Canon to the Mother of God, Seeker of the Lost

Canon in front of the Icon of the Mother of God,

Canon tone Four

Ode One

Irmos: I shall open my mouth, and the Spirit will inspire it, and I

shall utter the words of my song to the Queen and Mother, I shall be

radiantly keeping feast, and joyfully praising Her wonders.

Thou of whom Isaiah prophesied, as the living Coal which purged his lips,

purify also the faculties of my soul, and Thou who dost raise up the

fallen, raise me up to celebrate Thy feast with hymns of thanksgiving.

Most holy Theotokos, Seeker of the lost, save us!

Thou who dost rescue those perishing on the sea of life, Thou Life-boat

of the drowning and quickening Breath of the drowned, Thou Gateway of

rebirth for those long dead in sin, we praise Thy holy icon through which

Thou bestowest grace on mankind.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

O Thou who didst intercede for the repentant Theophilus, after he denied

both Thee and Thy Son, and signed a contract with the devil, Thou whose

great mercy gives boldness to every sinner who calls on Thee for help, We

praise Thee and Thy great boldness before Thy Son.

Both now, and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The marvel of Thy great mercy, O Mother of God, is beyond our

comprehension. We seize upon it with great hope, falling down before thee

and crying out, O Seeker of the lost, Refuge of sinners, save us!

Ode Three

Irmos: O Mother of God, Thou living and plentiful Fount, give strength to

those united in spiritual fellowship, who sing hymns of praise to Thee:

and in Thy divine glory, vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.

Most holy Theotokos, Seeker of the lost, save us!

Thou who didst break the chains of him who willingly sold himself to the

evil one, and return the contract of him who sold himself, Thou who didst

hear his prayer and restore him to blessedness; we acclaim Thee as the return of the prodigal!

Most holy Theotokos, Seeker of the lost, save us!

Where there is no grace, how can there be repentance? Wherefore we

understand that all who return to Christ, receive the heavenly sorrow of

repentance as a divine gift while still in their sins. Quicken this gift

in us also, O Lady, lest we be revealed as charred logs.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

The whole world is now darkened by apostasy and sin, and all men creep

upon the earth like the murderer Cain, but Thou, O Lady, hast such great

boldness! Open the doors to repentance and salvation to those who are

perishing!

Both now, and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

God does not desire the death of a sinner, but that he repent and live.

Thus when He paid the world's debt by His death on the Cross, Love

Incarnate gave Thee to the apostle of love, as his Mother and the Mother