The Akathist Hymn: "Glory to God for All Things"

This Akathist, also called the "Akathist of Thanksgiving,"
was composed by Protopresbyter Gregory Petrov
shortly before his death in a prison camp in 1940. The
title is from the words of Saint John Chrysostom as he
was dying in exile. It is a song of praise from amidst the
most terrible sufferings.

(Chanting Key: / = re me fa ; \ fa me re ; _ = do
do re ' ~ = re me do re : ^ la re re re re etc.

Kontakion 1: /Everlasting King, Thy will for our
salvation is \ full of power. /Thy right arm controls the
whole course _ of human life. / We give Thee thanks for
all Thy mercies, seen and \ unseen. ~ For eternal life,
/for the heavenly joys of the Kingdom which \ is to
be. /Grant mercy to us who sing Thy \ praise, ~both
now and in the time to come.
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age.

Ikos 1: /I was born a weak, defenceless \child, /but
Thine angel spread his wings over my cradle _ to defend
me. /From birth until now Thy love has illumined my
\path, ~and has wondrously guided me ~towards the
light of eternity; /from birth until now the generous
gifts of Thy providence have been marvelously
showered \upon me. ~I give Thee thanks, ~with all who
have come to know Thee, ~who call upon Thy name.
/Glory to Thee for calling me \into being
/Glory to Thee, for showing me the beauty \of the
universe
/Glory to Thee, spreading out before me heaven
and \earth
~Like the pages in a book ~of eternal wisdom
/Glory to Thee for Thine eternity in this fleeting
\world
/Glory to Thee for Thy mercies, _seen and unseen
/Glory to Thee through every sigh \of my sorrow
/Glory to Thee for every step _of my life's journey
~For every moment of glory
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 2: ^O Lord, how lovely it is to ~be Thy guest.
^Breeze full of scents; mountains reaching ~to the
skies; ^waters like boundless mirrors, reflecting the
sun's golden rays and ~the scudding clouds. /All nature
murmurs mysteriously, breathing the \depth of
tenderness. /Birds and beasts of the forest bear the
_imprint of Thy love. /Blessed art thou, mother earth,
in thy \fleeting loveliness, ~which wakens our yearning
~for happiness that will last for ever, ~in the land
where, amid beauty that grows not old, ~the cry rings
out: ~Alleluia!

Ikos 2: ^Thou hast brought me into life as into an
enchanted paradise. ^We have seen the sky like a
chalice of deepest blue, /where in the azure heights the
_birds are singing. ^We have listened to the soothing
murmur of the forest and ~the melodious music of the
streams. ^We have tasted fruit of fine flavour and the
~sweet-scented honey. ^We can live very well on Thine
earth. ^It is a pleasure to ~be Thy guest.
/Glory to Thee for the Feast \Day of life
/Glory to Thee for the perfume _of lilies and roses
/Glory to Thee for each different taste of \berry and
fruit
/Glory to Thee for the sparkling silver ~of early
morning dew
/Glory to Thee for the joy of \dawn's awakening
/Glory to Thee for the new life _each day brings
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 3 ^It is the Holy Spirit who makes us find
~joy in each flower, ^the exquisite scent, ~the delicate
colour, /the beauty of the Most High in the _tiniest of
things. /Glory and honour to the Spirit, the \Giver of
Life, /who covers the fields with their \carpet of
flowers, /crowns the harvest with gold, and gives to us
the joy of gazing at it _with our eyes. /O be joyful and
sing to Him: \Alleluia!

Ikos 3 /How glorious art Thou in the \springtime, /when
every creature awakes to new life and joyfully sings Thy
praises _with a thousand tongues. /Thou art the Source
of Life, the \Destroyer of Death. ~By the light of the
moon, _nightingales sing, /and the valleys and hills lie
like \wedding garments, _white as snow. /All the earth
is Thy promised bride awaiting her \spotless
husband. /If the grass of the field is like this, how
gloriously shall we be transfigured in the \Second
Coming /after the Resurrection! How splendid our
bodies, _how spotless our souls!
/Glory to Thee, bringing from the depth of the earth
an endless \variety of colours,
~tastes and scents
/Glory to Thee for the warmth and tenderness of
the \world of nature
/Glory to Thee for the numberless _creatures around
us
/Glory to Thee for the depths of \Thy wisdom, ~the
whole world ~a living sign of it
/Glory to Thee; on my knees, I kiss the traces of
Thine \unseen hand
/Glory to Thee, enlightening us with the clearness _of
eternal life
/Glory to Thee for the hope of the unutterable,
imperishable beauty of \immortality
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 4 ^How filled with sweetness are those
whose thoughts dwell on Thee; ^how life-giving Thy
holy Word. ^To speak with Thee is more soothing than
anointing with oil; ^sweeter than the honeycomb. /To
pray to Thee lifts the \spirit, ~refreshes the soul.
/Where Thou art not, there is on_ly emptiness; /hearts
are smitten with sadness; nature, and life itself, become
\sorrowful; /where Thou art, the soul is _filled with
abundance, ~and its song resounds ~like a torrent of
life: ~Alleluia!

Ikos 4 /When the sun is setting, when quietness falls
like the peace of \eternal sleep, /and the silence of the
_spent day reigns, /then in the splendour of its
\declining rays, /filtering through the clouds, _I see Thy
dwelling-place: ~fiery and purple, gold and blue, /they
speak prophet-like of the ineffable beauty \of Thy
presence, ~and call to us in their majesty. ~We turn to
the Father.
/Glory to Thee at the hushed hour \of nightfall
/Glory to Thee, covering the earth _with peace
/Glory to Thee for the last ray of the sun \as it sets
/Glory to Thee for sleep's repose _that restores us
/Glory to Thee for Thy goodness even in the \time of
darkness
~When all the world ~is hidden from our eyes
/Glory to Thee for the prayers offered by a \trembling
soul
/Glory to Thee for the pledge _of our reawakening
~On that glorious last day, ~that day which has no
evening
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 5 ^The dark storm clouds of life bring no
terror to those in whose hearts Thy fire is burning
brightly. ^Outside is the darkness of the whirlwind, the
terror and howling of the storm, ^but in the heart, in
the presence of Christ, ~there is light and peace,
silence: ~Alleluia!

Ikos 5 /I see Thine heavens re\splendent with stars.
/How glorious art Thou _radiant with light! /Eternity
watches me by the rays of the \distant stars. ~I am
small, insignificant, _but the Lord is at my side. /Thy
right arm guides me _wherever I go.
/Glory to Thee, ceaselessly \watching over me
/Glory to Thee for the encounters _Thou dost arrange
for me
/Glory to Thee for the love of parents, for the
\faithfulness of friends
/Glory to Thee for the humbleness ~of the animals
which serve me
/Glory to Thee for the unforgettable \moments of life
/Glory to Thee _for the heart's innocent joy
/Glory to Thee for the \joy of living
/Moving and being able _to return Thy love
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 6 ^How great and how close art Thou in the
powerful track of the storm! ^How mighty Thy right
arm in the blinding flash of the lightning! ^How
awesome Thy majesty! /The voice of the Lord fills the
fields, it speaks in the \rustling of the trees. /The voice
of the Lord is in the thunder _and the downpour. /The
voice of the Lord is heard a\bove the waters. ~Praise be
to Thee ~in the roar of mountains ablaze. /Thou dost
shake the earth _like a garment; /Thou dost pile up to
the sky the _waves of the sea. /Praise be to Thee,
bringing low _the pride of man. ~Thou dost bring from
his heart ~a cry of Penitence: ~Alleluia!

Ikos 6 /When the lightning flash has lit up the \camp
dining hall, ~how feeble seems the light from the
lamp. /Thus do You, like the lightning, unexpectedly
\light up my heart ~with flashes of intense joy. /After
Thy blinding light, how drab, how colourless, how
illusory _all else seems. ~My souls clings to Thee.
/Glory to Thee, the highest peak of \men's dreaming
/Glory to Thee for our unquenchable thirst _for
communion with God
/Glory to Thee, making us dissatisfied with \earthly
things
/Glory to Thee, turning on us _Thine healing rays
/Glory to Thee, subduing the power of the \spirits of
darkness
_And dooming to death _every evil
/Glory to Thee for the signs \of Thy presence
~For the joy of hearing Thy voice ~and living in Thy
love
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 7 ^In the wondrous blending of sounds it is
Thy call we hear; ^in the harmony of many voices, ^in
the sublime beauty of music, ^in the glory of the works
of great composers: /Thou leadest us to the threshold
of \paradise to come, ~and to the choirs of angels. /All
true beauty has the power to draw the soul \towards
Thee, ~and to make it sing ~in ecstasy: ~Alleluia!

Ikos 7 /The breath of Thine Holy Spirit inspires artists,
poets and \scientists. /The power of Thy supreme
knowledge makes them prophets and interpreters _of
Thy laws, /who reveal the depths of Thy cre\ative
wisdom. ~Their works speak unwittingly of Thee. ~How
great art Thou in Thy creation! ~How great art Thou in
man!
/Glory to Thee, showing Thine unsurpassable power in
the \laws of the universe
/Glory to Thee, for all nature is _filled with Thy laws
/Glory to Thee for what Thou hast revealed to us \in
Thy mercy
/Glory to Thee for what Thou hast hidden from us \in
Thy wisdom
/Glory to Thee for the inventiveness _of the human
mind
/Glory to Thee for the dignity \of man's labour
/Glory to Thee for the tongues of fire that \bring
inspiration
/Glory to Thee, O God, _from age to age

Kontakion 8 ^How near Thou art in the day of sickness.
^You Yourself visit the sick; ^You Yourself bend over the
sufferer's bed. ^His heart speaks to You. /In the throes
of sorrow and suffering Thou bringest peace and
unexpected \consolation. ~Thou art the comforter.
/Thou art the love which watches over \and heals us.
~To Thee we sing the song: ~Alleluia!

Ikos 8 /When in childhood I called upon Thee
consciously \for the first time, /Thou didst hear my
prayer, and Thou didst fill my heart with the \blessing of
peace. /At that moment I knew Thy goodness and knew
how blessed are those who \turn to Thee. /I started to
call upon Thee _night and day; /and now even now _I
call upon Thy name.
/Glory to Thee, satisfying my desires \with good
things
/Glory to Thee, watching over me _day and night
/Glory to Thee, curing affliction and emptiness with
the healing \flow of time
/Glory to Thee, no loss is irreparable \in Thee, ~giver
of eternal life to all
/Glory to Thee, making immortal all that is \lofty and
good
/Glory to Thee, _promising us the longed for meeting
~with our loved ones who have died
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 9 ^Why is it that on a Feast Day the whole of
nature mysteriously smiles? ^Why is it that then a
heavenly gladness fills our hearts; ^a gladness far
beyond that of earth and the very air in church ~and in
the altar becomes luminous? /It is the breath _of Thy
gracious love. /It is the reflection of the glory \of Mount
Tabor. ~Then do heaven and earth sing Thy praise:
~Alleluia!

Ikos 9 /When Thou did call me to serve my brothers
and filled my soul \with humility, /one of Thy deep,
piercing rays _shone into my heart; /it became
luminous, full of light like iron glowing \in the furnace.
~I have seen Thy face, ~face of mystery and of
unapproachable glory. /Glory to Thee, transfiguring
our lives with \deeds of love
/Glory to Thee, making wonderfully Sweet the
\keeping of Thy commandments
/Glory to Thee, making Thyself known where man
shows mercy \on his neighbour
/Glory to Thee, sending us failure and misfortune that
we may understand the \sorrows of others /Glory to
Thee, rewarding us so well _for the good we do
/Glory to Thee, welcoming the impulse \of our heart's
love
/Glory to Thee, raising to the heights of heaven every
act of love in \earth and sky
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 10 ^No one can put together what has
crumbled into dust, ^but Thou canst restore a
conscience turned to ashes. ^Thou canst restore to its
former beauty a soul lost and without hope. /With
Thee, there is nothing that \cannot be redeemed.
_Thou art love; ~Thou art Creator and Redeemer. ~We
praise Thee, singing: ~Alleluia!

Ikos 10 /Remember, my God, the fall of Lucifer \full of
pride, /keep me safe with the power \of Thy Grace;
/save me from falling _away from Thee. /Save me from
doubt. Incline my heart to hear Thy mysterious voice
every moment \of my life. /Incline my heart to call
upon Thee, present in \everything.
/Glory to Thee for \every happening
~Every condition Thy providence has put me in
/Glory to Thee for what Thou speakest to me \in my
heart
/Glory to Thee for what Thou revealest to me, _asleep
or awake
/Glory to Thee for scattering our vain i\maginations
/Glory to Thee for raising us \from the slough _of our
passions through suffering
/Glory to Thee for curing our pride of heart by
hu\miliation
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 11 ^Across the cold chains of the centuries,
^I feel the warmth of Thy breath, ^I feel Thy blood
pulsing in my veins. /Part of time has already gone, but
now \Thou art the present. ~I stand by Thy Cross; ~I
was the cause of it. /I cast myself down in the \dust
before it. ~Here is the triumph of love,
~the victory of salvation. /Here the centuries
themselves cannot re\main silent, _singing Thy
praises: ~Alleluia!

Ikos 11 ^Blessed are they that will share in the King's
Banquet: ^but already on earth Thou givest me a
foretaste of this blessedness. ^How many times with
Thine own hand hast Thou held out to me Thy Body
and Thy Blood, ^and I, though a miserable sinner, have
received this Mystery, ^and have tasted Thy love, ~so
ineffable, ~so heavenly.
/Glory to Thee for the unquenchable fire \of Thy
Grace
/Glory to Thee, _building Thy Church, ~a haven of
peace ~in a tortured world
/Glory to Thee for the life-giving \water of Baptism ~in
which we find new birth
/Glory to Thee, restoring to the penitent purity \white
as the lily
_Glory to Thee ~for the cup of salvation ~and the
bread of eternal joy
/Glory to Thee for exalting us to the \highest heaven
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 12 ^How often have I seen the reflection of
Thy glory in the faces of the dead. ^How resplendent
they were, with beauty and heavenly joy. ^How
ethereal, how translucent their faces. ^How triumphant
over suffering and death, their felicity and peace. /Even
in the silence _they were calling upon Thee. /In the
hour of my death, enlighten my soul, too, that it may
\cry out to Thee: ~Alleluia!

Ikos 12 ^What sort of praise can I give Thee? ^I have
never heard the song of the Cherubim, a joy reserved
for the spirits above. /But I know the praises that
\nature sings to Thee. /In winter, I have beheld how
silently in the moonlight the whole earth \offers Thee
prayer, ~clad in its white mantle of snow, ~sparkling like
diamonds. /I have seen how the rising sun re\joices in
Thee, /how the song of the birds is a chorus of \praise
to Thee. /I have heard the mysterious mutterings of
the forests \about Thee, /and the winds singing Thy
praise as they \stir the waters. /I have understood how
the choirs of stars pro\claim Thy glory /as they move
forever in the depths _of infinite space. ~What is my
poor worship! ~All nature obeys Thee, _I do not. /Yet
while I live, I \see Thy love, ~I long to thank Thee, ~and
call upon Thy name.
/Glory to Thee, \giving us light
/Glory to Thee, loving us with love so deep, di\vine
and infinite
/Glory to Thee, blessing us with light, and with the
host of \angels and saints
/Glory to Thee, Father all-holy, promising us a share_
in Thy Kingdom
/Glory to Thee, Holy Spirit, life-giving \Sun of the
world to come
/Glory to Thee for all things, _Holy and most merciful
Trinity
~Glory to Thee, O God, ~from age to age

Kontakion 13 ^Life-giving and merciful Trinity, ^receive
my thanksgiving for all Thy goodness. ~Make us worthy
of Thy blessings, /so that, when we have brought to
fruit the talents Thou hast en\trusted to us, ~we may
enter into the joy of our Lord, ~forever exulting in the
shout of victory: ~Alleluia!

(repeat Kontakion 13 and Alleluia three times * Then
repeat Ikos 1 and then Kontakion 1)