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Joined: Aug 2010
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A phrase in the kontakion yesterday struck me:

"...But since you have invincible power, free us from all peril that we may exclaim to you..."

What is the "invincible power" that Mary has? Is it hyperbole? I see it in the translations of different churches, so there seems to be something there.

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I think I prefer the term poetic license.

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I presume the kontakion in question is "Ti Ipermaho", translated I believe as "Triumphant Leader" with that translation. This is one of the kontakia used in the Akathist hymn. It is said that it was added to the Akathist by the Church of Constantinople in the 600s after a storm destroyed an invading enemy, saving the city. This was attributed to the Mother of God because of a procession of an icon during the city's defense.

The kontakion begins by proclaiming a feast of victory to the super-powerful, victorious general (very rough paraphrase of one way it could be translated - this is actually very hard to make a good English translation and of the 20 I've seen I don't think any have done it really well). Her power is, of course, Christ, who was incarnate through her, by whom all things can be done, and to whom she prays for the Church.

Finally, why were they singing it in October? I can think of no reason for it, unless it's the parish's kontakion or they're having an Akathist.

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If it is Triumphant leader, or in Slavonic Взбранной воеводе, it is sung at the end of first hour.

I doubt it is that kontakion though, because if the OP heard it in english, most translations would have "Triumphal Leader, glorious leader" etc.

The invincible power imagery appears in many other places, and the context "save us" makes me think it is a petition at the end of a knotakion rather than the beginning verse. Pretty much the last verse of any kontakion in tone 4 is something like X, save us by Y".


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