Οἶκος Ι'
The Magi and the Light of the World
The Magi recognize the Creator in the Virgin's arms, leading to a series of petitions celebrating the Theotokos as the one who liberates humanity from idolatry and passion.
The children of the Chaldeans saw in the Virgin’s hands the One who fashioned humanity with his own hand; recognizing him as Master, even though he had taken the form of a servant, they hurried to honor him with gifts and to cry out to the Blessed One: Rejoice, Mother of the unsetting Star; rejoice, dawn of the mystical day. Rejoice, you who quenched the furnace of deceit; rejoice, you who enlighten those initiated into the Trinity. Rejoice, you who cast the inhuman tyrant from his rule; rejoice, you who showed us Christ, the Lord who loves humankind. Rejoice, you who redeem us from barbarian religion; rejoice, you who rescue us from the mire of our works. Rejoice, you who put an end to the worship of fire; rejoice, you who free us from the flame of the passions. Rejoice, guide of the faithful in chastity; rejoice, joy of all generations. Rejoice, Bride unwedded.
Read the original Latin
Ἴδον παῖδες Χαλδαίων, ἐν χερσὶ τῆς Παρθένου, τὸν πλάσαντα χειρὶ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους· καὶ Δεσπότην νοοῦντες αὐτόν, εἰ καὶ δούλου μορφὴν ἔλαβεν, ἔσπευσαν τοῖς δώροις θεραπεῦσαι, καὶ βοῆσαι τῇ Εὐλογημένῃ· Χαῖρε, ἀστέρος ἀδύτου Μήτηρ, χαῖρε, αὐγὴ μυστικῆς ἡμέρας. Χαῖρε, τῆς ἀπάτης τὴν κάμινον σβέσασα, χαῖρε, τῆς Τριάδος τοὺς μύστας φωτίζουσα. Χαῖρε, τύραννον ἀπάνθρωπον ἐκβαλοῦσα τῆς ἀρχῆς, χαῖρε, Κύριον φιλάνθρωπον ἐπιδείξασα Χριστόν. Χαῖρε, ἡ τῆς βαρβάρου λυτρουμένη θρησκείας, χαῖρε, ἡ τοῦ βορβόρου ρυομένη τῶν ἔργων. Χαῖρε πυρὸς προσκύνησιν παύσασα, χαῖρε, φλογὸς παθῶν ἀπαλλάττουσα. Χαῖρε, πιστῶν ὁδηγὲ σωφροσύνης, χαῖρε, πασῶν γενεῶν εὐφροσύνη. Χαῖρε, Νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε.
Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos companion
Never lose the rhythm again
Chosen Portion delivers your morning, midday and night office to your phone — the Hours, without the bells.
Chosen Portion is a modern Book of Hours: it turns the fixed-hour structure this collection preserves into scheduled, tappable daily prayer on your phone.
- Three daily prayer moments scheduled around your real calendar, not a monastery's
- Psalms and historic prayers sequenced for you — no page-flipping or decision fatigue
- A visible streak of completed offices, so the rhythm compounds instead of collapsing