Akathist "Glory to God for everything"

Kontakion 1 Imperishable King of the ages, containing in Thy right hand all the ways of human life by the power of Thy saving Providence, we thank Thee for all Thy known and hidden benefactions, for earthly life and for the heavenly joys of Thy Kingdom of the future. And further stretch out Thy mercies to us, who sing: Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Ikos 1 I was born into the world as the most helpless child, but Thine Angel spread its bright wings, guarding my cradle. Since then, Thy love has been shining on all my paths, miraculously guiding me to the light of eternity. The gloriously generous gifts of Thy Providence have been revealed from the first day until now. I thank and cry out with all who have known Thee:
Glory to Thee, Who called me to life. Glory to Thee, Who showed me the beauty of the universe. Glory to Thee, Who opened heaven and earth before me as an eternal book of wisdom. Glory to Thine eternity in the midst of the temporary world. Glory to Thee for Thy secret and manifest mercies. Glory to Thee for every breath of my sadness. Glory to Thee for every step of life, for every moment of joy. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 2 Lord, how good it is to be a guest with Thee: a fragrant wind, mountains stretching into the sky, waters like endless mirrors reflecting the gold of the rays and the lightness of the clouds. All nature whispers mysteriously, all is full of affection, and birds and beasts bear the seal of Thy love. Blessed is mother earth with her fleeting beauty, awakening longing for the eternal homeland, where in incorruptible beauty sounds: Alleluia!

Ikos 2 Thou broughtst me into this life, as if into an enchanting paradise. We saw the sky like a deep blue bowl, in the azure of which the birds were tinkling, we heard the soothing noise of the forest and the mellifluous music of the waters, we ate fragrant sweet fruits and odorous honey. It is good with Thee on earth, joyful to be Thy guest.
Glory to Thee for the feast of life. Glory to Thee for the fragrance of lilies of the valley and roses. Glory to Thee for the sweet variety of berries and fruits. Glory to Thee for the diamond radiance of the morning dew. Glory to Thee for the smile of bright awakening. Glory to Thee for earthly life, a harbinger of heavenly one. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 3 Every flower smells with the power of the Holy Spirit, a quiet breath of aroma, tenderness of colour, the beauty of the Great in the small. Praise and honour to the life-giving God, stretching the meadows like a flowering carpet, crowning the fields with gold of ears and azure of cornflowers, and souls with the joy of contemplation. Rejoice and sing to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 3 How beautiful art Thou in the triumph of spring, when all creation resurrects and joyfully cries out to Thee in a thousand ways: Thou art the source of life, Thou art the conqueror of death. In the light of the moon and the song of the nightingale, valleys and forests stand in their snow-white wedding dresses. The whole earth is Thy bride, she is waiting for the Imperishable Bridegroom. If Thou clothest the grass in this way, then how wilt Thou transform us into the future age of resurrection, how our bodies will be enlightened, how our souls will shine!
Glory to Thee, Who has brought out of the darkness of the earth a variety of colours, tastes and aromas. Glory to Thee for the hospitality and affection of all nature. Glory to Thee for surrounding us with thousands of Thy creatures. Glory to Thee for the depth of Thy mind, imprinted throughout the world. Glory to Thee, I reverently kiss the traces of Thine invisible foot. Glory to Thee, Who lit ahead the bright light of eternal life. Glory to Thee for the hope of immortal ideal imperishable beauty. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 4 How Thou delightest those who think about Thee, how life-giving is Thy holy Word, softer than oil and sweeter than honeycombs are conversations with Thee. Prayer to Thee gives wings and life; with what trembling the heart is filled, and how majestic and reasonable then nature and all life become! Where there art not Thou, there is emptiness. Where Thou art, there is the wealth of the soul, there the song flows like a living stream: Alleluia!

Ikos 4 When sunset descends on the earth, when the peace of night sleep and the silence of the fading day reign, I see Thy chamber under the image of shining chambers and cloudy vestibules of dawn. Fire and purple, gold and azure prophetically speak of the inexpressible beauty of Thy villages, they solemnly call: let us go to the Father!
Glory to Thee in the quiet hour of the evening. Glory to Thee, Who poured out great peace to the world. Glory to Thee for the farewell ray of the setting sun. Glory to Thee for the rest of gracious sleep. Glory to Thee for Thy goodness in darkness, when the whole world is far away. Glory to Thee for the tender prayers of a touched soul. Glory to Thee for the promised awakening to the joy of the eternal non-evening day. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 5 The storms of life are not terrible for those who have the lamp of Thy fire shining in their hearts. All around there are bad weather and darkness, horror and the howling of the wind. And in their souls there is silence and light: Christ is there! And the heart sings: Alleluia!

Ikos 5 I see Thy sky shining with stars. Oh, how rich Thou art, how much light Thou hast! Eternity looks at me with rays of distant luminaries, I am so small and insignificant, but the Lord is with me, His loving right hand keeps me everywhere.
Glory to Thee for unceasing concerns for me. Glory to Thee for providential meetings with people. Glory to Thee for the love of relatives, for the devotion of friends. Glory to Thee for the gentleness of the animals that serve me. Glory to Thee for the bright moments of my life. Glory to Thee for the clear joys of the heart. Glory to Thee for the happiness of living, moving and contemplating. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 6 How great and close Thou art in the powerful movement of a thunderstorm, how Thy mighty hand is visible in the bends of dazzling lightnings, Thy greatness is marvelous. The voice of the Lord is over the fields and in the noise of the forests, the voice of the Lord is in the nativity of thunders and rains, the voice of the Lord is over many waters. Praise be to Thee in the roar of the fire-breathing mountains. Thou shakest the ground like clothes. Thou raisest the waves of the sea to the sky. Praise be to the One Who humbles human pride, Who extorts a repentant cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 6 Like lightning, when it illuminates the halls of the feast, then after it the lights of the lamps seem miserable, so Thou suddenly shonest in my soul during the most powerful joys of life. And after Thy lightning-fast light, how colourless, dark, ghostly they seemed. The soul was chasing Thee. Glory to Thee, O edge and limit of the highest human dream.
Glory to Thee for our unquenchable thirst for communion with God. Glory to Thee, Who breathed into us dissatisfaction with earthly things. Glory to Thee, Who has clothed us with Thy subtlest rays. Glory to Thee, Who crushed the power of the spirits of darkness, Who doomed all evil to destruction. Glory to Thee for Thy revelations, for the happiness of feeling Thee and living with Thee. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 7 In a marvelous combination of sounds, Thy call is heard. Thou openest to us the thresholds of the coming paradise and the melodiousness of singing in harmonious tones, in the height of musical colours, in the brilliance of artistic creativity. Everything truly beautiful carries the soul to Thee with a mightycall, makes it sing enthusiastically: Alleluia!

Ikos 7 By the influx of the Holy Spirit Thou illuminatest the thoughts of artists, poets, and scientific genii. By the power of the Superconsciousness, they prophetically comprehend Thy laws, revealing to us the abyss of Thy creative wisdom. Their deeds involuntarily speak of Thee: oh, how great Thou art in Thy creatures, oh, how great Thou art in man.
Glory to Thee, Who has revealed inconceivable power in the laws of the universe. Glory to Thee, all nature is full of the laws of Thine existence. Glory to Thee for all that has been revealed to us by Thy goodness. Glory to Thee for that which Thou hast hidden according to Thy wisdom. Glory to Thee for the genius of the human mind. Glory to Thee for the life-giving power of labour. Glory to Thee for the fiery tongues of inspiration. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 8 How near Thou art in the days of sickness, Thou Thyself visitest the sick, Thou Thyself bowest down at the bed of suffering, and the heart converses with Thee. Thou illuminatest the soul with peace during times of grave sorrows and sufferings, Thou consolest, Thou art love that tests and saves, We sing the song to Thee: Alleluia!

Ikos 8 When I consciously called on Thee for the first time as a child, Thou fulfilledst my prayer, and reverent peace dawned on my soul. Then I realized that Thou art good and blessed are those who resort to Thee. I began to call on Thee again and again, and now I call:
Glory to Thee, Who satisfies my desires with good things. Glory to Thee, Who watches over me day and night. Glory to Thee, Who heals griefs and losses with the healing course of time. Glory to Thee, with Thee there are no hopeless losses. Thou givest everyone eternal life. Glory to Thee, Thou bestowedst immortality on everything good and lofty, Thou promisedst the desired meeting with those who died. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 9 Why does all nature smile during holidays? Why, then, does a wondrous lightness spread in the heart, incomparable to anything on earth, and why does the very air of the altar and temple become luminous? This is the breath of Thy grace, this is a reflection of the Light of Tabor; then both heaven and earth sing laudatory: Alleluia!

Ikos 9 When Thou inspiredst me to serve my neighbours, and illuminedst my soul with humility, then one of Thy countless rays fell on my heart, and it became luminous, like iron on fire. I saw Thy mysterious, elusive Countenance.
Glory to Thee, Who has transformed our lives with good deeds. Glory to Thee, Who imprinted unspeakable sweetness in every Thy commandment. Glory to Thee, clearly dwelling where mercy is fragrant. Glory to Thee, Who sends us failures and sorrows, so that we are sensitive to the sufferings of others. Glory to Thee, Who placed a great reward in the self-value of goodness. Glory to Thee, accepting the high impulse. Glory to Thee, Who exalted love above everything earthly and heavenly. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 10 What has been shattered into dust cannot be restored, but Thou restorest those whose conscience has been corrupted, Thou returnest the former beauty to souls that have hopelessly lost it. With Thee there is nothing irreparable. Thou art all love. Thou art the Creator and Restorer. We praise Thee with the song: Alleluia!

Ikos 10 My God, knowing the falling away of the proud angel Morningstar, save me by the power of grace, do not let me fall away from Thee, do not let me doubt Thee. Sharpen my hearing so that in all the moments of my life I hear Thy mysterious voice and cry out to Thee, the omnipresent:
Glory to Thee for the providential coincidence of circumstances. Glory to Thee for grace-filled forebodings. Glory to Thee for the indication of the secret voice. Glory to Thee for revelations in dreams and in reality. Glory to Thee, who destroys our useless designs. Glory to Thee, Who through suffering sobers us from the intoxication of passions. Glory to Thee, Who savingly humbles the pride of the heart. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 11 Through the icy chain of centuries I feel the warmth of Thy Divine breath, I hear the trickling blood. Thou art already close, part of the time has dissipated. I see Thy Cross — it is for the sake of me. My spirit is in the dust before the Cross: here is the triumph of love and Salvation, here praise does not cease forever: Alleluia!

Ikos 11 Blessed is he who tastes the supper in Thy Kingdom, but Thou hast already shared this blessedness with me on earth. How many times hast Thou stretched out Thy Body and Blood to me with Thy divine right hand, and I, a great sinner, accepted this shrine and felt Thy love, inexpressible, supernatural.
Glory to Thee for the incomprehensible life-giving power of grace. Glory to Thee, Who raised Thy Church as a quiet haven for a tormented world. Glory to Thee, Who revives us with the life-giving waters of baptism. Glory to Thee, Thou returnest to the penitent the purity of immaculate lilies. Glory to Thee, inexhaustible abyss of forgiveness. Glory to Thee for the chalice of life, for the bread of eternal joy. Glory to Thee, Who raised us to heaven. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 12 I have seen many times the reflection of Thy glory on the faces of those who died. With what unearthly beauty and joy they shone, how airy, immaterial were their features, it was a triumph of achieved happiness, peace; by silence they called to Thee. At the hour of my death, enlighten and my soul, calling: Alleluia!

Ikos 12 What is my praise before Thee! I have not heard the singing of the Cherubim, this is the lot of high souls, but I know how nature praises Thee. I contemplated in the winter how in the lunar silence the whole earth, clothed in a white robe, shining with diamonds of snow, silently prayed to Thee. I saw how the rising sun rejoiced in Thee and the choirs of birds thundered glory. I heard how mysteriously the forest rustles about Thee, the winds sing, the waters murmur, how the choirs of luminaries preach about Thee with their harmonious movement in infinite space. What is my praise! Nature is obedient, but I am not, while I live, I see Thy love, I want to give thanks, pray and cry out:
Glory to Thee, Who showed us the light. Glory to Thee, Who loved us with a deep, immeasurable, divine love. Glory to Thee, overshadowing us with light, hosts of Angels and saints. Glory to Thee, All-Holy Father, Who reserved for us Thy Kingdom. Glory to Thee, Son the Redeemer, who opened the way to salvation for us. Glory to Thee, Holy Spirit, Life-Giving Sun of the future age. Glory to Thee for everything, O Divine Trinity, All-good. Glory to Thee, O God, forever.

Kontakion 13 O All-Good and Life-Giving Trinity! Accept thanksgiving for all Thy mercy and show us worthy of Thy benefactions, so that, having multiplied the talents entrusted to us, we may enter into the eternal joy of the Lord with victorious praise: Alleluia!

This kontakion is read three times. Then read: