Akathist to Almighty God in the onslaught of sorrow

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Kontakion 1 Chosen Voivode and Lord, joy and gladness to Thy servants, where art Thou, all sorrow is consumed, and where Tou art not, all joy is in vain. Look upon me, a sinner, perishing in this misfortune, and with the manifestation of Thy salvation visit me who calls: My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Ikos 1   Creator of Angels and Lord of Powers, for the sake of salvation for fallen man Thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb, and afterwards spitting, reproach and blasphemous death Thou enduredst, O Word of God, for Thou art Good and also a Lover of mankind. Thinking of this, I dare to approach Thee and pray with tears:
   My Lord, Lord, my Merciful Saviour, save me who is perishing.
   My Lord, Lord, Who came not to save the righteous, but sinners, deliver me from this misfortune!
   My Lord, Lord, Who has received our ailments and suffered our illnesses, heal the diseases of my heart.
   My Lord, Lord, Who through Thy Cross gavest peace to Thy world, send down Thy peace to my troubled soul.
   My Lord, Lord, who by His death abolished our death, put an end to the wiles of the evil one against me.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 2 Having seen many images of Thy love for mankind, revealed on the sinners who were before me, durst and I to raise my eyes to Thee Who live in Heaven: have mercy on me, Lord, for I am weak, deliver me from this bitter sorrow and grant me joy and gladdness to sing to Thee: Hallelujah.

Ikos 2   Thou didst create me a rational creature, my Creator, but I, the accursed one, took rank with the senseless beasts and became like them, I angered Thy goodness, O Saviour; for this reason, Thou smotest me with this righteous weapon; that I knew and the repentant one ran to Thee, praying like this:
   My Lord, Lord, who preserved me in my youth, protect me from the enemies who attack me.
   My Lord, Lord, reinforcement of my body in my old age, strengthen me that is exahausted in spirit and body.
   My Lord, Lord, my Mentor, guide me on the path of salvation.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 3 Strong in battles, Lord, come to the aid of my weary soul and be my Intercessor from enemies visible and invisible, as my father and mother left me, my friends and my sincere ones stood far from me. But Thou, Father of the orphans and Judge of widows, be a Helper to me, helpless, who sings to Thee: Hallelujah.

Ikos 3   Having the heaven as a throne and the earth as a foot, the Terrible One, who takes away the spirits of princes, do not reject me, who am dust and ashes, but who dares to come to Thee, Omnipresent and Omniscient, so to verbalize:
   My Lord, Lord, raise up Thy power and come to save me from the hand of the mighty and those who offend me.
   My Lord, Lord, Whom everyone fears and trembles, have mercy on me, for fear and trembling came upon me and the mortal darkness covered me for the sake of my sins.
   My Lord, Lord, Who is clothed with light like a robe, enlighten me, darkened by the sorrows of my everyday life.
   My Lord, Lord, Who stretches out the sky like a skin, extend to me the cover of Thine intercession.
   My Lord, Lord, grant Thy peace to my humble soul.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 4 Being drowned by the storm of this multi-rebellious life, I stretch out my hands to Thee, O Word of God: just as Thou savedst Peter from drowning, so stretch out Thy strong hand to me and deliver me from this misfortune, so that with joy and a grateful heart I cry out to Thee: Hallelujah.

Ikos 4   I heard, O Lord, Thy sweet voice, as Thou saidst: "Call Me in the day of thy tribulation, and I will take thee out, and thou wilt glorify Me," and from the depths of my despair I dare to approach Thee, saying:
   My Lord, Lord, I have sinned against Heaven and before Thee, accept me as Thou acceptedst the prodigal son.
   My Lord, Lord, Who justified the publican more than the Pharisee, do not enter into judgement with Thy servant, for everyone who lives will not be justified before Thee.
   My Lord, Lord, Mentor of wisdom, instruct me, Thy servant.
   My Lord, Lord, Giver of meaning, give me meaning, so that I may flee the intricacies and crafty slander of those who hate me.
   My Lord, Lord, Who looks upon the humble, see and my sorrow and my labour, and show me Thy mercy.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 5 Through the God-exuded Blood of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, I have reconciled myself to Thee, Heavenly Father, but again, like a dog to its vomit, I have returned to sin, for this reason Thou art punishing me with this righteous and cruel misfortune. But hear me, O Lord my God, on this day of sorrow, show me Thy mercy and salvation and let me, abiding in punishment, continually cry out to Thee: Hallelujah.

Ikos 5   Seeing the prophet David of the prophet Nathan, reproaching him for what he had done, he came to his senses and confessed his sin, and said: "I sinned against the Lord, and the Lord heard me, and took away my sins." But I, the accursed one, having sinned more than him, did not at all gain the fruit of repentance; for this reason these evil things came against me. But be merciful to me, who prays like this:
   My Lord, Lord, strengthen me with strength from above, so that I will not fall under the weight of this sorrow.
   My Lord, Lord, Who has looked upon Hezekiah's tears mercifully, look with the eye of Thy heart's mercy and on the outpouring of my tears before Thee.
   My Lord, Lord, who heard the groanings of Manasseh, hear my heartfelt groaning.
   My Lord, Lord, living in the highest and looking upon the humble, look upon me, a sinner.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 6 The preacher of repentance, Thy Forerunner, O Word of God, repeatedly cries out to my conscience, that I may repent from my evil deeds; but I, the damned one, neglected this. In this way, Thy righteous anger befell me, for troubles and sorrows attacked me, a sinner; but, Lord God, my Saviour, even before Thou wilt visit me, give me time, so that I cry for my evil deeds and cry out to Thee: Hallelujah.

Ikos 6   In my sorrow, Thy comforting word, my Saviour, shone forth, which Thou spokest: "Ask and it will be given to you." Immediately escaping the snares of despair, with hope in Thy love for mankind, I ran to Thee, praying thus:
   My Lord, Lord, my Consolation, comfort me, abiding in the sorrow.
   My Lord, Lord, my Protector, protect me from those who rise up against me.
   My Lord, Lord, my Help, help me, for my soul is exhausted from this sorrow.
   My Lord, Lord, Pre-eternal Memory, grant me to always have Thy benefactions in my memory and never despair of Thy mercy.
   My Lord, Lord, my Firmness, affirm me to ask for Thy help without embarrassment.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 7 The wicked King Nebuchadnezzar, who sometimes wanted to destroy the youths, commanded that they be cast into a fiery furnace; but Thou, Heavenly Father, sentest Thine Angel to cool the burning flame. Send and now, Lord, Thy consolation to Thy servant and save me for the sake of Thy mercy. For although I sinned, I did not depart from Thee, and I worship Thee, the One and True God, singing: Hallelujah.

Ikos 7   Thou art wondrously glorified in Pharaoh and in all his host, O God of Israel: for Thou didst look upon the bitterness of Thy people, and Thou didst hear their cry. Hear my prayer too and save me as I cry out to Thee:
   My Lord, Lord, Who delivered Thy people from the hand of their enemies, take me also from the hand of those who hate me.
   My Lord, Lord, Who brought forth Thy chosen ones from the land of Egypt, deliver my soul from this sorrow.
   My Lord, Lord, Who has crushed warfares, crush the evil slander of those who think evil to me.
   My Lord, Lord, Who drowned the chosen horsemen in the Red Sea, drown the plenty of my iniquities in the sea of Thy heart's mercy.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 8 I have created myself removed of Thy mercy, Heavenly Father, by evil deeds I have distanced myself from Thee and become enslaved to the vanity of this world. In the same way, I am consumed by fierce grief, drowning in the deep wilds of despair; but Thou, Who art Merciful and Lover of Mankind, accept me, the lost one, and save me from this misfortune, crying out to Thee: Hallelujah.

Ikos 8   All defiled by the uncleanness of sin, immersed in the abyss of evil, I lift my eyes to Thee, Who livest in Heaven; hear my lamentable cry:
   My Lord, Lord, Who enlightened the day with the light of the sun, enlighten my soul, darkened by the darkness of the vanities of this world.
   My Lord, Lord, Most Good Comforter, fill my sinful soul with Divine consolation.
   My Lord, Lord, by Whose word the heavens were established, establish me in the confession of Thy holy name.
   My Lord, Lord, carried on the Cherubim and sung by the Seraphim, accept from me, a sinner, the prayer offered to Thee.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 9 Source and Giver of all mercy, O Most Good Comforter, instruct me to speak what is worthy before Thee; my mind, troubled by the sadness of this world, and my soul, darkened by passions, fill with Thy Divine consolation, so that I may sing to Thee with joy: Hallelujah.

Ikos 9   Versatile speakers cannot express the multitude of Thy goodness and love for the human race, Son of God: for Thou humbledst Thyself to the form of a servant. Do not therefore reject and me, who sins without number, nevertheless I stand before Thee with fear and pray like this:
   My Lord, Lord, Good Shepherd, Who laid down Thy soul for the sheep, deliver me, a lost lamb, from the jaws of the wolf corrupting the soul, gaping to devour me.
   My Lord, Lord, Who was mocked for our sake, and murdered, and nailed to the Cross, save me for the sake of Thy suffering from the abuses of visible and invisible enemies.
   My Lord, Lord, Sinless, imputed with the wicked, take me out of the hands of those who hate me.
   My Lord, Lord, by Whose wounds we have all been healed, heal my heart, wounded by grief.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 10 Wanting to save Thy chosen Israel from the violence of Egypt, Thou calledst Moses, Thy servant, from the burning bush, and Thou saidst unto him: "Seeing, I saw the bitterness of My people who are in Egypt, and I heard their cry." Look now, Lord, at my bitterness and heal the disease of my heart, so that I cry out to Thee with gratitude: Hallelujah.

Ikos 10   O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, show mercy to me, Thy servant, and visit my soul immersed in sadness and strengthen me, so praying to Thee:
   My Lord, Lord, Who taught the apostles to speak in other languages, teach me Thy fear.
   My Lord, Lord, Who fulfilled the boldness of the martyrs before the tormentors, grant me to boldly stand against sin, the world and the devil.
   My Lord, Lord, Holy Sanctifier of Thy faithful ones, sanctify my soul, that it may be worthy to be called Thy house. My Lord, Lord, Light and Giver of light, enlighten me, darkened by the darkness of sorrow.
   My Lord, Lord, Treasury of the good, do not deprive me of the gifts of Thy goodness.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 11 Do not despise the all-touched singing of the one who brings up to Thee and the contrite-hearted one who prays to Thee, O Most Good Master; turn away Thy countenance from my sins, but do not turn Thy cuntenance away from Thy servant, for as I grieve, soon hear me singing to Thee: Hallelujah.

Ikos 11   True Light, Christ God, enlighten my soul, darkened by passions, with the light of Thy grace, so that I pray to Thee with reverence, verbalizing:
   My Lord, Lord, do not destroy me, the accursed one, who has no correction in life, but who has durst to stand before Thee.
   My Lord, Lord, Life-Giving Warmth, warm me as I disappear in this sorrow.
   My Lord, Lord, radiance of the glory of the Father, illuminate me with the light of Thine intercession.
   My Lord, Lord, Who creates spirits to be His Angels and fiery flames as His servants, send Thine Angel, who will keep me from all evil.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 12 For the sake of goodness and love for the human race, Heavenly Father, Thou sentest Thine Only Begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who appeared on earth and lived with men, and finally, being Sinless, was imputed with the lawless, and with His Blood renewed our nature corrupted by sin, and taught the whole world to sing: Hallelujah.

Ikos 12   Singing Thine ineffable love for mankind, Christ God, because for the sake of our salvation Thou deignedst to endure the Cross and death, I also confess Thy justice, for through truth and judgement Thou broughtest this sorrow upon me, for the sake of my sins; but Thou, Who hast come to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance, hear me, the most sinful of all, who prays to Thee like this:
   My Lord, Lord, Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, take from me the heavy burden of my sins.
   My Lord, Lord, like a silent Lamb led to the slaughter, teach me to endure the evil things, coming upon me, without grumbling.
   My Lord, Lord, Thou Who tore to pieces Adam's handwriting, tear apart the handwriting of my countless sins.
   My Lord, Lord, Who accepted the repentance of the robber, accept and my repentance of a sinner.
   My Lord, Lord, Who raised the dead, resurrect my soul, mortified by sins.
   My Lord, Lord, Rising of the fallen, raise up me too, the fallen one.
   My Lord, Lord, my Joy, grant me that I may rejoice in Thy mercy.

Kontakion 13 O Most Merciful and All-Good Lord my God, Defender of the offended and Hope of the hopeless, look with the eye of Thy mercy on my bitterness and sorrow, and save me for the sake of Thy mercy, singing unto Thee: Hallelujah.

This kontakion is read three times. Then read:

Prayer Lord, save me, who is perishing! Behold, my ship is in distress from the temptation of the waves of life and is near drowning; but Thou, as Merciful God and compassionate for our weaknesses, with Thy power omnipotently forbid the agitation of disasters that want to plunge me and bring me down into the depths of evil; and let there be silence, for the winds and the sea obey Thee. Amen.

A comment: God's care about His faithful servants in sorrows