Akathist to Our Lady "The Unexpected Joy"

How to read the akathist?

After submitting the names, download and read the text of the Akathist to Our Lady «The Unexpected Joy» in Russian, English, Ukrainian, or listen to it online weekly according to the schedule at your chosen hour of prayer. To begin the prayer with the Akathist, you can say, "Bless me, Lord!" In the final prayer of the Akathist, mention the submitted names in any place that fits the meaning ("help us…," "do not leave us…," etc.). After completing the prayer, you can thank God and ask for help in your own words.

Who is the Mother of God and why should you order an Akathist?

Here, you will learn who the Mother of God is and why it is beneficial to order an online prayer to Her. In Orthodox teaching, the Mother of God is the God-chosen Virgin who gave birth to the Savior of the world. Due to her purity of soul and great humility, the Theotokos (Mother of God) was deemed worthy to become the Mother of the incarnate Lord. During the Crucifixion and Sufferings of her Only-Begotten Son, she adopted humanity as her own.
Prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos can save the souls of even the most desperate sinners. The text of the Akathist and the subject of the icon known as “Unexpected Joy” are based on a church tradition about the life of a devout yet sinful man. This young man, although caught in sin, frequently called upon the Mother of God. Only Her persistent intercession before the Lord allowed him to receive understanding, repentance, and forgiveness of sins.

What do people ask of the Mother of God in prayers and Akathists before the “Unexpected Joy” icon?

In Orthodox tradition, we pray to the Mother of God for conception, the granting of children, the carrying of pregnancy, and the birth of a healthy child.
Many women need prayer in order to conceive. The Theotokos herself was a mother, so when we turn to her in need, our requests are especially close to her heart because she knows true love! This prayer is also offered to the Mother of God for the preservation of pregnancy, for a healthy and safe childbirth. It is customary to pray before and during childbirth. The expectant mother can offer the Akathist for her child, as can her family members.
Childbirth requires both physical and spiritual strength, so it is especially important to be in a state of grace under the prayerful protection of the Theotokos. Mothers can also pray this Akathist for the marriage of their daughter or son, and for the creation of a family for their children, relatives, and loved ones.Often, the reasons for life's misfortunes, troubles, and grief lie in sins. When unaware of this or feeling helpless in a difficult situation, despair sets in, faith wavers, and the last hope is lost. In such moments, the intercession of the Queen of Heaven saves. Through prayer, the "unexpected joy" of forgiveness of sins is granted, and as a result, the miracle of childbirth and the continuation of the family line may follow. The most important thing in such a situation is to pray consistently.

How to order an online Akathist to the Mother of God before Her icon "Unexpected Joy" on the website «Prayer by Agreement»?

The Akathist to the Mother of God before the "Unexpected Joy" icon is performed in the Resurrection of Christ Skete every Sunday, four times a day. On the "Prayer by Agreement" website, you can submit the names of those for whom you wish to pray at home (simultaneously with other participants around the world). This collective prayer takes place in the living presence of the Mother of God, the unwavering Intercessor for the human race.