Canons and akathists
The canon is a church hymn for glorifying the Savior, the Mother of God, the Most Holy Trinity; glorification can also refer to some saint or church holiday. The first canons were created back in the 7th century. The canons form the most important part of the church service, but Orthodox Christians can also read them privately, that is, at home. Certain canons must be read when preparing for communion.
An akathist is a chant of praise that is part of the liturgy, but can be read separately at home.
It sings in poetic form the most important moments from the life of the Savior, Our Lady or the saint to whom it is dedicated. From Greek, akathist is translated as “singing without sitting down,” however, an exception is often made for the sick and those who are very old and praying. Reading while standing does not allow you to relax and reduce the intensity of prayer, so at home you need to do it while standing.
An akathist addressed to saints with a prayer request is often read by believers, but first you must receive a church blessing for this, even if you read it at home and not in church. It is best to read it according to the Orthodox prayer book. As a rule, the akathist or canon is read at the end of the morning or evening prayer, at the very end before the prayer “It is worthy to eat,” but a separate reading of the akathist is also possible.
It should be remembered that first it is necessary to say special prayers before reading the akathist, and if we are talking about the canon, then the corresponding prayers before reading the canon.
Akathists to Russian saints
Most of the akathists on this page were scanned from the book “Akathists to Russian Saints,” which was prepared by the publishing house “Titul” in 1995.
Akathists that do not have church-wide approval are marked with *
A
Holy Venerable Avramiy
(
Abramiy
), martyr
of Bulgaria
,
Vladimir
miracle worker Holy Venerable
Avramiy
(
Abramiy
)
of Galich
,
Chukhlomsk
,
Gorodets
Holy Venerable
Avramiy
(
Abramiy
), archimandrite
of Rostov *
Holy Venerable
Avramiy
(
Abramiy
),
Smolensk
wonderworker
*
Holy Venerable
Agapit Pechersk
, free doctor
*
Saint and Confessor
Agathangel
, Metropolitan of
Yaroslavl
and
Rostov *
Holy Venerable
Adrian
, Abbot of
Ondrusovsky
, Olonetsky Wonderworker Holy Venerable Martyr
Adrian
, Abbot of
Poshekhonsky *
Holy Venerable
Alexander
, Abbot of
Kushtsky
, Vologda Wonderworker Holy Right-Believing Prince
Alexander Nevsky
, monastic Alexy Saint Venerable
Alexander
,
Oshevensky
wonderworker Holy Reverend
Alexander
, Abbot of
Svirsky *
Holy Righteous
Alexander
,
Chagrinsky
Wonderworker
*
Holy Righteous
Alexy Bortsurmansky
, presbyter
*
Hieromartyr
Alexy Vorobyov
Holy Blessed Martyr
Alexy of Elnatsky
Holy Righteous
Alexy Mechev
, presbyter
of Moscow *
Saint
Alexy
, Metropolitan
of Moscow
Holy Reverend
Ambrose
,
Wonderworker
of Optina *
Holy Reverend
Amphilochius of Pochaev
Hieromartyr
Anatoly
(Gnosyuk), Metropolitan
of Odessa *
Holy Reverend
Anatoly of Optina
(junior)
*
Holy Reverend
Anatoly of Optina
(senior)
*
Holy Blessed
Andrei of Simbirsk
, Fool for Christ's sake Holy Reverends
Andronik
and
Savva
Holy Blessed Princess Reverend
Anna Kashinskaya *
Saint
Anthony
, Archbishop of
Voronezh
and
Zadonsk *
Holy Venerable
Anthony
, Abbot
of Dymsky
, miracle worker Holy Martyrs
of Vilna Anthony
,
John
and
Eustathius *
Holy Venerable
Anthony of Leokhnovsky
, Abbot of
Novgorod
Saints Venerable
Anthony
and
Theodosius of Pechersk
Saint Venerable
Anthony Pechersk
Holy Venerable
Anthony of Rome
, Novograd Wonderworker Holy Venerable
Anthony
,
Siysk
wonderworker
*
Reverend
Arkady of Vyazemsky
and
Novotorzhsky
Saint Reverend
Arseny
,
Komelsky
miracle worker Saint Reverend
Arseny
,
Konevsky
miracle worker
*
Hieromartyr
Arseny
(
Matseevich
), Metropolitan of
Rostov
Saint
Arseny
, Bishop
of Tver
, miracle worker Holy Righteous
Artemy
,
Verkolsky
miracle worker Holy Reverend Martyr
Athanasius
, Abbot
Bre stsky
, wonderworker
*
Saint Reverend
Athanasius
, abbot
of Vysotsky
,
Serpukhov
wonderworker
*
Saint
Athanasius
, Bishop
of Kovrov
, confessor and hymnographer
B
*
Holy noble princes and martyrs
Boris
and
Gleb
in St.
Baptism Roman and David, Russian miracle workers *
Holy noble princes, passion-bearers
Boris
and
Gleb
in St. Epiphany Roman and David, Russian miracle workers
IN
*
Reverend Martyr
Varlaam
, Archimandrite
of Belogorsk
Saint Reverend
Varlaam of Serpukhov
Saint Reverend
Varlaam Khutyn
,
Novgorod
Wonderworker Holy Reverend
Barnabas Gethsemane *
Holy Reverend
Barsanuphius Optina
St.
Barsanuphius
, Bishop
of Tver
, Kazan Wonderworker
*
Reverend
Barsanuphius of Kherson
, Confessor
*
St.
Basil of Kineshem *
Hieromartyr
Vasily Maksimov *
Saint Martyr
Vasily of Mangazeya *
Holy Blessed
Basil
, Fool for Christ,
Moscow
Wonderworker
*
Saint
Basil
, Bishop of
Ryazan
, Wonderworker
*
Holy Venerable
Vassa Pskov-Pechersk *
Hieromartyr
Benjamin
, Metropolitan
of Petrograd
and
Gdov
Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke
Vladimir
, in St.
Baptism Vasily *
Hieromartyr
Vladimir
, Metropolitan
of Kiev
and
Galicia
Holy Blessed Prince
Vsevolod
, in Holy Baptism
Gabriel
,
Pskov
Wonderworker
G
*
Holy Martyr Infant
Gabriel of Zabludovsky
, Bialystok Wonderworker
*
Holy Reverend Confessor
Gabriel
, Archimandrite
Melekessky
Holy Reverend Martyr
Galaktion
,
Vologda
Wonderworker Saint Reverend Gennady ,
Kostroma
and
Lyubimograd
Wonderworker Holy Blessed Prince
George
,
Vladimir
Wonderworker
*
Confessor
George Kossov
Saints
Ger
,
Pitirim
and
Jonah
, bishops
of Great Perm
Saint
Herman
, Archbishop of
Kazan
and Sviyazhsk miracle worker Saint Reverend
Herman of Solovetsky
Hieromartyr
Hermogenes
, Bishop
of Tobolsk
Saint Reverend
Gregory of Pelshem
,
Vologda
miracle worker Saint
Gury
, Archbishop
of Kazan
and Sviyazhsk miracle worker
D
Holy Reverend David of Serpukhov *
Holy Reverend
Dalmatian of Isetsky *
Holy Blessed Prince
Daniel
,
Moscow
Wonderworker Holy Reverend
Daniel
,
Pereyaslavl
Wonderworker
*
Holy Reverend Prince
Dimitri Donskoy
Holy Reverend
Demetrius
, Abbot of
Prilutsk
, Vologda Wonderworker St.
Demetrius
, Metropolitan
of Rostov
, Wonderworker
*
Holy Reverend Prince
Dimitri Uglich
and
Moscow
Saint Venerable
Dionysius
, Abbot
Glushitsky
, Vologda Wonderworker
*
Saint
Dionysius
, Archbishop
of Suzdal *
Saint Venerable
Dosithea of Kiev
(
Tyapkina
)
E
*
Holy Martyrs
Evdokia
,
Daria
,
Dariya
and
Maria
Holy Blessed Princess
Eudokia
, monastically
Euphrosyne *
Holy Reverend
Euthymius
, Archbishop
of Novograd
, miracle worker Holy Reverend
Euthymius
, Archimandrite
of Suzdal
, wonderworker Holy Blessed Princess Reverend
Euphrosyne of Polotsk
Holy Blessed Princess Reverend
Euphrosyne Suzdal * Cathedral of Ekaterinburg
saints Holy Venerable
Eleazar
,
of Anzera
Holy Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess
Elizabeth
Saint
Hermogenes
, Metropolitan
of Moscow
, Wonderworker Holy Venerable
Ephraim
,
Novotorzhsky
Wonderworker
Z
*
Saints Reverends
Zosima
,
Savvaty
and
Herman
,
Solovetsky
Wonderworkers Holy Reverends
Zosima
and
Savvaty
,
Solovetsky
Wonderworkers
AND
Holy Righteous Jacob
,
Borovichi
Wonderworker
*
Holy Reverend
Jacob of Zheleznoborovsky
Saint
Jacob
, Bishop
of Rostov
, Wonderworker
* Cathedral of Ivanovo
-
Ascension
Saints St.
Ignatius Brianchaninov
, Bishop of the Caucasus and the Black Sea
*
Holy Righteous Prince
Igor of Chernigov
and Kiev
*
Hilarion
, Archbishop
of Vereya *
Holy Venerable
Hilarion
,
Pskovovozersky
miracle worker
*
Saint
Innocent
(
Borisov
), Archbishop
of Kherson *
Saint
Innocent
(
Veniaminov
), Metropolitan
of Moscow
, Apostle of America and Alaska Saint
Innocent
, Bishop
of Irkutsk
, miracle worker
*
Saint
Innocent
, Bishop
of Irkutsk
, miracle worker (another akathist)
*
Saint
Innocent of Penza *
Saint
John of Gottha *
Holy Righteous
John of Korma
Holy Righteous
John of Kronstadt
, wonderworker
*
Holy Righteous
John of Kronstadt
, wonderworker (second akathist)
*
Holy Righteous
John of Kronstadt
, wonderworker (third akathist)
*
Hieroconfessor
John
, wonderworker
Olenevsky
Hieromartyr
John
(
Pommer
), Archbishop
of Riga
and all Latvia Holy Righteous
John of Russia
, confessor Holy Blessed
John
,
Ustyug
wonderworker
*
Hieromartyr
John
, presbyter
of Tsarskoe Selo
St.
John
, Archbishop
of Shanghai
and
San Francisco
, wonderworker St.
Joasaph
, Bishop of
Belograd
, wonderworker Holy Reverend
Job
, Abbot of
Pochaev
, wonderworker
*
Holy Reverend
Job
,
Gorge
Wonderworker
*
Holy Reverend
Jonah of Kiev *
Hieromartyr
Joseph
, Metropolitan
of Astrakhan
Holy Reverend
Joseph
, Abbot
Volokolamsk
, wonderworker
*
Holy Reverend
Joseph of Optina
Holy Reverend
Irinarch
,
Rostov
Wonderworker
*
Holy Righteous Princess
Juliana of Vyazemskaya *
Holy Righteous
Juliana of Lazarevskaya
TO
*
All Saints of
the Kiev-Pechersk
Saint Reverend
Kirill
, Abbot of
Beloezersky
, wonderworker Saints Reverends
Cyril
and
Maria of Radonezh
, parents of St. Sergius of Radonezh Holy Reverend
Kirill
, Abbot of
Novoyezersk
, wonderworker
*
St.
Kirill
, Bishop of
Turov *
Hieromartyr
Konstantin Bogorodsky
(
Golubev
) Holy Blessed Princes
Constantine
and his children
Michael
and
Theodore
,
Murom
miracle workers Holy Venerable
Cornelius of Alexandrovsky
Saint Venerable
Cornelius
, Hegumen
of Komel
,
Vologda
Wonderworker Saint Venerable
Cornelius
,
Krypetsk
Wonderworker
*
Holy Martyr
Cornelius of Pskov
-
Pechersky *
Holy Blessed
Ksenia of Petersburg
(second akathist) Holy Blessed
Ksenia of Petersburg *
Holy Venerable
Kuksha of Odessa
L
*
Holy Blessed
Lawrence
, Fool for Christ's sake,
Kaluga
miracle worker
*
Holy Venerable
Lawrence of Chernigov *
Holy Venerable
Leo of Optina *
Holy Venerable
Leonid
,
Ust-nedumsky
wonderworker Saint
Leonty
, Bishop
of Rostov
, miracle worker Saint and Confessor
Luke
, Archbishop of
Crimea
M
*
Holy Venerable
Macarius of Zhabynsky
Holy Venerable
Macarius
,
Zheltovodsk
and
Unzhensk
wonderworker Holy Venerable
Macarius
, abbot
Kalyazin
wonderworker
*
Holy Rev. Martyr
Macarius
, Archimandrite
Kanevsky *
Hieromartyr
Macarius
, Metropolitan
of Kiev
, wonderworker
*
St.
Macarius
, Metropolitan of
Moscow
and All Russia wonderworker
*
Holy Venerable
Macarius of Optina
Holy Venerable
Macarius of Rome
,
Novograd
Wonderworker
*
Hieromartyr
Maxim
(
Sandovich
),
Gorlitsky
, presbyter Holy Venerable
Mark of Pechersk
,
grave digger *
Holy Venerable
Martyrius
,
Zelenetsky
Wonderworker
*
Holy Blessed
Matrona of Anemnyasevo
Holy Blessed
Matrona of Moscow
Holy Venerable
Matthew Yaransky *
St.
Meletius
(
Leontovich
), Archbishop
of Kharkov
Holy Rev.
Methodius
, hegumen
Peshnoshsky
, miracle worker Saint
Mitrofan
, Bishop
of Voronezh
, Wonderworker Saint
Michael
, Metropolitan
of Kiev
, Wonderworker
*
Holy
Monk
Klopsky Mikhail
,
Tver
Wonderworker Saint
Moses
, Archbishop
of Novograd
, Miracle
Medical Media
N
*
Holy Venerable
Nektarios of Optina *
Saint
Nektarios of Aegina
Saint Venerable
Nikander
,
Pskov
Wonderworker
*
Hieromartyr
Nikita
(
Delectorsky
), Bishop of
Orekhovo
-
Zuevsky *
Saint
Nikita
, Bishop
of Novograd
, wonderworker Saint Saint
Nikita
,
Pereyaslavl
Wonderworker
*
Hieromartyr
Nicodemus
, Bishop
Belgorod
Saint Venerable
Nicodemus
,
Kozheezersky
Wonderworker
*
Hieromartyr
Nikodim
, Archbishop
of Kostroma
and
Galich *
Blessed Tsar and Passion-Bearer
Nicholas II *
Hieromartyr
Nikolai Iskrovsky *
Hieromartyr
Nikolai Krasovsky
, presbyter
*
Hieroconfessor
Nikolai
(
Mogilevsky
), Metropolitan of Alma-Ata
*
Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles
Nicholas
, Archbishop
of Japan *
Saint Rev. Confessor
Nikon Optina
Holy Venerable
Nikon of Radonezh *
Holy Venerable
Nil
,
Sora
Holy Venerable
Nil
,
Wonderworker of
Stolbensky New Martyrs
and
Confessors Russian Church
ABOUT
*
Reverend Blessed Prince
Oleg Bryansky
Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duchess
Olga
Holy Reverend
Optina
Elders
* Cathedral
of the Holy Reverend
Optina
Elders
P
Holy Reverend Paul
,
Obnorsky
Wonderworker Holy Righteous
Pavel of Taganrog *
Holy Reverend
Paisius of Galich *
Holy Reverend
Paisius
,
Uglich
Wonderworker Holy Reverend
Paphnutius Borovsky *
Hieromartyr
Peter
, Archbishop
of Voronezh
Saint
Peter
, Metropolitan
of Moscow
, Wonderworker of All Russia Holy Righteous Prince
Peter
and Princess
Fevronia
, Murom miracle workers Holy Reverend
Peter Tsarevich
,
Rostov
miracle worker Saint
Pitirim
, Bishop
of Tambov
, miracle worker
*
Holy Blessed
Procopius
, Fool for Christ's sake,
Vyatka
Wonderworker Holy Blessed
Procopius of Ustyug *
Hieromartyr
Procopius
, Archbishop
of Kherson * Cathedral
of the Holy Venerables of
Pskov-Pechersk
R
*
Holy Venerable
Rachel of Borodino All saints
who shone in the
Russian
WITH
Holy Reverend Savva
,
Vishera
miracle worker
*
Holy Reverend
Savva
,
Krypetsk
miracle worker
*
Holy Reverend
Savva
,
Krypetsk
miracle worker (another akathist) Holy Reverend
Savva
, abbot of
Storozhevsky
,
Zvenigorod
miracle worker
*
Holy Reverend Confessor
Sebastian
(
Fomin
),
Karaganda
Seraphim of Vyritsky
Hieromartyr
Seraphim
(
Zvezdi English
), Bishop
of Dmitrov
Holy Reverend
Seraphim
,
Sarov
Wonderworker
*
Martyrs
Seraphim
and
Theognost of Almaty
Hieromartyr
Seraphim
(
Chichagov
), Metropolitan of
Petrograd *
Holy Reverend Martyr
Seraphim of Ferapontovskaya
and
Leushinskaya
Holy Reverends
Sergius
and
Herman
,
Valaam
Wonderworkers
*
Hieroconfessor
Sergius Kasimovsky
(
Pravdolyubov
), presbyter Holy Reverend
Sergius of Nurom
,
Vologda
wonderworker Holy Reverend
Sergius
, abbot of
Radonezh
and all Russia wonderworker Holy Reverend
Sergius
, hegumen of
Radonezh
and all Russia wonderworker (another akathist)
*
Hieromartyr
Sergius
(
Skvortsov
), presbyter
of Dresdn *
Holy Reverend Confessor
Sergius
(
Srebryansky
), archimandrite
*
Holy Reverend
Silouan
,
the Athonite
wonderworker (another akathist) Holy Monk
Silouan
,
Athonite
wonderworker
*
Hieromartyr
Sylvester
(
Olshevsky
), Archbishop
of Omsk
Holy Righteous
Simeon
,
Verkhoturye
wonderworker Holy Monk
Simeon Pskov
-
Pechersk
Saint
Simon
, Bishop of
Vladimir
and
Suzhdal
,
Pechersk
wonderworker
*
Holy blessed
Simon
,
Yuryevets
miracle worker Holy Righteous
Sophia, Princess Slutsk *
Saint
Sophrony
, Bishop of
Irkutsk
Saint
Stephen
, Abbot of
Makhrishchsky
, miracle worker Saint
Stephen
, Bishop
of Perm
, miracle worker
T
*
All saints who shone in the land of
Taurida
Saint
Tikhon
, Bishop
of Voronezh
,
Zadonsk
miracle worker Saint Saint
Tikhon
,
Kaluga
miracle worker Saint Saint
Tikhon
,
Lukh
miracle worker Saint
Tikhon
, Patriarch
of Moscow
and All Russia miracle worker
*
Saint
Tikhon
, Patriarch of
Moscow
and All Russia miracle worker (another akathist )
*
Holy Venerable
Tryphon
,
Vyatka
Wonderworker Holy Venerable
Tryphon
,
Pechenga
Wonderworker
F
*
Hieromartyr
Thaddeus
, Archbishop
of Tver
and
Kashin
Holy Blessed Princes
Theodore
,
David
and
Constantine
,
Yaroslavl
miracle workers Saints
Theodore
and
John
, bishops
of Suzdal
, miracle workers
*
Holy Venerable
Theodore Ostrog
Saint
Theodore of Rostov
Saint Venerable
Theodore of Sanaksar
(another akathist)
*
Holy Venerable
Theodore of Sanaksar
Saint righteous warrior
Theodosius Ushakov
Holy Reverend
Theodosius of the Caucasus *
St.
Theodosius
,
Pechersk
wonderworker Holy Reverend
Theodosius
,
Totemsky
wonderworker St.
Theodosius
Archbishop
of Chernigov
, wonderworker St.
Theophan
, recluse of
Vyshensky *
St. Reverend
Theophilus of Kiev
St. Reverend
Theophilus
, Abbot
of Omuch
,
Luga
wonderworker St. Reverend
Ferapont Bel Oezerskiy
,
Mozhaisk
and
Luzhetsk
miracle worker Saint
Philaret
, Metropolitan
of Moscow
and
Kolomna *
Saint
Philip
, Metropolitan
of Moscow
and All Russia miracle worker
X
who became bishops in Kherson
C
Holy Royal Passion-Bearers
Sh
Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Shatura
YU
*
Holy Martyr
Yuri Novitsky
I
*
Holy Blessed Prince
Yaroslav the Wise *
Hieromartyr
Yaroslav Yamskoy
(
Savitsky ), presbyter
Reading the akathist by day of the week
With the orderliness characteristic of church life, an akathist reading with an appeal is provided for each day of the week:
- on Mondays - to the Guardian Angel or Archangel Michael - the head of the Heavenly Host;
- on Tuesdays - to John the Baptist (Forerunner);
- on Wednesdays – Akathist to the Sweetest Jesus;
- Thursdays – St. Nicholas the Pleasant (Wonder Worker);
- on Fridays - to the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord;
- on Saturdays - Our Lady;
- on Sundays - in honor of the Bright Resurrection of the Savior.
You can read the akathist to some other saint or icon, if you feel a heartfelt need for it; then you need to say about this when turning to the priest for a blessing to read the akathist. The text of the prayers you need can be found in the prayer book.
