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The Small Paraklesis to the Most-holy Theotokos

By the Monk Theosterictos (some say Theophanes).

The Small Paraklesis to the Most-holy Theotokos
Note: The text below is presented for reading and spiritual study. In the liturgical celebration, certain parts are assigned to the priest, reader, and choir. For clearer reading, role labels and purely technical performance directions have been removed here, while the prayer text itself has been retained.
30 reading time

Service of the Small Paraklesis

to the Most-holy Theotokos

By the Monk Theosterictos (some say Theophanes).

Blessed is our God always, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Amen.


Psalm 142 (143).

O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication in Your truth; answer me in Your righteousness; do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for no one living shall become righteous in Your sight. For the enemy persecuted my soul; he humbled my life to the ground; he caused me to dwell in dark places as one long dead, and my spirit was in anguish within me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old, and I meditated on all Your works; I meditated on the works of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a waterless land. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faints within me; turn not Your face from me, lest I become like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, for I hope in You; make me know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, for to You I flee for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, give me life; in Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of affliction. In Your mercy You shall destroy my enemies; You shall utterly destroy all who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant.

God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Verse 1: Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His holy name.

Verse 2: All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I defended myself against them.

Verse 3: And this came about from the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes.


Troparia.

Ohumble sinners, let us now run in earnest * unto the Theotokos, and in repentance * fall down to her and cry out from the depths of our souls: * Show compassion unto us * and provide your assistance. * Hasten; we are perishing * in our many transgressions. * Turn not your servants empty-handed away; * for we have found you, O Lady, our only hope.

Glory. Repeat.

Both now. Same Melody.

We the unworthy shall not ever be silent, * O Theotokos, from proclaiming your powers. * For were you not concerned to intercede for us, * who would have delivered us * from such manifold dangers, * and who else would up to now * have preserved us in freedom? * O Lady, we shall not depart from you, * for you ever save your servants * from evils of every kind.


Psalm 50 (51).

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my lawlessness and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my lawlessness, and my sin is always before me. Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged. For behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in sins my mother bore me. Behold, You love truth; You showed me the unknown and secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be cleansed; You shall wash me, and I will be made whiter than snow. You shall make me hear joy and gladness; my bones that were humbled shall greatly rejoice. Turn Your face from my sins, and blot out all my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your guiding Spirit. I will teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall greatly rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For if You desired sacrifice, I would give it; You will not be pleased with whole burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Your good pleasure to Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be built; then You will be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with offerings and whole burnt offerings; then shall they offer young bulls on Your altar.


The Canon


Ode i. Mode pl. 4. Heirmos.

Of old when the Israelite had crossed * the watery passage as if over a tract of land, * fleeing from the misery of Egypt, * he cried: “To God our Redeemer, O let us sing.”


Troparia.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

By many temptations am I distressed. * Praying to be rescued, for salvation I run to you. * O Virgin and Mother of the Logos, * from all afflictions and evils deliver me.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Assaults from the passions unsettle me, * and they fill my soul to overflowing with much despair. * Quiet them, O undefiled Maiden, * with the dispassionate calm of your Son and God.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

OVirgin who mothered our Savior God, * I earnestly beg that I be rescued from my distress. * For now as I flee to you for refuge, * my soul and reason I lift up in ardent prayer.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

My body and soul are alike diseased. * Only Theotokos, count me worthy of your divine * providence and gracious visitation, * since you are good and the Mother of Him who is good.


Ode iii. Heirmos.

Odivine Master Builder of the celestial vault, * Founder of the Church and the ultimate object of desire, * only benevolent support of every believer, * in the love for You, O Lord, firmly establish me.


Troparia.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Ihave named you the shelter and the defense of my life. * Therefore, I entreat you, O virgin Maid who gave birth to God, * conduct me to your port, * originator of good things, * the believers’ firm support, * only all-lauded one.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Ibeseech you, O Virgin, dispel my soul’s turbulence, * also the tempestuous surging of grave despondency. * For you, O Bride of God, * gave birth to Christ who is Author * of serene tranquility, * only all-spotless one.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Pour the wealth of your goodness and benefactions on all, * since you bore the great Benefactor, the Cause of every good. * You carried in your womb * Christ who is mighty in power; * therefore you can do all things, * O Lady blest by God.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Iimplore you to help me as I am now being tried * by distressing ailments, O Virgin, and morbid suffering. * For I know you to be * an inexhaustible treasure * plenteous in remedies, * only all-blameless one.

Deliver us your humble servants from perils, O Theotokos, as for refuge, after God, we all flee to you, an impregnable fortress and protection.

Look graciously upon your servant, all-praiseworthy Theotokos, and upon my painful physical suffering, and remedy my anguish of spirit.

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

Again we pray for our Archbishop.

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious Orthodox Christians residing and visiting in this city: the parishioners, the members of the parish council, the stewards, and benefactors of this holy church.

Again we pray for the servants of God…

Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable church, for those who labor and those who sing, and for the people here present who await Your great and rich mercy.

For You are merciful and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Amen.


Kathisma.

OMother of God, intently we cry out to you * the wellspring of mercy and the refuge of the world. * O vehement advocate, * unassailable fortress, anticipate * and deliver us from perilous ordeals, * O Lady who alone are swift to fend for us.


Ode iv. Heirmos.

Ihave heard the report, O Lord, * of Your incarnation, which is a mystery. * I considered Your astounding works, * and I glorified Your divinity.


Troparia.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Ientreat you, O Bride of God * who have borne the Helmsman and Lord, to pacify * the confusion that my passions bring * and the surging waves of my iniquities.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

You have borne the compassionate * Lord who is the Savior of all who sing your praise. * Hence, bestow upon me the abyss * of your own compassion which I now invoke.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

We who know you, O wholly pure * Virgin, to be truly the Mother of our God, * have enjoyed so many gifts from you. * Hence, we sing this canticle of gratitude.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In possessing you as our hope * and the stable buttress and solid battlement * of salvation, O all-lauded one, * we are liberated from all misery.


Ode v. Heirmos.

Sovereign Lord our God, * as the One who is benevolent, * with your commandments enlighten us, we pray; * and also grant us * Your peace with Your own uplifted arm.


Troparia.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Since you bore the prime * Source of happiness, impart to me, * O pure Maid, your unadulterated joy. * And fill my heart now * to overflowing with your happiness.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Mother of our God, * do redeem us from all jeopardy, * since the eternal Redemption you have borne, * and Peace that passes * all understanding, O Virgin pure.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Dissipate the gloom * of my trespasses, O Bride of God, * with the effulgence of your irradiance, * being the Mother * of the divine pre-eternal Light.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Cure the weakness wreaked * by my passions, O pure virgin Maid. * Account me worthy of your solicitude, * and by your earnest * intercessions give me health again.


Ode vi. Heirmos.

Ipour out my supplication to the Lord, * and I tell Him all about my afflictions, * and that my soul has been flooded with evils, * and that my life has come close to being in hell. * Like Prophet Jonah, I entreat, * “Raise me up from corruption, O Lord my God.”


Troparia.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Solicit * your Son and Lord to rescue me * from the enemies’ malignance, O Virgin, * as He redeemed out of death and corruption * my human nature held down by mortality * and overpowered by decay, * having freely submitted Himself to death.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

OVirgin, * I know you well as Patroness * of my life and most reliable sentry. * For you disperse a great throng of temptations, * and spiteful treatment by demons you drive away. * And constantly do I entreat * to be saved from my passions’ depravity.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

We have you * as a protective citadel * and the absolute salvation, O Maiden, * of our souls, and in straits as a broad way. * And in your light we unceasingly jubilate. * And now, O Lady, we beseech, * from the passions and perils deliver us.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Ilie now * in failing health upon my bed, * and there is no cure for my ailing body. * But I entreat, O good Lady who gave birth * to the Reliever of illnesses, who is God * the Savior of the world, and plead: * raise me up from the ravages of disease.

Deliver us your humble servants from perils, O Theotokos, as for refuge, after God, we all flee to you, an impregnable fortress and protection.

Entreat for us, * O spotless Maiden who gave birth to the divine Word * inexplicably through a word in the latter days, * since you indeed * speak with motherly freedom.

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

Again we pray for our Archbishop.

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, protection, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious Orthodox Christians residing and visiting in this city: the parishioners, the members of the parish council, the stewards, and benefactors of this holy church.

Again we pray for the servants of God…

Again we pray for those who bear fruit and do good works in this holy and all-venerable church, for those who labor and those who sing, and for the people here present who await Your great and rich mercy.

For You are merciful and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Amen.


Kontakion. Mode 2.

OProtection of Christians that never falls, intercession with the Creator that never fails, we sinners beg you, do not ignore the voices of our prayers. O good Lady, we implore you, quickly come unto our aid, when we cry out to you with faith. Hurry to intercession, and hasten to supplication, O Theotokos who protect now and ever those who honor you.


Antiphon 1.

From my youth, many passions war against me. O my Savior, I implore You, uphold me and save me. (2)

You who hate Zion, be shamed by the Lord; for you will be withered like grass in the fire. (2)

Glory.

By the Holy Spirit every soul is animated, and when purified, it is mystically uplifted and brightened by the triune Godhead.

Both now.

From the Holy Spirit the streams of grace well forth; they water all creation, so that life be engendered.


Prokeimenon. Psalm 44 (45).

Iwill remember your name from generation to generation. (2)

Verse: Listen, O daughter, behold and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house. For the King desired your beauty.

Iwill remember your name from generation to generation.

Let us pray to the Lord our God that we may be made worthy to hear the holy Gospel.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel.

Peace be with all.

And with your spirit.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Let us be attentive.

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

Luke 1:39-49, 56

Luke 1:39-49, 56

In those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

Glory. Mode 2.

Father, Word and Spirit, the Trinity in Union, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses.

Both now.

At the intercession of the Theotokos, O Lord of mercy, blot out my many offenses.

Verse: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the abundance of Your compassion, blot out my transgression.

OLady, entrust me not * to any human protection, * but rather accept the prayer * of your humble supplicant, * O all-holy one. * Troubles encompass me. * No more can I endure * all the arrows demons shoot at me. * From every side am I * under fire, mis’rable that I am. * Shelter I do not possess, * and no consolation have I but you. * Patronage and hope of * the faithful, Sovereign Lady of the world, * O disregard not my litany. * Do that which is best for me.


Theotokia.

No one who runs to you for help comes back from you ever frustrated in his cause, O Virgin Theotokos. But he asks for the favor and receives the bestowal which is appropriate for his request.

You are a turning for the better for those in trouble and deliverance of the sick, O Virgin Theotokos. Save your people and your flock, since you are the peace of the embattled, tranquil calm of those in agitation, and the believers’ only patronage.

O God, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Look upon Your world with mercy and compassion. Raise the Orthodox Christians in glory, and send down upon us Your rich mercies:

through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, heavenly, bodiless powers, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, our fathers among the saints, the great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasios, Cyril, and John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria, Nicholas, bishop of Myra, Spyridon, bishop of Trimythous, Nektarios of Pentapolis, the wonderworkers; the holy, glorious, great martyrs George the triumphant, Demetrios the myrrh-streamer, Theodore the soldier, and Theodore the general; Menas the wonderworker; Charalambos and Eleutherios, the hieromartyrs; the holy, glorious, and victorious martyrs; the glorious great Martyr and all-laudable Euphemia; the holy and glorious Martyrs Thecla, Barbara, Anastasia, Katherine, Kyriake, Fotene, Marina, Paraskeve and Irene; our venerable and God-bearing fathers;; holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; and all Your saints:

We beseech you, only merciful Lord, hear us sinners who pray to you and have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy. (12)

Through the mercy, compassion, and love for humankind of Your only-begotten Son, with whom You are blessed, and Your all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Amen.


Ode vii. Heirmos.

Those Servants from Judea, * who of old were deported and sent to Babylon, * once treaded on the fire * of the furnace by holding * to the faith in the Trinity * and chanted: Blessed are You the God of our fathers.


Troparia.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

As You wished our salvation * to be thusly dispensed, You abode within the womb * of the all-holy Virgin * whom You have manifested * to the world as our patroness. * O Savior, blessed are You * the God of our fathers.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Opure Mother, implore Him * unto Whom you gave birth, Who delights in steadfast love, * to free from their offenses * and from their souls’ defilements * those who cry out in faith and say * to Him: O blessed are You * the God of our fathers.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

You have shown forth Your Mother * as a tower of safety, salvation’s treasury, * a spring of incorruption, * the doorway of repentance * unto all those who cry aloud * and say: O blessed are You * the God of our fathers.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Unto us you delivered * Christ the Savior; and hence we entreat you: Deign to heal * the bodily diseases * and spiritual ailments * of your servants who earnestly * to your divine shelter run, * O Lady Theotokos.


Ode viii. Heirmos.

Opraise and bless Him * who by the armies of Angels * is extolled as King of the heavens, * supremely exalting Him unto all the ages.


Troparia.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Do not disdain us * who need the help that you offer, * virgin Maiden, and who bless and extol you, * supremely exalting you unto all the ages.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Virgin, you pour out * your great abundance of healings * over those who faithfully extol you * and exalt supremely your ineffable childbirth.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

You heal the sicknesses * of my soul, O pure Virgin, * and the physical pains that afflict me. * Hence I glorify you the highly favored Maiden.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

You drive away from us * the assaults of temptations * and the onsets of passions, O Virgin. * Therefore do we praise you in hymns throughout the ages.


Ode ix. Heirmos.

You are the Theotokos * lit’rally, O Virgin; * and we confess it, for we have been saved through you * whom we, O pure one, with choirs of angels magnify.


Troparia.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

Do not dismiss the river * of my tears, O Virgin. * For in your womb you conceived and you carried Christ * the Lord who takes every teardrop away from every face.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

With joy, all-holy Virgin, * fill my heart to fullness, * having received, O pure Maiden, the fullness of joy * and thereby causing the sorrow of sin to disappear.

Most-holy Theotokos, save us.

For those who flee for safety * unto you, O Virgin, * be a retreat and a fortress immovable, * defense and shelter and refuge and joyous ecstasy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

With rays of your effulgence * brighten us, O Virgin, * who in the Orthodox manner declare you to be * the Theotokos who drives out the gloom of ignorance.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Restore my health, O Virgin; * for because of illness, * I am reduced to a state of tormenting pain. * Transform my feeble condition into vitality.


Megalynaria.

It is truly right to call you blessed, Theotokos, the ever-blessed and all-blameless one and the Mother of our God.

Greater in honor than the Cherubim, and in glory greater beyond compare than the Seraphim; you without corruption gave birth to God the Word, and are truly Theotokos. You do we magnify.

Offering this chanting of hymns to you, * we accord you honor as the Lady of all the world, * higher than the heavens and purer than the sunshine, * O Maiden who redeemed us * from the ancestral curse.

Owing to the multitude of my sins, * ailing is my body and diseased also is my soul. * O help me, I pray you the hope of the despairing. * To you I come for refuge, * O Maiden full of grace.

From unworthy servants of yours accept * petitions requesting mediation on our behalf * with Him whom you brought forth, O Mother of the Savior. * Become our Mediatrix, * O Lady of the world.

Unto you the Birthgiver of our God * praised by all, rejoicing now we eagerly chant this ode. * Together implore with the Forerunner and all Saints * that unto us compassion * be shown, O Mother of God.

Speechless be the lips of impious men * who refuse to rev’rence your august Icon which is called * the Mother of God the Directress, and was painted * by the divine Apostle * Luke the Evangelist.

Wishing to display power from on high * and the Father’s wisdom to Your three holy and divine * Disciples, O Christ, You ascended Mount Tabor, * and shining as the Master, * there You illumined them.

Join the Theotokos, all you arrays * of angelic powers, honored Forerunner of the Lord, * holy Twelve Apostles * and all the Saints together, * and pray for our salvation, and intercede for us.


Trisagion Prayers.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages.

Amen.

Have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us. For with nothing to say in our own defense, we sinners offer this supplication to you our Master. Have mercy on us.

Glory.

Lord have mercy on us, for in You we trust. Be not enraged with us greatly, nor remember our iniquities. But look upon us now, being compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies. For You are our God, and we Your people, all of us the work of Your hands, and now we have invoked Your name.

Both now. Theotokion.

Open the gate of compassion for us, O blessed Theotokos. For hoping in you, let us not fail in our aim. Through you may we be delivered from adversities. For you are the salvation of the Christian race.

Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray You, hear us and have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Again we pray for the protection of the Holy and Great Church of Christ, our Sacred Archdiocese, this city and every city and land, from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, sword, foreign invasion, civil strife, and accidental death. That our good and benevolent God may be merciful, gracious, and forgiving, and may divert and disperse all anger and disease coming against us, and deliver us from His impending justified threat and have mercy on us.

Again we pray that the Lord our God may hear the prayer of us sinners, and have mercy on us.

Hear us, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of earth and of those far off at sea, and forgive us, O Master, forgive us our sins, and have mercy on us. For You are merciful and benevolent God, and to You we offer up glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

Amen.

Glory to You, O God, glory to You.

May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers,; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, as He is good, benevolent, and merciful God.

All those who for refuge flee with faith * unto you, O good one, you shelter beneath your mighty hand. * We your servants have no other intercessor like you * always praying to God for us * in dangers and sorrows, * sinners that we are, bent down because of many misdeeds. * Therefore, we fall prostrate before you. * Rescue us from every affliction, * since you are the Mother of the Most High God.

For all who are troubled you are joy, * and of the abused a protectress, the paupers’ nourishment, * strangers’ consolation and a walking staff of the blind, * visitation of the infirm, * assistance and shelter * for the weary and oppressed, help of the orphans as well. * Hasten to deliver your servants, * fervently we beg you, O pure one, * since you are the Mother of the Most High God.

Lady, receive the supplications of your servants, and rescue us from all necessity and affliction.

OMother of God, I have committed my every hope wholly unto you. Keep me under your shelter.


Exaposteilaria for the Dormition fast

Apostles, you have assembled * from every corner of the earth * here in Gethsemane today; * now come and bury my body. * And You, my Son and my God, * receive my departing spirit.

Osweetness of the Angels, * O joy of those in affliction, * and the protectress of Christians, * O Virgin Mother of the Lord, * come to my aid and redeem me * from the eternal torments.

Ihave you as mediatrix * before the God who loves mankind. * May He not censure my actions * in the sight of the Angels. * I entreat you, O Virgin, * come quickly to my assistance.

OTower fashioned of pure gold, * and City which has a twelvefold wall, * O Throne aglitter with sunshine, * magnificent Chair of the King, * incomprehensible wonder, * how did you nurse the Master?

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.

Amen.

Handmade Mount Athos Icons of Theotokos More Prayers
The Small Paraklesis is a complete service of supplication to the Most Holy Theotokos. It includes psalms, hymns, odes, petitions and a Gospel reading. It is not a single prayer, but a complete liturgical service. Tradition attributes it to the monk Theosterictos, while some sources attribute it to Theophanes.
The word “Small” is used to distinguish it from the Great Paraklesis. It does not mean that the service is of lesser spiritual value or importance.
It is especially associated with the Dormition fast, from August 1 to August 14, usually alternating with the Great Paraklesis. It may also be celebrated at other times of the year, particularly in periods of sorrow, illness, fear or personal need.
In the Orthodox tradition, the faithful do not pray to the Theotokos instead of God. They ask for her intercessions before Christ. The Paraklesis expresses this relationship by presenting the Mother of God as a mother, protector and intercessor for the faithful.
Yes. Many faithful also read it as part of their personal prayer. The full liturgical service includes parts assigned to the priest, reader and choir, but its prayers and hymns may also be read privately. Personal reading, however, does not replace participation in the communal worship of the Church.

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