Akathist to Saint Gregory the Theologian

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.

From the official website of the Moldova and Bukovina Metropolia

Feast Day 25 January

Kontakion 1

Let us all come with spiritual praise to honor and celebrate the great Hierarch and defender of the Holy Trinity, and from the fountain of his teachings, taking words of praise, let us sing to him thus: Rejoice, O Mouth of God, Gregory!

Ikos 1

Today, may the threefold Grace of the Holy Trinity enlighten us, and may we offer worthy songs of praise in memory of the glorious, righteous teacher and instructor of the true faith, saying:

Rejoice, keeper of the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, servant of the heavenly King;

Rejoice, strengthener of the true faith;

Rejoice, most enlightened star of the Church;

Rejoice, shining heavenly star;

Rejoice, distributor of spiritual myrrh;

Rejoice, illuminator of the Trinity of Bishops;

Rejoice, beloved friend of the great Basil;

Rejoice, holy offspring, born of glorious parents;

Rejoice, faithful servant of Christ;

Rejoice, holy and most beautiful treasure;

Rejoice, for the Holy Trinity has made its dwelling place in your heart;

Rejoice, Gregory, thou Mouth of God!

Kontakion 2

The peoples run to you and, from your teachings, learn the true way to heaven. Place in the light of the Holy Trinity those who sing with fear and pure love: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

Loving purity and self-restraint, as you saw in your vision that the two holy virgins called themselves, and from them you learned the blameless life, for which we honor you thus:

Rejoice, shepherd of virginity;

Rejoice, lover of self-restraint;

Rejoice, honorer of the desert;

Rejoice, exhortor of mercy;

Rejoice, you who cut off passions with the sword of self-restraint;

Rejoice, for you have led your sheep to the pasture of good deeds;

Rejoice, for you have saved them from the darkness of hell;

Rejoice, for you have watered your flock from the spring of your labors;

Rejoice, for you have become an example through the light of good deeds;

Rejoice, for you have followed the humility of Christ;

Rejoice, for you were the first to bear the light burden of Christ;

Rejoice, for you then showed it to others;

Rejoice, for through your sweat and toil you cleansed the Church of Christ;

Rejoice, O Gregory, Mouth of God!

Kontakion 3

Gentle from childhood, he showed himself to be an elder, turning away from the sights and parties of worldly vanities, and learning good manners from his mother, singing praises day and night in the Church of God: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

Filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit, you drove away the cunning heresy of Macedonius, the blasphemer of the Holy Spirit, and put him to shame, driving him away from the Church. Strengthening the faithful and bringing back those who had strayed, you sanctified them with the seal of the Holy Spirit, and they, being enlightened, sang:

Rejoice, good shepherd;

Rejoice, destroyer of heresies;

Rejoice, for you have put Macedonius to shame;

Rejoice, for you have broken the trumpet of his heresies;

Rejoice, unerring path of the faithful;

Rejoice, enlightened preacher of the holy faith;

Rejoice, co-worker with the Great Basil;

Rejoice, blossoming tree in the house of the Lord;

Rejoice, destroyer of heresies;

Rejoice, distributor of Christ’s gifts;

Rejoice, defender of the faithful;

Rejoice, warm helper of all;

Rejoice, Gregory, you Mouth of God!

Kontakion 4

Jesus, the lover of mankind, who clothed His Apostles in Jerusalem with power from on high, has given you great power over spirits and heresies, that you may drive them away and bring His holy Church to Him like an adorned bride, singing: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

Apolinaris, a great and foreign heretic who misunderstood the Incarnation of the Lord, leading all to destruction, you drove away from your flock, and strengthening the dogma of the Incarnation of the Word of God, you preached the One born of the Virgin, and honoring you, we say:

Rejoice, our enlightener;

Rejoice, ray of our salvation;

Rejoice, guardian of the true faith;

Rejoice, candlestick with golden light;

Rejoice, adornment of the Hierarchs;

Rejoice, joy and peace of the Church;

Rejoice, unbreakable rock;

Rejoice, unshakeable tower of the Church;

Rejoice, strong fortress against enemies;

Rejoice, weapon against passions;

Rejoice, honest mind;

Rejoice, pure vessel of the Lord’s gifts;

Rejoice, Gregory, thou Mouth of God!

Kontakion 5

Seeing the rest of the Church, the cunning enemy brought upon you temptations, troubles, and expulsions, but you, with the gift of Christ, revealed the tricks of the master of evil, and as a victor you sang: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

Understanding your departure from them, the people raised their voices in lamentation, saying: O Father! By leaving us, you take with you the Holy Trinity, and the blessing will depart from the City. And considering themselves poor, they said thus:

Rejoice, nourisher of the poor;

Rejoice, servant of the sick;

Rejoice, rest of strangers;

Rejoice, comfort of the elderly;

Rejoice, helper of the afflicted;

Rejoice, deliverer of the oppressed;

Rejoice, brave conqueror;

Rejoice, purifier of heresies;

Rejoice, purifier of the weeds of heresy;

Rejoice, burning with the spirit in the service of God;

Rejoice, ladder that lifts us all to heaven;

Rejoice, you who with fatherly love have shown mercy to all who have come to you;

Rejoice, Gregory, Mouth of God!

Kontakion 6

You have shown yourself to be wonderful among the Hierarchs, for your mouth, like a sling, has driven away all heresies and all cunning tricks, and you have torn them from the hearts of the faithful; for this reason, the Church together with them sings: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

The most wise rhetoricians could not stand against your fiery words when you revealed in the Church the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God, and we, rejoicing, sing:

Rejoice, holy head;

Rejoice, mind flying in the heavenly spheres;

Rejoice, sleepless eye;

Rejoice, undefeated soldier;

Rejoice, speaker with the angels;

Rejoice, companion of the Apostles;

Rejoice, dancer with the Martyrs;

Rejoice, worker with the Confessors;

Rejoice, savior of those who repent;

Rejoice, corrector of sinners;

Rejoice, spiritual nourisher;

Rejoice, flesh laborer as if you were incorporeal;

Rejoice, Gregory, Mouth of God!

Kontakion 7

The divine proclamation of your words has spread across the earth like lightning, teaching all to worship the Trinity in unity and unity in the Trinity, singing: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

Desiring wisdom from above, the Almighty gave you the crown of gifts and added the beauty of words. Therefore, taking from your words, we bring you this song:

Rejoice, bright sun;

Rejoice, seer of the mysteries of God;

Rejoice, for together with the Martyrs you confessed;

Rejoice, for together with the Saints you magnified Christ;

Rejoice, for the Ecumenical Councils were strengthened by your words;

Rejoice, sword of fire that cuts down heresies;

Rejoice, scalpel that cleanses incurable wounds;

Rejoice, guarantor of sinners’ salvation;

Rejoice, for you have received light from the ray of the Holy Spirit;

Rejoice, for in the city of the Archbishops you shine like a star;

Rejoice, good friend of the Great Basil;

Rejoice, for both of you have left profound teachings in the world;

Rejoice, Gregory, Mouth of God!

Kontakion 8

All the songs sung in your memory cannot bring the gratitude due for the many and beautiful labors with which you adorned the Church and left salvation to your flock, for which we sing to you: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

Rich in wisdom and eloquent in speech, you sowed the good seed of the Holy Scriptures on earth, for which we honor your memory, saying:

Rejoice, most wise one;

Rejoice, most blessed one;

Rejoice, honorable High Priest;

Rejoice, adornment of the Church;

Rejoice, heavenly mouth;

Rejoice, apostolic mind;

Rejoice, holy offspring;

Rejoice, faithful servant of Christ;

Rejoice, beholder of divine mysteries;

Rejoice, most sweet theologian;

Rejoice, intercessor to God;

Rejoice, father of the Church;

Rejoice, Mouth of God, Gregory!

Kontakion 9

Being wholly united with the ray of the Spirit, you, holy father, lived apart from the world, and now, enlightened by the glory of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we rejoice and sing to you: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

Having ended your life’s journey amid many labors and tribulations, you have departed to the Lord. Therefore, as a friend of the Holy Trinity, pray for us who sing to you:

Rejoice, for you were a great dogmatist for the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, you who taught that the Spirit proceeds from the Father alone;

Rejoice, for together with the Father and the Son, you revealed a single ruling Trinity;

Rejoice, worker of the Savior’s mystery;

Rejoice, singer of the Church’s service;

Rejoice, beautiful speaker to the people;

Rejoice, receiver of the Holy Spirit;

Rejoice, for you taught the composition of being and nature;

Rejoice, for you showed yourself to be a theologian of the Trinity;

Rejoice, you who through your words have remained the source and sweetness of the Church;

Rejoice, you who have zealously devoted your soul to us;

Rejoice, for you have overthrown the evil one;

Rejoice, O Gregory, thou Mouth of God!

Kontakion 10

“The Word of God, glorified by the angelic songs for us, willingly became poor,” said the great Hierarch of the peoples, “and the Son born of the Virgin taught us to sing: Alleluia!”

Ikos 10

Extinguish the fiery arrows of the heretics with your holy prayers, that we may be saved and honor you with praises such as these:

Rejoice, holy treasure of the Church;

Rejoice, keeper of heavenly things;

Rejoice, for your memory is full of joy;

Rejoice, for you were full of divine gifts;

Rejoice, for you became divine;

Rejoice, for God revealed to you awesome mysteries;

Rejoice, for the Word of the Father revealed to you the mystery of His Incarnation;

Rejoice, for theology taught you through His angel;

Rejoice, for you have shown yourself to be the adornment of the Church;

Rejoice, for now you have attained the glory of God;

Rejoice, for you have shown the earth to be fertile and bearing flowers;

Rejoice, for you have poured forth holy gifts from your lips;

Rejoice, Gregory, Mouth of God!

Kontakion 11

Having enlightened your mind with immeasurable wilderness, you kept it pure from all earthly cares, and traversing the depths of the Spirit in joy, you now rejoice, singing: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

With divine and supernatural power, you taught us, Hierarch Gregory, enlightening us all and teaching us to sing thus:

Rejoice, Gregory, adornment of the Hierarchs;

Rejoice, clear interpreter of the Old Scriptures;

Rejoice, beautiful speaker of the New Testament;

Rejoice, defender of the Trinity;

Rejoice, discoverer of dogmas;

Rejoice, teacher of divine mysteries;

Rejoice, healer of the sick;

Rejoice, comforter of the sad;

Rejoice, deliverer of the afflicted;

Rejoice, helper of those in temptation;

Rejoice, investigator of those in prison;

Rejoice, forgiver of those who err;

Rejoice, Gregory, Mouth of God!

Kontakion 12

We praise your wisdom, we honor your labors, we sing your memory, in which the Church, adorned with songs, together with the people enlightened by your teachings, sings to God with thanksgiving: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

With joy the heavenly hosts sing, welcoming you, receiving you, and bowing down to the Holy Trinity: “Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Hear us too, who pray that you pray for everyone, that the Church may be protected from needs and heresies, so that, being protected by the gift of God, we may sing to you:

Rejoice, sole guardian of your laws;

Rejoice, defensive wall of the Church;

Rejoice, gentle harbor of those shrouded in ignorance;

Rejoice, for you have opened the door of salvation to all;

Rejoice, for you have brightly shown the right path;

Rejoice, for you lead us all by the hand to heaven;

Rejoice, our helper;

Rejoice, swift helper;

Rejoice, for you have made yourself obedient to all, that you might obtain all things;

Rejoice, good shepherd of your sheep;

Rejoice, savior of our souls;

Rejoice, helper of our bodies;

Rejoice, Gregory, Mouth of God!

Kontakion 13

O most wise Hierarch Gregory, receive this little prayer of thanksgiving from us and take it to the throne of God and ask there for peace in the world and unity in the Church, that we may be kept in peace and thanksgiving, together with you, to sing to God: Alleluia!

This kontakion is said three times.

Then the Ikos 1 is said again: Today the gift…, Kontakion 1: The great hierarch…, and the dismissal is made.

Ikos 1

Today, may the threefold Grace of the Holy Trinity enlighten us, and may we offer worthy songs of praise in memory of the glorious, righteous teacher and instructor of the true faith, saying:

Rejoice, keeper of the Holy Trinity;

Rejoice, servant of the heavenly King;

Rejoice, strengthener of the true faith;

Rejoice, most enlightened star of the Church;

Rejoice, shining heavenly star;

Rejoice, distributor of spiritual myrrh;

Rejoice, illuminator of the Trinity of Bishops;

Rejoice, beloved friend of the great Basil;

Rejoice, holy offspring, born of glorious parents;

Rejoice, faithful servant of Christ;

Rejoice, holy and most beautiful treasure;

Rejoice, for the Holy Trinity has made its dwelling place in your heart;

Rejoice, Gregory, thou Mouth of God!

Kontakion 1

Source: https://doxologia.ro/acatistul-sfantului-ierarh-grigorie-teologul-arhiepiscopul-constantinopolului

SAINT GREGORY THE THEOLOGIAN AND THE HEALING OF THE CASTRATED EMPEROR

Sabbatios was the oldest son of the Roman Emperor Leo V the Armenian (813–820). After Leo deposed Michael I and ascended the throne on Christmas 813, he had the young Sabbatios crowned co-emperor and renamed Constantine. This name was not chosen by chance, as both were iconoclasts who reinstated the iconoclasm of Emperor Leo III the Isaurian (717–741) and his son Constantine V (741–775). In 815 on Easter, Constantine nominally presided, as his father’s representative, over a Church Synod in Constantinople, which reinstated the ban on the veneration of icons. After the assassination of his father on Christmas 820 by Emperor Michael II the Amorian (820–829), Constantine was banished to the island of Prote along with his mother Theodosia and three brothers Basil, Gregory and Theodosios. There, the four brothers were castrated and tonsured as monks. This was done to prevent them from ever usurping the throne of the Roman Empire, since the emperor was required to be healthy and strong in order to be considered valid for the position, and the empire relied on them for producing successors to their dynasty.

John Zonaras goes on to record the following significant incident in his Extracts of History. After the four sons of Leo were castrated, Theodosios died and young Constantine lost his voice. This caused Constantine, who had previously promoted iconoclasm, to forsake the error of his past and that of his father, and to fervently entreat God and St. Gregory the Theologian, whose icon he wept and prayed before, asking him to restore to him his voice. That night he saw the great Gregory in a vision, saying to him, “I have heard your prayers, and given to you what you asked for.” He then got up and was given by this great Father a book to read aloud, and he read, “Again my Jesus, and again a mystery….” By reading St. Gregory’s 39th Oration on Theophany, it was demonstrated to him that he regained his voice for renouncing his past error. Thus the youth glorified God and the Saint. Constantine and his brothers spent the rest of their days on the island of Prote as monks, although Emperor Michael allowed them to keep part of the proceeds from their confiscated estates for their and their servants’ upkeep.

Icon of the above miracle story