The Holy and Righteous Joachim and Anna

After the usual beginning, we say:

Kontakia and Oikoi

Kontakion 1:

To the divinely chosen union, the godly parents Joachim and Anna, who gave birth to the Mother of our Life, the blessed Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, we, your supplicants, bring you songs of praise; and you, who have boldness before God, guard us with your prayers from all dangers, we who sing: Rejoice, thrice-blessed parents!

Oikos 1:

The foremost Angel from heaven was sent to declare the message of joy to the righteous Joachim, saying: Joachim, Joachim, your prayer has been heard; and behold, your wife will bear you a daughter over whom heaven and earth will rejoice, praising you and saying:

• Rejoice, Joachim, comfort of fallen Adam;
• Rejoice, mediator of forgiveness for the one who sinned;
• Rejoice, for your prayers have pierced the heavens;
• Rejoice, for you have obtained grace beyond the world;
• Rejoice, for hastening to Anna you announced this;
• Rejoice, for to her also these things were revealed;
• Rejoice, luminary with gladdening rays;
• Rejoice, bringer of saving fruit;
• Rejoice, for you sprouted from royal lineage;
• Rejoice, for you magnified the priestly dignity;
• Rejoice, you who surpassed Abraham in grace;
• Rejoice, you through whom the sorrow of barrenness was destroyed;
• Rejoice, Joachim, most blessed father!

Kontakion 2:

Seeing himself reproached because of barrenness, the Righteous Joachim withdrew into the wilderness, praying to God with fasting and tears, from Whom obtaining grace beyond the world, he rejoiced, singing: Alleluia!

Oikos 2:

The counsel before the ages coming to be fulfilled, the foremost Archangel was sent from God to announce joy to the Holy and Righteous Anna, saying: Anna, Anna, your prayer has been heard; and behold, you will give birth to Mary the Mother of God, through whom the world will be saved, praising you and saying:

• Rejoice, Anna, the much-desired hope of the foremother Eve;
• Rejoice, moon who has scattered the gloom of sorrow;
• Rejoice, garden planted by God;
• Rejoice, for you sprouted the unfading flower;
• Rejoice, for at your birth the world rejoiced;
• Rejoice, for through you barrenness was loosed;
• Rejoice, you who nourished the nourisher of Life;
• Rejoice, comfort of the afflicted;
• Rejoice, wealth of the destitute;
• Rejoice, for through you the beginning of Grace was made;
• Rejoice, for through your birth the debt of sin was quenched;
• Rejoice, Anna, most praised mother!

Kontakion 3:

Seeing herself in the sorrow of childlessness, the Holy and Righteous Anna wept bitterly in her garden and prayed to God, saying: Lord of hosts, You who know the reproach of barrenness, loose my sterility, for I offer the fruit of my womb as a gift to You, praising You and singing: Alleluia!

Oikos 3:

Joachim hastened to Jerusalem, to the Temple of the Lord, after the Archangel spoke to him, and finding his wife, he told her the joyful message; and together they gave thanks to God for this mercy, for which we also praise him, saying:

• Rejoice, elder beloved of God;
• Rejoice, most praised father of the Mother of God;
• Rejoice, lampstand of God made old in good works;
• Rejoice, you who from your loins enriched the world;
• Rejoice, tree of the Psalmist whose leaves have not fallen;
• Rejoice, for in you the prophecy was fulfilled;
• Rejoice, for you have surpassed all fathers;
• Rejoice, for you were deemed worthy to be father of the Mother of God;
• Rejoice, root of the divine planting;
• Rejoice, for you sprouted from the royal race;
• Rejoice, for you pleased God on earth;
• Rejoice, for you adorned the heavenly Jerusalem with your offspring;
• Rejoice, Joachim, most blessed father!

Kontakion 4:

Understanding the counsel of God for the redemption of the human race, the elder entered the temple together with his divinely wise wife, and bowing down, sang praise: Alleluia!

Oikos 4:

Hearing that the Lord had magnified His mercy towards the kinsmen of the divine parents, they hastened, praising with one voice the all-wise Anna, saying:

• Rejoice, you who have turned Eve's tears into joy;
• Rejoice, for at your birth the angels dance in gladness;
• Rejoice, ark which carries the dove into the haven of the flood;
• Rejoice, olive tree full of fruit in the house of the Lord;
• Rejoice, you who bear the throne of the King;
• Rejoice, for through your birth the kingdom of hell is overthrown;
• Rejoice, well-fruitful field;
• Rejoice, nourishing cornfield of the poor;
• Rejoice, adornment and praise of mothers;
• Rejoice, helper and comforter of the barren;
• Rejoice, chamber of the Queen of angels;
• Rejoice, treasury of comfort for sinners;
• Rejoice, Anna, most praised mother!

Kontakion 5:

The star with divine radiance, rising from your most blessed womb, O divinely beloved Anna, announces joy to all the world, and urges all to sing with one voice: Alleluia!

Oikos 5:

Seeing His creation tormented by the tyrant devil, and wishing to prepare for Himself on earth the animate chamber, God the Word called you, Joachim, to such a dignity, that from your loins the most pure Bride should spring forth; for this we say to you:

• Rejoice, most radiant plant of Christianity;
• Rejoice, beginning of most exalted grace;
• Rejoice, for from your seed the animate tabernacle was wrought;
• Rejoice, for it was shown more delightful than the heavens;
• Rejoice, wise craftsman who surpassed Solomon;
• Rejoice, for your daughter became the Church of God;
• Rejoice, root of the tree of life;
• Rejoice, foundation of the tower of faith;
• Rejoice, river which brought forth the pearl of great price;
• Rejoice, for you placed it in the Holy of Holies;
• Rejoice, you who received the promise through the archangel;
• Rejoice, for through this the counsel before the ages was fulfilled;
• Rejoice, Joachim, most blessed father!

Kontakion 6:

After those days, Joachim, being assured that the promise given him through the archangel was fulfilled, offering sacrifice and burnt offerings, was blessed by the high priest, the priests, the Levites, and all the people, because he had been deemed worthy of such a great gift, and together they sang to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 6:

The dawn of salvation for the human race drawing near, you gave birth, O Holy and Most Blessed Anna, to the child promised to you by God, the Ever-Virgin Mary; for this we praise you:

• Rejoice, you who gave birth to the Queen of heaven;
• Rejoice, most pure fleece from which the tent of the King was woven;
• Rejoice, mediatrix of forgiveness and grace;
• Rejoice, most luminous star of Nazareth;
• Rejoice, most beautiful adornment of the Church;
• Rejoice, praise of patriarchs and of the righteous;
• Rejoice, mother of Christian hope;
• Rejoice, ark bearing the tablet of grace;
• Rejoice, nest of the dove of paradise;
• Rejoice, immovable pillar of the Church;
• Rejoice, boundless support of the faithful;
• Rejoice, you who gave birth to her promised to the world;
• Rejoice, Anna, ever-praised mother!

Kontakion 7:

Wishing to fulfill her promise, the divine Anna brought the child given her by God into the Temple of the Lord and placed her in the Holy of Holies, that day and night she might sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 7:

The Master of all showed a new creation, springing from the righteous Joachim, the renewer of Eve and the lamb foretold by the prophets; therefore hear from us thus:

• Rejoice, keeper of the unspeakable mysteries of God;
• Rejoice, fulfiller of His incomprehensible counsels;
• Rejoice, worker of the most pure bridal chamber;
• Rejoice, father of the all-immaculate bride;
• Rejoice, for your daughter gave birth to Christ the Lord;
• Rejoice, for you are praised by all the world for this;
• Rejoice, fulfiller of the Law;
• Rejoice, beginner of grace;
• Rejoice, swift helper of the barren;
• Rejoice, fervent intercessor for sinners;
• Rejoice, immovable foundation of the Church;
• Rejoice, invincible shield of faith;
• Rejoice, Joachim, most blessed father!

Kontakion 8:

Seeing the birth from the promise given by God to Joachim and Anna, let us lift our minds to heaven and sing with joy praise to Him who has shown things most glorious, saying: Alleluia!

Oikos 8:

Your birth was wholly according to the laws of nature, O most praised Anna; but your daughter, giving birth to God the Word, remained a virgin; for this we praise you, saying:

• Rejoice, you who gave birth to the praise of virginity;
• Rejoice, for through your daughter the debt of the foremother was paid;
• Rejoice, for you carried in your arms the daughter of the Heavenly Father;
• Rejoice, for through her the salvation of the human race was accomplished;
• Rejoice, for from your breasts you nourished the Queen of creation;
• Rejoice, you who gave birth according to the promise to the Mother of light;
• Rejoice, haven of refuge for the faithful;
• Rejoice, swift healing of the infirm;
• Rejoice, most glorious praise of the Orthodox;
• Rejoice, most radiant adornment of the high priests;
• Rejoice, high mountain that does not hide from our striving;
• Rejoice, protection of those who pray to you with faith;
• Rejoice, Anna, ever-praised mother!

Kontakion 9:

We understand not from where to begin to bring you praise, O most blessed mother, or with what crowns to crown you, who gave birth to the Queen of heaven and earth; only let us humbly praise the God of wonders, singing: Alleluia!

Oikos 9:

The sayings of the holy prophets, seen from divine revelation to be fulfilled, as you stand near the throne of the Godhead, O most blessed Joachim, hear us, who say to you:

• Rejoice, for you delight with the cherubim in the unapproachable light;
• Rejoice, for you see the most high throne granted to your daughter;
• Rejoice, for she was deemed worthy to sit at the right hand of her Son;
• Rejoice, inhabitant of the heavenly Jerusalem;
• Rejoice, you who do not forget us, your lowly kin;
• Rejoice, you who dwell with the archangels;
• Rejoice, converser with the apostles;
• Rejoice, joy of the martyrs and the venerable;
• Rejoice, praise of the patriarchs and prophets;
• Rejoice, luminary of the Law and of grace;
• Rejoice, herald of joy to those in the prisons of hell;
• Rejoice, you through whom the fulfillment of the promise of salvation begins;
• Rejoice, Joachim, most blessed father!

Kontakion 10:

Wishing to save the world, the Adorner of all came into the world, to which He had been promised; and incarnating Himself from the most pure blood of your all-innocent daughter, O most blessed Joachim, He redeemed us from the bondage of the devil; for this we sing with joy: Alleluia!

Oikos 10:

You are a wall of defense for the faithful and a tower of refuge for all who flee to you, Anna, who bear a queenly name; for through your intercession those who praise you are saved, saying:

• Rejoice, you who see directly the beauty of the Godhead;
• Rejoice, you who unceasingly plant for us the grace of salvation;
• Rejoice, for at your birth the powers of hell were terrified;
• Rejoice, for through it the gates of paradise were opened to us;
• Rejoice, for you see in gladness your most blessed daughter;
• Rejoice, for giving birth to her, you are most praised by all the world;
• Rejoice, you who raised the true vine;
• Rejoice, for it sprouted the grape of life;
• Rejoice, fountain pouring forth gifts;
• Rejoice, ray bringing joy;
• Rejoice, you who gave birth to the lightning-bearing chariot;
• Rejoice, for you bore the throne adorned with the image of the Sun;
• Rejoice, Anna, praised mother!

Kontakion 11:

Most beautiful pair and divinely chosen union, Joachim and Anna, who now shine with divine light and rejoice with the angels together with your divinely-given daughter, remember us on earth, who sing: Alleluia!

Oikos 11:

The Church has you as a light-bearing lampstand, O divine father Joachim, who direct all who praise you with desire towards divine knowledge, saying:

• Rejoice, luminary of those in the darkness of ignorance;
• Rejoice, good pilot of those who sail on the sea of life;
• Rejoice, swift helper of those in dangers;
• Rejoice, sweet comforter of the sorrowful;
• Rejoice, you who lighten the afflictions of burdensome life;
• Rejoice, most high helper of salvation;
• Rejoice, unashamed hope of those who call upon you;
• Rejoice, encourager of the wedded towards good works;
• Rejoice, foundation of divinely-ordained union;
• Rejoice, root of the unfading shoot;
• Rejoice, pardon of those who have greatly sinned;
• Rejoice, uplifting of forefathers;
• Rejoice, Joachim, most blessed father!

Kontakion 12:

The Church has acquired a great and fitting adornment through your commemoration, O most praised parents; therefore we pray you, remember us before God, and deliver us from all needs, we who with love praise you, singing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 12:

Praising your birth with divinely-inspired songs, O thrice-blessed Anna, we glorify Him Who deemed you worthy of such grace, and with love we say to you:

• Rejoice, you who sprouted the vine of the unfading Shoot;
• Rejoice, for you gave birth to the Mother of the ineffable Light;
• Rejoice, you who mediate for us heavenly good things;
• Rejoice, you who are the abundant giver also of earthly things;
• Rejoice, most radiant praise of women;
• Rejoice, unfading crown of mothers;
• Rejoice, most praised bearer of the Mother of God;
• Rejoice, wife well-pleasing to God;
• Rejoice, gentle listener to those who call upon you;
• Rejoice, you who fulfill the good requests of the faithful;
• Rejoice, wealth of the poor and of widows;
• Rejoice, you who are healing of the infirm and the sick;
• Rejoice, Anna, ever-praised mother!

Kontakion 13:

O most blessed union, divine parents Joachim and Anna, who stand near the throne of the Godhead, receiving these our praises, deliver us with your prayers from eternal torments and from every temptation, that together with you we may sing to God: Alleluia! This Kontakion is said three times.

Then again is said the first Oikos: The foremost Angel from heaven... and the first Kontakion: To the divinely chosen union... and the dismissal is made.