Orthodox Reflections

For all Akathists published on our site, click here. This Akathist was recently translated into English by Maxim, who kindly asks all Orthodox Christians to keep him in their prayers for his repentance and same for his grandfather who is gravely ill.

Feast Day – August 20

Kontakion 1

To him who was born of the womb of the barren woman, who then bore the coveted fruits of faith and served God with humility and obedience, we lift up words of praise to Saint Samuel the Prophet. And you, Holy Saint, the child promised to the Lord, who grew up like a blessed vine, nourished by the grapes of holy words, pray for us to God, for we cry out to you: Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us with God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Ikos 1

God sent light to earth through your birth, Holy Samuel, and your voice resounded like the crystal song of the Seraphim, for you became the nightingale of the Holy Spirit and resembled the Angels through your pure life, and we ask you to receive our praises:

Rejoice, miracle of the barren womb that bore you;

Rejoice, fruit of your mother’s prayer;

Rejoice, offspring of sighs and fervent tears;

Rejoice, gift of joy through which your family multiplied;

Rejoice, citizen of the Kingdom of God;

Rejoice, serving the Lord all the days of your life;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 2

Born of faithful parents and blessed by the priest Eli, your mother, the Holy Prophetess Anna, took you to the temple of the Lord at the age of three, dedicating you there to priestly service and thus fulfilling her promise to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

You were joyfully received by the priest Eli, the high priest of the temple in Shiloh, who entered the Holy of Holies and offered burnt offerings to appease the wrath of the Lord, and you grew up learning the mysteries of God’s service:

Rejoice, for you were nourished with the knowledge of God’s holiness;

Rejoice, for you served alongside Eli, who loved you dearly;

Rejoice, for your mother clothed you in priestly garments of wool;

Rejoice, for God’s gift was seen in you;

Rejoice, for your mother Hannah later gave birth to sons and daughters;

Rejoice, for the Lord’s blessing was upon your house;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 3

You grew not only in body but also in understanding, Saint Samuel, being pleasing to God and men, but the priest Eli had bitterness because his sons Hophni and Phinehas were wicked and did not keep the priestly duties even though they followed their father in serving at the temple: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

God was angry not only with the wicked sons but also with Eli, their father, because he did not punish them with appropriate punishments that would lead them to repentance. God sent a certain prophet to Eli to tell him of his mistake and to correct himself, but because Eli would not listen, one night God spoke to you, Holy Samuel, and we call you thus:

Rejoice, for you were twelve years old;

Rejoice, for God called you at night;

Rejoice, for you understood with great difficulty that He was speaking to you;

Rejoice, for He told you what was to come: the beginning and end of Eli’s house;

Rejoice, for God promised to punish Eli’s family forever;

Rejoice, for He was angry at the unpunished sins of his sons;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 4

When God raised up the Philistines to war against the Jews, there was a great battle against their people, because not only had the priests strayed from pure service, but also the people indulged in iniquity and began to worship idols, without repenting of their sins and without turning to righteousness: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

Fighting the Philistines and seeing that they were losing, the Jews brought the Ark of the Covenant onto the battlefield, which they had taken from the temple in Shiloh, carried on the shoulders of Eli’s two sons, the priests Hophni and Phinehas, believing that this would bring them victory:

Rejoice, for by the will of God, the Philistines have defeated the Jews again;

Rejoice, for they have captured the Ark of the Covenant;

Rejoice, for where God’s vengeance reaches, it spares not even holiness;

Rejoice, for Eli’s two sons have met their end by the sword;

Rejoice, for the unclean deeds of the servants of the altar have come to an end;

Rejoice, for having heard Eli what happened to his sons, he fell and broke his back and died;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 5

Taking the Ark of the Covenant to their land, to the great city of Azot, the Philistines danced and boasted that they had enslaved the God of Israel, but locking it overnight in the temple of the unclean god Dagon, they found the demon destroyed the next day, for God never sleeps: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

God sent a plague and an invasion of mice upon the Philistines, and knowing that the God of the Jews was punishing them, they sent back the Ark of the Covenant in fear, and you, Holy Samuel, rejoiced that the Lord had heard your prayers:

Rejoice, for the Jews were in bondage to the Philistines for twenty years;

Rejoice, for God later raised you up as His prophet;

Rejoice, for you were given to preach repentance as a sacrifice for deliverance from bondage;

Rejoice, for the Jews rejected the foreign gods of Baal;

Rejoice, for they had you as prophet and priest of God;

Rejoice, for you were Judge and righteous man;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 6

You gathered a great assembly in the city of Masifat, Holy Samuel, to offer communal prayer to God, and when all the Jews came, the people repented, for you all fasted, confessed your sins, and said, “We have sinned before the Lord!” And you, Holy One, as a priest, offered sacrifice to God for the forgiveness of their sins: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

Hearing about the great gathering of the Jews and believing that they were preparing for war against them, the Philistines suddenly attacked them with great force, wanting to completely destroy the tribe of Israel:

Rejoice, for you prayed deeply to the Lord;

Rejoice, for God thundered upon the Philistines on that day;

Rejoice, for He sent forth terrifying thunder and lightning;

Rejoice, for the Philistines were troubled with fear;

Rejoice, for the Jews pursued them and then defeated them in battle;

Rejoice, for all the captive cities of Israel were taken back;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 7

When peace was made among the people, You gave thanks to the Lord for His mercy, Holy Prophet, and served Him faithfully all your days, guiding the Jews, inspecting the cities, correcting where necessary, judging righteously and without being bribed, for you received no gifts from anyone, nor did you judge by appearances: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

Having judged Israel for many years, you grew old and appointed your sons, Joel and Avia, to be priests and judges of the people. But they became corrupt with greed and began to take gifts from those they judged, judging for payment and unjustly, dishonoring the women who went to pray at the temple, and we praise you thus:

Rejoice, for the men came to you with their complaints;

Rejoice, for they asked for a King to be appointed in place of the priests who judged;

Rejoice, for the Lord gave them what their hearts desired;

Rejoice, for you prophesied that the earthly king would enslave them;

Rejoice, for you told them that God would not hear their complaints;

Rejoice, for their pain will be the punishment for their disobedience;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 8

Walking through the cities, Holy Samuel, you found the one chosen by God to reign over the people of Israel, a young man named Saul from the tribe of Benjamin, handsome in stature and good, and you anointed him with oil poured on his head to reign over the Lord’s peoples and save them from the hands of their surrounding enemies: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

The life of the Jews settled according to their request, Saul began to reign as God’s anointed and went before all, and you, Holy Samuel, withdrew from judging but remained only a priest at the temple, where you prayed unceasingly to the Lord for the people to forgive their sins:

Rejoice, for Saul began to rebel and anger God;

Rejoice, for he touched the priestly order by offering sacrifices without you, Holy One;

Rejoice, for he did not obey the Lord’s command to utterly destroy the Amalekites;

Rejoice, for he spared Agag, king of the Amalekites;

Rejoice, for you slew Agag with the sword, fulfilling the whole command;

Rejoice, for obedience is more pleasing to God than any sacrifice;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 9

Rebuking Saul, who tore your garment, you prophesied that God would take the kingdom from his hand and give it to one better than him, and then the Lord sent you to Bethlehem to Jesse, telling you that among his sons you would find the one worthy of the kingdom: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

Finding David to be the one chosen by God, the youngest son of Jesse, you anointed him with oil in the midst of his brothers and named him king over the people of God, and the Spirit of the Lord flew over David from that day onward, and we pray:

Rejoice, for Saul reigned for a while longer;

Rejoice, for David defeated Goliath;

Rejoice, for the Lord took him from tending sheep and raised him to the throne of the kingdom;

Rejoice, for his worthiness was great;

Rejoice, for Saul ended his reign by the sword;

Rejoice, for you were the last judge of Israel;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 10

You fell asleep in peace in your old age, Saint Samuel, and all the people gathered to mourn you and bury you in your house in Armatem, knowing you to be a faithful prophet and one who feared the Word of the Lord: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

Beloved of the Lord, who raised up the kingdom and anointed the first two kings of Israel, you had favor before God because you never broke His law, and we honor you:

Rejoice, for the Lord spoke through you;

Rejoice, for you were the trumpet of the Holy Spirit;

Rejoice, for your mind was a vessel of the divine Word;

Rejoice, for your heart was humbled in the will of God;

Rejoice, for your prayers had great power;

Rejoice, for you anointed kings on the throne chosen by the Most High;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 11

Through your prayers you called upon the Lord who is mighty in battle when you were surrounded by enemies, and He thundered from heaven and made His voice heard with a loud voice. Help us too, for our enemies have trampled on our honor and plundered the wombs of our women, stealing our children and God’s gifts to us, and save us from destruction: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

You destroyed the rulers of Tyre and all the Philistine nobles who plotted death against God’s people, Holy Samuel. We too are children of the Lord, and we call upon you to win the great battle that the devil has waged against us, and we praise you with voices of thanksgiving:

Rejoice, for you give dominion to the one chosen by God;

Rejoice, for you anoint him with the blessing of holy oil;

Rejoice, for you place the true heir on the throne;

Rejoice, for you break all the spells and curses of the firstborn;

Rejoice, for you take away dominion from the thieves of the inheritance and give it to the rightful heir;

Rejoice, for you stop the damage, bringing increase and fruitfulness to the womb;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 12

As long as you lived, you took nothing from the possessions of others, nor did you revile anyone, prophesying the voice of the Lord who called for repentance, raising your voice in prayer to God for truth and justice: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

Saul, the reckless king who disregarded the command of the Lord proclaimed through you, who after your death persecuted David, the anointed of God, seeking his destruction, Saul, who killed the priests and went to the witch who raised the dead with the help of the devil, asked to see your spirit as if he were talking to a dead person, Holy Samuel, to tell him what to do, but instead he surrendered himself completely to the unclean one, and God’s punishment fell upon him:

Rejoice, for you protect us from sorcerers who call upon the dead;

Rejoice, for this is the work of darkness—keep us from it;

Rejoice, for you give us faith only in the Word of God;

Rejoice, for you support us in placing our hope only in the Will of the Lord;

Rejoice, most true prophet and judge who loves justice;

Rejoice, divine priest;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 13

Holy Prophet Samuel, we pray that you anoint our heads with the gift of heavenly oil, so that through this the Grace of the Holy Spirit may descend upon us and we may receive the dominion of the kingdom that God has ordained for us; through your prayers, seat us on our throne, help us to share in the joy of childbirth, to overcome the curse of the firstborn, that our race may live forever, free us from harm and all the devilish works of sorcerers who raise the dead and all devilish forces, so that we may live in peace and happiness with those in our house and worship the Lord God forever: Alleluia! (This Kontakion is said 3 times).

Ikos 1

God sent light to earth through your birth, Holy Samuel, and your voice resounded like the crystal song of the Seraphim, for you became the nightingale of the Holy Spirit and resembled the Angels through your pure life, and we ask you to receive our praises:

Rejoice, miracle of the barren womb that bore you;

Rejoice, fruit of your mother’s prayer;

Rejoice, offspring of sighs and fervent tears;

Rejoice, gift of joy through which your family multiplied;

Rejoice, citizen of the Kingdom of God;

Rejoice, serving the Lord all the days of your life;

Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us before God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Kontakion 1

To him who was born of the womb of the barren woman, who then bore the coveted fruits of faith and served God with humility and obedience, we lift up words of praise to Saint Samuel the Prophet. And you, Holy Saint, the child promised to the Lord, who grew up like a blessed vine, nourished by the grapes of holy words, pray for us to God, for we cry out to you: Rejoice, Holy Prophet Samuel, interceding for us with God for the gift of the word and the power of prayer!

Prayer to Saint Samuel

Holy Prophet Samuel, you bore fruits of faith like Abraham, you shone with priesthood like Aaron, and you were a righteous judge of the people like Moses. Hear these prayers offered to you with humility.

Enlighten our minds and hearts so that we may always fulfill the commandments of God and our spiritual father, bear good fruits of repentance, and constantly examine our thoughts to cleanse them of sin. Do not let us fall into the passion of pride, and support our spiritual struggle.

Bring correction to the minds of judges to do what is right, not to seek gain or the face of the oppressed, stop lies and betrayal, reveal the truth about false witnesses, and bring justice to light.

Help us to understand the times we live in, not to be deceived by appearances, to have the vigilance not to fall into the trap of the world that weaves nets and temptations that are increasingly difficult to overcome. Give us the gift of speech so that we may speak what is useful for salvation, the gift of understanding the signs sent by God, the gift of seeing what is hidden so that mysteries may be revealed at the right time, unveil the veil of forgetfulness and all the spells and curses that prevent the fruitfulness of the womb and the mastery of wealth, and travel with us every day on the stormy sea of earthly life so that we may then rise with our souls to the much-desired Heaven, where you rejoice with the Holy Prophets, singing the glory of the Holy Trinity, now and forever and ever. Amen.

PSALM 17 (LXX)

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.

He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.

The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.

Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.

They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.

He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?

It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.

For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.

They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.

Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.

The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.

He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.

Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.

Source of the original Akathist:

https://acoperamantulmaiciidomnului.wordpress.com/2023/10/12/acatistul-sfantului-proroc-samuel-20-august/