What Are a Moleben and an Akathist?

Two beautiful ways to pray in our Byzantine Catholic Church

Have you ever asked someone to pray for you when you were worried, sick, or facing something difficult? Or have you ever felt so thankful that you wanted to say a special prayer to God?

Prayer helps us speak to God. Sometimes we ask for His help, sometimes we thank Him, and sometimes we simply praise Him because we love Him.

In our Byzantine Catholic Church, two beautiful forms of prayer are the Moleben and the Akathist. They are different, but both help us grow closer to God and strengthen our faith.

What Is a Moleben?

A Moleben is a special prayer service in which we gather to pray for God’s help, give thanks for His blessings, or ask for the prayers of the Holy Theotokos or a saint.

Imagine that a friend is sick, your family is going through a difficult time, or your community needs God’s guidance. You can pray privately, but you can also gather with others in church for a Moleben. Together, we ask God to help us and place our needs in His loving hands.

A Moleben often includes hymns, Scripture readings, prayers, and petitions. Depending on the occasion, it may be celebrated in honour of Jesus Christ, the Holy Theotokos, or a saint.

For example, when we celebrate a Moleben to the Holy Theotokos, we honour Mary, the Mother of God, and ask her to pray for us. We do not worship Mary; we worship God alone. We ask Mary to intercede for us, just as we might ask a loving family member or friend to pray for us.

A Moleben can also be offered in thanksgiving. We might gather to thank God for a safe journey, a new baby, a special blessing, or the many gifts He gives us each day.

The Moleben teaches us that we do not have to face life’s joys and difficulties alone. We can bring everything to God in prayer, together as a Church family.

What Is an Akathist?

An Akathist is a special hymn of praise and prayer. The word Akathist comes from Greek and means “not sitting.” Traditionally, we stand while praying an Akathist as a sign of reverence and attention.

The most famous is the Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos. It praises Mary and remembers the wonderful mystery of how she became the Mother of Jesus Christ. There are also Akathists dedicated to Jesus Christ and various saints.

An Akathist contains beautiful words, hymns, and repeated greetings or praises. Through these words, we remember God’s wonderful works, honour the Holy Theotokos or a saint, and learn more about our faith.

Think of someone you admire because they are kind, brave, or faithful. You might want to tell others about their goodness. An Akathist does something similar, but through the Church’s sacred prayer. It praises the holiness of the person being commemorated and points us toward God’s grace.

When we pray an Akathist to the Holy Theotokos, we honour Mary and ask her to pray for us. When we pray an Akathist to a saint, we remember that person’s faithfulness and ask for their intercession.

The Akathist teaches us to praise God, give thanks for His saving work, and honour those who faithfully followed Him.

What Do the Moleben and the Akathist Have in Common?

Both are beautiful forms of prayer that come from the living tradition of our Byzantine Catholic Church. Both bring people together in prayer and help us grow closer to Jesus Christ.

Both may include hymns, Scripture, petitions, and prayers. Both may be celebrated in honour of the Holy Theotokos or a saint. And in both, we may ask for the prayers of the saints while remembering that God alone is worthy of worship.

Most importantly, both remind us that prayer is not only something we do when we need help. Prayer is also a way to thank God, praise Him, and strengthen our relationship with Him.

What Is the Difference Between Them?

The easiest way to understand the difference is this:

• A Moleben is generally a prayer service of petition and thanksgiving. We gather especially to ask for God’s help, pray for particular needs, or give thanks for His blessings.
• An Akathist is a hymn of praise. It focuses especially on praising Christ, the Holy Theotokos, or a saint and remembering the wonderful works of God.

There can be some overlap. A Moleben may contain hymns of praise, and an Akathist may include petitions asking for help and intercession. Sometimes an Akathist is included within a Moleben or prayed as part of a larger service.

So, the difference is not that one asks for help and the other never does. Rather, the Moleben is a service centred on prayer for our needs and thanksgiving, while the Akathist is especially known for its extended hymn of praise.

How Can We Take Part?

The next time you attend a Moleben, remember that you are bringing your needs, hopes, and gratitude before God with your parish family.

The next time you pray an Akathist, listen to the beautiful words. Let them teach you about God’s love and inspire you to follow the example of the Holy Theotokos and the saints.

And here is a little challenge: Can you think of one thing you need God’s help with and one thing for which you want to thank Him?

You can bring both to prayer. God listens to us when we ask for help, and He delights when we remember to give thanks.

In the Moleben, we bring our needs and thanksgiving before God. In the Akathist, we lift our hearts in praise. Both help us grow in faith, hope, and love, and both lead us closer to Jesus Christ.