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Canons for Holy Communion
22
cry to thee: Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded!
Ekos 1
An Archangel was sent from Heaven to say to the Theotokos: Rejoice! And seeing
Thee, O Lord, taking holy form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood
crying to her such things as these:
Rejoice, thou through whom joy will flash forth!
Rejoice, thou through whom the curse will cease!
Rejoice, revival of fallen Adam!
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!
Rejoice, height hard to climb for human thoughts!
Rejoice, depth hard to contemplate even for the eyes of Angels!
Rejoice, for thou art the King's throne!
Rejoice, for thou bearest Him Who beareth all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear!
Rejoice, womb of the divine incarnation!
Rejoice, thou through whom creation becometh new!
Rejoice, thou through whom we worship the Creator!
Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded!
Kontakion 2
Aware that she was living in chastity, the holy Virgin said boldly to Gabriel: "Thy
glorious voice is hard for my soul to accept. How is it thou speakest of the birth from
a seedless conception?" And she cried: Alleluia!
Ekos 2
Seeking to know what cannot be understood, the Virgin cried to the ministering spirit:
"Tell me, how can a son be born from a chaste womb?" Then he spoke to her in fear,
only crying aloud thus:
Rejoice, initiate of God's ineffable will!
Rejoice, assurance of those who pray in silence!
Rejoice, prelude of Christ's miracles!