Pray
Let us pray.
May we, aided by the prayers of St Nicholas,
be strengthened on our earthly pilgrimage
to pray, fast, and advocate
for the protection of all children
from scandal, abuse, and trafficking.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with the Father
and the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us.
St. Joseph, Pray for us.
Nicholas, Holy Bishop of Myra,
Nicholas, Holy Saint in Bari,
Nicholas, Patron of children and seafarers,
Nicholas, Gift-giver and Wonder-Worker,
Nicholas, Friend of the poor and needy,
Nicholas, Icon of gentleness and generosity,
Nicholas, Model of meekness and charity,
Nicholas, Defender of the Christian Faith,
Nicholas, Myrrh of the fragrance of Christ,
Nicholas, Help of those who suffer wrong,
Nicholas, Faithful steward of the mysteries of God,
Nicholas, Guide of the penitent sinner,
Nicholas, Source of joy and thanksgiving,
Nicholas, Saint who points us to the Manger,
Pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Let us pray: May we, aided by the prayers of St Nicholas, be strengthened on our earthly pilgrimage to pray, fast, and advocate for the protection of all children from scandal, abuse, and trafficking. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God from Age unto Age. Amen.
Litany adapted from the St. Nicholas Center, www.stnicholascenter.org
Akathist to St. Nicholas
An akathist is a hymn/prayer of devotion, thanksgiving and petition, dedicated to a saint, holy event, or a person of the Trinity. It has thirteen parts, each with a kontakion (hymn in verse) and an ekos, an earnest request, ending, here, with “rejoice.” As the word Akathist means “standing,” the hymn is prayed standing.
O champion wonderworker and splendid servant of Christ, thou who pourest out for all the world the most precious myrrh of mercy and who art an inexhaustible sea of miracles, we praise thee with love, Saint Nicholas. Since thou art one having boldness toward the Lord, from all dangers do thou deliver us, so that we may cry unto thee: Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
An angel in manner, though earthly by nature, did the Creator reveal thee to be, O most blessed Saint Nicholas. Having foresight into the fruitful beauty of thy soul, He taught all to cry unto thee thus: Rejoice, thou who wast purified from thy mother’s womb. Rejoice, thou who wast sanctified even unto the end. Rejoice, thou who didst amaze thy parents by thy birth. Rejoice, thou who didst manifest power of soul straightway after birth. Rejoice, plant of the Promised Land. Rejoice, flower of divine planting. Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ’s vineyard. Rejoice, wonderworking tree of the Paradise of Jesus. Rejoice, lily of paradisiacal growth. Rejoice, myrrh of the fragrance of Christ. Rejoice, through thee lamentation is banished. Rejoice, through thee rejoicing is brought to pass. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Seeing the effusion of thy myrrh, our souls and bodies are enlightened. Therein we recognize thee to be a wonderful living source of unction, O divinely wise Saint Nicholas. Miracles like waters pour out through the grace of God, whence thou mercifully fillest them that faithfully cry unto Him: Alleluia.
Teaching incomprehensible knowledge about the Holy Trinity, thou wast with the holy fathers in Nicea a champion of the confession of the Orthodox Faith. Thou didst confess the Son equal of the Father, co-everlasting and co-enthroned, and thou didst convict the foolish Arius. Wherefore the faithful have learnt to sing unto thee: Rejoice, sanctuary of prayer and devotion. Rejoice, beautiful city of refuge for the faithful. Rejoice, unfailing stronghold of Orthodoxy. Rejoice, wondrous praise of the Holy Trinity. Rejoice, thou who didst preach the Son of equal honour with the Father. Rejoice, thou who didst expel the demonic Arius from the council of the saints. Rejoice, father, thou worthy splendour of the fathers. Rejoice, wise goodness of all the divinely wise. Rejoice, thou who utterest golden words. Rejoice, thou who guidest so well thy flock. Rejoice, through thee faith is strengthened. Rejoice, through thee heresy is overthrown. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Through power given unto thee from on high thou didst wipe away every tear from the face of those in cruel suffering, God-bearing Father Nicholas. Thou wast shewn to be a feeder of the hungry, a superb pilot of those upon the high seas, and a healer of the ailing. Thou hast proved to be a helper of all that cry unto God: Alleluia.
Truly, Father Nicholas, a song should be sung unto thee from Heaven, and not from earth. How can mere men proclaim the greatness of thy holiness? Wholly conquered by thy love, we cry unto thee: Rejoice, model of lambs and shepherds. Rejoice, holy purification of mortals. Rejoice, container of great virtues. Rejoice, pure and honourable abode of holiness. Rejoice, all-luminous lamp, beloved by all. Rejoice, light golden-rayed and blameless. Rejoice, worthy converser with angels. Rejoice, good guide of men. Rejoice, treasury of spiritual fortunes. Rejoice, seeker of those in need. Rejoice, through thee we are delivered from bodily passions. Rejoice, through thee we are filled with spiritual delights. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
A storm of bewilderment confuseth our minds. How can we worthily hymn thy wonders, O blessed Nicholas? No one could count them, even though he had many tongues and willed to tell them. Notwithstanding, we make bold to sing unto God Who is wonderfully glorified in thee: Alleluia.
People near and far have heard of the greatness of thy miracles, O Nicholas worthy of praise, for in the air with the delicate wings of grace thou art accustomed to forestall those in misfortune, quickly delivering all who cry unto thee in this manner: Rejoice, wonderworker in the Church of Christ. Rejoice, servant in God’s grace. Rejoice, dispeller of unexpected evils. Rejoice, planter of good desires. Rejoice, compassionate father of those in misfortune. Rejoice, dread punisher of wrongdoers. Rejoice, abyss of miracles poured out by God. Rejoice, tablets of the Law of Christ written by God. Rejoice, strong uplifting of the fallen. Rejoice, support of them that stand aright. Rejoice, through thee all deception is exposed. Rejoice, through thee all truth is realized. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Thou didst appear as a divinely moving star, guiding those who sailed upon the cruel sea who were once threatened with imminent death — if thou hadst not come to the help of those who called upon thee, O wonder-working Saint Nicholas. Having forbidden the flying demons that shamelessly wanted to sink the ship, thou didst drive them away, and didst teach the faithful whom God saveth through thee to cry: Alleluia.
The maidens, prepared for a dishonourable marriage because of their poverty, beheld thy great compassion for the poor, most blessed Father Nicholas. During the night thou secretly gavest their aged father three bundles of gold, thereby saving him and his daughters from falling into sin. For this reason, thou hearest praises from all the faithful: Rejoice, bestower of blessings upon the humble. Rejoice, worker of miracles for the destitute. Rejoice, consolation of those that flee to thine aid. Rejoice, inexhaustible bread of the hungry. Rejoice, God-given wealth of those living in poverty on earth. Rejoice, speedy uplifting of paupers. Rejoice, quick hearing of the needy. Rejoice, acceptable care of the sorrowful. Rejoice, blameless provider for the three maidens. Rejoice, replenishment of their aged father. Rejoice, fervent guardian of purity. Rejoice, delight of all the helpless. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
The entire world proclaimeth thee, wonderful Nicholas, as a quick intercessor in adversities. Oftentimes, preceding those that travel by land and sail upon the sea, thou helpest them in a single hour, whilst at the same time keeping from evils all that cry unto God: Alleluia.
Thou didst shine as a living light, bringing deliverance unto the generals who received sentence to an unjust death and who called upon thee, good shepherd Nicholas. Thou didst quickly appear in a dream unto the emperor, and didst terrify him and didst order him to release them unharmed. Together with them we also gratefully cry unto thee: Rejoice, thou who helpest them that fervently call upon thee. Rejoice, thou who deliverest from unjust death. Rejoice, thou who preservest from false accusation. Rejoice, thou who destroyest the counsels of the unrighteous. Rejoice, thou who tearest lies to shreds like cobwebs. Rejoice, thou who gloriously exaltest truth. Rejoice, release of the innocent from their fetters. Rejoice, revival of the dead. Rejoice, revealer of righteousness. Rejoice, exposer of unrighteousness. Rejoice, through thee the innocent were saved from the sword. Rejoice, through thee they enjoyed the light. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Desiring to dispel the blasphemous stench of heresy, thou didst appear as truly fragrant and mystical myrrh, Saint Nicholas. Shepherding the people of Myra, thou hast thereby filled the entire world with thy gracious myrrh. In like manner, dispel from us the stench of abominable sin, so that we may acceptably cry unto God. Alleluia.
We understand thee to be a new Noah, a guide of the ark of salvation, holy Father Nicholas who drivest away the storm of all evils by thy direction, and bringest divine calm unto those that cry with wonder: Rejoice, calm harbor of the storm-tossed. Rejoice, sure preservation of those that are drowning. Rejoice, good pilot of those that sail upon the deeps. Rejoice, strong ruler of the raging of the sea. Rejoice, guidance of those in whirlwinds. Rejoice, warmth of those in frosts. Rejoice, radiance dispersing the gloom of sorrow. Rejoice, light illumining all the ends of the earth. Rejoice, thou who deliverest people from the abyss of sin. Rejoice, thou who castest Satan into the abyss of hades. Rejoice, through thee we boldly invoke the abyss of God’s compassion. Rejoice, through thee we are rescued from the flood of wrath and we find peace with God. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
A strange wonder is the sacred Church shewn to be unto those that flock to thee, O glorious Nicholas. By offering in it even a small supplication, we receive healing from hopeless illnesses, if only, after God, we place our hope in thee, faithfully crying aloud: Alleluia.
Thou art truly a helper unto all, God-bearing Nicholas, and thou hast gathered together all that flee to thine aid. Thou art a deliverer, a nourisher and a quick healer, moving all the faithful to cry out in praises such as these: Rejoice, source of all kinds of healing. Rejoice, helper of those that undergo cruel suffering. Rejoice, dawn shining for prodigals in the night of sin. Rejoice, Heaven-sent dew for those in the heat of labors. Rejoice, thou who givest prosperity unto those that need it. Rejoice, thou who preparest an abundance for those that ask. Rejoice, thou who often forestallest requests. Rejoice, thou who restorest strength unto the aged and gray-headed. Rejoice, convicter of many who have strayed from the True Way. Rejoice, faithful steward of the mysteries of God. Rejoice, through thee we conquer envy. Rejoice, through thee we lead a charitable life. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Assuage all our pains, Saint Nicholas, our great intercessor — dispensing gracious healings, delighting our souls, and gladdening the hearts of all that fervently hasten to thee for help and cry unto God: Alleluia.
The falsely theorizing orators of the ungodly, we see, were put to shame by thee, divinely wise Father Nicholas. Thou didst confute Arius the blasphemer who divided the Godhead, and Sabellius who mingled the Persons of the Holy Trinity, but thou hast strengthened us in Orthodoxy. Mindful of this, we reverently cry unto thee in this manner: Rejoice, proclaimer of truth and discloser of light. Rejoice, confessor of Christ before all people. Reioice, teacher of the Divine Commandments. Rejoice, destroyer of impious doctrines Rejoice, ladder set up by God, by whom we ascend to Heaven. Rejoice, God-given protection, by whom many are sheltered. Rejoice, thou who makest wise the unwise by thy sayings. Rejoice, thou who movest the slothful by thine example. Rejoice, inextinguishable brightness of God’s Commandments. Rejoice, most luminous ray of the Lord’s statutes. Rejoice, through thy teaching the heads of heretics are hammered. Rejoice, through thee the faithful are counted worthy of glory. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Desiring to save thy soul, thou didst truly crucify thy flesh to thy spirit, Father Nicholas. By silence and by wrestling with thoughts, thou didst add contemplation to conquest, and by meditation thou didst acquire perfect knowledge with which thou didst boldly converse with God and angels, always crying: Alleluia.
Thou art a rampart, most blessed Nicholas, unto those who praise thy miracles, and unto all who have recourse unto thine intercession. Free also us who are poor in virtue from pride, temptation, illness, and needs of various kinds, so that we may acceptably cry unto thee: Rejoice, thou who rescuest from eternal wretchedness. Rejoice, thou who bestowest incorruptible riches. Rejoice, imperishable food for those that hunger after righteousness. Rejoice, inexhaustible drink for those that thirst for life. Rejoice, thou who preservest from revolution and war. Rejoice, thou who freest us from chains and imprisonment. Rejoice, most glorious intercessor in misfortunes. Rejoice, strong guardian in temptations. Rejoice, thou who hast snatched many from destruction. Rejoice, thou who hast kept countless numbers unharmed. Rejoice, through thee sinners escape a frightful death. Rejoice, through thee those that repent obtain eternal life. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
A song unto the Most Holy Trinity didst thou bring, surpassing others in thought, word and deed, O most holy Nicholas. Through much searching thou didst explain the precepts of the True Faith, guiding us to sing with faith, hope and love unto the One God in Trinity: Alleluia.
We see thee as a brilliant and inextinguishable ray for those in the darkness of this world, O God-chosen Father Nicholas. Therein with the immaterial and angelic lights, thou dost speak concerning the uncreated light of the Trinity. Accordingly, thou enlightenest the souls of the faithful who cry unto thee thus: Rejoice, radiance of the Three-Sunned Light. Rejoice, daystar of the never-setting Sun. Rejoice, lamp kindled by the divine flame. Rejoice, destruction of the demonic flame of impiety. Rejoice, bright preaching of the True Faith. Rejoice, luminous radiance of the light of the Gospel. Rejoice, lightning who consumest heresy. Rejoice, thunder who terrifiest tempters. Rejoice, by thy teachings we gain true knowledge. Rejoice, by thy deeds we acquire understanding. Rejoice, through thee the worship of creatures hath been abolished. Rejoice, through thee we have learnt to worship the Creator in the Trinity. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Knowing the grace that hath been given unto thee by God, dutifully and joyfully we celebrate thy memory, O divinely wise Father Nicholas, and with all fervency we hasten to thy wonderful intercession. Unable to count thy glorious deeds which are like the sands of the seashore and the multitude of the stars, and being at a loss to understand, we truly cry unto God: Alleluia.
Whilst singing of thy wonders, we praise thee, O all-praised Nicholas, for in thee God Who is glorified in the Trinity is wondrously glorified. Yea, even if we were to offer thee a multitude of hymns composed from the soul, holy wonderworker, we should do nothing to equal the gift of thy miracles, and amazed by them we cry unto thee thus: Rejoice, servant of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Rejoice, co-dweller with His heavenly servants. Rejoice, patron of devout rulers. Rejoice, praise of pious Christians. Rejoice, namesake of victory. Rejoice, triumphant follower of the True Way. Rejoice, mirror of all the virtues. Rejoice, attentive helper of all who confide in thee. Rejoice, after God and the Theotokos, all our hope. Rejoice, health of our bodies and salvation of our souls. Rejoice, through thee we are delivered from eternal death. Rejoice, through thee we are deemed worthy of everlasting life. Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Most holy and wonderful Father Nicholas, consolation of all who sorrow, do Thou accept our present offering. Entreat the Lord that we be delivered from gehenna through thy God-pleasing intercession, so that with thee we may sing: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. (Repeat Kontakion Thirteen 3 times) (And again Ekos 1 and Kontakion 1:)