Canon to Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker
Menaion, May 9.
Tone 4
Ode 1
Irmos: I shall open my mouth, and it shall be filled with the Spirit; and I shall utter a word unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear radiantly triumphant, and rejoicing I shall sing of Her wonders.
Refrain: O holy father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
Enlighten my soul and heart, I pray Thee, O Giver of Light and Creator of all things; grant me the gift to hymn Thy most honorable favorite in song, through whom the world is delivered from sorrow.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having acquired heavenly wisdom, thou didst put it to good use like a talent entrusted to thee; for by it, having destroyed the deception opposed to God, thou didst make the people wise through divine teaching.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: The Pre-eternal One is conceived, and that which is perfect is renewed; from the Maiden is born a Child, Whom thou, O divinely blessed one, didst proclaim in two natures, yet in one Hypostasis.
Ode 3
Irmos: O Theotokos, living and inexhaustible Fountain, establish those who form a spiritual choir for Thy praise, and in Thy divine glory grant them crowns of glory.
Refrain: O holy father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
We who sorrow have found in thee mighty consolation, those in darkness have found light, and those held fast by afflictions have found deliverance from evils, O most holy father.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O holy Nicholas, having become the mouth of God, thou didst deliver the people from the jaws of the hostile wolf, O glorious one, and didst bring them as a gift unto the Creator, granting healing unto all.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: The one Word, Who is above all speech, was well pleased to be born in the flesh from Thee, O all-pure Mother of God, having chosen the hierarch Nicholas as His servant and teacher of the peoples.
Sedalen, Tone 1
The translation of thine honorable relics became for us the establishment of a radiant feast, O most praised hierarch of the Lord; we hymn it piously and, joyfully honoring thee, the beauty of the faithful, we venerate the Sun of the unsetting Light, O Nicholas.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: O unwedded, pure Theotokos and Virgin, sole protection and shelter of the faithful, deliver from misfortunes, sorrows, and every cruel circumstance those who set their hope on Thee, O Maiden, and save our souls by Thy divine supplications.
Ode 4
Irmos: Perceiving the unsearchable counsel of God concerning Thine incarnation from the Virgin, O Most High, the Prophet Habakkuk cried aloud: “Glory to Thy power, O Lord!”
Refrain: O holy father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
O divinely eloquent one, through participation in the primal Light of God thou didst appear as a second luminary, enlightening those in darkness by thy radiance, as a lover of virtue, pre-eminent in glory.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Deliver thy flock from the tempest of sin, from calamities and contrary waves, ever guiding us into calm havens by thy saving prayers.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: O Pure One, who ineffably gavest birth according to nature to the Most High Light, Who is exceedingly rich in mercy, enrich us who have become poor with the gifts of God.
Ode 5
Irmos: All things were amazed at Thy divine glory; for Thou, O Virgin who knewest not wedlock, didst bear in Thy womb God Who is above all and gavest birth to the timeless Son, Who granteth peace unto all who hymn Thee.
Refrain: O holy father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
Having adorned thy feet with a multitude of wonders, thou didst proclaim glad tidings unto all, setting them free from the ancient enmity by divine teaching; save us, O chief shepherd.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By the good pleasure of God, having mounted the ridge of the sea and crossed the great deep with many reverent men, thou didst come unto the city of Bari, O blessed Nicholas.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: As the shield of the faithful, O Virgin Mother of God, we truly glorify Thee, crying unto Thee with angelic voices: Rejoice, O Blessed and Grace-filled One, the habitation of the Master of all creation, fearful to hear and speak of, and wondrous!
Ode 6
Irmos: Celebrating this divine and all-honorable feast of the Mother of God, come, ye divinely wise, let us clap our hands and glorify God Who was born of Her.
Refrain: O holy father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
O preacher Nicholas and teacher of the nations, who didst guide the people of God unto salvation for the sake of the great goodness of Him Who appeared in the flesh, save us by thy instruction.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Entreat the Lord, Who hath the sea for His path and the waters for His ways, that we may cross the sea of life without harm and by the path of streams of tears attain the Kingdom of Heaven.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: Thou art the gate of the King of Heaven and the temple of His glory, O all-hymned Virgin; open unto us the doors of mercy and by Thy prayers lead us into the habitations of heavenly glory.
Kontakion, Tone 3
Like a star from east to west did thy relics arise, O holy Nicholas; the sea was sanctified by thy passage, and the city of Bari receiveth grace through thee, for thou hast appeared for our sake as a most excellent, wondrous, and merciful wonderworker.
Ikos
Let us now hymn the hierarch in songs, the shepherd and teacher of the people of Myra, that we may be enlightened by his prayers; for he appeared wholly pure and incorrupt in spirit, offering unto Christ an unblemished and pure sacrifice well-pleasing to God, as a hierarch purified in both soul and body. Therefore, he is truly an intercessor for the Church and her champion, a most excellent, wondrous, and merciful wonderworker.
Ode 7
Irmos: The divinely wise served not the creature rather than the Creator, but manfully trampling down the threat of fire, they rejoiced and sang: “O supremely praised Lord and God of the fathers, blessed art Thou!”
Refrain: O holy father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
When the vanity of things driveth the whole human mind to madness, grant it healing by thy word as with salt, and teach it to sing unto the Lord: “O supremely praised Lord and God of the fathers, blessed art Thou!”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O thy most glorious wonders, which thou hast wrought! Thou healest infirmities and deliverest from calamities, commanding all to cry unto the Lord: “O supremely praised God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!”
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: Thou art the Intercessor and wall of defense for our lowliness, O pure Birthgiver of God. Being Thy servants, we ever cry unto the Lord: “O supremely praised God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!”
Ode 8
Irmos: The birthgiving of the Theotokos saved the pious children in the furnace: then it was prefigured, but now it is accomplished, and it moveth the whole inhabited world to sing unto Thee: “Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and supremely exalt Him unto all ages!”
Refrain: O holy father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
Thou didst grow like a fragrant flower of the land of Myra, O glorious one, bringing sweet fragrance and gifts of healing unto all who praise thee and sing: “Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and supremely exalt Him unto all ages!”
We bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Lord.
Pouring forth the sweetness of the grace of God like the Mount of Olives its oil, thou didst have the sea for thy path and by the grace of the Lord didst pass over it without calamity, sweetly crying unto Him: “Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and supremely exalt Him unto all ages!”
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: To the amazement of the hosts beyond the world, Thou givest birth and remainest ever Virgin; for Thou gavest birth to the Word, Who became Man while remaining unchangeably God, unto Whom we all sing: “Hymn the Lord, all ye works, and supremely exalt Him unto all ages!”
Ode 9
Irmos: Let every earthborn mortal leap for joy, enlightened by the Spirit, and let the nature of the bodiless minds keep festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God and crying aloud: “Rejoice, O all-blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-Virgin!”
Refrain: O holy father Nicholas, pray to God for us.
Thy memory today bringeth a feast: the choir of the apostles, the assembly of the martyrs, and the souls of the righteous rejoice, while we the faithful glorify thee in songs and cry: “From every sorrow, O hierarch of Christ, deliver us!”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy most glorious memory hath shone forth upon us, brightly enlightening the faithful, O hierarch of Christ, wise Nicholas. Therefore, we entreat thee: remember us all, and by thy prayers deliver us from every hostile assault.
Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: Mortify our carnal passions and desires, O pure Birthgiver of God; still the tempest of our passions, calm the tumult of our thoughts, and strengthen, O blessed and all-pure One, the hearts of those who faithfully honor Thee as their Intercessor.
Exapostilarion
Great are thy wonders, O most holy Nicholas: thou didst appear in a dream unto the divinely wise Constantine and didst save three warriors condemned to death without guilt. So also save us from sudden and eternal death, O most holy Nicholas, hierarch of the Lord.
Prayer to Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker
O all-praised and all-honorable hierarch, great wonderworker, holy hierarch of Christ, Father Nicholas, man of God and faithful servant, man of desires, chosen vessel, mighty pillar of the Church, most radiant lamp, star illuminating and enlightening the whole inhabited world! Thou art a righteous man who flourished like a palm tree planted in the courts of his Lord; living in Myra, thou didst fill the air with the fragrance of myrrh and didst pour forth the ever-flowing myrrh of the grace of God.
By thy passage, O most holy father, the sea was sanctified when thy wonderworking relics journeyed unto the city of Bari, that the name of the Lord might be praised from east to west.
O most excellent and wondrous wonderworker, swift helper, fervent intercessor, good shepherd who savest the rational flock from every calamity! We glorify thee and magnify thee as the hope of all Christians, the fountain of wonders, defender of the faithful, most wise teacher, feeder of the hungry, gladness of those who weep, clothing of the naked, physician of the sick, guide of those who sail the sea, liberator of captives, nourisher and protector of widows and orphans, guardian of chastity, gentle instructor of infants, strength of the aged, guide of those who fast, rest of those who labor, and abundant riches of the poor and needy.
Hear us who pray unto thee and flee beneath thy protection; show forth thine intercession for us before the Most High and obtain by thy God-pleasing prayers all things profitable for the salvation of our souls and bodies. Preserve this holy monastery (or this church), every city and village, every Christian land, and the people dwelling therein from every evil by thine aid. For we know, we know how greatly the prayer of a righteous man availeth when it worketh for good; and after the most blessed Virgin Mary, we have thee, O righteous one, as our intercessor before the all-merciful God, and we humbly flee unto thy fervent mediation and protection, O most gracious father. Preserve us, as a vigilant and good shepherd, from every enemy, destruction, earthquake, hail, famine, flood, fire, sword, and invasion by strangers; and in all our troubles and sorrows stretch forth to us a helping hand and open the doors of the mercy of God. For we are unworthy to behold the height of heaven because of the multitude of our iniquities; we are bound by the bonds of sin and have never done the will of our Creator nor kept His commandments.
Therefore, we bow the knees of our contrite and humble hearts before our Maker and ask thy fatherly intercession before Him: help us, O favorite of God, that we perish not with our transgressions; deliver us from every evil and from all things adverse; direct our mind and strengthen our heart in the right Faith, that through thine intercession and mediation we may not be brought low by wounds, threats, pestilence, or any wrath of our Creator, but may live a peaceful life here and be counted worthy to behold the good things in the land of the living, glorifying the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the one God glorified and worshiped in Trinity, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen.
Second Prayer to Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker
O all-holy Nicholas, most excellent favorite of the Lord, our fervent intercessor and swift helper everywhere in sorrows!
Help me, a sinner and one cast down, in this present life; entreat the Lord God to grant me forgiveness of all my sins, however many I have committed from my youth throughout all my life, in deed, word, thought, and all my senses. At the departure of my soul, help me, the wretched one; entreat the Lord God, the Creator of all things, to deliver me from the aerial toll-houses and eternal torment, that I may ever glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and thy merciful intercession, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen.
Third Prayer to Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker
O all-good Father Nicholas, shepherd and teacher of all who flee with faith unto thine intercession and call upon thee with fervent prayer! Hasten quickly and deliver the flock of Christ from the wolves that devour it; by thy holy prayers defend and preserve every Christian land from worldly turmoil, earthquake, invasion by strangers, and civil strife, from famine, flood, fire, sword, and sudden death.
And as thou didst have mercy on the three men sitting in prison and didst deliver them from the wrath of the king and execution by the sword, so have mercy also on me, who in mind, word, and deed dwell in the darkness of sins; and deliver me from the wrath of God and eternal punishment, that through thine intercession and help, and through His own mercy and grace, Christ God may grant me to live a quiet and sinless life in this age, deliver me from standing on the left, and count me worthy to stand on the right with all the saints. Amen.