Akathist to St. Columba
Kontakion 1
Illustrious scion of the clan of Neil. You were born in Tyrconnell and from childhood you turned to God. That is why we cry out in your honour:
Rejoice, O holy Columba of Iona!
Ikos 1
You understood from a young age that our life is but the prologue to eternal life. And you were on earth journeying to Heaven In prayerful expectation of the kingdom of God. And the Angels over your young soul exclaimed:
Rejoice, Heir of holy Ireland!
Rejoice, Flagship of the Celtic Church!
Rejoice, Child of pure prayer!
Rejoice, Early initiation into God!
Rejoice, Beginning line of monks!
Rejoice, Son who looks to the Father!
Rejoice, O holy Colomba of Iona!
Kontakion 2
Inflamed by the mad love of our Lord. Illuminated by the clarity of the Word. You cultivated detachment from this world. And devoted yourself entirely to the holy life. Unceasingly praising God and singing to His Throne: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
Then under the aegis of the holy bishop Finian. In perfect purity of body and mind. You studied Scripture to perfection and you devoted yourself to ascetic practices. Moved by your firm vocation we sing:
Rejoice, Lover of the only Love of God!
Rejoice, Reader of the only Scripture!
Rejoice, Living consecration to Christ!
Rejoice, Asceticism incarnate in the Spirit!
Rejoice, Ardent call to the light!
Rejoice, Pure immaculate offering!
Rejoice, O holy Colomba of Iona!
Kontakion 3
Progressing in wisdom and Life in Christ, you walked valiantly on the road to salvation. Sparing neither your pains nor your efforts. Accentuating the resemblance with the Master, to Whom every breath cries with fervour: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
You were soon judged worthy of ordination. Clothed in the solemnity of the priesthood. You were even more a model of piety. An example of virtue and sacrifice. We wish to praise you with these acclamations:
Rejoice, Image of Melchizedek!
Rejoice, Witness to the pious sacrifice!
Rejoice, Impeccable cantor of the Church!
Rejoice, Sweet channel of grace!
Rejoice, Distinguished praise of the holy monks!
Rejoice, Paradigm of the priesthood!
Rejoice, O holy Colomba of Iona!
Kontakion 4
You drew disciples to the light. And you founded the monastery of Dair-Magh. And in this holy hive flowed the honey of the perfect monastic life of Ireland: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
Inspired by your predecessors in the East, you composed a rule for your brothers so that you could lead them more surely, from this world to the beauties of the other life. A beacon of asceticism to whom we proclaim:
Rejoice, Father concerned for your disciples!
Rejoice, Line traced towards salvation!
Rejoice, Fragrant incense of monasticism!
Rejoice, Imitator of Saint Anthony!
Rejoice, Representative of Saint Pachomius!
Rejoice, Emulator of the saints of old!
Rejoice, O Saint Columba of Iona!
Kontakion 5
As a true father you never accepted anyone into your life. And you rebuked King Dermot for his conduct. But he did not hear the Christ who spoke through you. So you had to take the road of exile: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
Taking with thee twelve of thy disciples, thou didst leave green Erin for Scotland. Where thou didst clear the thorns of paganism. Where thou didst convert the Picts with thy pious zeal. And thus we praise thy apostolic zeal:
Rejoice, Who challenged all the pagan gods!
Rejoice, Who sowed Christ in hearts!
Rejoice, Who preached by your life alone!
Rejoice, Missionary of Truth!
Rejoice, Reflux of Satan's reign!
Rejoice, Gentle persuasion!
Rejoice, O holy Colomba of Iona!
Kontakion 6
The Picts, grateful for your holy work, gave you the island of Iona as a pecuniary estate, which became attached to your holy name. You founded many communities there, where people sang unceasingly to the Most High God: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
Father of the monks of Scotland and model saint. You were for all your sons a sacred example. Observing the greatest of austerities. Sleeping on the ground with a stone for a pillow, while the ascetics of heaven said to you:
Rejoice, Icon of Christ's virtues!
Rejoice, Illustration of monasticism!
Rejoice, Expression of the Divine Life!
Rejoice, Pure asceticism of Love!
Rejoice, Model of charity!
Rejoice, Reflection of holy kenosis!
Rejoice, O Saint Columba of Iona!
Kontakion 7
You sanctified time, perpetually offering it, through austere fasting, prayer, and sacred meditation, to Him who first bestowed upon us Life. And your prayer rose without ceasing, like a fragrant incense ascending before God:
Alleluia!
Ikos 7
In spite of the austerity of your monastic life, you showed a face radiant with joy, indicating that the only happiness comes for us through Him who died on the cross. Your charity now receives our praise:
Rejoice, in the gladness of the Kingdom!
Rejoice, Jubilation of the Word!
Rejoice, Rapture in the Hereafter!
Rejoice, in the Exaltation of Prayer!
Rejoice, at the exultation of pious duties!
Rejoice, in the intoxication of mystical weddings!
Rejoice, O Saint Columba of Iona!
Kontakion 8
Your face radiant with pure grace bore great witness to God's election. Your miracles became like grains of sand. And the faithful gave thanks to God saying: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
The glory of God burst forth in your actions. And you enjoyed such authority that even kings came to consult you. Aidan wanted to receive his crown from you. From the servant of Christ the King to whom we proclaim:
Rejoice, Whom God glorified on earth!
Rejoice, in whom the Spirit Rejoices!
Rejoice, Who made the Other Sun shine!
Rejoice, in the sparkle of prayer!
Rejoice, in the fragrance of good deeds!
Rejoice, Strength of Christ in gentleness!
Rejoice, O holy Colomba of Iona!
Kontakion 9
You who lived on our earth as in Heaven. You who also possessed the gift of prophecy. And often the mysteries of the Kingdom were revealed before your fervent soul. For this you gave thanks to God, singing to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
You lived only in the temple of the Lord, in the midst of the abolished time of eternity. And your gaze plunged into the divine world suddenly observed the edges of the future, in the eternal present of God where we say:
Rejoice, Vision of heavenly dwellings!
Rejoice, Apprehension of the ineffable!
Rejoice, Contemplator of the values of the century!
Rejoice, Contemplator of Paradise!
Rejoice, Powerful indicator of the Spirit!
Rejoice, Frontier of the intangible kingdom!
Rejoice, O Saint Columba of Iona!
Kontakion 10
By the outstanding example of your consecrated life, following the example of the Master, you knew how to show all the Christians who lived near you love, charity and holy concern. Teaching them to cry out unceasingly to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
Adamnan writing your sacred chronicle delivers to our astonished hearts the long list of miracles that God manifested through you. In your prophecies that were verified, your life is a memory of grace and we sing:
Rejoice, Imitator of the Master Christ!
Rejoice, Miracles by your prayer!
Rejoice, Visionary of the other world!
Rejoice, Healer of souls and bodies!
Rejoice, Haven of all the unfortunate!
Rejoice, Help of Christians in times of trial!
Rejoice, O Saint Columba of Iona!
Kontakion 11
Four years before your peaceful sleep, the Lord favoured you with a vision and judged you worthy of a revelation. The angels of the Most High came down to you: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
These angels told you that the Saviour of the world, moved by the prayers that went up to His Throne, asking for the continuation of your life on earth, was extending your existence by four years. You wept with gratitude and we say:
Rejoice, Tangible proof of faith!
Rejoice, Incarnation of prayer!
Rejoice, Praise of meditation!
Rejoice, at the elevation of fervour!
Rejoice, in the glory of contemplation!
Rejoice, Exaltation of piety!
Rejoice, O Saint Columba of Iona!
Kontakion 12
You gently pursued the work of salvation. Unceasingly offering your life for your brothers. And increasing the harvest of our Lord, you joined the flock of spiritual sheep. The souls of those who chant to the heavens: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
One Sunday you said to Diermit your disciple: "This day is the Sabbath, that is to say, rest it will truly be so for my soul. For here is the day of the end of my labours." And you were in the church where they now sing:
Rejoice, who knew the hour of salvation!
Rejoice, that you kept the prayer of your heart!
Rejoice, that you fought the good fight!
Rejoice, that you overcame Satan and the world!
Rejoice, at the accomplishment of the Way!
Rejoice, Ornament of the Holy Church!
Rejoice, O Saint Colomba of Iona!
Kontakion 13
Having taken communion in the holy mysteries of Christ, you gave your blessing to your disciples and falling peacefully asleep in the Lord, you were born in Heaven, the object of all hope. While the litany of the saints chanted: Alleluia!
Ikos 1
You understood from a young age that our life is but the prologue to eternal life. And you were on earth journeying to Heaven In prayerful expectation of the kingdom of God. And the Angels over your young soul exclaimed:
Rejoice, Heir of holy Ireland!
Rejoice, Flagship of the Celtic Church!
Rejoice, Child of pure prayer!
Rejoice, Early initiation into God!
Rejoice, Beginning line of monks!
Rejoice, Son who looks to the Father!
Rejoice, O holy Colomba of Iona!
Kontakion 1
Illustrious scion of the clan of Neil. You were born in Tyrconnell and from childhood you turned to God. That is why we cry out in your honour:
Rejoice, O holy Columba of Iona!
Prayer To St. Colmcille
Illustrious son of Ireland and monk of Scotland. O our father Saint Colomba of Iona you were on this earth a pilgrim of God. On the roots of oriental monasticism you made the shoot of Celtic Christianity grow. You showed by your exemplary existence the highest virtues that grace confers. You who lived in the world of eternity intercede for us all in the present time. May your prayer like water from the rock pierce the stone of our hardened heart so that unceasing prayer penetrates it. And that one day we may be made worthy of reaching The Kingdom of God. And may your prayer, like water from a rock, pierce the stone of our hardened hearts. So that unceasing prayer may penetrate them and one day make us worthy of reaching the Kingdom of the Most Holy Trinity. Where the chorus of the elect of the Father and His Son and the Most Holy Spirit resounds forever. Now and forever Amen!