Akathist to Our Holy Father Charbel, Hermit of Lebanon

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Kontakion I

Chosen from thy youth to become a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, O venerable father Charbel, thou didst flee the glory of men and seek only the face of Christ in silence and prayer. Therefore, marveling at thy hidden life and thy radiant holiness, we cry unto thee:

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Ikos I

The angelic hosts beheld thy love for obscurity and rejoiced, for thou didst choose to be unknown upon earth that thou mightest be known to God.

Rejoice, child of Lebanon and fragrant cedar of Christ.

Rejoice, lover of solitude and seeker of the eternal kingdom.

Rejoice, disciple of the hidden years of Nazareth.

Rejoice, thou who didst flee the praise of men.

Rejoice, faithful son of the all-holy Mother of God.

Rejoice, thou who didst make thy whole life an offering.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion II

Seeing thy steadfastness in ascetic struggle, the powers of darkness trembled, for fasting, prayer, and watchfulness became thy weapons, and with the hosts of heaven thou didst sing:

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos II

Thy mind became illumined by prayer and thy heart was enlarged through silence.

Rejoice, thou who didst discover paradise within the cell.

Rejoice, thou who didst embrace poverty as treasure.

Rejoice, thou who didst find freedom in renunciation.

Rejoice, thou whose silence became wisdom.

Rejoice, thou whose hiddenness became light.

Rejoice, thou whose tears became prayer.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion III

Strengthened by divine grace, thou didst persevere through long years of obscurity, trusting that nothing offered to God is ever lost. Therefore we cry:

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos III

Thou didst become a father to many by first becoming a child before God.

Rejoice, hidden lamp set upon the mountain.

Rejoice, witness that fruitfulness is born of prayer.

Rejoice, comfort of those who feel forgotten.

Rejoice, companion of the lonely.

Rejoice, teacher of patient endurance.

Rejoice, guide of souls through silent example.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion IV

Desiring to offer thyself wholly to God, thou didst ascend the mountain and embrace the life of the hermit, finding in solitude thy companionship with heaven.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos IV

Rejoice, dweller in the holy hermitage.

Rejoice, guardian of sacred silence.

Rejoice, lover of the long night watches.

Rejoice, faithful keeper of the prayer of the heart.

Rejoice, friend of stillness and holy recollection.

Rejoice, witness that solitude need not be loneliness.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion V

The fire of divine love consumed thy heart and transformed thy solitude into communion with the living God.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos V

Rejoice, thou whose heart burned with love for Christ.

Rejoice, thou who preferred prayer to every earthly consolation.

Rejoice, thou who didst hunger only for God.

Rejoice, thou who didst thirst for the living water.

Rejoice, thou who didst discover joy in self-emptying.

Rejoice, thou who teachest us that God alone suffices.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion VI

The Mother of God watched over thee as a tender mother watches over her child, and by her intercession thou wast strengthened in every trial.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos VI

Rejoice, faithful son of the Virgin Mother.

Rejoice, lover of her purity and humility.

Rejoice, imitator of her hidden life.

Rejoice, guardian of the mysteries of the heart.

Rejoice, servant of her Son and Lord.

Rejoice, child sheltered beneath her mantle.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion VII

Though hidden from the world, thou didst become an intercessor for all who suffer in body and soul.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos VII

Rejoice, comfort of the afflicted.

Rejoice, consolation of the sick.

Rejoice, helper of those burdened by sorrow.

Rejoice, refuge of the anxious and weary.

Rejoice, companion of those who feel abandoned.

Rejoice, witness that hidden prayer bears fruit.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion VIII

Thou didst teach by thy life that greatness before God is found in becoming small.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos VIII

Rejoice, teacher of holy littleness.

Rejoice, witness that obscurity is not abandonment.

Rejoice, guide of those whose vocations have changed.

Rejoice, companion of hidden sacrifices.

Rejoice, friend of those who dwell in silence.

Rejoice, herald of hope in the unnoticed years.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion IX

In thy stillness thou didst become a father to innumerable souls whom thou never met in this life.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos IX

Rejoice, father born of silence.

Rejoice, shepherd hidden in prayer.

Rejoice, teacher without many words.

Rejoice, guide who leads by example.

Rejoice, witness that love works secretly.

Rejoice, image of the hidden Christ.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion X

At the end of thy earthly course, thou didst surrender thy spirit into the hands of God whom thou hadst sought from thy youth.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos X

Rejoice, faithful servant who endured to the end.

Rejoice, man of prayer whose lamp never went out.

Rejoice, lover of the Cross and of the Kingdom.

Rejoice, thou who didst finish thy race in peace.

Rejoice, intercessor before the throne of God.

Rejoice, citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion XI

Now standing among the saints and angels, thou dost behold face to face the One whom thou didst seek in silence and obscurity.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos XI

Rejoice, beholder of uncreated light.

Rejoice, friend of Christ and companion of the saints.

Rejoice, heir of the promises.

Rejoice, joy of the Church of Lebanon.

Rejoice, glory of monks and consolation of the faithful.

Rejoice, guide of all who seek God alone.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion XII

Remember us, O holy father Charbel, and teach us to remain where Providence has placed us, to love those entrusted to our care, and to disappear into Christ without fear.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Ikos XII

Rejoice, teacher of the hidden years.

Rejoice, companion of caregivers and the weary.

Rejoice, friend of those who feel forgotten.

Rejoice, guide into the silence of the heart.

Rejoice, witness that prayer transforms all things.

Rejoice, teacher that God knows what to do with a hidden life.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Rejoice, O Saint Charbel, lover of the hidden life and friend of silence.

Kontakion XIII

O holy father Charbel, receive this little hymn of praise and remember us before the throne of God. Obtain for us purity of heart, perseverance in prayer, and the grace to become small and hidden in Christ.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.