Biography Akathist

Akathist of the Blessed Virgin Mary Akathist, or “Non -family song”, is a poetic work that is close in its form to the ancient kondak and is genetically connected with it. The time of writing and the history of the origin of the akathist from the kondak is vague and by this time are the subject of scientific disputes. Initially, the akathist was a unique work dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and allegedly appeared in the 7th century.

The akathist arose as a modified version of the ancient kondak and was probably formed in 3 stages: at first, a condak appeared in the VI century, consisting of 24 stanzas, united by acrostic from complete Greek alphabet; This kondak was devoted to the Annunciation or, more likely, the birth of Christ. There is an assumption that the author of this kondak could be the Monk Roman Sweet -Maiden.

Then, most likely, in the 7th century, as an expression of gratitude to the Virgin for the victory in the war with the Persians in the stanzas of Kondak, the appeals “Rejoice ...” were added through 12 to each odd stanza, which are also called “hyiretisms” or “heiretisms” from the Greek. In the VIII century, the initial stanza was attached to the akathist, the “selected governor ...” and the akathist the Virgin found his final form.

As a result, the standard akathist began to have 13 condaks and 12 icos, which alternate alternately; At the same time, all icos end with the same refrain as the first introductory kondak - “Rejoice, bronnote unnecessary! The Akathist of the Blessed Virgin Mary, due to their historical significance for distinction from other, later akathists, is sometimes called a “great akathist” or simply “akathist”.

The liturgical use of the akathist of the Blessed Virgin Mary is prescribed by our typicon on the 5th Saturday of Great Lent on the morning this holiday is called the “praise of the Virgin”. Also among the Greeks, it is customary to sing this akathist in parts during the first 4 week on the hanger on Fridays. Acathists of the new and modern times over time due to his beauty and literary sophistication, the akathist of the Blessed Virgin Mary began to cause imitation.

Thus, the word "akathist" became the name of a special genre of spiritual near -liturgical poetry. Other akathists, as an imitation of the “great akathist”, began to appear only from the XIV century, but until the XIX century this genre was not popular and therefore a small number of akathists were written, of which not everyone has been preserved. Starting from the X, thanks to the activities of the Archbishop of Kherson Innocent Borisov, there is a surge of akathic creativity in Russia; In the 2nd half of the XIX-XX century, Akathists were written by all the revered icons of the Mother of God and all more or less famous saints.

At the end of the 20th century, as a result of a church revival in Russia, the compilation of akathists received a new impulse; Currently, different authors “try their strength” in the writing of the akathists, after these akathists are considered by the Synodal Service Commission.

The approved and approved akathists are printed both by separate books and in collections - akathist. Many of the akathists compiled in later times were loved by the people because of their simplicity and understandability, however, in the Theological Plan, the content of many akathists is significantly inferior to other church chants all the more modern akathists do not go into any comparison with ancient stichera, condaces and canons.

Archimandrite Kiprian Kern even acts with a sharp criticism of modern akathists: “... all the endless number of especially in Russia spread by akathists is nothing more than a wretched and unprecedented effort to rephrase the classic akathist. The modern use of akathists does not have all new akathists of legal liturgical use. However, in the temples there is a tradition to regularly serve the akathists to the temple saint and on the days of revered holidays; In St.

Petersburg, it is customary to insert the akathists into the rank of Vespers, in most dioceses - in adultery of the utensils instead of kafism. This practice is an artificial innovation. In particular, Archimandrite Kiprian Kern resolutely spoke out against the singing of the akathist in the matinee: “... replacing the Akathist Kafism Psaltiri, as it is, alas! However, taking into account the attachment to the akathists, which is present in the clergy and the believing people, you can recommend them for cell reading, and in the temple - only singing when serving prayers 3, that is, outside the worship of the daily circle, where the akathists are completely not provided for by the charter.

Perhaps this use of akathists will be the only right. Notes 1 Cyprian Kern, archim. Gymnography and eortology. Chekhov “Holy at night” - is it difficult to write akathists? Monks who do not understand, argue that for this you only need to know the life of the saint to whom you write, and to think with other akathists. But this, sir, is wrong. It, of course, who writes the akathist, he must know the life to the extreme, to the last self -losing point.

Well, you need to think with other akathists how to start and what to write about.For example, to tell you, the first kondak everywhere begins with the “forbidden” or “chosen” first icos must always start with the angel. In the akathist to Jesus the sweetest, if you are interested, he begins as follows: “Angels creative and Lord of the Forces”, in the akathist to the Blessed Virgin Mary: “The angel is sent to the heaven, to Nikolai the miracle worker:“ Angel in the way, earthly border by nature ”and so on.

Everywhere with an angel begins. Of course, without that, it is impossible not to understand, but the main thing is not in life, not in accordance with the other, but in beauty and sweets. It is necessary that everything be harmonious, briefly and thoroughly. It is necessary that in every stitch there is softness, affection and tenderness, so that not a single word be rude, hard or inappropriate.

So it is necessary to write so that the praying heart rejoices and cries, and shuddered with his mind and tremble. In the Mother of God Akathist there are words: “Rejoice, height, unimportant by human thoughts; Rejoice, depth, uncontented and angelic clearance! The Lord will give such an ability! For brevity, he will make a lot of words and thoughts into one word and how it all comes out smoothly and thoroughly!

Such words are not in conversation, nor in books, but he came up with it, found it in his mind! In addition to smoothness and blorying, sir, it is also necessary that each scent is decorated in every possible way, so that there are flowers here, lightning, and the wind, and the sun, and all objects of the world visible. And any exclamation must be made up so that it is smooth for the wolfrenaya ear.

It is not said simply “Crina Paradise”, but “Krina Rayskago Veasure”! So ironed and sweet. Quotes about the akathist “Embactly used akathists for home, cell prayer rule, of course, cannot be elected, although it would be necessary to wish that the soul of the believer and its aesthetic church feeling be more likely pure poetry of psalms, stichera, or oh! But the replacement of the caapism of Psaltiri, like this, alas!