Today, I am presenting an akathist, which is a traditional Eastern Catholic or Orthodox hymn. All akathist follow the same morphology: they are divided into thirteen parts, each of which has a kontakion and an ikos. The kontakion is akin to the stanza of a song, while the ikos is similar to the refrain. 

Today's akathist is in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast is on December 12th. It is the work of Dr. Alexander Roman, an erudite and prolific member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. It is a long read, but very worthy!

Akathist to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Kontakion I
To Thee, our great and constant Intercessor before the Throne of Almighty God, do we, Thy children, offer this hymn of praise, glorifying Thy wondrous Image revealed to Thy humble servant, Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac, as we sing of Thy enduring heavenly Protection of all who keep festival, joyfully exclaiming with arms uplifted: Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Ikos I
The peoples of Mesoamerica saw a most Divine Light when they gazed upon Thy sacred and miraculous image inscribed by the Finger of God upon the tilma of Juan Diego. They recognized in it their salvation at last and liberation from the darkness of enslavement to the cunning Serpent of old and they cried with grateful love amidst tears:

Rejoice, Most Immaculate Messenger from on High!
Rejoice, Great Sign that appeared in Heaven and in our midst!
Rejoice, Woman shining with the Brightness of Thy Son and our Lord!
Rejoice, Lady crushing the Serpent of old beneath thy feet!
Rejoice, Victor over evil!
Rejoice, Queen of Heaven and Earth!
Rejoice, unfailing Intercessor for those lost in darkness!
Rejoice, Star of the Sea bringing us to the harbor of safety!
Rejoice, Defender of children!
Rejoice, Protector of such as are of the Kingdom of Heaven!
Rejoice, Standing with the moon at Thy feet!
Rejoice, with hands enfolded in prayer to God on our behalf!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion II
Thy servant, Juan Diego, first saw Thee in Thy appearance on a hill. Thou didst command him to witness to Thy desire to have a temple raised there to bring salvation to his people. Overjoyed by this Thy maternal condescension on earth toward us all, Thy servant ran into the city, crying: Alleluia!

Ikos II
Thy servant has truly imitated the Beloved Disciple, John, for he likewise took Thee as his Mother to the home of his heart at the command of our Crucified Lord. Asking Thee for the grace to do likewise, we sing:

Rejoice, Temple of the Holy Spirit!
Rejoice, Rock Unhewn!
Rejoice, Densely wooded Mount Thaeman!
Rejoice, for Thou dost call everyone to the Mountain!
Rejoice, for like Elias of old, Thou comest to destroy idols!
Rejoice, for Thy Image is our bridge over dangerous waters to Heaven!
Rejoice, Mother of Christ!
Rejoice, Mother of His Church!
Rejoice, for we became Thy children underneath Thy Son's Cross!
Rejoice, Mother of the Foundation Stone!
Rejoice, Rock Unquarried!
Rejoice, Hilltop leading to the Heavenly Kingdom!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother Clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion III

God has kept His secrets from the wise and powerful of the world, choosing, instead, to reveal them to His humble servants and to children. Thou didst appear on earth to the rejected as the Mother of the Sign that was rejected and accepted not by His own.

Ikos III
Marveling in wonder at God's Divine Providence, we sing:

Rejoice, Mother Who ponders God's secrets in Thy maternal heart!
Rejoice, Virgin Who received God's Word in Thy Womb without knowing man!
Rejoice, Ark of the New Covenant!
Rejoice, Helper of the afflicted!
Rejoice, Guardian of those without any to care for them!
Rejoice, Quick help of those who suffer!
Rejoice, Mother of Divine surprises!
Rejoice, Lady of Compassion!
Rejoice, our Joy above every joy!
Rejoice, pierced with a Sword of sorrow!
Rejoice, the cause of our freedom in Christ!
Rejoice, Lady whom all peoples call 'Blessed!'
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion IV
Returning again and again to Thee, Thy servant, Juan, knew not what to say or do to fulfill Thy request. Thou then didst command him to bring fresh, beautiful roses from the parched mountain to the bishop as a miraculous sign of Thy appearance on earth. Lifting the aromatic flowers into his tilma, Juan cried: Alleluia!

Ikos IV
Thou art truly all-wondrous in Thy miraculous power, O Lady-Theotokos, as through Thee new life is born from dead earth. By Thy holy and constant intercessions, bring us whose sins have deadened our souls to the fertile fields of faith and good works, making us live once more unto God, as we sing:

Rejoice, Rose of Sharon!
Rejoice, Lily of the Valley!
Rejoice, Flower of Carmel!
Rejoice, Aromatic Jonquil of Heavenly Delight!
Rejoice, new Staff of Aaron, budding with the Divine Flower!
Rejoice, Lady's Mantle bearing the droplets of Heavenly Grace!
Rejoice, Myrtle of constancy!
Rejoice, Fragrance of Incorruption!
Rejoice, new Moses that calls forth water from the desert rock!
Rejoice, Holy Cloud that nourishes the earth with the rain of Divine Grace!
Rejoice, Planter of the Seed of the Word Incarnate in our souls!
Rejoice, Gardener Who cultivates it to fruition in our lives!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion V
Thy humble servant went with joy and great anticipation to the palace of the bishop with the roses Thou didst give him as evidence of Thy appearance. Believing the flowers to be the final signal to all affirming Thy coming on earth, Juan unfurled his tilma. Upon seeing the greater miracle of Thy image not made by human hands, all cried: Alleluia!

Ikos V
The bishop joined with everyone in kneeling prayerfully before Thy miraculous Icon, bowing to God's revelation of His salvation of the Americas through His Most Holy Mother. Spellbound in wonder and amazement at Thy great love for those for whom Thy Son died for on the Precious and Life-giving Cross, they all sang:

Rejoice, Icon revealing Thy Son and Lord Jesus Christ!
Rejoice, Image reflecting His Heavenly Glory!
Rejoice, Sign from Heaven, bringing us the Abundant Life!
Rejoice, our Mantle of Protection!
Rejoice, covering us with an outpouring of Grace!
Rejoice, Who appears to us when we know neither the day nor the hour!
Rejoice, for Thou didst call us to the Kingdom of God suddenly!
Rejoice, Who imprints the image of Thy Son on those who honor Thee!
Rejoice, Robe of salvation!
Rejoice, Armour of Christ!
Rejoice, Witness to the Divine Incarnation!
Rejoice, Holy Garment without seam!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion VI
Acknowledging finally Thy appearance on earth through Thy holy image, those who gazed in wonder at it saw it to signify the vision of the Beloved Disciple, John, in the Apocalypse. They understood, at long last, that Thou came to call all to salvation and free many from the darkness of pagan error. Praising God and Thee for these and many other manifest mercies, they sang: Alleluia!

Ikos VI
God consecrated Thee to His service from Thy conception in the womb of Thy holy mother, Anne. We honor Thee as the true Temple of the Holy Trinity and the Fount through which Thy Son, our Lord Jesus, pours out His Mercy upon the world and joyfully exclaim:

Rejoice, Holy Daughter of God the Father!
Rejoice, Precious Mother of God the Son!
Rejoice, Sanctified Temple of the Holy Spirit!
Rejoice, Cause of joy to Thy parents, Joachim and Anne!
Rejoice, conceived in holiness in the womb of Thy mother!
Rejoice, Vessel prepared by God to receive His Word!
Rejoice, Sacred Jar of the living Manna!
Rejoice, Most Holy and Immaculate Mother of God!
Rejoice, Candlestick bearing the Light that enlightens all!
Rejoice, She in Whom God was pleased to dwell!
Rejoice, for the Lord is truly with Thee!
Rejoice, for blessed art Thou amongst all women!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion VII
Constant preaching and missions could not sway the people from sacrificing their children to demons and paying tribute to the cunning Serpent of old. In Thy image of Guadalupe, Thou didst reveal Thyself as "She who crushes the serpent," removing from the earth the curse received through the spilled blood of innocent children. As the former slaves of the Serpent now flock in large numbers to become the servants of Thy Son through Thee, inspired by Thy image, we sing: Alleluia!

Ikos VII
Thou art the great Sign that appeared in Heaven, O Mother of God of Guadalupe, that crushes the Serpent beneath Thy feet, delivering us from his enmity. Deliver us now from all evil by Thine intercession as we sing to Thee:

Rejoice, Terror of demons!
Rejoice, Vanquisher of the evil one!
Rejoice, Destroyer of all his wiles!
Rejoice, bringing to naught his pride!
Rejoice, turning us firmly toward the Light that comes from the East!
Rejoice, Enlightenment of our darkness!
Rejoice, enrobed with the brightness of Thy Son!
Rejoice, crowned with the stars of Thy virtues!
Rejoice, with the moon at Thy feet!
Rejoice, Holy of Holies!
Rejoice, Unfading Bloom!
Rejoice, Life-giving Spring!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion VIII
Thy sacred image of Guadalupe manifests many miraculous signs and wonders to this day, O Holy Mother of God. Even Thy eyes reflect Thy love for families kneeling in prayer and asking Thy benevolent assistance. Pondering how Thou dost keep us all in Thy motherly heart, praying for our needs and coming to our aid, we sing: Alleluia!

Ikos VIII
The tilma of Juan Diego, Thy sainted servant, is like unto the Mantle of Divine Protection which Thou didst extend over Thy children at Constantinople and many other places, protecting them from the enemies of their lives and salvation. We honor it as Thy very special token to us of Thy loving care and concern for us and sing joyfully:

Rejoice, Heavenly Cover against which the darts of the evil one rebound!
Rejoice, Put ting on us the Lord Jesus Christ, leaving no provision for the flesh!
Rejoice, Cloak of salvation!
Rejoice, Protection against dominions and principalities!
Rejoice, warding off the invisible armies of those whose name is "Legion!"
Rejoice, Defeat of the spiritual Tartarus!
Rejoice, Joy of all who run to Thy Mantle!
Rejoice, Salvation of all who die under it!
Rejoice, Invincible Ally in our spiritual struggles!
Rejoice, Banner of Love flying above the Divine Banqueting House!
Rejoice, Signal of Grace!
Rejoice, Fortress of Divine strength!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion IX
Beginning with Juan Bernardino, the uncle of Thy servant, Juan Diego, Thy miraculous image of Guadalupe has become an inexhaustible source of healings. No one seeking Thy assistance or invoking Thine aid is turned away empty-handed, O Mother of
Guadalupe, as limbs are restored, sight is regained and illness is banished from the bodies of Thy children. Most of all, spiritual health is restored to our souls through Thy all-powerful intercession as we sing: Alleluia!

Ikos IX
Thy children come with tears to Thy Shrine at Guadalupe, O Mother of God, and return home in the joy of being fed with the Divine Sheaves of Holy Communion and a greater union with God through Thee and Thy miraculous image. Inspired by these wonders of Divine Grace, we loudly exclaim:

Rejoice, Equal to the Apostles, bringing the world to Christ!
Rejoice, Ladder leading us up to the Kingdom of the Holy Trinity!
Rejoice, Chalice in which we find the Bread of Life!
Rejoice, Censor that contains the Divine Coal!
Rejoice, Altar bearing the Creator of all!
Rejoice, Garment which clothes us in Grace!
Rejoice, Converter of souls!
Rejoice, Cause of our repentance!
Rejoice, imparting the grace of sanctification to all!
Rejoice, inspirer of prayer!
Rejoice, Tablet through which God inscribes His law on our hearts!
Rejoice, bringing us health of body and soul!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion X
Thou didst protect the children of old who were sacrificed to the cunning Serpent. Thou didst dry up the streams of their blood and tears over the earth as Thou didst cast the Serpent into hell from whence he came. We ask you, Most Holy Mother of Guadalupe,
to protect the children of our time from a similar fate - through the sin of being killed in their mother's wombs through abortion. As Thou are a Mother to all Thy children, we sing to Thee: Alleluia!

Ikos X
Thy image at Guadalupe, O Most Holy Mother, reveals Thee as the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy that a Virgin shall be found to be with Child. Knowing each child to bear the image of God, Thou art a sure defender of those whose angels are ever before the Face of God the Father as we sing to Thee:

Rejoice, Protector of the helpless little ones!
Rejoice, Defender of children in the wombs of their mothers!
Rejoice, for of such is the Kingdom of God!
Rejoice, for Thou dost not suffer the little ones to come to Thy Son!
Rejoice, for thousands of children were martyred by Herod to save Thy Son!
Rejoice, for Thou art surrounded by their souls as with a precious Crown!
Rejoice, for Thou art the support of mothers everywhere!
Rejoice, for Thou art their mainstay and hope!
Rejoice, for Thou nourishes them and their children on the Milk of Thy Grace!
Rejoice, for unto us a Son is born!
Rejoice, for His Name is Emmanuel!
Rejoice, for God is with us in a little Child!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion XI
The peoples of Mexico and all the Americas wonder in amazement at God's loving kindness in sending us the image not made by human hands of His Most Holy Mother to be with us in our suffering and need. The Church, in the Name of Christ Crucified, also commands us to take our Mother home with us, in that holy image, to be our Guide and sure Protection as Thy faithful servants. And we lovingly obey, as we sing: Alleluia!

Ikos XI
Thy image has become a true well-spring of blessings to us all, Mother of Guadalupe. You fill with joy each one of us who approaches in faith and the fear of the Lord, giving us all that is to our benefit, as we joyfully proclaim:

Rejoice, Unquenchable Source of Miracles!
Rejoice, Motherly intercession that the Son will not refuse!
Rejoice, telling us to do all that Thy Son, in the Gospel, tells us!
Rejoice, filling the empty jars of our souls with the Wine of Joy!
Rejoice, leading us to the Cross to which is fastened the Divine Cluster!
Rejoice, Unploughed Field in which grew the Heavenly Wheat!
Rejoice, Protector of Mexico!
Rejoice, Defender of the Native peoples!
Rejoice, Patron of all the Americas!
Rejoice, our Hope!
Rejoice, our Expectation!
Rejoice, our Eternal Guide!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion XII
Thousands flock in pilgrimage to Thy holy Shrine at Guadalupe, O All-Holy Mother of God! We are constantly in a great pilgrimage, traveling to our home that is Heaven and the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Be Thou unto us our Leader
who guides us with Thine all-powerful intercession before the Throne of Thy Son and our Lord Jesus Christ, as we sing: Alleluia!

Ikos XII
Thou art the Mother of Light and the Source of our Enlightenment through the Grace and Mercies of Thy Son, our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ, O Most Holy Mother. As we continually gaze at Thy miraculous image of Guadalupe, we are lost in love and wonder at how much God truly loves us in having given us such a great and exalted Mother Who is His own. Humbled by these thoughts, we sing:

Rejoice, Mother of Christ!
Rejoice, Mother of God Incarnate!
Rejoice, Mother of the true Light that enlightens us all!
Rejoice, Intercessor most powerful!
Rejoice, Joy of all Joys!
Rejoice, Quick to hear!
Rejoice, Keeper of the Gates!
Rejoice, our Heavenly Protection!
Rejoice, Lady of Mount Zion!
Rejoice, Beacon on the Mountain!
Rejoice, Ray of Light emanating from the Sun!
Rejoice, our beloved Mother!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

Kontakion XIII
To Thee, our great and constant Intercessor before the Throne of Almighty God, do we, Thy children, offer this hymn of praise, glorifying Thy wondrous Image revealed to Thy humble servant, Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac, as we sing of Thy enduring heavenly Protection of all who keep festival, joyfully exclaiming with arms uplifted: Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun! Most Holy Mother of God, Thou didst reveal Thy miraculous image to Thy humble servant, St. Juan Diego, at Tepeyac to bring the Light of Thy Son to the peoples of Mesoamerica enslaved by the Serpent of old. Be our sure protection and guide throughout our lives, pouring on us the Divine Grace of Thy Son through Thy intercession, until we reach the place from whence Thou didst come to us, the Heavenly Kingdom of Thy Son and our Lord Jesus Christ, as we sing: Alleluia! 

Ikos XIII
The peoples of Mesoamerica saw a most Divine Light when they gazed upon Thy sacred and miraculous image inscribed by the Finger of God upon the tilma of Juan Diego. They recognized in it their salvation at last and liberation from the darkness of enslavement to the cunning Serpent of old and they cried with grateful love amidst tears:

Rejoice, Most Immaculate Messenger from on High!
Rejoice, Great Sign that appeared in Heaven and in our midst!
Rejoice, Woman shining with the Brightness of Thy Son and our Lord!
Rejoice, Lady crushing the Serpent of old beneath thy feet!
Rejoice, Victor over evil!
Rejoice, Queen of Heaven and Earth!
Rejoice, unfailing Intercessor for those lost in darkness!
Rejoice, Star of the Sea bringing us to the harbor of safety!
Rejoice, Defender of children!
Rejoice, Protector of such as are of the Kingdom of Heaven!
Rejoice, Standing with the moon at Thy feet!
Rejoice, with hands enfolded in prayer to God on our behalf!
Rejoice, O Lady from Heaven, Virgin-Mother clothed with the Sun!

 

Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos of Guadalupe

O Theotokos of Guadalupe, accept this humble hymn of praise from us Thy servants in honor of Thy miraculous image not made by human hands. Cover us with the Mantle of Thy Protection and guide with the prayers of Thy all-powerful intercession. Deliver us from the wiles of the Serpent of old, and break his hold on nations and individuals in our time. Lead us to Thy Son as the Divine Ladder, the flaming Bush unconsumed by fire and the Ark of the New Covenant. Most Holy Mother of God intercede for us and save us by Thy prayers. Amen.

Picture: Our Lady of Guadalupe - CC0 Public Domain.