Praying Acathistos hymns is a widely spread and cherished custom of Orthodox Christians. Many of them add an Acathistos either of their own choice, or according to their specific needs or upon the advice of their spiritual father, to their morning or evening prayers. However, it's rather difficult for those who do not master Church-Slavonic or Byzantine Greek to understand what exactly is said or meant in the Acathistos. Therefore this book is a big enrichment, allowing them as well as those who want to become acquainted with this exceptional form of Orthodox devotion to read and to pray several of the best known and most often used Acathistos-hymns in a modern language. Upon the request of His Eminence Simon, Archbishop of Brussels and Belgium and of The Hague and the Netherlands, only hymns originating from before the October revolution and which therefore are better known and enjoy greater venerability have been selected for this book.

Some of these hymns have a strong poetical expression, and most of all, a deep theological insight. Other hymns are the joyful cries of exultation of a believing soul singing her gratefulness to the Mother of God for the received blessings.

Let those whose heart is hardened and bitter seek the help of the Mother of God who mollifies the wicked hearts.

Let those who feel that their mind and ability to think is growing weak, or who want to study the Holy Scripture or theology, appeal to Her Who increases intelligence.

Let those who are looking for protection and security consider the miraculous vision of Saint Andrew, who could contemplate how the Mother of God spread her Protective Veil over the Christ-loving people of Constantinople.

Let those who lose the way and go off track in life look at the Virgin, who shows the Way to her Son, Who is the Eternal Truth.

Let those who in this age corrupted by sexism, seek purity of the heart as well as of the body, resort to the Unfading Blossom of virginity. Then the gates will open and they will contemplate God and Christ will turn the water of our struggle into the wine of joy.

Let those who want to protect their house against fire and burglars, or against the fire which burns in their own hearts, fire of lust or hate, seek their comfort by the Unconsumed burning Bush, the symbol of the Mother of God which was shown to Moses.

Let those who are full of sorrow or who have sad and despondent people in their families and among their friends, turn to Her Who is the Joy of all who sorrow.

Archimandrite Thomas, Hegumen of the Monastery of the Mother of God the Joy of All Who sorrow, Pervijze, Belgium

On the feast of Saint Makarios the Great