Akathist Hymn to the
Spiritual Ladder, the Precious Cross
Kontakion 1
O thrice-blessed and all-worshipped Cross of Christ, all we the faithful venerate and magnify thee, being joyous at thy divine exaltation. But as thou art the trophy and unconquered weapon, by thy Grace protect, cover, and shelter those who cry to thee: Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Ikos 1
Angels from Heaven invisibly encircle the life-bringing Cross in fear, and seeing it now brilliantly shedding light-bestowing Grace upon the faithful, amazed they stand and cry to thee such words as these:
Rejoice, O Cross, guardian of the whole world!
Rejoice, thou who art the glory of the Church!
Rejoice, thou that bountifully pourest forth healings!
Rejoice, thou that enlightenest the ends of the earth!
Rejoice, wood fragrant with life, and treasury of wonders!
Rejoice, fitly-joined, thrice-blessed bestower of Grace!
Rejoice, for thou art the divine footstool!
Rejoice, for thou wast ordained for the worship of all!
Rejoice, bowl of nectar, full to the brim!
Rejoice, torch of the radiance above!
Rejoice, thou through which the creation is blessed!
Rejoice, thou through which the Creator is worshipped!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 2
Perceiving the longing within her, Queen Helen spoke to the Emperor boldly: “The great desire of thy soul corresponds to my zeal; therefore, seeking for thee that most excellent trophy, the most holy Cross, I cry,
Alleluia!”
Ikos 2
With spiritual insight, Queen Helen called to her attendants: “From the depths of the earth, hasten with speed to discover and give me the Cross.” And when she saw it, she spoke in fear, crying out:
Rejoice, the sign of true joy!
Rejoice, redemption from the ancient curse!
Rejoice, treasure in the earth, hidden by envy!
Rejoice, thou that didst appear in the stars as a sign!
Rejoice, four-rayed Cross, shining like a beacon of fire!
Rejoice, ladder set on high, foreseen of old!
Rejoice, thou tranquil wonder of angels!
Rejoice, thou wounding of demons!
Rejoice, welcome relic of God the Word!
Rejoice, quencher of deception’s fire!
Rejoice, O Cross, protector of the helpless!
Rejoice, thou stern trainer of the victors!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 3
The might of the Wood was then shown forth as a true pledge to all, and it raised to life the woman that was voiceless and dead – a fearful sight to those who shall reap salvation by singing: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Holding the Cross, the invincible weapon, Queen Helen ran back to her son, and he rejoiced greatly when he looked upon the Holy Cross; and rejoicing, he cried to it such words as these:
Rejoice, O Cross, vessel of light!
Rejoice, O Cross, treasury of life!
Rejoice, bestower of the gifts of the Spirit!
Rejoice, thou storm-free port of those at sea!
Rejoice, table that holdest Christ as Sacrifice!
Rejoice, vine that bearest the cluster of mystical wine!
Rejoice, for thou dost protect the scepters of Princes!
Rejoice, for thou dost crush the heads of demons!
Rejoice, illustrious sign of the faith!
Rejoice, preservation of al the world!
Rejoice, blessing of God on mortals!
Rejoice, mediation of mortals with God!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 4
Receiving divine zeal within, Helen diligently sought and found the Cross hidden in the earth; and seeing its exaltation on high, the people cried out in faith: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
Like the sun the Cross appeared in the world, and all men were filled with its light; and running as if toward a star, they viewed it as the cause of good raised up by hands divine; and, hymning it, they said:
Rejoice, dawn of the spiritual Sun!
Rejoice, unfailing fount of myrrh!
Rejoice, recall of Adam and Eve!
Rejoice, death-blow to the princes of hades!
Rejoice, for in being exalted, thou dost now exalt us also!
Rejoice, for in being venerated, thou dost sanctify men’s souls!
Rejoice, O world-proclaimed report of the Apostles!
Rejoice, most plentiful strength of Martyrs!
Rejoice, O Cross, reproach to unbelievers!
Rejoice, O praise to people of faith!
Rejoice, thou through which hades was cast down!
Rejoice, thou through which Grace did rise up!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 5
Having beheld the Tree crowned by God, let us come under its protection. Taking it up as a weapon, with it we put our enemies to flight, and touching the untouchable, with our lips we cry to it: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
The great Constantine beheld a light from the heaven, displaying the sign of the Cross in the stars, through which he was also to conquer a multitude of adversaries. He made haste to reveal the Wood and to cry to it such words as these:
Rejoice, accomplishment of the ineffable counsel!
Rejoice, thou horn of godly people!
Rejoice, thou that turnest back the ranks of our foes!
Rejoice, thou flame that burnest the demons!
Rejoice, heavenly scepter of the faithful King!
Rejoice, invincible trophy of the Christ-loving defenders!
Rejoice, thou that dost humble the arrogance of barbarians!
Rejoice, thou that dost care tenderly for the souls of men!
Rejoice, defense against many evils!
Rejoice, awarder of many good things!
Rejoice, thou on whose account the Christ-bearers run with joy!
Rejoice, thou on whose account the Jews lament!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 6
The Cross of the Lord became a ladder as lofty as heaven, leading up all from earth that they might always dwell together with the choirs of Angels, abandoning things present as though they were not, and singing: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
Shining as a light upon all in hades, O Savior, Thou didst enlighten those who lay below; and the gatekeepers of hades, not enduring Thy dawning, fell down as dead; but those who were delivered from them now behold the Cross and cry out:
Rejoice, resurrection of the dead!
Rejoice, consolation of those who mourn!
Rejoice, despoiling of the treasuries of hades!
Rejoice, enjoyment of the Paradise of delight!
Rejoice, rod that didst drown the Egyptian army!
Rejoice, that which didst water the Israelite people!
Rejoice, living Tree, the Thief’s salvation!
Rejoice, fragrant rose, sweet scent of the godly!
Rejoice, food of the hungry in spirit!
Rejoice, seal of God that men have received!
Rejoice, O Cross, doorway to mysteries!
Rejoice, for divine streams pour forth from thee!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 7
When Moses was about to deliver his much-troubled race from the Egyptians, O Cross, thou wast given to him as a rod, but thou wast made known to him also as a symbol of God; wherefore, amazed at thy sovereign might, O Cross, he cried: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
Christ our God, who gave the law to Moses on Sinai, by His own will is nailed to the Cross, lawlessly for lawless men, and He loosed the ancient curse of the law so that beholding the might of the Cross, we might all now cry out:
Rejoice, uplifting of the fallen!
Rejoice, downfall of lovers of this world!
Rejoice, inauguration of the Resurrection of Christ!
Rejoice, divine joy of monastics!
Rejoice, shady tree, under whose leaves believers are sheltered!
Rejoice, Tree that has been planted on earth as the prophets proclaimed!
Rejoice, alliance of the Kingdom against the enemy!
Rejoice, mighty protection of the people!
Rejoice, manifestation of the just Judge!
Rejoice, condemnation of offending mortals!
Rejoice, O Cross, aid of orphans!
Rejoice, O Cross, making rich the poor!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 8
Seeing the strange wonder, let us live our life as strangers, lifting our minds up to heaven; since for this Christ was nailed to the Cross and suffered in the flesh, having willed to draw to the heights those who cry to it: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
Fully God, Christ came down from on high, retaining His divinity, the only Word from before all ages, and being born of a Virgin Mother, He appeared to the world in the flesh, having willed to draw to the heights those who cry out:
Rejoice, O Cross, weapon of peace!
Rejoice, starting-point and goal of travelers!
Rejoice, wisdom and firm support of the saved!
Rejoice, folly and destruction of those who are lost!
Rejoice, fruitful, immortal, and life-bearing plant!
Rejoice, flower that blossomed with our salvation!
Rejoice, for thou dost join together things on earth with things above!
Rejoice, for thou dost enlighten the hearts of those below!
Rejoice, thou through which corruption is banished!
Rejoice, thou through which sorrow has vanished!
Rejoice, thou manifold wealth of good things!
Rejoice, thou plentiful boast of believers!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 9
The armies of demons are fallen and the unbelieving Jews are put to shame, seeing that all bow down to the Cross with longing as it continuously pours forth healing to those who cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
When Thou, O Christ, wast affixed to the Wood, the floods of false beliefs were checked, for they are confounded at how Thou didst endure the Cross and avoid corruption; but we, glorifying Thy Resurrection, cry out:
Rejoice, height of the wisdom of God!
Rejoice, depth of His providence!
Rejoice, ignorance of the unwise!
Rejoice, misfortune of the foolish!
Rejoice, for thou dost manifest the Resurrection of Christ!
Rejoice, for thou dost revive His Passion!
Rejoice, undoer of the trespass of the first-created man!
Rejoice, opener of the entrance to Paradise!
Rejoice, O Cross, revered by all!
Rejoice, adversary of unbelieving nations!
Rejoice, O Cross, healer of the sick!
Rejoice, constant help of those who weep!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 10
With the purpose of saving the world, the Lord of the world ineffably descended into it and submitted to the Cross; and being God, for us He accepted all that pertains to our nature. Therefore, having also redeemed us, he hears from all: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
The Cross is the protection of the whole world, for the Creator of heaven and earth Who prepared thee stretches out his hands and teaches all to proclaim:
Rejoice, foundation of godliness!
Rejoice, conquest of the promised land!
Rejoice, thou that dost put the spiritual Amalek to flight!
Rejoice, thou that wast prefigured by the hands of Jacob!
Rejoice, for thou didst fulfill the words of the prophets!
Rejoice, for thou hast fulfilled the ancient shadows;
Rejoice, thou that didst carry the Savior of all!
Rejoice, thou that didst destroy the corrupter of souls!
Rejoice, for through thee we are united with angels!
Rejoice, for through thee we are illumined by light!
Rejoice, for with honor we bow before thee!
Rejoice, for crying out we address thee:
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 11
Every hymn falls short that would comprehend the multitude of thy many wonders; for if we should offer thee a multitude of praises, O precious Cross, we would do nothing worthy of what thou hast granted us, but still we cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
The life-giving Cross, bestowing the radiance that gives light to those in darkness, has shown us the immaterial light, and has illumined the way for all to divine knowledge; and being lifted up, it now lifts up our minds that we might sing these words:
Rejoice, luminary that shines on those in darkness!
Rejoice, star that dawns upon the world!
Rejoice, lightning that blinds the slayers of Christ!
Rejoice, thunder that terrifies the faithless!
Rejoice, for thou hast made the choirs of the Orthodox shine!
Rejoice, for thou hast consumed the altars of idols!
Rejoice, thou whose form has appeared from Heaven!
Rejoice, thou whose grace drives away evil!
Rejoice, thou that dost signify mortification of the flesh!
Rejoice, thou that dost slay the uprising of the passions!
Rejoice, thou upon which Christ was crucified!
Rejoice, thou by which all the world was saved!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 12
Having willed to grant grace to men, Christ stretched out His hands on the Tree, and now calls all the nations together, granting the Kingdom of Heaven to all who worthily sing the hymn, and faithfully cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Singing thy hymn out of love we praise thee as the living Tree of the Lord; for being nailed on thee in the flesh, He that rules over the Hosts on high has sanctified, glorified, and taught us to cry these words to thee:
Rejoice, O Cross, spiritual sword!
Rejoice, holy vision of saints!
Rejoice, prediction of the prophets and righteous!
Rejoice, brilliant stratagem of Christ!
Rejoice, beauty and crown of pious Kings!
Rejoice, strength and stronghold of reverent priests!
Rejoice, most noble jewel of truth!
Rejoice, fairest haven of salvation!
Rejoice, joyful splendor of all!
Rejoice, banishment of Hagar’s sons!
Rejoice, thou lamp of purest light!
Rejoice, thou gladness of my soul!
Rejoice, O Tree most blessed!
Kontakion 13
O all-praised Tree which held the Word, the most holy of all holy beings, having received our entreaties, deliver from every calamity and redeem from eternal torment all those who cry to thee: Alleluia! Thrice.
And again Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1.
