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The Akathist Hymn is a profound, devotional poem or chant, which sings the praises of the Holy Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary (Theotokos). Devotional Hymns to the Theotokos are as ancient as the first Christian Church. The Byzantine Empire from its very inception at Constantinople during the fourth century, closely allied itself to the Virgin Mary and always sort Her protection or intercessions. This we see from the Prayer Services to the Theotokos between the fifth and eighth centuries, and the reference to Constantinople as the 'Queen City'.

The Akathist Hymn was not strange to the Latin West even though apart from the Eastern Church. Pope Benedict XIV granted on May 4, 1746 an indulgence of 50 days to the Latin and Eastern Rite Roman Catholics, for each recitation of the Hymn.

Fr. Vincent McNabb, a Roman Catholic Priest in London, translated the Hymn into English in 1934. In his forward remarks he stated "No apology is needed for introducing the Akathistos to the Christian West. Indeed the West might well be apologetic about its neglect, or ignorance of such a liturgical and literary masterpiece".

1 posted on 05/03/2004 8:48:03 AM PDT by NYer

To: american colleen; sinkspur; Lady In Blue; Salvation; Polycarp IV; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; ..

A beautiful devotion to the Blessed Mother, as we enter the Month of May.

2 posted on 05/03/2004 8:49:59 AM PDT by NYer (O Promise of God from age to age. O Flower of the Gospel!)

Oh goodie, some Marian stuff. How about some DeMontfort.

3 posted on 05/03/2004 8:55:27 AM PDT by biblewonk (No man can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them.)

Thank you for posting this beautiful hymn honoring the Theotokos. (Certainly makes any OCP hymn pale in comparison...) Some of you probably already have, but if you ever get a chance to hear it sung live or even on a CD, be sure not to miss it. It's even more beautiful and awe-inspiring when it's sung. Almost other-worldly. Such a beautiful and rich tradition. I have heard it live and have a tape of it and am searching for a link.

5 posted on 05/03/2004 8:59:54 AM PDT by fortunecookie

The Byzantine Empire from its very inception at Constantinople during the fourth century, closely allied itself to the Virgin Mary and always sort Her protection or intercessions.

Too bad Jesus wasn't available. Things might have gone better.

9 posted on 05/03/2004 10:07:51 AM PDT by topcat54

Nice of you to post that, though I like the translations in the Old Jordanville Prayerbook (found at Fr. John Whiteford's website) and in the The Great Horologion published by Holy Transfiguration Monastery better.

90 posted on 05/03/2004 9:44:59 PM PDT by The_Reader_David (XC is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!)

Blessed be the Great Mother of God, Mary, Most Holy!

104 posted on 05/04/2004 7:34:41 AM PDT by Cap'n Crunch

To: Siobhan; Canticle_of_Deborah; broadsword; NYer; Salvation; sandyeggo; american colleen; ...

Help defend Our Lady on this thread!

105 posted on 05/04/2004 7:40:12 AM PDT by Pyro7480 (Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genitrix.... sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper...)

Hello from a dead thread!

Just wanted to know if you have any links to music available online to demonstrate how this is chanted?

187 posted on 01/02/2005 6:57:36 PM PST by No_Outcome_But_Victory (Today's established church: The stifling coercive theology of P.C. enforced by a secular episcopate.)

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