How does the akathist of John Sochavsky help?
People closely associated with trade pray to John of Sochava, because during his lifetime he was also a merchant. To read prayers, you must purchase an icon with the image of the Saint from the church. The image of John is best placed directly at the point of sale or not far from it. Before starting a new working day, you need to light a candle near the icon and read the akathist, then talk about your needs and with a pure soul ask the Saint for help.
Regular reading of the akathist helps people whose trade/business has gone downhill. To prevent this from happening in the future, it is necessary to pray to John of Sochava every day.
Who is John Sochavsky
In the 14th century, John of Sochava lived and was engaged in trade in the city of Trebizond; he was a convinced Orthodox Christian and merciful to poor people.
In matters of trade, John had to sail on a ship, its captain was a non-Orthodox man and a non-believer in God. He entered into a dispute about faith with Sochavsky, as a result the captain was disgraced, but he harbored a grudge against the merchant.
In Belgrade on the Bosphorus the ship had a stop, the capital went to the mayor (he was a fire worshiper) and said that he had a man on the ship who also wanted to worship fire. The mayor honored Sochavsky and invited him to join the fire worshipers, while speaking disapprovingly of faith in Christ.
Joseph had the courage to refuse this offer, and firmly declare that he is a Christian and remains a convinced Orthodox Christian. For this act he was very severely and cruelly beaten, he was shackled and sent to prison until the next day. In the morning, the mayor again called the Holy Martyr to him, and Sochavsky appeared before him with a bright and joyful face. He received another proposal to renounce Christ, to which Joseph again gave a firm negative answer.
The second time he was beaten even more severely than the first, so much so that his internal organs were visible to people. The local people, who were watching this whole spectacle, could not stand it and began to utter indignant cries aimed at the ruler, who so callously mocked an ordinary merchant.
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Then the mayor stopped the beating, but ordered his subordinates to tie Sochavsky’s legs to a wild horse and let him go around the city. Local residents threw stones at him and mocked the Saint in every possible way; most of all he suffered from the residents of the Jewish quarters. Eventually, one of the townsmen took a sword and cut off Joseph's head.
Joseph’s body lay there all day, many were simply afraid to take it, and at night a pillar of light and a large number of burning lamps were visible above Sochavsky.
Full text in Russian
Kontakion 1
To the chosen defender, champion and destroyer of wickedness, the newly-minted martyr and honest warrior of Christ, like the sun of the Eastern Church who has risen and fulfilled the joy of the faithful, now with all our hearts we offer thanksgiving and praise, singing with love:
Rejoice, John, Great Martyr of Christ.
Ikos 1
Your God-pleasing life became an angel's favorite, and I bear the sufferings of Christ, John. For in your body, you lived the life of an angel on earth, through alms and unceasing prayers, even through suffering. Moreover, we bring this praiseworthy heritage to you:
Rejoice, for through your fasting and unceasing prayers you have become like an Angel; Rejoice, for with your alms and tears you have terrified the demons.
Rejoice, for you have comforted the sorrowing; Rejoice, for you helped the sick.
Rejoice, for you have appeared in a dead body as an earthly Angel; Rejoice, for you were a heavenly man of wisdom.
Rejoice, for you came from faithful parents; Rejoice, for you have preserved the Orthodox faith in the end.
Rejoice, who grew from the glorious city of Trebizond; Rejoice, for you have become completely enriched with all virtues.
Rejoice, for you have shown yourself to be a skilled merchant in the sea; Rejoice, for you have guided your merchant soul well.
Rejoice, John, Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 2
Seeing, martyr of Christ, the wickedness of the devil, which the Gentiles arose against you, in order to remove you from the Orthodox faith, but with the wisdom given to you from God, you recognized the cunning of the sorcerer, you were not caught by the goodness of the Most High, you remained and thus you sang: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
With a mind enlightened from above, having cognized, blessedly, the slander inflicted on you by the heretic Reiz, to the pagan eparch of Belgrade, as if you would deign to deviate from the true Christian faith; and even though he bowed down to you in every way, you remained in no way victorious. Also, according to the heritage, hear this brought by us:
Rejoice, for you have exposed the lying Reiz; Rejoice, you remained unshakable like a pillar.
Rejoice, for you did not count the flattery of the eparch as anything; Rejoice, for you have strengthened the faithful in piety.
Rejoice, for you did not desire to devour the sun and the morning star; Rejoice, for you have insulted this wicked priest.
Rejoice, for you preached the Creator of these One God in the Trinity; Rejoice, for you have not blasphemed the Christian faith.
Rejoice, for you were the luminary of creation, and you were not the gods of advertising; Rejoice, for this sake the tyrant was martyred.
Rejoice, as you have reproached the eparch before everyone; Rejoice, he who was diligent in inclining him to piety.
Rejoice, John, Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 3
Strengthened by the power of the grace of the Holy Spirit, you spoke with much boldness to the hegemon, the warrior of Jesus: do not hope, O tyrant, that I will ever fall away from my Christ, and I will worship the creature rather than the Creator! Let this not happen, until I give up my breath, with the same great voice you cried out: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Having in your face, more passion-bearing than Christ, joy, when you spoke to this eparch, and there was no danger or fear in you. He, unable to endure this, was inflamed with rage, and ordered to bring many clubs and expose thee; As if you were found, for this reason we cry out to you:
Rejoice, for when you saw the club, you were not afraid; Rejoice, for from this vision you have resisted the tyrant more and more.
Rejoice, for you have put off the old garments from the earth; Rejoice, for you have clothed yourself in the purple of incorruptibility in heaven.
Rejoice, for you were not afraid of mortal torment; Rejoice, for by neglecting these tormentors we are greatly tormented.
Rejoice, for you have denounced him before those present; Rejoice, for you have confessed to be a servant of God.
Rejoice, for you contain the teachings of your fathers; Rejoice, for you did not accept the sacrifices of the hegemonic gods.
Rejoice, for thou hast declared the wicked to torment thee without obstinacy; Rejoice, for through those torments you were sent to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, John the Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 4
Inflict a storm of passions on you, O long-suffering one, when you said that I worship the Creator, and not the creature, and when your wicked tormentor heard the words that would bend you to his despairing desire, he was inflamed with wondrous and foolish anger and began to torment you. But you, martyr of Christ, courageously enduring, strengthening you to God, you sang with joy: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing the truth that your heart was adamantine, when you suffered for love for the sake of what you desired, blessed martyr of Christ, counting the torment as nothing, we strengthen with the grace of Christ, we trampled down the anger of the tormentor like a poisonous adder, and you joyfully flowed into the heaviest torment; For this reason, hear this from us:
Rejoice, for you were stretched out naked on the earth for torment; Rejoice, for you have wise eyes to heaven.
Rejoice, when you were beaten without mercy by knotty clubs, you did not faint; Rejoice, for the cruel tormentors who tormented you have weakened.
Rejoice, for you valiantly endured the fragmentation of your body; Rejoice, for you have moved the tormentor to anger.
Rejoice, for because of the beating of the clubs your flesh, sticking to the clubs, was lifted up in grief; Rejoice, for by this you have gathered angels to surprise.
Rejoice, thou whost stained the earth with thy blood; Rejoice, trampling Satan with your feet.
Rejoice, having given thanks to the Lord Christ for this; Rejoice, for He strengthened you even for the most severe torment.
Rejoice, John the Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 5
More than the God-bearing star that guided the ancient Magi to the righteous Sun, you were like the Great Martyr of Christ, leading you to the knowledge of the true God. You prayed to Him, but the tormentor was filled with more anger and tormented you fiercely, as you courageously endured torment, from the depths of your heart you cried out to Christ : Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen you faithfully, at the command of the hegemon, tied with chains, the warrior of Christ John, thrown into prison, leaving you to suffer the most severe torment, and all your flesh crushed from the beating, the former embraced the great sorrow, the next day he brought you to trial and stood before the tormentor You have a cheerful face, but the wicked one is greatly surprised and horrified, for this reason we call you pleasingly:
Rejoice, for by this thou hast frightened the devil; Rejoice, for you who live in prison live in prison.
Rejoice, for to this day you have dwelled in the bright paradise; Rejoice, for having been wounded by the most severe wounds all over your body, you have found yourself cheerful.
Rejoice, for the frantic tormentor was surprised at this; Rejoice, you who were careless about the healing of the wounds on your body.
Rejoice, for your outward man has been destroyed; Rejoice, for your inner being has been renewed.
Rejoice, for the most severe torment on you was invented by the tormentor; Rejoice, received with love.
Rejoice, for in this way your soul has prospered most redly.
Rejoice, John the Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 6
You preached, the most glorious martyr of Christ, the grace of God that wanted to come to you, heeding the thought of it, you valiantly endured suffering, the planing and tearing of your flesh, for this reason the foolish tyrant was filled with anger, like a wild beast, crying out, he commanded to torment you most cruelly and without mercy beati; When this happened, you cried out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Shining with martyrdom, more passion-bearing than Christ, John, for you were tormented, as if you had become gray inside, and were exhausted by the tormentors from unmerciful stress, you are the only ones who can be changed by others; But you, good warrior, did not change your mind towards your zealot Lord Jesus, but you prayed even more, that He would grant you to endure to the end. We, defending ourselves through your prayers, cry out to you:
Rejoice, for you, who were tormented without mercy for Christ, have not changed in patience; Rejoice, for those who beat you have changed.
Rejoice, for with your mind you stood in God, who strengthens you; Rejoice, for Christ has visited you with the grace of the Holy Spirit from above.
Rejoice, for all who have gathered in disgrace for the severity of the tormentor have reproached; Rejoice, for from Heaven your garment not made with hands has been worn out.
Rejoice, for those who tormented you were exhausted; rejoice, for those who saw you were filled with many sorrows.
Rejoice, you who bear the marks of Christ on your body; Rejoice, for Christ has prepared an unfading crown in heaven for you.
Rejoice, John the Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 7
Wanting, blessed martyr, tormentor to bend you to his desire, without having the most severe torments, he commanded to bring a fierce horse, and your holy burden to the mistake, tie him tightly, and drag him through all the streets of the city. But to you, the warrior of Christ, who was dragged along, you were a disgrace, an angel and a man, singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The wicked one, seeing you as a new zealot for piety, conceived an unusual torment for you, more passion-bearing than Christ: I drag you through my life quickly, we tear off parts of your body on stones, I remain, the head is crushed; The faithful who saw you were overcome with great regret, but you, having a heart for God, prayed in secret. For this reason, we, your servants, were amazed, and write this praiseworthy note to you:
Rejoice, for you were the preacher of the Holy Trinity through your torment; rejoice, for you were the foundation of your good faith through your strong patience.
Rejoice, for you were kindled with an indescribable fire of love for God; Rejoice, for for His sake you endured the fragmentation of your flesh.
Rejoice, for thou art a shame of tenderness to the faithful; Rejoice, for thy head is dragged, for Christ's sake, broken upon the stone.
Rejoice, for through your prayers the head of the invisible enemy has been erased; Rejoice, for the earth has been stained with your blood.
Rejoice, for Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven has given you the crown of incorruption; Rejoice, for for His sake you suffered on earth.
Rejoice, for you reign with Him in Heaven.
Rejoice, John the Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 8
The cursed race of the Jews saw a strange power in you, the martyr of Christ, when you were dragging you along the streets with a fierce horse: you alone laughed at you, the friends grimaced their faces, having a weapon in their hands against you, but they laughed at you, unlike the deed. But you, worthy warrior of Christ, endured with thanksgiving, to God who strengthens you, constantly singing: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Having all of Jesus in your blessed soul and mind, passion-bearing one, and finally having reached the course of your feat, one of the Jews who mocked you flowed into your home, took your sword drawn and with it cut off your honorable and holy head and thereby cut off your bright soul in the hand of Christ. betrayed Likewise, you hear this from us:
Rejoice, for you received the ridicule and reproach of Christ from the Jews for the sake of Christ; Rejoice, for you followed Jesus whom they reproached.
Rejoice, for you were the one who struck the Jews; Rejoice, for Christ was for us for the sake of sinners, and you valiantly endured Christ for the sake of torment.
Rejoice, for the cursed generation cut off your head with the sword; Rejoice, for Jesus has crowned your head with a radiant crown.
Rejoice, for as a martyr you are glorified in the heavenly abodes; Rejoice, for we faithfully have you as your intercessor to God.
Rejoice, for your prayers are pleasing to God; Rejoice, for your memory in the Church of Christ is honorable.
Rejoice, for your name delights all who honor the Orthodox faith.
Rejoice, John the Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 9
Having seen faithfully after the cutting off of your honorable head and the departure of your holy soul from your body, O glorious martyr, your flesh lying with your cut off head, unburied and despised, pitied; the night of the glorious miracle, a pillar up to heaven above your holy relics was quickly visible: candles of grief and men in white vestments burning incense around your body, singing ineffable and sacred words, with them you also sang to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
Vitias eloquently cannot sing, from the angels that were sung around your holy relics, blessed martyr; The only one from the Jews who heard this, thought of being on earth was a man, strained his bow and shot an arrow, but this accursed man succeeded in nothing, for it was a sight of regret for all. The same thing we call to you about the calico miracle:
Rejoice, worthy of angelic funeral singing; Rejoice, for Christ from Heaven looked down upon your holy relics.
Rejoice, for a pillar of fire was seen reaching to heaven above your holy relics; Rejoice, for this is the terror of many.
Rejoice, for this Jew was punished with vengeance by God; Rejoice, for this has been accomplished for the great glory of your holy relics.
Rejoice, for people flocked to the shame of this Jew; Rejoice, for by confessing him before everyone you were saved from punishment.
Rejoice, for when the tormentor heard about this miracle, he was greatly horrified; Rejoice, for for this reason I commanded Christians to bury you.
Rejoice, for the church has accepted your buried, honorable body; Rejoice, for your holy soul dwells in the heavenly abodes.
Rejoice, John the Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 10
O long-suffering martyr of Christ, your slanderer and traitor wanted to steal your honest and long-suffering body and bring it to your fatherland, but you, warrior of Christ, soon appeared to the priest of this church in a dream and told him about this; He came to the church and your honorable relics were taken from his hands, singing with joy: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
When, martyr of Christ, your honorable and holy relics were saved from foreigners by God’s providence, you were placed in the altar near the holy meal, where the Lamb is always devoured for our salvation, to whom you also offered a living sacrifice. The faithful ones, having learned about this, glorified the all-merciful God, glorifying His saints, and with them we bring these songs of praise to you:
Rejoice, for your holy relics have remained unstolen and unharmed; Rejoice, for the Gentile was put to shame and was driven away.
Rejoice, for the priests of the Church placed your venerable relics in altars; Rejoice, for you have rejoiced in this faithfulness.
Rejoice, for they continually perform miracles; Rejoice, for they also drive out demons from many.
Rejoice, for a pillar of fire appeared from heaven above them; Rejoice, for the Angels have condescended to them.
Rejoice, fragrance emanates from them in abundance; Rejoice, for all sorts of illnesses are healed by you.
Rejoice, for the news of the miracles you have performed has spread everywhere; Rejoice, for to the end of the earth, I have been so pleased with God, your message has reached.
Rejoice, John the Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 11
The singing of praise is not worthy of praising the splendor of the grace of miracles, as from your honorable and holy relics, O worthy martyr of Christ; not just people, but also kings and princes, honor and worship and kiss you with love. You, who have boldness towards God and the Master of all, ask us all in this life for bodily health, and in the future world for spiritual salvation, singing with love to God with you: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
The light-receiving light is your honorable and holy relics, long-suffering martyr of Christ John, on the candlestick of the Church of Christ the installations, illuminating for a long time the place in which you suffered, also with the blessing of God, but through the diligence of the pious ruler it was brought to Moldovalachia, they constantly shine, and for everyone with faith and rays of miracles pour out upon those who resort to love. We, formerly partakers of this grace, offer this:
Rejoice, ray of unevening and mental light; Rejoice, for you have enlightened the whole of heaven.
Rejoice, bright day of the unevening day; Rejoice, for you were also removed from us by the will of God.
Rejoice, for there too you enlightened many times with the rays of Christ’s grace; Rejoice, for by God’s will you have come back to us.
Rejoice, quietly, fragrant Church of Christ: Rejoice, for you vouchsafe your heavenly fragrance to all who come to your holy relics.
Rejoice, the vessel of the peace of Christ is inexhaustible and contains healings for countless illnesses; Rejoice, to all who ask the giver of abundant blessings.
Rejoice, for the grace and glory of the Heavenly King has been poured out on you; Rejoice, for you too have abundantly given the grace of healing from all illnesses to everyone.
Rejoice, John the Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 12
You have received grace from God, O all-validated and long-suffering martyr, to heal all kinds of illnesses and ailments of soul and body. Those who now stand before Christ, who strengthened you in your suffering, do not cease to intercede with all of us, asking for bodily health and spiritual salvation, with reverence and love honoring your holy memory, singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
We sing, we honor, we glorify, we bless your much-painful suffering, your patience to the end, valiantly, the rise and hardness of adamantine incomparably surpassed what you showed in your body, for the weak hero Christ the Lord glorified on earth and in Heaven and gave you to us unworthy, holy victorious , Great Martyr of Christ John, crying out to you, most blessed, this:
Rejoice, for you remain in this place and dwell with the heavenly hosts; Rejoice, for you were seen off by the right hand of the King of Christ with glory and honor and were gloriously crowned.
Rejoice, for because of your many sufferings the Lord has accepted you into eternal rest; Rejoice, for you have acquired an inestimable treasure in Heaven.
Rejoice, for your reward is abundant in the glory of the saints; Rejoice, warm representative in temptations and needs.
Rejoice, most generous intercessor of joy and eternal glory for us; Rejoice, for through you we hope to receive eternal blessings.
Rejoice, John the Great Martyr of Christ.
Kontakion 13
Oh, long-suffering saint, great martyr and victorious of Christ, John. Accept this prayer offered to You from our vile lips with tenderness, and from all ailments of soul and body, from enemies visible and invisible, and from eternal torment, deliver us with Your auspicious prayers, so that together with you in the future we may sing to God in the abodes of the saints: Alleluia .
(This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos “With the Angels and everyone...” and the 1st kontakion “To the Chosen Governor...”).
Prayer
Holy, glorious and all-praised great martyr of Christ John, undoubted intercessor for our salvation. We pray to you, your servants, to gather today in your Divine temple and the race of holy relics who worship; Be merciful as we are, who are so far away and call for your help and your martyr's suffering with praises. Ask us all from the most merciful Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ for forgiveness and forgiveness of sins committed by us to this day and hour. Keep us unharmed from all the wiles of the evil one and keep our life unharmed from all evils of soul and body, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
