Akathist to Saint Philaret the Merciful

Kontakion 1

To You, O camel who passed through the eye of the needle, we offer thanks and praise: for you gave of your wealth to the poor, as an offering to Christ. Christ God received your gift as a loan, repaying you exorbitantly, in this transient life and in Heaven.

Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Ikos 1

You had earthly wealth, you knew true treasure: You made use of your possessions but never trusted them, for in you is the Kingdom of God and your treasure house was Heaven. Wherefore you hear these praises which we offer to you:

Rejoice, illustrious and wealthy, noble who knew true wealth!
Rejoice, you were ever mindful of the poor!
Rejoice, You knew your deeds to the poor are deeds done to Christ!
Rejoice, You knew true wealth from false!
Rejoice, You knew that we can take nothing from the world!
Rejoice, You knew that the righteous would never be forsaken!
Rejoice, You gave ever more than was asked!
Rejoice, You withheld not your last ounce of wheat!
Rejoice, You gave all six bushels to one who asked for a little!
Rejoice, You whose friend gave you forty bushels thereafter!
Rejoice, You trusted in the Lord with all your heart!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 2

You knew treasure enough to feed your household for a hundred years without work: And you were true to your name, Philaret or “Lover of Virtue”, even when your own wife saw not the horses on the mountain and chariots of fire which surround the true lover of virtue. But with eyes raised to fiery Heaven, we cry out with you: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

You invited your own to join your love of virtue, and your own received not your invitation. But your invitation remains open, and we who receive your invitation and hearken to the open door cry out to you in praise:

Rejoice, diadem of married life in the world!
Rejoice, You knew virtue as treasure!
Rejoice, You fed a household out of the treasure house of your virtue!
Rejoice, You knew not the greed of Midas’s curse!
Rejoice, Your gifts would multiply and enrich the recipient!
Rejoice, You were generous when he was rich!
Rejoice, You were raided by marauders and you became no less generous!
Rejoice, You trusted God when you had much and when you had little!
Rejoice, You knew that riches profit not in the day of wrath!
Rejoice, You whose virtue profited in easy times and hard times alike!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 3

Many a generous beggar will give his last penny, while few rich men will give to you from his hedge of protection. We behold a wonder in you, who was rich, illustrious, and of noble lineage, and esteemed these not. Your hedge of protection was the Lord God, and virtue and treasure in Heaven, and you were generous unto your uttermost farthing. To you, a rich man more generous than a beggar, we cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

You transcended the virtues of pagan philosophy: fortitude, justice, prudence, and temperance, the virtues of a well lived earthly life. But you knew the Christian, deiform virtues: faith, hope, and love, the virtues of a Heavenly life already present in an egg in life on earth. Wherefore we cry out to You:

Rejoice, O You whose fortitude sought no protection from earthly treasures!
Rejoice, O You whose justice transcended human reckoning!
Rejoice, O You whose prudence was the Wisdom who is Christ!
Rejoice, O You whose temperance sought from earthly things nothing in excess of what they could give!
Rejoice, O You whose faith trusted that Christ would faithfully provide!
Rejoice, O You whose hope in God was never disappointed!
Rejoice, O You whose love refrained from sharing neither virtue nor earthly possessions!
Rejoice, O You whose joy flowed in easy times and hard!
Rejoice, O You whose peace flowed from the silence of Heaven!
Rejoice, O You whose generosity was perfect!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 4

We will forever underestimate your generosity if we merely count what You gave against what much or little property you possess, for your open hand was a shadow and an icon of the vast wealth You held in the generous treasure in Heaven, and this vast treasure You laid hold to as Philaret, lover of virtue, which is to say lover of treasures in Heaven, eclipse your generosity with mere earthly property as the sun eclipses the moon—no, as the sun eclipses a candle! Wherefore, with you who hoarded true treasure, we cry: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

Beseech the Lord God that we also might seek true treasure in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrodes and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherefore we cry out in wonder to You:

Rejoice, O You who drunk from the wellspring of Truth!
Rejoice, O You who were fed by the Tree of Life!
Rejoice, O You who knew silver from dross!
Rejoice, O You who never grasped at dross because you clung to the Treasure for whom every treasure is named!
Rejoice, O You who esteemed men of humble birth because you quested after the royal priesthood!
Rejoice, O You who grasped treasure next to which every earthly endowment is but dust and ashes!
Rejoice, O You who counted the poor and needy as more precious than gold!
Rejoice, O You who cast away shadows to behold the Sun of Righteousness!
Rejoice, O You who never forsook the Lord!
Rejoice, O You whom the Lord never abandoned!
Rejoice, O You who found that not one of His good promises has failed!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 5

Ever seeking Christ, You became yourself like Christ, the source and the summit of all virtue. Wishing to imitate you as you imitated Christ, we cry unto you: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

Every virtue is an icon of Christ, an icon not before us, but in us. Seeking after the virtues as we seek Christ, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, O You divine lover of virtue!
Rejoice, O You who knew the Source of virtue!
Rejoice, O You whose virtue was an imprint of Christ!
Rejoice, O You who perfected the divine image with voluntary likeness!
Rejoice, O You who teaches us virtue in the Christian walk!
Rejoice, O You ever willing to share not only possessions but virtue!
Rejoice, O You in whom Christ sat enthroned on virtue!
Rejoice, O You who in virtue loved and served God!
Rejoice, O volume wherein the Word was inscribed in the ink of the virtues!
Rejoice, O You who ever banishes passions!
Rejoice, O polished mirror refulgent with the uncreated Light!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 6

Eating from the Tree of Life, You became yourself a tree of life, to the nourishment of many. Hungering for life-giving food, we cry with you: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

Sown in good soil, you bore fruit thirty, sixty, a hundredfold. Wherefore we cry unto you:

Rejoice, O You who were food to the hungry!
Rejoice, O You who were wealth to the destitute!
Rejoice, O You who were a robe of boldness to the naked!
Rejoice, O You who gave abundantly out of your abundance!
Rejoice, O You who gave abundantly out of lack and want!
Rejoice, O You who were God’s abundance to your neighbor!
Rejoice, O You who never merely gave money or property!
Rejoice, O You who always gave with a blessing!
Rejoice, O You who loved Christ in your neighbor!
Rejoice, O You tree whose shade sheltered many!
Rejoice, O You river who irrigated vast lands!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 7

Blessed art You, O holy Father Philaret the Merciful! Merciful were you, and you received mercy, wherefore we cry with you: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

Feeding the hungry is greater work than raising the dead! Wherefore we ask of you no miracle, O merciful Father Philaret, for you showed the continual miracle of mercy, and we cry unto you:

Rejoice, O You who gave the very last you had!
Rejoice, O You who received recompense from Christ thereafter!
Rejoice, O You who withheld nothing from him who asked of you!
Rejoice, O You who wherewith withheld nothing from Christ!
Rejoice, O You who clung not to gold!
Rejoice, O You who clung to the Light next to which gold is as dust!
Rejoice, O wise one who made blessings as abundant as dust!
Rejoice, O You who were ever full of mercy!
Rejoice, O You whose mercy was as a lamp!
Rejoice, O You who firmly beheld the invisible!
Rejoice, O You whose faith worked mercy through love!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 8

Rejoice, You who will stand before Christ’s dread judgment throne numbered among those who hear: Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungry, and you gave me meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. And you will cry with the blessed saints: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

Knowing that no man can love God whom he cannot see except that he loves his neighbor whom he has seen, You were ever merciful, wherefore we cry unto You:

Rejoice, O You who fed Christ when He was hungry!
Rejoice, O You who gave Christ to drink when He was athirst!
Rejoice, O You who showed Christ hospitality when He came a stranger!
Rejoice, O You who clothed Christ when He was naked!
Rejoice, O You who visited Christ when He was sick!
Rejoice, O You who came to Christ when He was in prison!
Rejoice, O You who met the least of these and saw Christ!
Rejoice, O You who called every man your brother!
Rejoice, O You who saw no man as outside of God’s love!
Rejoice, O You perfect in mercy as your Heavenly Father is perfect in mercy!
Rejoice, O lamp ever scintillating with the Light of Heaven!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 9

All the angels were amazed at the excellence of your virtue, for your name “Philaret” is not only “Lover of Virtue” but “Lover of Excellence”, for in you excellence, virtue, and power are one and the same. Wherefore you joined the angels in crying: Alleluia!

Ikos 9

Even the most eloquent of orators cannot explain how your virtue excels, for they cannot explain how in every circumstance you sought out and loved virtue. But we marvel and cry out faithfully:

Rejoice, O rich man who cared for the poor!
Rejoice, O illustrious man who cared for men of no account!
Rejoice, O excellent in virtue in times of advantage!
Rejoice, O excellent in virtue in times of suffering as well!
Rejoice, O man who held great treasure and you ever fixed his eyes upon true Treasure!
Rejoice, O You who in every circumstance found an arena for excellent virtue!
Rejoice, O You who were ever an excellent worshipper of God!
Rejoice, O You who in the world escaped the Devil’s snares!
Rejoice, O You who unmasked hollow Mammon!
Rejoice, O You who found harbor on the sea of life!
Rejoice, O You who by loving virtue loved Christ!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 10

Your life was a living manuscript of the Sermon on the Mount, for even Solomon in his splendor had not raiment like unto your faith. Beholding your splendor we cry with you: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

You stored up possessions wherewith not to worry: not fickle and corruptible treasure on earth, but constant and incorruptible treasure in Heaven. Wherefore we cry unto you:

Rejoice, O You who however rich were poor in spirit!
Rejoice, O You who mourned your neighbor’s unhappiness!
Rejoice, O You meek before your neighbor’s suffering!
Rejoice, O You who hungered and thirsted for justice and all virtue!
Rejoice, O You mirror of mercy!
Rejoice, O You who remained pure in heart!
Rejoice, O You who made deepest peace!
Rejoice, O living mirror of the Beatitudes!
Rejoice, O You soaring as the birds of the air!
Rejoice, O You who were devoted to one Master, and despised all others!
Rejoice, O living exposition of the Sermon on the Mount!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 11

You were as the widow who bereaved herself even of her last two farthings: not only gave she more than all the others, but she who gave up her creaturely life received the uncreated, immortal, and eternal life. Like her, you were a vessel empty enough to fill, wherefore we cry with you: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

You were a second Job, steadfast while satan tore off your belongings to show that there was nothing inside. Wherefore, we cry to you who ever persevered:

Rejoice, O You worshiper of God in plenty and in need!
Rejoice, O You icon of perseverance and faith!
Rejoice, O You generous with your coin and generous with your virtue!
Rejoice, O You phoenix ever arisen from your very ashes!
Rejoice, O You saint immobile in your dispassion!
Rejoice, O You who in want showed the truth of your generosity in easy times!
Rejoice, O You who ever blessed the name of the Lord!
Rejoice, O You who with many possessions loved them not!
Rejoice, O You who with few possessions loved them no more!
Rejoice, O You who remained stalwart while satan tore away what was yours, to show there was nothing inside!
Rejoice, O You who were vindicated when God peeled off the nothing and showed there was everything inside!
Rejoice, O You who vindicated God as did Job!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 12

You had no food in the house, when imperial emissaries came looking for a bride for the Emperor: You rich in Heaven, in trust you began preparations to honorably meet the imperial emissaries. And your neighbors came and brought food, a fitting feast, and the imperial emissaries found your granddaughter finest in virtue and modesty, choosing her for her excellence to become Empress. Wherefore we cry with you: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

When all this had come to pass, in your virtue, in your excellence, you knew what is real treasure. In your virtue and humility, you refused all imperial rank and office, saying that it sufficed you to be known as grandfather to the Empress. Wherefore, amazed, we cry to you:

Rejoice, O You who knew true Treasure!
Rejoice, O You who were lover of virtue and excellence!
Rejoice, O You who were rich and cared for the poor!
Rejoice, O You who lost almost all and still opened your hand!
Rejoice, O You who became grandfather to the Empress while remaining ever humble!
Rejoice, O You who were illustrious and noble you cherished those of low estate!
Rejoice, O You who were razed nigh unto the earth, and ever remained excellent as a lover of virtue!
Rejoice, O You who were raised nigh unto Heaven, and ever remained humble as a lover of virtue!
Rejoice, O You who sought first the Kingdom of Heaven!
Rejoice, O You who were given all other things as well!
Rejoice, O You who even then fixed his virtuous gaze on Christ!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 13

O holy Father Philaret whose excellence was virtue and whose virtue was excellence, whose power was virtue and whose virtue was power, who was ever merciful and generous out of your overflowing virtue, ever protected by the Kingdom of God, pray for us as we cry unto You: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

(Repeat the above Kontakion 13, 3 times)
(Then continue below)

Ikos 1

You had earthly wealth, you knew true treasure: You made use of your possessions but never trusted them, for in you is the Kingdom of God and your treasure house was Heaven. Wherefore you hear these praises which we offer to you:

Rejoice, illustrious and wealthy, noble who knew true wealth!
Rejoice, you were ever mindful of the poor!
Rejoice, You knew your deeds to the poor are deeds done to Christ!
Rejoice, You knew true wealth from false!
Rejoice, You knew that we can take nothing from the world!
Rejoice, You knew that the righteous would never be forsaken!
Rejoice, You gave ever more than was asked!
Rejoice, You withheld not your last ounce of wheat!
Rejoice, You gave all six bushels to one who asked for a little!
Rejoice, You whose friend gave you forty bushels thereafter!
Rejoice, You trusted in the Lord with all your heart!
Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!

Kontakion 1

To You, O camel who passed through the eye of the needle, we offer thanks and praise: for you gave of your wealth to the poor, as an offering to Christ. Christ God received your gift as a loan, repaying you exorbitantly, in this transient life and in Heaven.

Rejoice, O flowing fountain of Heaven’s treasures!