Orthodox Reflections

For all Akathists published on our site, click here. This Akathist was recently provided in English by Maxim, who kindly asks all Orthodox Christians to keep him in their prayers for his repentance.

Feast Day: 12 March

Kontakion 1

Chosen by God for the office of high priest, holy and glorious prophet Aaron, glorifying the Lord who has glorified you, we raise songs of praise to you, as the first bishop of the Most High, for you now stand before God and offer Him sacrifices and burnt offerings, and we cry out to you: Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Ikos 1

The Creator of angels and all powers, the Lord holds all peoples in His right hand and guides them according to His Will. God brought the people of Israel out of Egyptian slavery and chose Aaron through His servant Moses to be His high priest, to bring before Him holy sacrifices and burnt offerings, prayers and petitions for the people. Praising God for this, we sing to you:

Rejoice, for you were chosen from the most honorable branch to be a prophet and priest of God;

Rejoice, blessed child of pious parents;

Rejoice, great kinsman of the holy prophet Moses;

Rejoice, companion in Moses’ difficult task;

Rejoice, fruitful branch of the holy ancestors;

Rejoice, sacred shoot of the tribe of Levi;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 2

When Moses returned to Egypt at God’s request to lead the chosen people to the promised land, the Lord promised to give him a descendant, and you, Prophet Aaron, met him and helped him in his work of freeing the people of Israel from Egyptian slavery, and with joy you cried out to the Most High: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

When the evil Pharaoh commanded the killing of babies in order to destroy the people of Israel, you, Aaron the slave, were saved in childhood by the power of God and bore the burden and labor of slavery together with your fellow tribesmen, grieving and praying for your people. And we, unworthy as we are, sing the following to you:

Rejoice, for you escaped death brought by Pharaoh’s servants in your childhood;

Rejoice, for you were protected from Pharaoh’s wrath by God’s will;

Rejoice, sharing the pains and hardships of your people;

Rejoice, for you endured many hardships together with them;

Rejoice, for you rejoiced at meeting your kinsman Moses;

Rejoice, for you rejoiced at the announcement of the imminent deliverance from Egyptian slavery;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 3

The Lord sent Moses before Pharaoh, and together with you, Holy Aaron, he performed wonderful signs through His power. We marvel at God’s will for you and cry out to the Creator: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

Submitting yourself humbly to God’s will, wonderful prophet Aaron, you followed your kinsman, the great Moses, according to the word of the Lord, proclaiming God’s will and His ways. For this, we praise you with such songs:

Rejoice, for you left everything in God’s hands;

Rejoice, walking in the Ways of the Lord;

Rejoice, that the Lord sent Moses as a prophet before Pharaoh;

Rejoice, that through the sweet lips of Moses you obeyed God’s command;

Rejoice, proclaiming God’s will concerning the way and destiny of His people;

Rejoice, for you revealed the wickedness and cruelty of Pharaoh;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 4

By God’s command, you came, glorious Aaron, together with your kinsman Moses the great, to Pharaoh, expressing the Lord’s will that the people of Israel should go and offer sacrifices to the Lord in the wilderness. But he, having a cruel heart, did not obey the command of the Most High and did not sing to him: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

The great Moses commanded you, Prophet Aaron, to give assurance of the truth of his words, to throw your staff before Pharaoh and turn it into a snake, but the pagan priests, through demonic power, did the same. But your rod, which became a serpent, swallowed the serpent of the idolaters, so that the unbelievers might understand and glorify the Almighty God, who created heaven and earth, and we say to you thus:

Rejoice, you who are enriched with the gift of miracles from the Lord;

Rejoice, you who are endowed with the power of signs from the Most High;

Rejoice, for your staff, as a sign of the bishop’s grace, appeared first upon you;

Rejoice, for your staff serves as a symbol of spiritual power over the people;

Rejoice, for you have performed many miracles and signs with this staff;

Rejoice, for you have been saved with faithfulness through your people Israel;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 5

God did not open the heart of the foolish and proud Pharaoh and his servants, in order to show all the power of His miraculous signs upon them, so that the people of Israel might confess Him to their children from generation to generation, seeing in Egypt that the Lord is great and awesome, and believe that He is the only God for them, and all the powers of heaven cry out in fear: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

In order for the Lord to show His power over the evil Pharaoh, He commanded you, prophet Aaron, through His servant Moses, to stretch out your rod over the waters, and the water turned to blood; to stretch out your rod over the rivers, and frogs appeared on the earth; to stretch out your rod against the dust of the earth, and sickness appeared upon the men and women throughout the land of Egypt. We are terrified and bow our heads in humility before the greatness of God, and to you, glorious Aaron, we say:

Rejoice, for you have performed many wonders from the Lord;

Rejoice, for great and terrible signs were created by His power;

Rejoice, for you changed the natural course of nature at God’s command;

Rejoice, for you obeyed the judgments and commandments of the Lord;

Rejoice, for you denounced sins;

Rejoice, for through you punishments were sent from God to those who lived in lawlessness;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 6

Leading His chosen people out of Egyptian slavery, the Lord commanded the children of Israel to kill Passover lambs and anoint the doorposts with their blood so that the angel of death sent by God to destroy the Egyptians would know when to pass over the houses of Israel. May the people cry out to God, freed from death: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

The Lord freed His people from death through the blood of the lambs and brought them out of Egyptian bondage. And we, who are delivered from eternal death by the blood of the Lamb of God and brought out by Him from the slavery of sin, praise Christ, our God, and cry out to the prophet Aaron:

Rejoice, fulfilling diligently all the commandments of God;

Rejoice, explaining the ordinances of the Lord to the people of Israel;

Rejoice, divinely ordained performer of the Passover;

Rejoice, bringing glad tidings of the deliverance of your people from the hands of the Egyptians from death and slavery;

Rejoice, for the blood of the Passover lamb is a symbol of the Blood of God’s Only Son, which was shed for us on the cross.

Rejoice, for through the exodus of your people from Egypt, our exodus through Christ God from the slavery of sin and death was foretold;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 7

Your heart was filled with joy, blessed Aaron, when you led your people out of the land of Egypt, and when, at God’s command, you stretched out your staff toward Moses, and the Red Sea was split in two, and the children of Israel walked through the sea as on dry land. We praise the greatness of God, and we sing to Him with joy: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

When, at God’s request, the great Moses stretched out his staff over the sea and the waters opened, the horsemen and horses of the Egyptians drowned. And the people saw their salvation, praising God Most High. We offer the glorious prophet Aaron a praise of thanksgiving:

Rejoice, for you crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land;

Rejoice, for this procession is the symbol of our baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;

Rejoice, and save us through your prayers from destruction by sin;

Rejoice, and protect us with your intercessions from drowning in the waves of lawlessness;

Rejoice, and show us, earthly pilgrims, the way to do God’s commandments, like the light from the pillar of fire;

Rejoice, for you quench our thirst for spiritual fulfillment of the Lord’s law with dew;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 8

The Lord showed many wonders and signs to the people of Israel in the wilderness, bringing water out of the rock and sending manna from heaven for food. You saw all these things, glorious prophet Aaron, and with a grateful heart you cried out to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

When Amalek attacked Israel in Rephidim, Moses raised his hands in prayer to the Lord, and Israel won the battle against Amalek, but when Moses lowered his hands, the Amalekites defeated the children of Israel. Seeing this, the prophet Aaron supported Moses’ hands, and they defeated Amalek until the sun went down. For this, with thanksgiving to God, we say to you:

Rejoice, you who appeared as a helper and sacrifice to the great Moses;

Rejoice, great supporter of your people against their enemies;

Rejoice, helper of warriors in righteous battles;

Rejoice, conqueror of the enemies of Christ’s Church and the enemies of our homeland;

Rejoice, for Moses’ hands raised to heaven formed the Cross of the Lord for us;

Rejoice, for you defeated even the spiritual Amalek—the devil;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 9

Many times Israel tempted the Lord in the wilderness with murmuring and disobedience, and God sent various punishments upon the children of Israel, causing them to wander forty years in the wilderness, so that none of those who left Egypt entered the promised land, except Joshua and Caleb. May people understand and know the Most High God, singing to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

Moses climbed Mount Sinai, fasting for forty days, to receive the Tablets of the Covenant, written with the finger of God. Then the deceitful people came to you, O Aaron, wanting you to make for them an image of God, as in the land of Egypt. Although you agreed to let them make the golden calf as an idol for the people of Israel when Moses was delayed in coming down from Mount Sinai, you were then saddened and grieved. For this, we magnify you:

Rejoice, you who endured the pain of the people;

Rejoice, for you offered repentance to God together with your people;

Rejoice, faithful executor of God’s commandments;

Rejoice, zealous servant of the Sabbath and the Lord’s ordinances;

Rejoice, punisher of those who blaspheme and do not fulfill the Lord’s commandments;

Rejoice, avenger of those who disregard God’s commandments and ordinances;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 10

The Lord established the priesthood among His people Israel and the divine services, choosing you, glorious prophet Aaron, to be His high priest, and your sons and fellow descendants of Levi to be priests and Levites, so that they might serve Him in the Tabernacle. And we glorify Him day and night with a triumphant song: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

At the command of the Lord, Moses poured oil on your head, Holy Aaron, for the office of high priest, raising you up and clothing you in the vestments of a bishop, so that you might stand before the altar of God and offer sacrifices and burnt offerings before Him for the people of Israel. We rejoice in this, and we say to you:

Rejoice, for the sacrifice of Holy oil has been made for the great ministry of the bishop by God;

Rejoice, you who are filled with this anointing with the Holy Spirit;

Rejoice, for you were clothed in bright and golden garments by the great Moses;

Rejoice, for in your tent you offered sacrifices before God;

Rejoice, incense perfumed with the sweetness of spiritual fragrance before the Creator;

Rejoice, for you entered the Holy of Holies only in the presence of God;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 11

You, Holy Prophet Aaron, were chosen from among all the sons of Israel to be worthy of the rank of bishop, being endowed with wisdom from God and enlightened with the Holy Spirit. We praise the Lord for His wonderful choice, crying out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

You shone like the brightest lantern for your people, Holy Aaron, shining with the light of virtues and serving in the tabernacle, before the Ark of the Covenant. With your rod, God assured the rebellious people that your priesthood is established by God for you and your sons of the tribe of Levi from generation to generation. For this reason we praise you:

Rejoice, founder of the priesthood of Israel;

Rejoice, chosen by the Most High among all the sons of Israel for the great hierarchical ministry;

Rejoice, for the height of the high priesthood shone like the light sent by God;

Rejoice, for with your rod the Lord confirmed the priesthood of the tribe of Levi;

Rejoice, for your blossoming rod is the symbol of the Most Holy Virgin Mary giving birth to Christ from Her;

Rejoice, for your rod had the same color and fruit known to the Church as the Fruit of the Mother of God who will bring Him to God in His time;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 12

When, after many labors and wanderings, the hour of your departure came, O glorious prophet Aaron, you ascended Mount Hor and there gave up your spirit to the Lord. Then you were led with all the righteous and by Christ the Savior to the High Place, where you now stand before God and ceaselessly cry out to Him with all the saints: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Even though the Lord did not allow you to see the promised land, glorious Aaron, you are now in the heavenly dwelling of eternal inheritance, where you stand before God and pray for all who cry out to you:

Rejoice, vigilant prayer for us before God;

Rejoice, you who intercede for us before the throne of His Glory;

Rejoice, you who served Him in the tabernacle and now see the face of God;

Rejoice, for together with the heavenly powers and all the saints you sing praises to God;

Rejoice, honorable praise of the bishops and helper in their difficult pastoral ministry;

Rejoice, glorious adornment of the sacred and ecclesiastical order;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first bishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 13

O glorious and wonderful prophet of God and great Archbishop Aaron! Receive now this little prayer offered by our unworthy lips, and with the boldness you have before the Most High, do not be silent for us before the Lord. For through your prayers and intercessions we shall be delivered from the wrath of God and we too shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, where together with you and all the saints we shall sing a song of victory to the Holy Trinity: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(This Kontakion is said 3 times)

Ikos 1

The Creator of angels and all powers, the Lord holds all peoples in His right hand and guides them according to His Will. God brought the people of Israel out of Egyptian slavery and chose Aaron through His servant Moses to be His high priest, to bring before Him holy sacrifices and burnt offerings, prayers and petitions for the people. Praising God for this, we sing to you:

Rejoice, for you were chosen from the most honorable branch to be a prophet and priest of God;

Rejoice, blessed child of pious parents;

Rejoice, great kinsman of the holy prophet Moses;

Rejoice, companion in Moses’ difficult task;

Rejoice, fruitful branch of the holy ancestors;

Rejoice, sacred shoot of the tribe of Levi;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Kontakion 1

Chosen by God for the office of high priest, holy and glorious prophet Aaron, glorifying the Lord who has glorified you, we raise songs of praise to you, as the first bishop of the Most High, for you now stand before God and offer Him sacrifices and burnt offerings, and we cry out to you: Rejoice, Holy Prophet Aaron, high priest of the Lord and first Archbishop of the Most High God.

Prayer

O, holy and glorious prophet and high priest of God, Aaron! Through your episcopal ministry, the high priesthood of the Great Bishop Christ, the Son of God, you are the prototype of His sacrifice on the altar of the cross for the whole world. Now we, redeemed by His precious Blood, praise you and ask you, through your intercession before the throne of the Most High, to ask Him for everything that is useful to us in this life and for our souls. Ask for our shepherds for wisdom and zeal for the Church, that they may care for their flock of believers; give us victory over our enemies, raise our children, educate our young people in piety and chastity, send harmony and peace to spouses, strengthen the elderly, heal the weak, and calm those who are at enmity. Grant us a smooth path in the Orthodox faith and a peaceful death without shame, shared with the Holy Sacraments. So that after we have lived our earthly life with piety, we may also reach the eternity of the Heavenly Kingdom where you dwell with your brother, the great Moses, and your sister, Saint Miriam, and together with all the saints, we may glorify the Holy Trinity forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, voice 2:

Celebrating the memory of Your prophet Aaron, Lord, we pray to You: save our souls.

Magnificats:

We magnify you, Holy Aaron, prophet of God, and we honor your holy memory. Pray for us to Christ, our God. Amen.

It is truly fitting to bless you, Mother of God, ever blessed and most innocent, and Mother of our God. You who are more honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, we magnify you, truly Mother of God.

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Original source: https://acoperamantulmaiciidomnului.wordpress.com/2021/03/07/acatistul-sfantului-profet-aaron-primul-arhiepiscop-al-lui-dumnezeu-12-martie/