Sunday, December 19, 2022
Sunday is a day off, which every Christian devotes to God and His works, first of all, to visiting church. On this day we put aside other things to participate in the liturgy.
In the “Getting Ready for Sunday” project, we are trying to help you consciously come to Church, study the traditions and features of the service in advance, get acquainted with a passage from Holy Scripture and its interpretations, as well as a short life of St. Nicholas, commemorated by the Church on Sunday - December 19 .
Troparion to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
The rule of faith and the image of meekness and abstinence as a teacher show you to your flock as the truth of things: for this reason you have acquired high humility, rich in poverty. Father Hierarch Nicholas, pray to Christ God to save our souls.
Translation: Your life as a teacher has shown you to your flock as a rule of faith, an example of meekness and self-control. And therefore, through humility you acquired greatness, through poverty - wealth: Father Hierarch Nicholas, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
In Mireh, the holy, the priest appeared: For Christ, O Reverend, having fulfilled the Gospel, you laid down your soul for your people, and saved the innocent from death; For this reason you have been sanctified, as the great hidden place of God’s grace.
Translation: In the Worlds, you, saint, appeared as the performer of sacred rites: having fulfilled the Gospel teaching of Christ, you, reverend, laid down your soul for your people and delivered the innocent from death. That is why he was sanctified as a great minister of the sacraments of God’s grace.
PRAYER
Oh, all-holy Nicholas, exceedingly saintly servant of the Lord, our warm intercessor, and everywhere in sorrow a quick helper!
Help me, a sinner and sad person in this present life, beg the Lord God to grant me forgiveness of all my sins, which I have sinned greatly from my youth, in all my life, in deed, word, thought and all my feelings; and at the end of my soul, help me the accursed, beg the Lord God, the Creator of all creation, to deliver me from airy ordeals and eternal torment: may I always glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and your merciful intercession, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Nativity of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Rejoice, you who surprised your parents with your birth;
Rejoice, you who revealed the strength of your soul at Christmas.
Akathist to Saint Nicholas
For a long time in Rus', the Nativity of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, perhaps the most revered saint by our people, was celebrated. We already had mentions of this holiday in the 12th-13th centuries. In Novgorod there was even a monastery dedicated to the Nativity of the Saint. But since the time of Empress Catherine the Great, the church-wide celebration of this day has been cancelled. It is returning to our church life only now. On this day, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomna perform festive services in monasteries and churches dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
In the latest editions of the Liturgical Mena for July 29/August 11, the troparion and kontakion for the Nativity of St. Nicholas are given and it is reported: “On July 29, the Eastern Church has been celebrating the birth of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker since ancient times.” In the Menaion, under the same day, the troparion and kontakion are also given for the transfer of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas from Vyatka to Moscow. In the Liturgical instructions of the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate for 2014, under the same date we read: “The Nativity of St. Nicholas, Archbishop World of Lycians. Transfer of the Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas from Vyatka to Moscow." On this day the ancient Zaraisk icon of St. Nicholas is also celebrated. The city of Zaraisk, now in the Moscow region, solemnly welcomed the miraculous icon of the saint on July 29, 1225. The Mozhaisk image of the saint was also brought to Rus' on the day of his birth. The Velikoretsk Icon of St. Nicholas was miraculously found on the Velikaya River, in the Vyatka land. The transfer of this icon, famous for many miracles, from Vyatka to Moscow was carried out by order of Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible. The Tsar met the icon, brought to Moscow land, on July 29, 1555 at the Simonov Monastery. One copy from it was placed in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, and the other in the chapel of “St. Nicholas of Velikoretsky” of the Intercession Church (St. Basil’s Cathedral).
The love of our Orthodox people for the great miracle worker is completely special. On the days of his memory in May and December, our churches are always filled with believing people, who celebrate them no less solemnly than the twelve holidays. Just like the memory of St. John the Baptist, the memory of St. Nicholas is celebrated in our Church weekly - on Thursdays. But in the month of the month the memory of St. John the Baptist is celebrated 7 times a year, and St. Nicholas - only 2 times. There is no doubt that the third holiday in honor of the great saint and wonderworker, his Nativity (as the Nativity of John the Baptist is still celebrated to this day), will be celebrated with love by the Orthodox people. In practice, this can be done if our parishes have the text of the service of the Nativity of St. Nicholas.
In our Church, two services for the holiday are known: Novgorod of the 17th century and Vyatka of the 18th century. They are given in the study by Svetlana Cherkasova “Russian services for the Nativity of St. Nicholas” https://www.voskres.ru/bogoslovie/tscherkasova.htm). The second service once belonged to the Vyatka Cathedral. With the correction of some typos and inaccuracies, we present to your attention the text of this service, written with great love for the great saint and firm hope in his intercession.
I remember that in the hot, dry summer of 2010, the Lord still did not give rain, although we asked for it, we prayed to the holy prophet Elijah - we read a special prayer... And on the eve of the Nativity of St. Nicholas, as soon as we, having served small vespers with an akathist to the great wonderworker, began to serve the all-night vigil vigil for the holiday, the first rain poured in!
Our united Orthodox people, to whom trouble has now come, which the enemy of the human race is so striving to divide, really needs the help of the great miracle worker. Our people are also united in their special veneration. And therefore, let us hope that celebrating his Nativity with gratitude and hope will attract new and richer mercies to us.
Holy Hierarch Father Nicholas, pray to God for us!
The month of July on the 29th day
Nativity of the Great Saint and Wonderworker Nicholas
AT SMALL VESPERS
On the Lord, I cried: stichera on 4, tone 1.
Similar to: Heavenly ranks:
Now we brightly celebrate the glorious Nativity of the saint and wonderworker Nicholas, for from the righteous he rose to us, from the noble Theophan and the pious Nonna, the great lamp, the saint of Christ, enlightens our hearts and thoughts.
Now , Saint Nicholas, your soul abides in the heavenly Jerusalem with the holy angelic powers and in the glory of the righteous, but from above, Saint, watch us too, who celebrate the day of your birth with love.
Now , O holy saint, your fatherland, the city of Lycia, is brightly celebrating your holy and glorious birth, and we are with them, rejoicing, crying out: you are, father, our praise and affirmation.
Glory, voice 4:
On your holy Christmas, Father Nicholas, there are many angels in heaven and the human race on earth honestly pleases, as you were ordained the Most High Saint in your holy Christmas, do not cease to pray for us, we pray, as we place our hope in you, to Saint Nicholas.
And now, Mother of God.
The poem contains stichera, tone 2.
Similar to: House of Euphraths:
Come now, earthly beings, accept the purity of the zealot, the Spirit of the Divine friend, the glory of Lycia and fertilizer for all earthly.
Verse: The righteous, like the phoenix, will flourish:
Come now, idle lovers, we brightly triumph in the honorable Nativity of the great father and secret one of Christ.
Verse: Plant in the house of the Lord:
Come , let us come together with David and cry out: today the race of the righteous is blessed, from righteous parents the Saint of the Most High is born to us.
Glory, voice 4:
In the seventh joy, from the righteous one risen to us today, your birth, to the holy hierarch Father Nicholas, for the sake of your purity, the temple of God was animated and you are known to be wonderful among the saints, through your prayers, Christ our God, sent down the world and great mercy to our souls.
And now, Mother of God.
Troparion, tone 4:
wonderful and glorious Nativity, Saint Nicholas, for by standing on your feet the Lord has revealed you and proclaimed you to be a lamp and teacher of the laity, enriching and enlightening the whole world with miracles. Thus we cry to you: pray to Christ God that our souls will be saved.
Troparion, tone 2:
May your triumph rise to us like the sun, Father Nicholas, for at your Nativity you rejoiced the angels with the wondrous standing of your feet, and you surprised people, and you frightened the enemy, and now the Church of Christ is adorned like a bride, and cries out joyfully in a high voice. : understand my kindness beautifully, come faithfully, rejoice and raise up your salvation and spiritual incorruption, in troubles a quick helper, in the sorrows of a visitor, in the sea overwhelmed by a quiet refuge, hungry for a feeder, blind leader, wealth for the poor, a rod for the elders, a chastiser for the young and a purity teacher , and all those who come with faith receive healing of souls and bodies.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God:
In all, more than the meaning, all your glorious mysteries to the Mother of God, sealed in purity and preserved in virginity, Mother knew that you are not false, having given birth to the True God, pray to Him to save our souls.
AT THE GREAT VESPERS
To the Lord, I cried: stichera, tone 2.
Similar to: These are the crowns of praise:
With these laudable crowns we crown the saint at his wonderful birth; for it exists in the flesh in the world, reaching everyone spiritually, and illuminating the whole universe, for those who love more purely, a representative and intercessor for all, and a comforter for all the sorrowful, a pillar of piety, a faithful champion, whom Christ has overthrown for the sake of the vacillation of enemies, having great mercy.
With these songs let us praise the saint in his honorable Nativity; the wickedness of the opponent and the piety of the champion, the primate Church, the great defender and teacher, and warm supporter, the slanderer, the consumer of Ariev, whose vacillation Christ has overthrown, having great mercy.
With these spiritual songs and hymns let us praise the saint in his glorious Nativity, for He who is far away is providential and stands as if he is near, and in his Nativity, with the standing of honest feet, he prophesies without falsehood, even if the whole universe desires to be a watcher, and an offended deliverer, a nourishing king, and a bound liberator. , and from the unrighteous death of the liberator, and granting great mercy to all the faithful.
Glory, voice 6:
With the holder of fertilizer and the father of glory, the source of inexhaustible miracles and the faithful intercessor of the great, having gathered, O idle lovers, we have gathered the flowers of virtues, singing praises with songs, saying: Rejoice, born in Mirech of Lycia and desired by the whole world, a faithful guardian and an honest vicegerent and an unshakable pillar. Rejoice, all-bright lamp, who enlightens the ends of the world with miracles. Rejoice, Divine joy to the sad and warm champion to the offended. And now, all-blessed Nicholas, do not cease praying to Christ God for those who honor with faith and love the ever-joyful and all-festive memory of your Nativity.
And now: Who will not please You:
Entrance. Prokeimenon in the afternoon. Saint's readings.
At the litia stichera, tone 2:
About Father Nicholas, even if the worldly country grows up, but the whole world, enlightened by you, with many peaceful fragrances and miracles, cries out with songs of praise, and those who were saved by you are not condemned, with those in Mirech, and we cry out singing: pray for our souls to be saved.
voice 4:
About Father Nicholas, the law of destinies, as if a garden was planted by the waters and you flourished gloriously in the house of God, and you made all the faithful happy with wondrous miracles, so come now, Father, invisibly among us, and illuminate us with the grace given by God in the light this celebration, in your honorable Christmas, God-bearing Nicholas.
voice 8:
Because of your splendors, reverend father, you have enlightened the fruits of the faithful hearts with wonderful brilliance. Whoever hears about this will not be surprised, for in your holy Nativity you appeared marvelously and adamantly by the standing of your feet, the most venerable Nicholas. Likewise, always deliver us, who sing and praise you, from enemies, visible and invisible, through your prayers to God and save our souls.
same voice:
into the praise of the Lord, Nicholas, in your temporary life, and glorified you in your heavenly true life. Having also acquired boldness towards Him, pray to save our souls.
Glory, voice 6:
Now that the faithful have gathered together, let us sing together, according to the wonderful father of St. Nicholas, the triumph, for his conception was honorable, and his birth is holy, and in his infancy his marvelous appearance appeared to all, and we also cry out to him: holy chosen vessel, pillar and establishment of the Church, heir of the Kingdom, do not remain silent cry out to the Lord for us.
And now, the Mother of God: T is my creator and Savior:
The poem contains stichera, tone 5.
Similar to: Rejoice, Life-Giving Cross:
Rejoice , appearing to the bright star of the Lord’s pre-primordial light, Rejoice, dawn of the secret light, hierarch of Christ Nicholas, precede and move your most pure prayers for us to the Lord, who celebrate with faith the memory of your birth, in order to deliver us from all misfortunes and heal our fierce illnesses. Father, imams are your intercessor and we cry out to you touchingly with faith: pray for us to Christ God to grant us great mercy.
Verse: The righteous, like the phoenix, will flourish:
Rejoice , most venerable and desired by God, and from righteous parents, like the second Samuel, bestowed upon God as a gift, and thou hast appeared, an honorable dwelling of virtues, a cheerful rule of the immaculate priesthood, to the good and bright shepherd, the great luminary, bearing the same victorious name, who mercifully fulfilled the requests of those who demanded , bowed to the prayers of those praying. O city, saved and animated, most ready for those who come to you as a deliverer, who sing with all faith of your glorious Nativity, grant us great mercy.
Verse: Plant in the house of the Lord:
Rejoice , honorable to the cluster of ripe fruit, from the righteous you have now appeared like a bright dawn, and you are wonderful to all of us, Father Nicholas, honest in mind, honorable vessel of the Trinity, pillar of the church, consolation to the faithful, help to the overcome, and now in the bright triumph of your Nativity, God-pleasing With your prayers, destroy the darkness of our misfortunes and sorrows, Saint Nicholas. For you are the true and kind shepherd and our father, and we are the sheep of your pasture, and we call for your help, grant us great mercy.
Glory, voice 2:
Come , the council of Christ-named people and all the faithful class, now standing in person, let us cry out with a bright voice: blessed are you Theophanes, as you were the parent of such a child, who wants to give birth to the word of teaching of many to the salvation. Blessed is your birth, Nonno, in the image of which you bore, and red is your breast, in the image of which you bore the desire to nourish the stifled hunger of the melting. Blessed is your fatherland, the city of Lycia, and all its surroundings. But let us pray to you, blessed one, to pray to him for us, that he may ask Christ for peace and great mercy for our souls.
And now, the same voice: Oh , new miracle:
AT MORNING
On God the Lord: the troparion of the saint. Glory even now, the Resurrection of the Theotokos.
According to the 1st verse of the sedal, voice 1.
Similar to: Your Tomb:
in Mireh, the saint, anointed with the intelligent spiritual world, Father Nicholas, and you also enriched the worlds of your miracles, shedding the ever-flowing myrrh, and with your peacefully fragrant miracles, those who honor your triumph and enrich us, your servant.
Glory even now, Theotokos:
In this, the Creator, God and Creator, All-immaculate, Pure, by the Divine Spirit, conceived in wombs and besides corruption, You gave birth to Him, Glorifying Him, We glorify Thee, O Virgin, as the Chamber of the King of all and the intercession of the world.
According to the 2nd verse of the sedalian, tone 8.
Similar to: Wisdom:
And you appeared as a source of miracles from God, wise Nicholas, and in the same way, Father, you appeared wondrously in your Nativity, for you pour out the water of salvation to all the faithful, receiving grace from God, and having the same boldness towards Him, pray for those who honor with faith and love the memory of your Nativity, all-blessed Nicholas.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God:
into the feces of sin and there is no stability for me, a fierce storm of sins plunges me, but as having given birth to the Word of the One, the Lover of Mankind, upon me, your servant, look and deliver from all sin, and soul-crushing passions, and all the bitterness of the flattering enemy, pray to Christ, the inexperienced Mother of God Forsaking God of sins, for I give you hope, Thy servant.
According to the polyeleos sedalene, voice 5.
Similar to: Co-original Word:
Now , Father Saint Nicholas, your fatherland, the city of Lycia, rejoices brightly, and the whole Universe honestly celebrates the day of your birth. In the same way, today we who have come together in your temple, together with them, offer praise to you, saying: Rejoice, Father Nicholas, protection and intercession of all.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God:
Unartful Bride, Ever-Virgin, with the saints we unceasingly praise thee, for through Thee Thy Son and the Eternal God from the Father have created for us greatness, Who willed to be contained in Thy wombs, that He may free our race from flattery.
Degree 1st antiphon of the 4th tone. Prokeimenon, tone 4: The righteous will flourish like the phoenix, and like the cedar in Lebanon will multiply. Verse: Planted in the house of the Lord: Gospel of Matthew, conception 11.
According to the 50th psalm of the stichera, tone 6. On this day the faithful have gathered together: Written at the litany of Glory.
Canon of the Most Holy Theotokos with Irmos at 6.
Canon to the Great Saint
and to the universal wonderworker Nicholas, tone 3.
Song 1
Irmos: Wonderful , glorious work of miracles:
wondrous and glorious, O Lord, who worketh miracles, dividing the sea, and pouring water out of the stones from thirsty people, and giving to drink, O Blessed One, and me the dew of Thy grace, that I may be able to sing of Thy saint's glorious Nativity.
I want to praise your wonderful and glorious Nativity, Saint Nicholas, out of the love of my soul, but I am filled with bewilderment, I am afraid, trembling, and I know that praise is not red in the mouth of sinners. But otherwise, daring in your goodness, I glorify your holy birth.
Truly wonderful and glorious, Saint, is the memory of your birth, like the morning star in the midst of the clouds, and like the sun shining on the Church of the Most High, and like an arc on the clouds of glory, so your praise shines in the firmament of the church, Father Nicholas.
to the glorious and glorious saint on the glorious Nativity of Christ, gather together diligently and give glory to the Lord, for he has given us such a shepherd and an unflattering teacher, and a guide, and a liberator from troubles, and a disgraceful heretic.
Theotokos: Marvelous and supernatural is the mystery of Thy Nativity, O Theotokos, whoever hears a rumor will not be surprised at Thy Birth of God, as in the womb of Thy Creator Thou didst comfortably contain all, and yet the Virgin remained.
Song 3
Irmos: Infertile soul:
a damned soul, I am a barren imam, how can I praise you, holy saint; Truly, Father, you are a fruit of praise, show my fruitful soul, so that I may sing of your holy Nativity.
Your parents were not I will tell you by nature that they cannot give birth to another like him, but with virtues like Abraham was fruitful and faithful, for this reason you received a reward for your faith from God.
to the saint, hearing, who will not be surprised, I was born for you, holy, truly wondrous for you, the Lord revealed, for three hours I stood steadily for you on the ground, where you wanted to wash yourself, wonderful Nicholas.
Theotokos: Not a barren birth, O Most Holy Lady, but having given birth to us Christ, the Immortal Fruit, who nourishes every creature and watches over all creation, the Mother of God.
Sedalen, voice 5.
O blessed verst and blessed marriage of the beautiful soul of Theophan and the God-loving Nonna, who through the divine desire for copulation was quick, and who brought forth for us a beautiful fruit, the wonderful Nicholas, not only like the color of a thorn or cranium when the water flows, or a stem of Lebanon in the days of harvest, but a river of true fruit , father to the orphans and intercessor of widows, wealth to the poor and sick, health and comfort, and nourishment to those in wealth, support for old age and teacher of youth, nourisher of piety, and destroyer of heretics and demons. To him we now cry out: Father Saint Nicholas, pray to those who sing to you to be saved.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God:
Blessed is Thy, Virgin Mother of God, as the breadth of Heaven appeared, in a word, for Thou didst without seed form the creation in Thy womb, and carried it easily in Thy embrace, therefore we pray to Thee, O All-Blessed One, to pray from Thee to the begotten Christ, our God, in the hedgehog be saved by singing Tya.
Song 4
Irmos: The heavens have wings:
covered , like a cloud, your love and your grace, even from God, to St. Nicholas, all who call on your holy name, for you generously give everywhere and fulfill every request. Come now invisibly among us and visit us, embittered by sins, celebrating your most honorable Christmas with love.
And the Church of Christ, like the monists, is swollen and decorated with your Christmas, the saint, and dresses brightly and flaunts itself, rejoicing and crying out joyfully, saying: come and see the heavenly citizen and servant of Christ I desire, born today from blessed parents.
In memory of your Nativity, Holy Father, there was joy for all people. Cover us, all-honorable father, who call upon you with faith and honestly celebrate the triumph of your feast, Saint Nicholas.
For when a righteous man is praised, people will rejoice, just as the Scripture says. Today we are sinners, in your Christmas, Father Nicholas, we rejoice and rejoice spiritually, glorifying Christ, who bestowed such grace upon you, for the earth is filled with His praise.
Theotokos: O Most Holy Bride of God, who gave birth to Christ, the Ruler and Creator of all, heal my infirm soul and guide me in good deeds, so that I may always glorify You, the Most Blessed One.
Song 5
Irmos: The Invisible One appeared on earth:
On earth, Holy Father, your holy Nativity appeared to the faithful, a truly gracious celebration, like a bologna in a censer or like an olive bearing fruit, so to us is the memory of your Nativity, Merciful Father Nicholas.
On earth today, to the saint, you were quickly known, and as you were known by God, the Lord glorified you in your birth, for by the standing of your honest feet he revealed the gift that wanted to be on you.
On earth now the Orthodox Church rejoices, Saint Nicholas, and rejoices with her children in the memory of her Nativity, mercy, and cries out: now kindness is understood beautifully and will never fade away.
Theotokos: To the earth into Thy womb, Pure, like rain on the fleece the Lord and our God descended, and from Thy most pure virgin blood the flesh received and worked miracles, and suffered, and ascended to heaven, lifting up the forefather with Him.
Song 6
Irmos: The depth of passion rises upon me:
The depth of passions rises upon us and the storm of contrary winds, but precede us, Father Saint, and destroy the advice of the evil one that opposes us, and the aspirations of crafty people who boast about their malice, save us from them, merciful Nicholas.
One should marvel at the depth of God’s wealth, but it is great to glorify God’s works, and it is useful to honor the memory of the saints. Let us also, brethren, honor and love Saint Nicholas, beloved by God, as God showed him in his holy infancy. Fearingly, it was nourishing, but not in the same way as is the custom for children, but on Wednesday it touched the heels with only one, and then in the evening, but from the left breast it was by no means pissed off, signifying the gums of his life.
The Lord, who provides for everyone with the depth of wisdom, prepares silence before the opposing winds, fire burns the chaff on the Aryans, reveals the birth of this wondrous river and the glorious Saint Nicholas, prophesied by the Apostle Paul, whom God foreknew, of whom he was chosen, justified and glorified.
Theotokos: Who will not be surprised at the depth of the mystery of Your Birth, O Most Holy Virgin Lady; centuries, for the Creator has dwelled in Thee, and from Thee I have received flesh, in mind and in words, all men adore.
Kontakion voice 3.
Similar to: In Mirech, holy:
In Mireh, Saint Nicholas, you were born from a noble root, as if you were a fruitful branch, filled with Divine gifts, as with the dawn of the sun you enlightened the whole world with miracles, for this reason we glorify you, as a disciple and the secret one of God’s grace.
In Kontakion voice 3.
Thou shone as a bright star, blessed Nicholas, in the middle of the city of Lycia you were born of the righteous, father, and in your honorable Nativity the Lord showed you wonderfully and gloriously, and in your holy infancy a wondrous thing was revealed about you, for you preached the Trinity for three hours standing thy honest feet upon the earth at the hour of thy birth, and was fed from the breast of the gum, but not from the left, on Wednesday and on the heel alone, only at evening time, and therefore, Father, thou wast aware of the unflattering rule of abstinence, and how to be great secret place of God's grace.
Ikos:
Come now with us, brethren, and let us rejoice spiritually in the holy triumph of our God-bearing father Saint Nicholas, and let us glorify him who was most gloriously born, and sanctified from the womb, and who received the Divine Spirit, and the Holy Trinity at the hour of his birth, with the standing of his feet, who preached, and all a man of astonishment, praising his holy and wonderful Nativity. With love and righteousness of heart, grateful to him with her face: Rejoice, head entrusted to God from motherly falsehoods and adopted and sanctified from Him, crushing the head of the damned Satan. Rejoice, pre-chosen and sanctified vessel, entrusted and beloved to God. Rejoice, Tsar of the faithful, help and nourishment, and victory and victory over enemies, and affirmation of Orthodoxy. Rejoice, thou clothed with the Holy Spirit and given for good deeds to the pious. Rejoice, you revealed to the wicked consumer and their fear. Rejoice, demon exorcist and heretic accuser. Rejoice, for in your holy Nativity you are wondrous, known to all, for you were the great hidden place of God’s grace.
Song 7
Irmos: Three youths in the cave:
about the Trinity of God, the wonderful Nicholas, and you also received a crown from Him, blessed one, and now in your triumph those who earnestly call on you, do not forget us, your servant, but look upon you from above, for the imams are a strong prayer book.
With a tablet in your heart from infancy, Father Nicholas, having acquired wondrous virtues, written by the immortal, most pure finger of Christ our God, pray to Him for us, as it is written for us to be in the book of animals, the Most Wonderful Saint Father Nicholas.
On your holy Nativity, Holy Hierarch, you were known by God and you knew God, and the whole being of God’s dwelling, the whole spiritual organ appeared, proclaiming every virtue of God-inspired songs, salvation legends and the kindness of the Heavenly Kingdom, to St. Nicholas.
Theotokos: With God, the Intercessor of Thee, the acquisitive One, for You are the Mother of God, the Creator and Creator, and the All-Immaculate One who accepted our imagination, and saved this from corruption and death, and glorified Him with the glory of the Divine.
Song 8
Irmos: And angelmi is silent:
And the angels are amazed, seeing the glorious one at the hour of your birth, Father Nicholas, but people rejoice, accepting you as their benefactor and unwaveringly praying to God, for you have appeared to everyone the joy of salvation, merciful Nicholas.
Who will not wonder or who will not glorify your name, holy father, hearing on you above the law of nature the sign that was in your birth, and thus the Lord of the lamp revealed you to the whole world, in your holy infancy you showed your mother’s breasts to be fair and skillful, so A truly unflattering teacher of abstinence appeared to St. Nicholas.
On the second day the Forerunner appeared on earth to denounce lawlessness, Father Nicholas. You exposed the lawless Herod, but you, Father, drove away all heresies far from the Church, and you burned all temptations and iniquities, like arrogance, with the fire of your jealousy, and you established the faithful, O merciful Nicholas.
Theotokos: I admire, holy Bride of God, the Lady, the mystery of Thy Birth of God, for the Creator of all dwelt in Thee, and ascended all human nature to Heaven. Receive and save those who come running under Your roof, O God-gracious Lady.
Song 9
Irmos: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel:
Blessed art thou, God, for all that thou hast done, wheresoever thou wilt, there the order of nature is conquered, just as even now at the birth of thy saint, above the natural law, thou hast revealed to thy faithful a wondrous and wonderful thing, by prayers, O Christ, direct him to the path of peace.
Blessed are you by God, by all, Father Nicholas, bless me too, who sings your holy Nativity, and extend a helping hand and lead me to a quiet haven of repentance, as I always glorify you, Father Nicholas.
And even though there are many lawless ones, I am accursed, I do not give up the hope of your protection, Father Nicholas, I always come running and place my hope in you. Therefore, in this present triumph of your holy Christmas, I joyfully cry out to you: you, Father, deliver me from all sorrow, troubles, and sorrows, as you will and can.
Blessed and God-Bearing Nicholas, see the tightness of my soul, how my enemy moves against me to fight every day and cannot exhaust the body of my arrows, but constantly wounds me and does not give me honor, I am exhausted, but you, father, crush the intrigues With my prayers, as if I receive your holy help, I unceasingly glorify you.
Theotokos: No one has come running under the shelter of Thy hope, Most Holy Bride of God, the loss comes, but everyone who asks receives Thy speedy help, and grant it to me too, O Young Lady, who sings Thy Most Holy Nativity.
Luminous.
Truly you are an invincible helmet and weapon against the devil, Father Nicholas, you are revealed from God, help and affirmation for Christians, fertilizer for the hierarch, and in troubles, quick help and intercession for those who come to you, O Saint of the Lord. (twice)
Glory, and now:
O cloud that exceeds the heavens, Rejoice, who draws for us a drop of soul-saving, O Mother of God, You are the All-merciful One, grant from God to our king victory over enemies and calm the storm of civil strife, as much as you will, you are all able, as the Mother of the Lord.
On praises stichera, on 4, tone 4.
Similar: You gave a sign:
An auspicious gift, bestowed upon God from the parental hands, and received from Him, and given for the benefit of the faithful, to Saint Nicholas, whereby the grace of the Most Holy Spirit rests in you, gloriously, having grown you with goodness and adorned you with wisdom.
May you bring the memory of your Nativity, to Saint Father Nicholas, as the sun has risen to us with God, the rays of rich gifts enlightening those who honor you and those blessed with faith, driving away the darkness of the fierce, and fulfilling the petitions of the faithful, thus we honor you most wonderfully.
divine grace from God, Saint Nicholas, even welcome from above, and watch over us, celebrating with love your honest Christmas, and grant from God to the churches unanimity, and for our kings, victories over enemies, and peace for the world, and prosperity for our land, and for souls to our great mercy.
Glory, voice 2:
From the good root of the good fruit grew, which was sanctified from infancy, and like Samuel was given as a gift to God, Father Saint Nicholas, for by the grace of God more than brought up by milk, therefore he ascended to the mountain of virtues, having acquired a highly purified soul, and having a mind everlasting To God, the heavenly dwelling place of the Spirit, the abode of Christ appeared. To him, blessed one, pray for us, so that our souls may be saved.
And now, the Mother of God: the same voice: I am the fruitful olive tree, the Virgin:
The same great doxology and dismissal.
AT THE LITURGY
Blessed. The Prokeimenon, the Apostle, the Gospel and everything sacred is communion.
Features of Orthodox worship
Last time we talked about the litany of the catechumens, in which we pray that the Lord would have mercy on the catechumens, instruct them in the truths of the holy faith and honor them with Holy Baptism. With this petition the Liturgy of the Catechumens ends and the Liturgy of the Faithful begins. During the crossed great litany, the priest reads a secret prayer. In it, he thanks that the Lord has honored him to appear at the Holy Altar, and asks for His help to perform the service with dignity, with a clear conscience.
Then the small litany begins, at which we ask, following the deacon, for peace and salvation of the soul, for the preservation of the entire Church and a specific temple, for deliverance from sorrow, anger and need. At this time, the priest secretly pronounces the second prayer of the faithful, repeating in it the requests of the first, and asks the Lord to grant the faithful success in a good life, spiritual understanding and to grant everyone the opportunity to partake of the Holy Mysteries without condemnation in order to acquire eternal life.
After this, the Royal Doors open. During censing, the deacon reads the 50th Psalm to himself. The Cherubic Song begins.
Following the Liturgy
Akathist to Saint Nicholas
Reading the Gospel:
Gospel of Luke, chapter 17, verses 12 - 19
12 And as He entered a certain village, ten men who were lepers met Him, standing at a distance 13 and saying with a loud voice, “Jesus, Master!” have mercy on us. 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourself to the priests.” And as they walked, they purified themselves. 15 And one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him; and it was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus said, “Are not ten cleansed?” where is nine? 18 How did they not return to give glory to God except this foreigner? 19 And he said to him, Arise, go; your faith has saved you.
Priest Anthony (Borisov) comments
Gospel of Luke, chapter 6, verses 17 - 23
17 And He went down with them and stood on level ground, and a great multitude of His disciples, and a great multitude from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seaside regions of Tire and Sidon, 18 who came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, and also those afflicted by unclean spirits ; and were healed. 19 And all the people sought to touch Him, because power came from Him and healed everyone. 20 And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples and said: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are those who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they excommunicate you, and revile you, and call your name dishonorable, because of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. This is what their fathers did to the prophets.
Priest Pavel (Velikanov) comments
Apostolic reading:
The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians, chapter 5, verses 8 - 19
8 You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord: walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth. 10 Test what is pleasing to God, 11 and do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but also reprove. 12 For what they do in secret is shameful to even speak of. 13 But whatever is revealed is made manifest by the light, for whatever is made manifest is light. 14 Therefore it is said: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 See therefore that you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise, 16 value your time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but know what the will of God is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, from which comes debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord,
Priest Stefan (Domuschi) comments
The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews, chapter 13, verses 17 - 21
17 Obey your leaders and be submissive, for they are vigilantly watching over your souls, as those who must give an account; so that they do this with joy, and not sighing, for this is not good for you. 18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, because we desire to behave honestly in everything. 19 I especially ask you to do this, so that I can be returned to you sooner. 20 Now may the God of peace, who raised up from the dead that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is pleasing to Him through Jesus Christ. Glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
Priest Dmitry (Baritsky) comments
St. Nicholas is known even to those who rarely come to church. He is one of the most famous saints of the Christian world. His life was full of difficulties and feats of overcoming them: he was in prison and on the verge of death, he helped out the poor and those in difficulties. And today we can turn to an amazing miracle worker, dear to many generations of our ancestors. Ask for his intercession in the most difficult situations. And this will not be paganism or the creation of an “idol”. The saint was and remains a Christian, showing us a worthy example of a holy life and the reality of miracles.
The editors of “Thomas” wish you a good Sunday in church!
Russian Orthodox Church
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Saturday. Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, wonderworker.
An all-night vigil is being celebrated.
Order of readings, according to the calendar:
Morning. – John, 36 credits, X, 9–16. Lit. – St.: Heb., 335 readings, XIII, 17–21. Luke, 24, VI, 17–23.
At Great Vespers
“Blessed is the man” – 1st antiphon.
On “Lord, I have cried” the saint’s stichera, tone 2 – 8 (stichera “With praiseworthy crowns...” – twice). “Glory” – the saint, tone 6: “The saints’ fertilizer...”, “And now” – dogmatist, tone 2: “Pass the shadow of the law...”.
Entrance. Prokeimenon of the day. Parimia of the saint – 3.
At the litia there are the stichera of the temple and the stichera of the saint, the 2nd tone, the 4th tone and the 8th tone. “Glory” - the saint, voice 6: “Good, faithful servant...”, “And now” - Menaion, the same voice: “Zion, rejoice...”.
On the poem are the stichera of the saint, tone 5 (with its own refrains). “Glory” - the saint, voice 6: “Man of God...”, “And now” - Menaion, the same voice: “Blessed Virgin, where did you come from?..”.
According to the Trisagion - the troparion of the saint, tone 4 (twice), and “To the Virgin Mary...” (once).
At matins
to “God is the Lord” – the saint’s troparion, tone 4 (twice). “Glory, even now” - Resurrection of the Theotokos, tone 2: “Everything is beyond meaning...”.
Kathismas 16th and 17th. Small litanies. The sedalny of the saint.
Polyeleos. The Greatness of the Saint and the Selected Psalm. Sedalen of the saint in polyeleos, tone 5. “Glory” – the seat of the saint in polyeleos, voice 4, “And now” – Theotokos Menaion, the same voice. Degree – 1st antiphon of the 4th tone. The saint’s prokeimenon, tone 4: “The death of His saints is honorable before the Lord”; verse: “What shall I render to the Lord for all that I have rendered?” Gospel - Saint. According to Psalm 50: “Glory” - “Through the prayers of the saint...”. Stichera of the saint, tone 6: “Heir of God...”.
Canons:
In the Church of the Lord and the Mother of God there is a canon of the temple with an irmos of 6 (irmos twice) and a saint’s canon (two canons) of 8.
In the church of the saint there is a canon of the Mother of God (from last Week) with an irmos at 6 (irmos twice) and a saint (two canons) at 8.
Note.
When the memory of a doxological, polyeleos or vigil saint coincides with Saturday in the saint’s church, the Theotokos canon of the Octoechos should be sung from the Sunday Matins of the voice given (see Typikon, Chapter 11, “behold”; General Menaion, “Exposition in Brief”). This is a feature of the Saturday service, at which the voice that was in effect during the week takes place.
However, V. Rozanov (see his
"The Liturgical Charter of the Orthodox Church", part 1, div. 3, ch. 28) allows, during the polyeleos of the saint on Saturday, the singing of the Theotokos canon from the service of the saint or the general canon of the Theotokos, tone 8: “The water passed through...” (from the Book of Hours) or “The Chariot of Pharaoh...” (from the appendix of Octoechos).
Bible songs “We sing to the Lord...”.
Catavasia “Christ is born...”.
According to the 3rd song - the saint's sedalin, tone 8. “Glory” - the seat of the saint, the same voice, “And now” - Theotokos Menaion, the same voice.
According to the 6th song - kontakion and ikos of the saint, tone 3.
On the 9th song we sing “The Most Honest”.
According to the 9th song, “It is worthy to eat” is not sung. Saint's luminary. “Glory” is the saint’s holy luminary, “And now” is the Theotokos Menaion.
“Every breath…” and psalms of praise.
On the praises of the stichera of the saint, tone 1 - 6. “Glory” - of the saint, tone 5: “Let us sound the trumpet in song, let us play a celebratory song...”, “And now” - Theotokos Menaion, the same voice: “Let us sound the trumpet in song: having come from above..."
Great doxology. According to the Trisagion - the troparion of the saint, tone 4. “Glory, even now” - Resurrection of the Theotokos, tone 2: “Everything is beyond meaning...”.
On the clock there is the troparion and kontakion of the saint.
At the Liturgy
blessed saint, 1st canon hymn 3 – 4 (with Irmos), and 2nd canon hymn 6 – 4.
At the entrance - troparia and kontakion:
In the Church of the Lord and the Mother of God - the troparion of the temple, the troparion of the saint. “Glory” is the kontakion of the saint, “And now” is the kontakion of the temple.
In the church of the saint there is the troparion of the saint. “Glory” is the saint’s kontakion, “And now” is “The Representation of Christians...”.
Prokeimenon, alleluia and sacrament of the saint.
Apostle and Gospel - Saint.
Note.
Ordinary readings are postponed to Friday (December 5).
Wed: Menaion-December. Kyiv, 1893. L. 35.
The chopping on the 17th kathisma is not performed, since it is transferred to the polyeleos (cf.: Typikon, chapter 15).
For saints who have polyeleos, the canon of the Mother of God is sometimes in the Menaion in a row (see, for example, January 17 and November 30), but sometimes it is not in the row (see, for example, October 6). In this case, it is borrowed from the additional part of the Octoechos (voice 8: “The chariot-driver of Pharaoh...”) or from the Book of Hours or the Followed Psalter (voice 8: “Water passed through...”).
Alleluia verse, see general saintly verse.
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