Akathist to the Mother of God, the Burning Bush

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Deo_Volente

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Grace and Peace!

Does anyone know where the full text of this Akathis can be found? I discovered excerpts here, but would love to be able to pray the full prayer. It was composed by New Martyr Daniil Sandu Tudor, but knowing that hasn’t made it easier for me to locate the full text!

For any interested, here are the excerpts. They’re extraordinary.

Who is this, pure and white as the dawn?
It is the Queen of prayer, and its incarnation,
Princess Porphyrogeneta and Lady of the Morning,
Betrothed of the Consoler who transfigures life!
We run to thee, burning and consumed with longing.
Grant us access to the Holy Mount of Tabor,
Become for us also a shadow and a dew,
Thou whom divine grace overshadows,
So that our human nature in its turn
May be renewed by a rebirth through grace,
That we, together with all creation,
May cry to thee, bowing low:
Rejoice, O Bride, Mother of continual prayer!

O Virgin of the age without evening,
O holy Mother of the Light,
Hearken unto us, slaves of sin,
Unworthy offspring of the mire.
Most sweet and good, most holy Virgin,
The Key of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Release us from the curse’s bolts,
Open for us the heavenward Way,
That having received the longed-for revelation,
The secret of the beloved Bridegroom,
We also may offer praises to thee,
Like Moses who, putting off his sandals,
And turning his face towards the flame
Of the Bush that burned with grace,
Cried in the dusk:
Rejoice, fulgent Flower of an unconsumed bush!
Rejoice, Christian Dew through which God spouts forth on earth!
Rejoice, burning Imprint of fire from heaven!
Rejoice, Tear which melts the interior frost!
Rejoice, budding Staff of the pilgrim to the heart!
Rejoice, Freshet brimming in the inner desert!
Rejoice, glowing Signet set in the soul’s depths!
Rejoice, eighth Day of the kingdom within!
Rejoice, Tradition of the joy to come!
Rejoice, Wonder received in a marvelling spirit!
Rejoice, O Bride, Mother of continual prayer!

Under the Mercy,
Mark

All is Grace and Mercy! Deo Gratias!
 
The full text (with music) currently in usage in the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Church in the U.S. can be found here:

Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

The Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos is traditionally prayed on the 5th Saturday of Great Lent, and thus it is commonly called Akathist Saturday. It is recited on this Saturday as to fall on a non-fasting day during Great Lent and in proximity to the Feast of the Annunciation. This particular Akathist Hymn is regarded as one of the most poetically beautiful prayers every composed.

Akathist means “standing” - it is a prayer to be rendered “joyfully on two feet”.

BTW - although the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos is the most well-known, there are indeed other Akathists for other devotions, both ancient and new, in use throughout the Eastern Christian world.
 
Grace & Peace!
ByzCathCantor said:
This particular Akathist Hymn is regarded as one of the most poetically beautiful prayers every composed.
Click to expand...
I would have to concur–though I have a soft spot for the Alma Redemptoris Mater and the Salve Regina, the Akathist to Our Lady blows me away. Which is why the Akathist to the Mother of God, the Burning Bush, is so extraordinary to me–it’s relatively contemporary, but shot through with the same tenderness, beauty and wonder as the more well known Akathist. I just wish I knew where to find the rest of it!
ByzCathCantor said:
BTW - although the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos is the most well-known, there are indeed other Akathists for other devotions, both ancient and new, in use throughout the Eastern Christian world.
Click to expand...
In some prayer books, I have what looks to be the standard Akathist to Our Lady and an Akathist to Our Lord (as well as what appear to be some standard Canons, including a beautiful one to the guardian angel)–can you direct me to any additional resources for Akathists?

Many thanks!

Under the Mercy,
Mark

All is Grace and Mercy! Deo Gratias!
 
Grace & Peace!
ByzCathCantor said:
Check out the related OrthodoxWiki page: AKATHIST

I just realized you asked about a more specific Akathist to the Theotokos than the most commonly known. I will look up a reference for you.

BTW - there is an older thread on another oft cited EC/EO forum on this specific topic: Akathist to the Mother of God, the Burning Bush
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Thanks for the resources, ByzCath! I had found the thread on the other forum to which you link…but the trail went cold–there’s a quotation of the same excerpt that I posted above, but no further lead on a full text.

Under the Mercy,
Mark

All is Grace and Mercy! Deo Gratias!
 
From what I can tell, this Akathist is attributed to a Romanian Orthodox saint/martyr, and appears in a book entitled “Romania: Its Hesychast Tradition and Culture,” by Bishop Seraphim Joanta.
 
Grace & Peace!
ByzCathCantor said:
From what I can tell, this Akathist is attributed to a Romanian Orthodox saint/martyr, and appears in a book entitled “Romania: Its Hesychast Tradition and Culture,” by Bishop Seraphim Joanta.
Click to expand...
Many thanks, ByzCath! I’ll try and locate it in the library.

Under the Mercy,
Mark

All is Grace and Mercy! Deo Gratias!
 
Deo_Volente said:
Many thanks, ByzCath! I’ll try and locate it in the library.
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A pleasure! And a good plan - check the libraries first. This book is apparently out of print and commanding quite a premium when made available commercially. I haven’t seen a price less than US$120.00

An Akathist service book typically sells for US$ 4.00

Good luck!
 
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