3' 2" reading time
An archangel was sent from heaven to say to the Theotokos, "Rejoice!"
And seeing You, O Lord, taking bodily form,
he was astounded, and stood crying out to her:
Rejoice, you through whom joy will shine forth!
Rejoice, you through whom the curse will disappear!
Rejoice, restoration of fallen Adam!
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!
Rejoice, height hard to climb for human thoughts!
Rejoice, depth hard to explore even for the eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for you are the throne of the King!
Rejoice, for you bear Him who bears all!
Rejoice, star that shows forth the Sun!
Rejoice, womb of the divine incarnation!
Rejoice, you through whom creation is renewed!
Rejoice, you through whom the Creator becomes a babe!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Seeing herself pure, the holy one spoke boldly to Gabriel:
The strangeness of your words seems hard for my soul to accept.
How do you speak of a birth from a seedless conception, crying: Alleluia!
Seeking to understand this incomprehensible knowledge,
the Virgin cried to the ministering angel:
How can a Son be born from my pure womb? Tell me!
To whom he answered with fear, yet crying out:
Rejoice, initiate of ineffable counsel!
Rejoice, faith in that which must be kept silent!
Rejoice, prelude of Christ’s miracles!
Rejoice, pinnacle of His commandments!
Rejoice, heavenly ladder by which God came down!
Rejoice, bridge leading those of earth to heaven!
Rejoice, wonder most renowned among angels!
Rejoice, wound most lamented by demons!
Rejoice, you who ineffably gave birth to the Light!
Rejoice, you who revealed the mystery to none!
Rejoice, wisdom surpassing the knowledge of the wise!
Rejoice, dawn that illumines the minds of the faithful!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
The power of the Most High then overshadowed
the blameless Virgin that she might conceive,
and made her fruitful womb
as a fertile field for all those who desire to reap salvation,
singing: Alleluia!
Carrying God within her womb,
the Virgin hastened to Elizabeth,
whose unborn child at once recognized her greeting,
and rejoiced, leaping with joy,
and with songs he cried out to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, vine bearing the unfading bloom!
Rejoice, land yielding the untainted fruit!
Rejoice, you who tend the loving Farmer!
Rejoice, you who cultivate the Planter of our life!
Rejoice, field yielding an abundance of mercies!
Rejoice, table laden with an abundance of grace!
Rejoice, for you make the meadow bloom with life!
Rejoice, for you prepare a haven for our souls!
Rejoice, acceptable incense of intercession!
Rejoice, expiation of all the world!
Rejoice, goodwill of God to mortals!
Rejoice, boldness of mortals before God!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
Fearing a wicked plot,
Joseph was troubled,
and in his perplexity thought to divorce you in secret,
O blameless one.
But when he learned that your conception was from the Holy Spirit,
he cried: Alleluia!
Hearing the angels praising the incarnation of Christ,
the shepherds hastened to Him as to a shepherd,
and beholding Him as a spotless Lamb pastured
in Mary’s womb, they sang to her:
Rejoice, Mother of the Lamb and the Shepherd!
Rejoice, fold of the rational sheep!
Rejoice, protection against unseen foes!
Rejoice, key to the doors of Paradise!
Rejoice, for heaven exults with earth!
Rejoice, for the earth rejoices with heaven!
Rejoice, never-silent voice of the apostles!
Rejoice, never-conquered courage of the martyrs!
Rejoice, firm support of the Faith!
Rejoice, shining revelation of grace!
Rejoice, you through whom Hades was stripped bare!
Rejoice, you through whom we are clothed with glory!
Rejoice, O Bride Unwedded!
