Akathist St John of San Francisco

Kontakion 1

Chosen wonderworker and superb servant of Christ, who pourest out in the latter times inexhaustible streams of inspiration and multitude of miracles. We praise Thee with love and call out to Thee: Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Ikos 1

An angel in the flesh wast Thou manifested in the latter times by the grace of God Who ever careth for men. Seeing the beauty of Thy virtues, we Thy children now cry out to Thee:

Rejoice, Thou who didst live in virtue from earliest childhood.

Rejoice, Thou who didst ever live in fear of God and do His holy will.

Rejoice, Thou who didst manifest the grace of God in numberless virtues.

Rejoice, Thou who didst mystically hear the distant prayers of those in distress.

Rejoice, Thou who wast filled with love for Thy fellow men and didst do all possible for their salvation.

Rejoice, Thou who dost bring joy to all who pray to Thee in faith and love.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 2

Seeing the abundance and variety of Thy virtues. O holy Hierarch, we see in Thee a living source of God's wonders in our time. Thou dost refresh with Thy love and miracles all who cry in faith to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Being filled with love. Thou wast also filled with theology. O holy Father. And in Thee the knowledge of God flowed forth again in love for suffering men. Do Thou teach us also to know the true God in love as we call out to Thee in admiration.

Rejoice, firm stronghold of Orthodox truth.

Rejoice, precious vessel of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, righteous accuser of impiety and false doctrine.

Rejoice, ardent doer of the commandments of God.

Rejoice, severe ascetic who gavest thyself no repose.

Rejoice, loving shepherd of the flock of Christ.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 3

By God's mercy Thou wast manifest as a father to orphans and instructor of the young, raising them in the fear of God and preparing them for the service of God. Therefore all Thy children look to Thee with love and cry out with gratitude to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Dwellers in heaven should be praising Thee and not we on earth, for our words are feeble beside Thy deeds. Yet offering to God what we have we cry out to Thee thus:

Rejoice, Thou who didst protect Thy children by Thy constant prayer.

Rejoice, Thou who didst ever guard Thy flock by the sign of the Cross.

Rejoice, Thou whose love knew no bounds of country or race.

Rejoice, bright luminary beloved by all.

Rejoice, model of spiritual meekness.

Rejoice, giver of spiritual consolation to those in need.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 4

Bewildered by Thy deeds of piety and love, we know not how to praise Thee worthily, O Hierarch John. Thou didst travel to the ends of the earth to save Thy people and preach the gospel to those in darkness. Thanking God for Thine apostolic labors, we cry out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

The people of many lands beheld Thy life and marveled at God's mercies even in these latter times. And so we also, marveling, cry out in awe:

Rejoice, enlightener of those in the darkness of unbelief.

Rejoice, Thou who didst follow Thy people to the farthest East and West.

Rejoice, fountain of miracles poured out by God.

Rejoice, loving chastiser of those who have gone astray.

Rejoice, speedy comfort to those who repent of their sins.

Rejoice, support of those who go on the right path.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 5

Thou wast manifest as a vehicle of God’s power to stop the destructive forces of fallen nature, O holy Hierarch, preserving Thy people on the island from the deadly wind and storm by Thy prayer and the sign of the Cross. So preserve us also who cry out in wonder unto God: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

All who have trusted in Thy help in desperate circumstances and adversities have found deliverance, O bold intercessor before the Throne of God. Therefore, we too do place our hope in Thee to protect us in dangers by Thy prayers before God as we call out to Thee:

Rejoice, Thou who didst stop the powers of nature from doing harm to Thy flock.

Rejoice, Thou who providest by Thy prayer for all in need.

Rejoice, inexhaustible bread for the hungry.

Rejoice, abundant wealth for those who live in poverty.

Rejoice, consolation for those in sorrow.

Rejoice, quick uplifting for those Who have fallen.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 6

Thou wast manifest as a new Moses, leading his flock out of slavery, O Hierarch John. Do deliver us also from slavery to sins and the enemies of God as we cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Thou didst do the impossible and persuade the authorities of this world to have pity on Thy flock, O good shepherd. Do pray for us now that we may live in peace and quiet, saving our souls as we gratefully cry to Thee:

Rejoice, helper of all who call upon Thee in faith.

Rejoice, Thou who deliverest from death and disaster.

Rejoice, Thou who preservest from lies and slander.

Rejoice, preserver of the innocent from bonds.

Rejoice, Thou who foilest the attacks of the unrighteous.

Rejoice, destroyer of lies and exalter of truth.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 7

O lover of the saints of East and West, Thou didst restore to the Orthodox Church the saints of the West, of lands which had fallen away from the truth. Now with these saints Thou dost pray for us to God as we on earth cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

O fervent venerator of the holy Hierarchs of Gaul, Thou wast manifest in the latter times as one of them, exhorting Thy flock to preserve the same Orthodox faith that they confessed, and astonishing the peoples of the West by Thy holy life. Now preserve us in that same faith as we cry out to Thee:

Rejoice, new Martin by Thy miracles and ascetic feats.

Rejoice, new Germanus by Thy confession of the Orthodox faith.

Rejoice, new Hilary by Thy divine theology.

Rejoice, new Gregory by Thy love for God's saints.

Rejoice, new Faustus by Thy gentle love and monastic fervor.

Rejoice, new Caesarius by Thy firm yet loving rule of the Church of God.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 8

At the end of Thy life, O holy Hierarch, Thou wast called to the New World, to offer there Thy witness of ancient Christianity and to suffer persecution for Thy righteousness, thus perfecting Thy soul for heaven. Now marveling at Thy patience and long-suffering, we all cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

O laborer of Christ's vineyard who knew no rest even at the end of Thy much-toiling life, help us now in our labors as we strive to be faithful to Christ, crying out in praise to Thee:

Rejoice, Thou who didst endure to the end and so attain salvation.

Rejoice, Thou who wast deemed worthy to die before the icon of the Mother of God.

Rejoice, Thou who didst keep Thy faith and courage in the midst of unjust persecution.

Rejoice, Thou who didst labor to the end for Thy flock and meet death sitting as a hierarch.

Rejoice, Thou Who didst return through the air to be buried amidst the flock.

Rejoice, Thou who workest Wonders for those who come to Thy Sepulchre with faith and love.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 9

All angel-kind rejoiced at Thy soul's ascent to their celestial home marveling at the wonders Thou didst perform on earth through the action of the Holy Spirit, to whom we sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Orators find it impossible to describe Thy life of sanctity with their many and eloquent words, O righteous John, for Thou didst become a living house for the power of the ineffable God. Yet, unable to fall silent at the wonder shown to our age of feeble faith, we glorify Thee:

Rejoice, divine palace where from the counsel of the Good King is given.

Rejoice, small and humble abode containing the spacious beauty of angels’ mansions.

Rejoice, Thou who didst gain a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Rejoice, infirmary wherein all manner of diseases are divinely healed.

Rejoice closet wherein Thy holy labor of prayer was hidden.

Rejoice, blessed temple of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 10

Wishing to save the world, the Saviour of all hath sent a new saint among us and through him hath called us out of the dark recesses of sin. Hearing this call to repentance, the unworthy ones in turn cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Thou art a wall sheltering us from adversity, O Hierarch John, for through Thy heavenly intercessions we are delivered from the attacks of demonic passions and from afflictions which beset us on earth. Before Thy firm support of prayer, we cry with faith:

Rejoice, sight to the blinded.

Rejoice, strength and life to those on the bed of death.

Rejoice, God-revealed advice to those in doubt and confusion.

Rejoice, refreshing water to those perishing in the heat of sorrow.

Rejoice, loving father to the lonely and abandoned.

Rejoice, holy teacher of those who seek the Truth.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 11

Thy life was a hymn to the Most Holy Trinity, surpassing others in thought, word and deed, O most blessed John. For with much wisdom Thou didst explain the precepts of the true Faith, reaching us to sing with faith, hope and love to the one God in Trinity: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

We see Thee as a radiant lamp of Orthodoxy amidst the darkness of ignorance, O God-chosen pastor of Christ's flock, our Father John. For even after Thy repose Thou dost speak the truth to the ignorant and give instruction to those who seek guidance and to all who cry to Thee:

Rejoice, radiance of divine wisdom to those in ignorance.

Rejoice, rainbow of quiet joys for the meek.

Rejoice, thunder to stubborn sinners.

Rejoice, lightning of the zeal of God. Rejoice, rain of God's dogmas.

Rejoice, shower of theological thoughts.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 12

Grace hath been poured out in the last days upon us all. Beholding this grace come forth from a holy hierarch who once did walk among us, let us receive it with reverence and thanksgiving, crying to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing in praise to God, the heavenly choir of saints rejoiceth that He hath not forsaken the fallen and unbelieving world, but hath manifested His almighty power in Thee, his meek and humble servant. O blessed John, with all the saints we greet Thee and give honor to Thee:

Rejoice, new star of righteousness shining in heaven's firmament.

Rejoice, new prophet who wast sent before the final unleashing of evil.

Rejoice, new Jonah warning all of the wages of sin.

Rejoice, new Baptist drawing all to a life of prayer and repentance.

Rejoice, new Paul suffering to preach the gospel in the spirit of truth.

Rejoice, new apostle whose miracles instill in us faith and awe.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 13

O holy and most wondrous Hierarch John, consolation for all the sorrowing, accept now our prayerful offering that through Thy prayers to our Lord we may be spared gehenna and by Thy God-pleasing intercession we may cry eternally: Alleluia. Thrice.

Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1 are read again.

Ikos 1

An angel in the flesh wast Thou manifested in the latter times by the grace of God Who ever careth for men. Seeing the beauty of Thy virtues, we Thy children now cry out to Thee.

Rejoice, Thou who didst live in virtue from earliest childhood.

Rejoice, Thou who didst ever live in fear of God and do His holy will.

Rejoice, Thou who didst manifest the grace of God in numberless virtues.

Rejoice, Thou who didst mystically hear the distant prayers of those in distress.

Rejoice, Thou who wast filled with love for Thy fellow men and didst do all possible for their salvation.

Rejoice, Thou who dost bring joy to all who pray to Thee in faith and love.

Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Kontakion 1

Chosen wonderworker and superb servant of Christ, who pourest out in the latter times inexhaustible streams of inspiration and a multitude of miracles. We praise Thee with love, and call out to Thee: Rejoice, O holy Hierarch John, wonderworker of the latter times.

Prayer

O beloved Hierarch John, while living amongst us thou didst see the future as if present, distant things as if near the hearts and minds of men as if they were thine own. We know that in this thou wast illumined by God, with Whom thou wast ever in the mystical communion of prayer, and with Whom thou now abidest eternally. As thou once didst hear the mental petitions of thy far-scattered flock even before they could speak to thee, so now hear our prayers and bring them before the Lord. Thou hast gone over unto the life unaging, unto the other world, yet thou art in truth not far from us, for heaven is closer to us than our own souls. Show us who feel frightened and alone the same compassion that thou didst once show to the trembling fatherless ones. Give to us who have fallen into sin, confusion and despair the same stern yet loving instruction that thou didst once give to thy chosen flock. In thee we see the living likeness of our Maker, the living spirit of the Gospel and the foundation of our Faith. In the pure life that thou hast led during our sinful times, we see a model of virtue, a source of instruction and inspiration. Beholding the grace bestowed upon thee, we know that God hath not abandoned His people. It is rather we that have fallen from Him, and so must regain the likeness of Divinity as thou hast done. Through thine intercession, O blessed one, grant that we may increase our striving toward our heavenly homeland, setting our affections on things above, laboring in prayer and virtue, waging war against the attacks of our fallen nature. Invoke the mercy of God, that we may one day join thee in His Kingdom. For our deepest wish is to live forever with Him, with the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

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