Akathist to Hieromartyr Cyprian

Praise of the martyr who turned to Christ, with prayer for deliverance from evil.

Kontakion 1

Chosen from the service of the devil for the service of the true God and numbered among the saints, hieromartyr Cyprian, pray to Christ God that we may be delivered from the snares of the evil one and overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, that we may cry to you:

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Ikos 1

The angelic powers marveled that you turned from the art of sorcery to the knowledge of God, divinely wise Cyprian, and through repentance attained the angelic life free from passions. Marveling at your conversion, we cry to you:

Rejoice, you who amazed the angels by your conversion; rejoice, you who gladdened the company of saints.

Rejoice, you who showed your wisdom; rejoice, you who received a crown for Christ.

Rejoice, for through you demons are driven away; rejoice, for through you every illness is healed.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 2

Seeing how Cyprian had been handed over by his ungodly parents from his earliest years to be taught the service of demons, the Lord willed to turn him to Himself, that with the angels and all the saints he might sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Your mind not yet ready for understanding things on high, you labored zealously, holy Cyprian, learning the deceitful arts of demons. But when you recognized their weakness, that they feared Christ, you turned to the knowledge of the true God. Therefore we magnify you:

Rejoice, you who overcame the devices of demons; rejoice, you who exposed the deception of serving the devil.

Rejoice, you who put the evil serpent to shame; rejoice, you who brought honor to Christians.

Rejoice, wiser than the wise of this world; rejoice, more discerning than those of understanding.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 3

The power of the Most High enlightened your mind, blessed Cyprian, when the demons, having failed in their sorcery against Justina, said to you: We fear and tremble before the power of the Cross, by which the virgin Justina drives us away. You answered: You fear the Cross, but He who was crucified upon the Cross is mightier than the Cross. Therefore you came to the Lord’s temple to sing with all the faithful: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

With his mind enlightened by power from above, Cyprian came to the priest and asked for Baptism; but the priest, fearing the sorcerer’s deceit, drove him away. Cyprian then hastened to the Lord’s temple, and during the Liturgy, when the deacon proclaimed, “Catechumens, depart,” he said: I will not leave the temple until I receive Baptism. Rejoicing that you had been brought to understanding, we sing to you:

Rejoice, enlightened by power from above; rejoice, instructed by the Lord.

Rejoice, you who recognized the power of the Cross; rejoice, you who drove the demons away from yourself.

Rejoice, you who set your life right; rejoice, you who directed your steps to the church.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 4

A storm of thoughts troubled Cyprian about how he might receive Baptism. Therefore he first took his books of sorcery, brought them to the center of the city, and burned them there, singing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

When the priest heard that you had the good intention of becoming a Christian, O all-wise one, he baptized you and appointed you a reader in the temple. Therefore we cry to you:

Rejoice, you who defeated the spirits of evil; rejoice, you who burned the books of sorcery.

Rejoice, you who desired to become a Christian; rejoice, you who received holy Baptism.

Rejoice, adorned with ascetic labors and virtues; rejoice, instructed by the priest.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 5

Having received the garment of holy Baptism woven by God, all-praised Cyprian, you prayed fervently to God for the forgiveness of your former sins, singing to God on behalf of all Christians: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing your ascetic struggles and labors, hieromartyr Cyprian—your fasting, vigils through many nights, kneeling, repentance, tears, and prayers—the priest, after testing you, ordained you a deacon. Giving thanks to God, we praise you:

Rejoice, you who cried to God with repentance day and night; rejoice, you who prayed for forgiveness of sins.

Rejoice, you who showed an example of amendment; rejoice, you who offered tearful prayers to the Lord.

Rejoice, you who came to know the path of salvation; rejoice, you who revealed burning love for Christ.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 6

Taking the virgin Justina as a model of Christian devotion, hieromartyr Cyprian, you truly became a perfect Christian. For after receiving Baptism you rejected the ungodly teaching and, with your lips and a pure heart, sang to God in thanksgiving: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

The light of divine perfection shone in your heart, divinely wise Cyprian, and you attained the rank of priest and later of bishop. We pray to you: through your prayers enlighten our hearts also, as we fervently entreat you:

Rejoice, consecrated to the rank of bishop; rejoice, raised to the height of an eagle.

Rejoice, city set upon a mountain; rejoice, lamp burning before God.

Rejoice, tireless intercessor before Christ; rejoice, teacher given by God.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 7

Willing that all should be saved, the Lord gave us this intercessor, defender, and healer against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. For by your teaching and words, O herald of God, you brought many to repentance and the amendment of their sinful lives, teaching all to sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

You appeared to the world as a new and most wise physician, hieromartyr Cyprian, for the devices of sorcery cannot withstand your prayer; the assaults of wicked people and evil demons are immediately broken and driven away. Seeing the power God has given you, we cry to you:

Rejoice, destroyer of sorcerous plots; rejoice, you who drive away dreadful demons.

Rejoice, before whom the spirits of evil vanish like smoke; rejoice, swift helper of those grievously tormented.

Rejoice, deliverer from troubles and sorrows; rejoice, you who turn suffering into joy.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 8

A wondrous miracle is revealed to those who come to you in faith, hieromartyr Cyprian: through the grace God has given you, demons tormenting people are driven out, and the sick are healed as they cry to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

Lifting your whole heart to God, O glorious one, and loving Him with all your soul, you strove and desired to do His will. Like a good shepherd, you did not reject those weighed down by troubles, but intercede in prayer before God, granting us healing and consolation. Therefore, praising your love for the Lord, we cry to you:

Rejoice, you who loved Christ with your whole heart; rejoice, you who acquired every virtue.

Rejoice, help of the sick and the paralyzed; rejoice, consolation in sorrows and grief.

Rejoice, you who drive away the assaults and temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; rejoice, healer of every illness of soul and body.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 9

The whole angelic army rejoiced, father, seeing you, a soldier of the Heavenly King, steadfastly and boldly proclaiming Christ when you were led with Justina to be beheaded. Concerned for her, lest she deny Christ on seeing you beheaded, you said to her: Let them behead you first. And bowing your heads beneath the sword, you sang to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Eloquent speakers cannot worthily praise your sufferings for Christ, for you did not fear cruel threats but stood with radiant faces before the emperor’s tribunal, moving all the faithful to say to you:

Rejoice, steadfast confessors of the faith of Christ; rejoice, bold preachers of the Most Holy Trinity.

Rejoice, you who laid down your lives for Christ; rejoice, you who counted cruel torments as nothing.

Rejoice, for the faithful glorify your sufferings; rejoice, for your names are magnified in the temples of God.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 10

Desiring to save the souls of all possessed by unclean spirits, never cease to call upon the Lord, Cyprian, herald of God; for you have been given grace to pray for us, that, having received mercy and cleansing, we may sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

Be a firm wall and a strong defense for us, hieromartyr Cyprian, as we seek your help with fervent faith and love; for sheltered from enemies visible and invisible and delivered through you, we will glorify you thus:

Rejoice, you who overcame the spirit of evil by humility; rejoice, you who burned the enemy’s arrows with the fire of prayer.

Rejoice, wall and defense against enemies visible and invisible; rejoice, glorious adornment of the Orthodox Church.

Rejoice, wondrous help of those abandoned by physicians; rejoice, dearly loved consolation and gladness of the sorrowful.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 11

More than others, hieromartyr Cyprian, you offered unceasing praise to the Most Holy Trinity, who in mercy toward fallen sinners was pleased to make the unworthy worthy and to number them among the holy flock. Giving thanks to God for such mercy toward us sinners, we cry to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

You were a radiant candle in the Church of Christ, divinely wise one, enlightening the souls of the faithful with immaterial light. We pray to you: enlighten our hearts also, darkened by sins, that we may sing to you:

Rejoice, illumined by the threefold radiance; rejoice, numbered among the company of saints.

Rejoice, for with immaterial light you enlighten the souls of the faithful; rejoice, for you guide the lost to the right path.

Rejoice, drawn by the Savior like a sheep from the pit of destruction; rejoice, shame of demons and joy of mankind.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 12

You have been given grace by God to trample down the enemy’s power and every attack of Satan, for you overcame your enemies and sealed your faith in Christ by the struggle of martyrdom. Now, standing before the throne of the King of glory, pray, all-blessed Cyprian, that we may be delivered from captivity to the devil and cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing of your faithfulness to God and your wondrous, glorious miracles, we magnify and praise you, hieromartyr Cyprian, for you received such grace from God. Therefore we pray to you: when at the hour of our death the demonic hosts surround our souls, show us your protection, that, delivered through you, we may cry to you:

Rejoice, swift defense against the oncoming forces of the enemy; rejoice, deliverance from every kind of sorrow and grief.

Rejoice, you who loved Christ to the end; rejoice, you who laid down your life for Him.

Rejoice, washed in the blood of the Lamb; rejoice, dwelling in the courts of the Lord.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 13

O most wondrous and glorious servant of God, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper of all who come to you, accept our song of praise from us, the unworthy. Yes, we pray to you, holy hierarch: heal us of our many illnesses, protect us from enemies visible and invisible, and entreat the Lord that we may be delivered from eternal torment, so that with you we may sing: Alleluia.

Read this kontakion three times, then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1.

Ikos 1

Rejoice, you who amazed the angels by your conversion; rejoice, you who gladdened the company of saints.

Rejoice, you who showed your wisdom; rejoice, you who received a crown for Christ.

Rejoice, for through you demons are driven away; rejoice, for through you every illness is healed.

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 1

Rejoice, hieromartyr Cyprian, swift helper and intercessor for our souls.