Akathist To St Herman Of Alaska

The Akathist HymnTo St. Herman of Alaska


TROPARION TONE 4
O Blessed Father Herman of AlaskaNorth Star of Christ’s Holy Church,the light of your holy life and great deeds,guides those who follow the Orthodox Way.Together we lift high the Holy Cross,you planted firmly in America.Let all behold and glorify Jesus Christ,singing His Holy Resurrection.



FIRST KONTAKION
O Chosen Doer of Wonders, most glorious favorite of Christ,our God bearing Father Herman, Alaska’s adornment,the joy of all Orthodox in America.We sing to you, our heavenly protector and powerful intercessor
before God, these songs of praise. Cease not to pray for your children, who cry fervently to you: Rejoice our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


FIRST IKOS Father Herman, the Creator of the angelic hosts called you to proclaim the Orthodox faith in a new land and to be the founder of the monastic way in the remote lands of the north. You were sent, as was the Apostle Paul, to those sitting in darkness so that the light of Orthodoxy might illumine all the ends of the earth. We, the inhabitants of the American continents, bring you, our heavenly protector, this thanksgiving and sing you this song of praise:

Rejoice, our Father Herman, our glory, our adornment;
Rejoice, bearer of the light of the true faith to our lands;
Rejoice, ascetic glorified by God;Rejoice, most honored branch of Valaam Monastery;
Rejoice, praise and joy of the Church in America;
Rejoice, comforter and protector of all of us;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska,America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


SECOND KONTAKION In your early youth, O Venerable One, enkindled by the flame of love for the Lord, you desired to serve God and Him alone. As an offering, you dedicated your youth to God, beginning your journey from the hermitage of Valaam, where choirs of monastics sing ceaselessly to God: Alleluia.


SECOND IKOS The Most High granted you spiritual wisdom in your youth that you might know the beauty and sweetness of heaven. For this reason, the wise Igumen Nazarius, teacher of the venerable Seraphim of Sarov, taught you God’s wisdom and the Lord’s way. Therefore, the Holy Church praises you:

Rejoice, glorious Herman dedicator of your youth to Christ;
Rejoice, disciple together with Seraphim of Sarov;
Rejoice, performer of spiritual labors in glorious Valaam;
Rejoice, honored by all the brethren of Valaam Monastery;
Rejoice, student of spiritual wisdom in Valaam;
Rejoice, glorified now by the Orthodox Church;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


THIRD KONTAKION The Most High directed the divinely-wise primate of the Church in Russia, Gabriel, to send missionaries of the Orthodox Faith to Alaska. The apostolic choice fell on you, O Venerable Herman, therefore, all the people enlightened by the Light of Christ through your labors and the personal example of your life, sing to the Lord: Alleluia.


THIRD IKOS Showing great zeal not only in your spiritual labors as a novice, but also in your Apostolic fervor as you preached to a people sitting in darkness, you, O Venerable Herman, revealed the light of Christ to them with great power. Remembering your apostolic labors and your efforts to preach, with love we praise you:

Rejoice, uncomplaining giver of obedience to your spiritual
father;
Rejoice, preacher who brought the Good News from afar;
Rejoice, faithful son of Holy Russia;
Rejoice, adopted son of North America;
Rejoice, initiator of the monastic way in our land;
Rejoice, zealous preacher of the Orthodox Faith;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


FOURTH KONTAKION O Venerable Father Herman, you endured storms of evil attacks and sorrows, by your efforts you persevered in this new land. Therefore, Christ glorified you with the gift of foresight, enriching you with miracles, granting you the Kingdom of Heaven where, together with the angels, you praise God in song: Alleluia.


FOURTH IKOS Hearing of the miracles revealed to your people when a forest fire and tidal wave were made to cease by your prayers, we implore you from the depths of our hearts and entreat you to aid us who call to you:

Rejoice, ascetic and prophet glorified by God;
Rejoice, holy favorite of God;Rejoice, our intercessor and healer;
Rejoice, helper of many who called out to you;
Rejoice, healer of many afflicted and suffering;
Rejoice, our merciful and humble father;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


FIFTH KONTAKION O Venerable One, you shone like the North Star on Spruce Island, the New Valaam, illuminating all of America with the brightness of your love and prayer, full of God’s power, so that from every corner of it the Orthodox people will sing fervently to God: Alleluia.


FIFTH IKOS Observing your humility, all are in awe of you, O Father Herman, for your rigorous asceticism and perseverance in monastic struggles. In this you followed the example of Anthony of the Caves, the founder of monasticism in Russia, even as he that of Anthony the Great, the first monk of the world. You, the founder of monasticism in our land, chose in your great humility, the way of a simple monk. Therefore, the holy choir of hierarchs and hieromonks sings these songs of praise to you:

Rejoice, founder of monasticism in our land;
Rejoice, imitator of Anthony the Great and Anthony of the Caves;
Rejoice, crowned, as they were, with heavenly glory;
Rejoice, founder of a glorious hermitage;
Rejoice, source of holy relics for the faithful;
Rejoice, fountain of miracles for all the world;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


SIXTH KONTAKION The wilderness of the north proclaims your works and miracles, revealing you to be a new branch of the vineyard of the Church of Russia in America. The forests and wilderness are permeated with your prayers. Following the example of the ancient hermits, you cried out in the silence of the night to God: Alleluia.


SIXTH IKOS You enlightened a people who were living in darkness; you showed them an example of the monastic way of life. O our godbearing Father Herman, pray that we all, giving thanks to the Lord, may ceaselessly sing you these words of praise:

Rejoice, first saint of our land;
Rejoice, founder of the monastic way in our land;
Rejoice, faithful servant of the Holy Trinity;
Rejoice, humble founder of the church of the Resurrection;
Rejoice, glorious hermit of the hermitage of Spruce Island;
Rejoice, loving father of the children who came to him;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.



SEVENTH KONTAKION The Lord chose you, O Venerable One, to bring the light of the knowledge of God to the land of the Aleuts and there to sow the seeds of the Orthodox faith. You taught all to embrace the true faith and to call out to God: Alleluia.


SEVENTH IKOS Having reached the heights through prayer, O Venerable One, you did not forget the needs of others. You manifested great concern for homeless orphans, building an orphanage and a school for them and taught them the commandments of the Lord. In gratitude to God for your labors, accept from us these praises:

Rejoice, defender of the poor and orphaned;
Rejoice, their good protector;
Rejoice, builder of a home for the orphaned;
Rejoice, servant to God with your labors;
Rejoice, provider of earthly bread to the orphaned;
Rejoice, nourisher of orphans with words of eternal life;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


EIGHTH KONTAKION The Lord who loves mankind, O Venerable One, gave you the gifts of foresight and healing in His desire to manifest through you a source of compassion for his people. You showed them the love of God through your works and many words of instruction. Illumined by the light of your spiritual labors, the people called to the Lord:
Alleluia.


EIGHTH IKOS The people transformed by the light of the Christian Faith, came to you in times of illness and sorrow. As a father who loved his children, you interceded for all, bringing forth healing and comfort to all who came to you for help. Your glory has gone forth into all the earth and we, your spiritual children, glorify you with these words:

Rejoice, our merciful father;
Rejoice, our unmercenary and gracious physician;
Rejoice, merciful healer of our infirmities;
Rejoice, our speedy helper in time of trouble and need;
Rejoice, foreseer of coming events as of the present;
Rejoice, perceptive reprover of hidden transgressions;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


NINTH KONTAKION You spoke with the angels, O Venerable One, and revealed how angels came to you in your hermitage and you had sweet conversation with them. Now you are in the Kingdom of Heaven where with hosts of angels you pray ceaselessly to the Creator: Alleluia.


NINTH IKOS Who can enumerate the miracles witnessed by your people? The waves of the sea and a fire in the forest were calmed by your prayers. When there was a great tidal wave, you caused the stormy seas to cease by your prayers before the icon of the Mother of God, saying: “The water shall not go beyond this line.” Therefore, we sing to you thus:

Rejoice, wondrous pacifier of the waters;
Rejoice, deliverer from the threat of fire;
Rejoice, safe harbor for the hierarch Innocent who called to you from the sea;
Rejoice, for through your prayers the wind at sea was calmed;
Rejoice, source of many miracles during your life;
Rejoice, fount of many miracles even after your death;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


TENTH KONTAKION We bring to you a song of praise, O Venerable Father, concerning your righteous life. We sing praises of your honored death. You foreknew the day and hour of your blessed end. Most glorious also was your burial. For forty days a great storm raged at sea and your prophecy concerning your burial was fulfilled. Your disciple Gerasim, sensing a wondrous fragrance at the time of your death, sang to God:
Alleluia.


TENTH IKOS You were a most glorious doer of wonders during your life, O Father. At your death you manifested this wondrous miracle: your body remained incorrupt in the chapel for many days after your death. The Aleut people who saw a flaming pillar ascending to Heaven at the hour of your death, sang to you thus:

Rejoice, for your righteous end has assured us of your holiness;
Rejoice, for your ascension to Heaven was like a pillar of fire;
Rejoice, for your relics, exuding a fragrance of sanctity, remain as our inheritance;
Rejoice, for many miracles are made manifest at your reliquary;
Rejoice, for you have provided us with a source of holy water and healing;
Rejoice, for from this water many who are afflicted receive healing;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


ELEVENTH KONTAKION O Holy Father, from your hermitage in the north, in the midst of the wilds of nature, you sang ceaseless praises to the Holy Trinity. Moved by the Spirit, you foresaw the great flowering of this vineyard planted in the soil of America and you called out with the angels of Heaven:
Alleluia.


ELEVENTH IKOS To all future members of the monastic order, you are a source of light and inspiration. For you foretold, O Venerable One, the founding of a monastery and of an Archbishop’s throne in this land. Today a choir of hierarchs and of monastics glorifies you in these words:

Rejoice, instructor of monastics and converser with angels;
Rejoice, most glorious founder of the ascetic way in our land;
Rejoice, foreseer of the growth of this great vineyard of Christ;
Rejoice, fulfillment of this prophecy to the coming generations;
Rejoice, giver of a true image of the monastic way;
Rejoice, for your love is made manifest to all;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


TWELFTH KONTAKION Seeing your grace and your great boldness before God, we entreat you, O Venerable Father Herman, to pray fervently to the Lord, that He will protect His Holy Church from faithlessness and schism, from false teaching and willfulness, that we may sing to God Who has dealt bountifully with us: Alleluia.


TWELFTH IKOS We praise your glorification, O Venerable One, we bless you, O most powerful intercessor and protector of our Church, and with love we sing to you:

Rejoice, protector of all who honor you;
Rejoice, speedy intercessor and helper to all;
Rejoice, founder of Orthodoxy in our land;
Rejoice, confirmation of those who come to the Orthodox Faith;
Rejoice, most glorious protector of the Church in America;
Rejoice, her first saint and her wondrous Father;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


THIRTEENTH KONTAKION O Most glorious favorite of God, Our Venerable Father Herman, accept this humble prayer we offer up in praise to you. Standing now before the Throne of the Almighty Lord, ceaselessly pray for us. In joy we sing to God: Alleluia.

(Three times; followed by first Ikos and first Kontakion.)



FIRST IKOS Father Herman, the Creator of the angelic hosts, called you to proclaim the Orthodox faith in a new land and to be the founder of the monastic way in the remote lands of the north. You were sent, as was the Apostle Paul, to those sitting in darkness so that the light of Orthodoxy might illumine all the ends of the earth. We, the inhabitants of the American continents, bring you, our heavenly protector, this thanksgiving and sing you this song of praise:

Rejoice, our Father Herman, our glory, our adornment;
Rejoice, bearer of the light of the true faith to our lands;
Rejoice, ascetic glorified by God;
Rejoice, most honored branch of Valaam Monastery;
Rejoice, praise and joy of the Church in America;
Rejoice, comforter and protector of all of us;
Rejoice, our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


FIRST KONTAKION
O Chosen Doer of Wonders, most glorious favorite of Christ,our God bearing Father Herman, Alaska’s adornment,the joy of all Orthodox in America.We sing to you, our heavenly protector and powerful intercessor
before God, these songs of praise. Cease not to pray for your children, who cry fervently to you: Rejoice our Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, America’s most glorious doer of wonders.


PRAYER TO THE VENERABLE HERMAN OF ALASKA
This Prayer is said before his holy relics or before his holy icon on the day of his glorification August 9/July 27.

O Venerable Father Herman, we praise and glorify our God and Creator. All the earth, and everything within it, acknowledges Him as Creator and Eternal father. Heaven and earth, angels and men, together, praise and glorify Him: the most glorious company of the Apostles, the praiseworthy fellowship of the prophets, the great and noble gathering of the Martyrs, and the whole community of the saints, all praise Him. On this day, the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church gives thanks to God for you, O Venerable Elder of Spruce Island. We your heirs and children gather at your holy reliquary and gaze with awe at your sacred relics in the knowledge that your soul joins together with the Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs, Saints and the Heavenly Hosts before the throne of the Most Merciful God in praise of the Holy Trinity. O Venerable Hermit of Spruce Island, instructor in the faith of the Holy Trinity, our spiritual father and intercessor before the throne of Almighty God, pray for peace within the Church and dispel all disunity, faithlessness and discord. Come to the aid of our spiritual leaders that they may always be true and effective instruments of the Holy Spirit, enable them to proclaim the truth of the Gospel with power, give them the wisdom to enlighten the unenlightened and the spirit to inspire all to love the knowledge of God; fortify them with the perseverance to defend the Church, even unto death, from all enemies both within and without and at all times. May the
hearts of your spiritual children be filled with that faith and love of the Holy Church which you manifested in your holy life; pray Him to deliver us from the temptations which cause us to fall; renew in us a child-like faith in our Heavenly Father; teach us to place our trust in God, and in Him alone; satisfy our thirst for the true knowledge of God; show us how to serve God faithfully; transfigure our life that it may truly reflect the image and likeness of God within us. O Holy Father and Patron of the Church in America: be a physician to the weak in faith; be a support to the fallen; be a defender to the defenseless; be a bulwark of strength to the weary in spirit; be a guide to the travelers by sea, by land and by air; be our heavenly intercessor. O Venerable Father Herman of Alaska, together with all the saints and the heavenly hosts, pray to God that on each of us He will bestow wisdom for our mind, strength for our will, light for our spirit, enabling us to attain to the true peace of life which is from God alone. We praise with joyous and grateful hearts, the Life-Creating Trinity: Father Almighty, Only-Begotten Son, Comforter, Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.