Akathist to Saint Joshua the Son of Nun

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: September 1

Kontakion 1
To thee, O faithful servant who succeeded Moses and led Israel into the Promised Land, we offer hymns of praise. Thou wast filled with the spirit of wisdom, and the Lord worked mighty deeds through thy hands. Wherefore, with love we cry aloud:Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Ikos 1
When Moses the God-seer was taken up to the Lord, thou, O Joshua, wast chosen to lead the people of God. The Lord Himself commanded thee: “Be strong and of a good courage,” and promised never to leave thee nor forsake thee. Therefore we cry to thee:Rejoice, thou who wast full of the spirit of wisdom!
Rejoice, thou whom Moses laid hands upon!
Rejoice, chosen leader of the inheritance of Israel!
Rejoice, thou who heardest the voice of the Lord at the Jordan!
Rejoice, valiant captain of the host of the Lord!
Rejoice, thou who didst sanctified the people before Jericho!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 2
Standing before the Captain of the Lord’s host with drawn sword, thou didst fall on thy face and worship, asking, “What saith my Lord unto His servant?” And He commanded thee to loose thy shoe from off thy foot, for the place was holy. Filled with awe, we cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 2
The Lord promised thee every place that the sole of thy foot should tread upon, and no man should be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. Marveling at this divine assurance, we sing to thee: Rejoice, thou who receivedst the land as an inheritance!
Rejoice, thou who walked in the strength of the Lord!
Rejoice, thou who wast strong and very courageous!
Rejoice, thou who didst not turn from the Law to the right hand or to the left!
Rejoice, thou who meditated on the Book of the Law day and night!
Rejoice, thou who prospered in all thy ways!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 3
Thou didst command the priests to bear the Ark of the Covenant into the midst of Jordan, and the waters stood and rose up upon an heap. The people passed over on dry ground, and all Israel knew that was born in the wilderness was circumcised at Gilgal. Wherefore we sing: Alleluia!

Ikos 3
At Gilgal thou didst renew the covenant, keeping the Passover and eating of the old corn of the land. The manna ceased, and Israel ate the fruit of Canaan. Praising this great wonder, we cry:Rejoice, thou who led the people through Jordan on dry ground!
Rejoice, thou who raised the twelve stones of memorial!
Rejoice, thou who restored circumcision with knives of flint!
Rejoice, thou who kept the Passover in the plains of Jericho!
Rejoice, thou who saw the manna cease and the land yield her increase!
Rejoice, thou who called the place Gilgal, “rolling away the reproach”!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 4
When Jericho was straitly shut up, the Lord commanded thee to march around the city seven days, and on the seventh day the priests blew with the trumpets of rams’ horns. At the long blast the people shouted, and the wall fell down flat. Astonished at this miracle, we cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 4
Thou didst spare Rahab the harlot and all her house because she hid the spies, but devoted the city unto the Lord. The silver, gold, vessels of brass and iron thou didst bring into the treasury of the Lord. Therefore we praise thee:
Rejoice, thou who obeyed the divine command exactly!
Rejoice, thou who marched in silence six days!
Rejoice, thou who commanded the great shout on the seventh day!
Rejoice, thou who saw the walls of Jericho fall flat!
Rejoice, thou who spared Rahab and her kindred!
Rejoice, thou who cursed the man who would rebuild Jericho!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 5
Because of Achan’s sin the men of Ai smote Israel, but after the sin was purged by lot and Achan stoned, thou didst take Ai by ambush and hanged its king upon a tree until evening. The Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger, and we cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 5
Thou didst build an altar unto the Lord in Mount Ebal, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and wrote there a copy of the Law of Moses, reading all the words of blessing and cursing before all Israel. Therefore we cry:
Rejoice, thou who purged iniquity from Israel!
Rejoice, thou who took Ai didst burn with fire!
Rejoice, thou who built the altar of unhewn stones!
Rejoice, thou who proclaimed the blessings and cursings!
Rejoice, thou who stood between Ebal and Gerizim with the Ark!
Rejoice, thou who renewed the covenant in the land!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 6
The sun stood still in Gibeon and the moon in the valley of Ajalon at thy word, that Israel might avenge themselves upon their enemies. Never before nor after was there a day like it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man. Wherefore we cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 6
Five kings hid in a cave at Makkedah; thou didst command great stones to be rolled unto the mouth of the cave, and afterward brought them out and slew them, and hanged them on five trees. Marveling, we sing:Rejoice, thou who commanded the sun and moon to stand still!
Rejoice, thou who pursued the five kings unto Azekah and Makkedah!
Rejoice, thou who set thy foot upon the necks of kings!
Rejoice, thou who smote them with a great slaughter at Gibeon!
Rejoice, thou who took the whole land in one campaign!
Rejoice, thou who fulfilled the word spoken by Moses!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 7
When thy days were full and thou wast old and stricken in years, thou gathered all the tribes to Shechem and set before them blessing and cursing, life and death. And the people answered, “The Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey.” Therefore we cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 7
Thou saidst, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” and took a great stone and set it up under an oak by the sanctuary of the Lord as a witness. Wherefore we cry:Rejoice, thou who charged Israel to put away strange gods!
Rejoice, thou who renewed the covenant at Shechem!
Rejoice, thou who set up the stone of witness!
Rejoice, thou who said, “Ye cannot serve the Lord,” yet the people vowed fidelity!
Rejoice, thou who served the Lord all thy days!
Rejoice, thou who wast buried in Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 8
Thou wast a burning and shining lamp of obedience in the midst of a crooked generation, for thou didst neither turn aside from the Law of God to the right hand nor to the left. Beholding thy steadfastness, we cry with compunction: Alleluia!

Ikos 8
All the kings of the Amorites and Canaanites gathered together against thee, yet the Lord delivered them into thy hand. Thou didst smite them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroy them, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded. Therefore we cry:Rejoice, thou who didst conquer thirty-one kings!
Rejoice, thou who left none remaining to breathe!
Rejoice, thou who smotest Hazor and burned it with fire!
Rejoice, thou who hanged the king of Ai upon a tree until eventide!
Rejoice, thou who executed the ban of the Lord without mercy!
Rejoice, thou who fulfilled all that Moses commanded thee!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 9
When the Gibeonites deceived thee with moldy bread and old wineskins, thou madest a league with them and sware unto them by the Lord God of Israel. Though deceived by men, thou didst keep thine oath faithfully, teaching us the fear of God; wherefore we sing: Alleluia!

Ikos 9
Thou madest the Gibeonites hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord unto this day. Thus even deceit was turned to the service of the sanctuary. Therefore we praise thee:Rejoice, thou who wast deceived yet keptest thine oath!
Rejoice, thou who didst not break the covenant sworn by the Lord!
Rejoice, thou who turned the curse of the Gibeonites into blessing!
Rejoice, thou who madest servants for the house of God!
Rejoice, thou who showed mercy even to the crafty!
Rejoice, thou who taught us that the oath of God is inviolable!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 10
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh built a great altar by Jordan, and all Israel gathered against them to war. But when they explained that it was a witness and not for sacrifice, war was turned into peace, and we cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 10
Thou didst send Phinehas the priest and ten princes to inquire of the transgression, and wisdom prevailed over wrath. Thus thou didst preserve the unity of Israel, and we sing unto thee:Rejoice, thou who sought understanding before the sword!
Rejoice, thou who prevented brother from rising against brother!
Rejoice, thou who accepted the altar of witness!
Rejoice, thou who called it Ed, “Witness,” unto that day!
Rejoice, thou who kept the twelve tribes in one accord!
Rejoice, thou who loved peace above hasty vengeance!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 11
In thy old age thou didst divide the land by lot unto the tribes, giving every man his inheritance according to the word of the Lord. Thou didst not forget Caleb, who followed the Lord fully, nor the daughters of Zelophehad, and we cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 11
Thou gavest Hebron unto Caleb, and the cities of refuge were appointed, that the manslayer might flee thither. Justice and mercy were established in the land through thy righteous judgment:Rejoice, thou who divided the land with equity!
Rejoice, thou who gave Hebron to faithful Caleb!
Rejoice, thou who appointed the six cities of refuge!
Rejoice, thou who upheld the cause of the fatherless!
Rejoice, thou who honored the inheritance of daughters!
Rejoice, thou who fulfilled every word the Lord spake by Moses!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 12
Beholding the people prone to serve the Baals and Ashtaroth after thy departure, thou didst warn them with tears: “Ye cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God.” Yet they vowed fidelity, and thou madest a covenant with them that day. Wherefore we cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 12
Thou didst set before the people the blessing and the curse, and they chose life. Taking a great stone as witness, thou saidst, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us.” Therefore we cry aloud:Rejoice, thou who foresaw the backsliding of Israel!
Rejoice, thou who wept over the future apostasy!
Rejoice, thou who nevertheless renewed the covenant!
Rejoice, thou who set up the stone beneath the oak in Shechem!
Rejoice, thou who recorded these words in the Book of the Law!
Rejoice, thou who departed this life full of days and honor!
Rejoice, O Joshua, faithful successor of Moses and conqueror by the power of God!

Kontakion 13
To thee, O holy and righteous Joshua, foretype of Christ our true Saviour, who leadest Thy people through the Jordan of death into the Promised Land of the Resurrection: we offer this hymn of praise. As thou wast strong and courageous, make us also valiant against sin, that with thee we may ever cry to God: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

This Kontakion is repeated three times.

Prayer to the Holy Righteous Joshua, Son of Nun
O holy and righteous Joshua, faithful servant of the Most High, thou who didst succeed the great prophet Moses and lawgiver Moses, who didst lead the people of Israel across Jordan on dry ground, who didst cause the walls of Jericho to fall, and who didst command even the sun and moon to stand still: intercede for us before the Throne of God, that He may grant us courage to fight the good fight against the passions, strength to keep His commandments without turning to the right hand or to the left, and grace to enter at last into the true Promised Land, the Kingdom of Heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is the true Joshua and Saviour of our souls. Amen.

Final Prayer to the Holy Righteous Joshua, Son of Nun
O holy Joshua, son of Nun, great leader and wonderworker, who didst cause the sun to stand still and the walls of Jericho to fall, who didst divide the inheritance and establish the people in peace: stand now before the throne of the Master Christ, whom thou didst prefigure, and pray earnestly that we may be delivered from all enemies visible and invisible, from cowardice of heart and faintness of will, that, having fought the good fight as thou didst, we may enter with thee into the heavenly Canaan, where with the angels and all the saints we shall glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Source: https://archive.org/details/akathist-to-saint-joshua-the-son-of-nun