intercession, be worthy to see the Kingdom of Heaven, glorifying God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Source of the Akathist: https://acoperamantulmaiciidomnului.wordpress.com/2021/03/19/acatistul-sfantului-si-dreptului-iov-mult-rabdatorul-6-mai/