Holy Confessor Priest Ilie (Lăcătușu) is counted among the many "Prison Saints" who suffered under the oppressive Soviet regime in Romania during the 20th century. Born in 1909, the second of 7 children, he grew up in relatively humble conditions, and after marrying Ekaterina Popescu, he was ordained a priest in 1934.
Living a peaceful family life, it was not until 1952 that he was first swept up in a wave of ideologically-motivated arrests and, along with other clergy, forced into labour camps. Most of his life was spent in and out of these incredibly harsh communist prisons, through which he was granted the title "Confessor."
After his retirement from parish priest responsibilities he reposed in peace on the 22nd July 1983, a date he predicted for his repose. His grave was opened in 1998, and his body was found to be incorrupt and exuding a sweet-smelling myrrh. Since that day, his relics rest at a tiny chapel in the Dormition Cemetery on the outskirts of Bucharest. There, many pilgrims queued to venerate his relics, years before his official canonisation by the Romanian Orthodox Church on the 12th July 2024.
The Akathist below, also available to download as a standalone service, was composed a number of years ago and translated into English in 2012 by Matushka Catalina of our parish.
Akathist Hymn to the Holy Confessor Priest Ilie
Troparion (Tone 8)
O long-suffering, God-bearing Father Ilie, / with fruit-bearing fire you have be-dewed the flame of torments, putting your enemies to shame. / Therefore, O Father, putting on Christ’s mantle, // pray Him to save our souls.
Kontaktion 1: Come, those who love martyrs, let us praise Father Ilie in a loud voice, who, by his suffering, received the crown of victory from God. For, loving Christ’s Church and the Romanian people, he chose the narrow, sorrowful path, fearlessly standing against the enemies of the true faith. For that, let us sing to him:
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Ikos 1: Beset by temptation, we run to you, O Saint, trusting in your intercession. We know that you have called many people to your holy relics. We have heard of the woman you spoke to in dream, telling her: ‘Come to me and pray whenever you need help.’ And we believe that you can also help us, for your love overflows all those who pray to you in faith. Therefore we say to you:
Rejoice, blessing of the Romanian land;
Rejoice, believers’ haven and heavenly gift;
Rejoice, tabernacle of virtues adorned by Christ;
Rejoice, for you showed your love of holiness through sacrifice;
Rejoice, tireless guardian of those who preach the right faith;
Rejoice, for from you we learn meekness and true humility;
Rejoice, for you fled human glory and found God;
Rejoice, for you prayed unceasingly for the Romanian people;
Rejoice, treasure, who satisfies those who confess the true faith;
Rejoice, for you guide those who start out on wrong paths;
Rejoice, for you call those who need help;
Rejoice, for those who pray to you confess swift deliverance;
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontaktion 2: You have served Christ from your youth, O Saint, an icon of prayer, meekness and self - sacrifice, setting a good example to us assailed by passions and weak in faith. For this we beg you pray for us ceaselessly, that we may sing to God with pure hearts: Alleluia!
Ikos 2: Seeing your zeal for the holy things, God called you to minister Him, laying the heavy cross of priesthood on your shoulders. Yet you worthily answered this calling, desiring to be a spiritual shepherd and minister to your brethren and for that we bring you praises:
Rejoice, for Saint Elijah was your protector.
Rejoice, prophetic voice, who rebuked the apostates’ delusion.
Rejoice, offspring of saints’ prayers from ages past.
Rejoice, for you wisely confronted the enemies’ temptations.
Rejoice, for from your childhood you humbly trod the virtuous path.
Rejoice, for you guarded the purity of your youth fighting passions.
Rejoice, for, taking the path of family-life, you reached holiness.
Rejoice, for you covered your virtues with humility.
Rejoice, for you were a skilful preacher and spiritual father.
Rejoice, for you have healed the sick souls of many.
Rejoice, tireless preacher of the love for God.
Rejoice, guidance and distinguished example for the ministers of the altars.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontaktion 3: Seeing the multitude of trials the Romanian people were suffering, you yearned to burn like a candle, without sparing any effort. And, together with many priests and faithful, you fought with the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, against the blasphemers of truth, fearlessly singing: Alleluia!
Ikos 3: You did not fear suffering or death, for you bore the zeal for martyrdom in your soul. And Christ vouchsafed you to follow the martyrs of old, as you were snatched away from the midst of your family and congregation and put to work in colonies. There, through your patience and holiness, you comforted dejected souls, for which we sing to you:
Rejoice, for the prison saints watched over you.
Rejoice, for they rejoiced when they counted you among their number.
Rejoice, for, through your faith, you shined in the darkness of persecutions.
Rejoice, for in the midst of storms you acquired peace of soul.
Rejoice, for you were not disturbed by suffering.
Rejoice, stone that broke to pieces the ill-believers’ schemes.
Rejoice, for you followed the martyrs' ascent upon the mountain of suffering.
Rejoice, for you suffered the persecutors’ mockery and scorn without complaint.
Rejoice, for the persecutors did not overpower you through pain and suffering.
Rejoice, for like Our Lord you brought yourself like a lamb to the slaughter.
Rejoice, for He invisibly guided you on the path of salvation.
Rejoice, for you were guarded by Him in every persecution you endured.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontakion 4: The power of your prayer was revealed in Periprava, O Saint, when they made you cut reeds in freezing weather and those who guarded you were waiting for your death. But you encouraged those who suffered with you to hope in the Mother of the Lord and the Three Holy Hierarchs, who were celebrated on that day, and sang to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 4: You resembled the Forty Holy Martyrs, thrown by persecutors into the waters at Sebaste, but through your prayers, O Father, they all remained alive. For as the sun of faith shone in your heart, the material sun shone in the sky, warming the land and giving succour. Therefore we praise you saying:
Rejoice, for the Mother of the Lord covered you with Her holy veil.
Rejoice, for the three Holy Hierarchs protected you with their prayers.
Rejoice, for your bodies were crucified on the cross of coldness.
Rejoice, for your hearts were strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, for you suffered like the Forty Holy Martyrs.
Rejoice, for the cunning devil was defeated through your suffering.
Rejoice, for your patience bowed the persecutors.
Rejoice, for your righteousness was miraculously revealed.
Rejoice, for you carried the burden of suffering without complaining.
Rejoice, for being humiliated by men, you were blessed by the Creator of the world.
Rejoice, for the Sun of Righteousness comforted you with sunlight.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontakion 5: Seeing what was to come, you knew beforehand the day of your repose in the Lord and the year of your presbytera’s death, and, through that, the gift that you had received from God in your earthly life was revealed, for which we rejoice and thankfully sing to Him: Alleluia!
Ikos 5: Who can tell the joy of those who witnessed the discovery of your Holy Relics, O Father? For, by the Grace of the Holy Spirit, your body was revealed to be untouched by the passage of time and uncorrupted. This too vouched for your holiness, for God spoke to us through your fragrant relics, urging us to praise you:
Rejoice, for your holy relics proved you a chosen vessel of Christ.
Rejoice, for those who come and pray to you are exceedingly blessed.
Rejoice, for you speak to them through your uncorrupted body.
Rejoice, for you do not desert those who run to you.
Rejoice, for your memory is imprinted on their souls.
Rejoice, apostle of the resurrection to the dead in these last days.
Rejoice, for you increase the piety of the pilgrims who come to you.
Rejoice, for you remove doubts and strengthen faith.
Rejoice, for you bring joy to the souls who worship you.
Rejoice, for you urge us to meditate on death and eternity.
Rejoice, for, like the saints of old, you have the scent of incorruptibility.
Rejoice, for you receive a great multitude of worshippers at your grave.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontakion 6: You were revealed to be a wonder-worker during your life, O Saint, but after your dormition, the number of your miracles increased. And after your relics were found, a multitude of believers came to receive your blessing, praying to you and singing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 6: In these times, when heresies are multiplying, God showed you to be a bulwark against disbelief, for, hearing about the multitude of your miracles, many people come to your holy relics, beholding you as if sleeping, and acknowledge Christ’s power, the vanquisher of death. For this they praise you, saying:
Rejoice, for you appeared to those in need of help.
Rejoice, for you called them to you through dreams and visions.
Rejoice, for people proclaim your countless miracles.
Rejoice, for your benefactions are praised everywhere.
Rejoice, friend of those burdened by loneliness.
Rejoice, for you remove the temptation of despondency and suicide.
Rejoice, for you save us from the temptation of unexpected death.
Rejoice, for you amaze us through the multitude of your miracles.
Rejoice, for you wipe away the tears of the grieved and saddened.
Rejoice, for many priests and monks pray before your icon.
Rejoice, for we confess your charismata with great joy.
Rejoice, for we worship the true God through you.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontakion 7: The sick beyond the help of doctors, being left prey to despondency, came to you, O Saint, whereupon you proved to be a heavenly physician, making the impossible possible. And the sick, being healed, confessed the multitude of your gifts, singing to God together with their neighbours: Alleluia!
Ikos 7: Any illness or disability finds its cure through prayers to you, O Father Ilie, for God abundantly rewarded your martyric sufferings. And He showed you to be a heavenly unmercenary, to whom the sick run to you with their hearts full of hope, singing:
Rejoice, for you abound in healing works.
Rejoice, comforter of those bed-ridden in suffering.
Rejoice, you who spared many people from operations through your prayers.
Rejoice, for the doctors could not comprehend your miracles.
Rejoice, for with your help, the tongue of the mute youth were loosened.
Rejoice, for he started to confess your miracles.
Rejoice, for the sick rejoiced, finding their healing.
Rejoice, comforter of their weary-hearted relatives.
Rejoice, protector of the sick and doctors’ advisor.
Rejoice, for you help doctors through the prayers of the sick.
Rejoice, for you ease those who are burdened by pain.
Rejoice, for you pray for those who are in the hour of their death.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontakion 8: You comforted the woman troubled by lack of means, appearing in a dream to tell her she would receive everything needful. And receiving strength from your words, she fortified her faith and praised God: Alleluia!
Ikos 8: We have many shortages and troubles, O Saint, but believe that you will not leave our prayer unanswered. For you helped the poor in many ways, and helped find work for those who had nothing to live on. And we also believe that you can help us just as you helped those, coming to our aid, for which we praise you:
Rejoice, for you feed the hungry.
Rejoice, for you have mercy on the needy.
Rejoice, for you give wherewithal to the poor.
Rejoice, for you answer the grieved.
Rejoice, for you help the homeless.
Rejoice, for they rejoice at your help.
Rejoice, for you are a loving parent to orphans.
Rejoice, for you are a speedy supporter of widows.
Rejoice, for you delivered us from the temptation of despondency.
Rejoice, impartial judge who defended the truth.
Rejoice, for you defend the unjustly persecuted.
Rejoice, for you encourage those who are scorned.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontakion 9: Great is the sadness of childless families, but many children were born from their parent's answered prayers. Therefore we pray you to have mercy on those who have recourse to you, and intercede for them so that they may have children to sing together to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 9: Your parents were blessed by God with seven children, whilst you and your wife had five, your family truly being a small church. And Christ gave you the gift of being a protector of Christian families and those who prepare to walk towards salvation on the path of marriage, for which we praise you saying:
Rejoice, supplicant for pious families.
Rejoice, for you watch over faithful souls.
Rejoice, for faithful parents consider you their protector.
Rejoice, for you pray for their children’s salvation.
Rejoice, for you guide them to walk on the Church’s path.
Rejoice, for you protect them from the abyss of perdition.
Rejoice, for prodigal sons return to their parents’ homes.
Rejoice, for with your help, peace takes the place of disturbance.
Rejoice, for childless parents consider you their intercessor.
Rejoice, for you do not leave their prayers unanswered.
Rejoice, for you banish sadness from their hearts.
Rejoice, for you reward their perseverance in prayer.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontakion 10: Witches tried to steal a part of your relics, but you appeared to your daughter and revealed to her their evil plans, standing against their wickedness and casting away their meanness. And your daughter rejoiced, thanking God and crying: Alleluia!
Ikos 10: Today many demonised people suffer terribly, but those who are brought to your holy relics receive swift deliverance. For the demons fear the power of your prayers, and leave those whom they tormented. We pray you, O Saint, give swift deliverance to those who suffer because of demons, their works or any kind of spells, so that, feeling your protection, they may hymn you together with us:
Rejoice, banisher of demons’ cohorts.
Rejoice, for you cast out the power of spells.
Rejoice, for you saved the demonised.
Rejoice, for you received their gratitude.
Rejoice, for you heard their relatives’ supplications.
Rejoice, for you listened to priests’ prayers.
Rejoice, for you undo the magicians’ bindings.
Rejoice, for you save us from the bondage of passions.
Rejoice, for you protect the people from unseen enemies.
Rejoice, for in the hour of temptation, we ask for your help.
Rejoice, for you quench the flames of temptations.
Rejoice, for you guide us on the narrow path.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontakion 11: In wartime you were sent as a missionary to the Romanian land across the Prut, and many souls were comforted by your words. Likewise, this day we ask you , O Saint, pray to God for all those who are far from the path of salvation, so that, changing their lives, they may sing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 11: Not only sons of the church came to your relics, but also those ensnared by various delusions, who wanted to see if your body was truly incorrupt. Some remained speechless, seeing your intact holy relics, and sought to know the God Who glorified you. Therefore, now, coming to the true Church, they praise you together with us:
Rejoice, candle shining in the darkness of delusion.
Rejoice, fiery pillar guiding us in the desert of temptations.
Rejoice, herald of godly words.
Rejoice, harp delighting us with heavenly chants.
Rejoice, for you remove the veil of lies.
Rejoice, for you thwart the heretics’ pitfalls.
Rejoice, for you defeated the lying orators.
Rejoice, for you calmed the storm of falsehood.
Rejoice, for you saved those infected by the plague of deceit.
Rejoice, for you brought them to light from the pit of perdition.
Rejoice, for you did not let them lose their souls.
Rejoice, for they thank and praise you.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontakion 12: You defeated death by your death, being a faithful servant of the Resurrected One. And now you rejoice in the order of saints together with all those who stood against the communist beast: the multitude of confessors, priests, monks and laymen, and all the neo-martyrs, who sanctified the Romanian land with their blood and suffering, and now ceaselessly sing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 12: ‘No prophet is acceptable in his hometown’, said Our Saviour, and those who hated you during your lifetime also hated you after your repose in the Lord, and their offspring are mocking your memory to this day. Yet, thanking you for the multitude of your benefactions, we say to you:
Rejoice, for you rebuke those who defile the right faith.
Rejoice, for you turn the proud to repentance.
Rejoice, intimate counsellor of priests.
Rejoice, invincible defence of Christians.
Rejoice, skilful teacher of self-sacrifice.
Rejoice, tireless tutor of piety.
Rejoice, for your fervent prayers rise up to Heaven.
Rejoice, for you ascended the ladder of virtues.
Rejoice, for you were sanctified by the love of your neighbour.
Rejoice, for you strived in the ministry of Christ.
Rejoice, for God enlightened you with His grace.
Rejoice, for through you, Christ called us to Him.
Rejoice, Father Ilie, shining beacon of the new confessors!
Kontakion 13 (said 3 times):
O, Father Ilie, Christ’s new confessor, we kneel before you praying and knowing none of those who run to you remain ignored. Be our protector until the hour of our death, help us lead a life which pleases God, guarding us from the pitfalls laid by the enemies of our salvation, so that we may sing to God, Who glorified you, to the ages of ages: Alleluia!
Then the first ikos and first troparion are repeated.
Prayer to Saint Ilie:
O, Saint Ilie, great wonder-worker, to you we flee, as to a swift deliverer. See our weak faith, infirmities and inabilities. Let us not be defeated by the works of evil powers, who seek our soul to be lost in manifold ways. Since the founding of the Church, many forerunners of Antichrist have appeared, spreading their web of delusion to ensnare those of little faith. And today their number increases, and because of them, Churches are being emptied and people are losing their souls, choosing the path of perdition.
We need your protection, O Saint, to resist daily temptations.
We need your intercessions, O Saint, so that we may not lose God’s help.
Pray to God for all faithful, Orthodox, families, for all Christian parents and their children. Pray for all the priests of the Orthodox Church so that they can fearlessly confess the truth. Pray for hierarchs everywhere, that they may shepherd their flocks in God’s fear. Pray, O Saint Ilie, for all the monks and nuns, so that God may grant them His gifts for your prayers.
We pray to you and all the new martyrs and confessors: do not forget in your prayers the Romanian people, whose temptations appear to increase daily. Protect them from enemies both visible and invisible, through the gift that you received from God. Help us, O Saint, both now and when our faith is tested, lest we should deny Christ, no matter how hard our coming trials will be. And we ask that if we fall, we may hastily arise through your intercessions. Pray so we should humble ourselves through repentance, asking God our benefactor to renew a right spirit within us and accept us in His heavenly kingdom, where you now praise Him together with all the angels and the saints.
Amen.
Holy Father Ilie, pray to God for us!
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