Kontakion 1
Chosen Wonderworker and superb servant of
Christ, who poured out for all the world the most precious myrrh of mercy and
an inexhaustible ocean of miracles, I praise you with love, Saint Nicholas; and
as you have boldness towards the Lord, deliver me from all adversities that I
may call to you: Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Ikos 1
The Lord of all creation made you an Angel in
mannerism though earthly by nature. Foreseeing the fruitful beauty of your
soul, blessed Nicholas, he taught all to cry to you:
Rejoice, for you were purified from your
mother's womb;
Rejoice, for you kept holy even to the end;
Rejoice, for you amazed your parents by your
birth;
Rejoice, for you showed soon after your birth
the vigor of your soul;
Rejoice, garden of the land of promise;
Rejoice, flower of divine planting;
Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ's vineyard;
Rejoice, wonderworking tree of the Paradise
of Jesus;
Rejoice, lily of heavenly growth;
Rejoice, myrrh of the fragrance of Christ;
Rejoice, for through you lamentation is
banished;
Rejoice, for you bring to all joy;
Kontakion 2
Seeing the flow of the myrrh, O divinely wise
Saint, our souls and bodies are enlightened, and we realize that you are a
wonderful, living source of unction, O Nicholas. For you refresh with miracles
as with waters poured out by the grace of God those who faithfully cry to Him:
Alleluia!
Ikos 2
Teaching incomprehensible knowledge about the
Holy Trinity you were a champion of the confession of the Orthodox faith
with the holy fathers in Nicea. For you confessed the Son equal to the Father,
co-eternal and co-enthroned, and you convicted the foolish Arias. Therefore,
you have taught the faithful to sing to you:
Rejoice, great pillar of holiness;
Rejoice, city of refuge for the faithful;
Rejoice, firm stronghold of Orthodoxy.
Rejoice, venerable vessel and praise of the
Holy Trinity;
Rejoice, preacher of the Son equal in honor
with the Father;
Rejoice, expeller the bedeviled Arias from
the council of the saints;
Rejoice, glorious beauty of the fathers;
Rejoice, wise goodness of all the divinely
wise;
Rejoice, speaker of fiery words;
Rejoice, righteous director of your flock;
Rejoice, for through you faith is
strengthened.
Rejoice; for through you heresy is defeated;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 3
By the power given you from on high you dry
every tear from the face of those in terrible suffering, O God-bearing father
Nicholas. For you are a feeder of the hungry, a superb pilot for those on the
high seas, and a healer of the sick, and you have proved to be a helper to all
who cry to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Truly a song ought to be sung to you from
heaven, and not from earth, Father Nicholas; for how can a mere man proclaim
the greatness of your holiness? But, conquered by your love, we cry to you:
Rejoice, model of lambs and shepherds;
Rejoice, holy purification of morals;
Rejoice, container of great virtues;
Rejoice, pure and honorable abode of
holiness;
Rejoice, bright lamp beloved by all;
Rejoice, pure and golden-rayed light;
Rejoice, worthy collocutor of Angels;
Rejoice, good director of men;
Rejoice, rule of pious faith;
Rejoice, model of spiritual meekness;
Rejoice, for through you we are delivered
from bodily passions;
Rejoice, for through you we are filled with
spiritual delights;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 4
A storm of bewilderment confuses my mind. How
can we worthily sing of your miracles, O blessed Nicholas? For no one could
count them, even if he had many tongues and the best will in the world. But we
boldly too sing to God who is wonderfully glorified in you: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
People near and far heard of the greatness of
your miracles, O divinely wise Nicholas, that in the air with the delicate
wings of grace you are accustomed to help all in adversity, and quickly deliver
all who cry to you:
Rejoice, deliverance from sorrow;
Rejoice, channel of grace;
Rejoice, dispeller of unexpected evils;
Rejoice, planter of good desires;
Rejoice, quick comforter of those in
adversity;
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 uplift of the falling;
Rejoice; support of those who stand aright;
Rejoice, exposer of all deception;
Rejoice, for through you all truth is
realized;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 5
You appeared as a God-ward racing star,
guiding those in distress at sea, who were once threatened with imminent death
if you had not come to the help of those who called upon you, O wonderworker
Saint Nicholas, for you forbid the flying devils who shamelessly wanted to sink
the ship, and you drove them away, and taught the faithful to cry to God Who
saves through you: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
The girls prepared for a dishonorable
marriage on account of their poverty, saw your great mercy for the poor, Holy
Father Nicholas, when you secretly gave their old parent at night the three
little bundles of gold, thereby saving him and his daughter from falling into
sin. Therefore you hear from all:
Rejoice, treasure of greatest mercy;
Rejoice, friend of providing for people;
Rejoice, food and refreshment of those who
have recourse to you;
Rejoice, inexhaustible bread of the hungry;
Rejoice, God-giving wealth of those living in
poverty on earth;
Rejoice; quick uplifting of the poor;
Rejoice; speedy hearing of beggars;
Rejoice, acceptable care of the sorrowful;
Rejoice, pure provider for the three maidens;
Rejoice, zealous guardian of purity;
Rejoice, hope of the hopeless;
Rejoice, delight of the whole world;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 6
The whole world proclaims you, blessed
Nicholas, as a quick intercessor in adversities; for frequently you precede
those traveling by land and those sailing on the sea, and help them in a single
hour, keeping from evils all who cry to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
You shone as a living light, bringing
deliverance to the war leaders who had been sentenced to an unjust death, and
who called to you, good shepherd Nicholas, when you quickly appeared in a dream
to the emperor, and terrified him and ordered him to release them unharmed.
Therefore together with them we gratefully cry to you:
Rejoice, helper of those who invoke you
fervently;
Rejoice, deliverer from unjust death;
Rejoice, preserver from lying insult;
Rejoice, foiler of unjust plans;
Rejoice, for you tear lies to shreds like
cobwebs;
Rejoice, for you gloriously exalt the truth;
Rejoice, deliverer of the innocent from their
chains;
Rejoice, revival of the dead;
Rejoice, preacher of righteousness;
Rejoice, exposer of unrighteousness;
Rejoice, for through you the innocent were
saved from the sword;
Rejoice, for through you they enjoyed the
light;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 7
Wishing to dispel the blasphemous stench of
heresy you appeared as a truly fragrant, mystical myrrh, O Nicholas. By
shepherding the people of Myra,
you filled the whole world with your gracious myrrh. And dispelled from us the
stench of sin hateful to the Divine mind, that we may acceptably cry to God:
Alleluia!
Ikos 7
We understand you to be a new Noah, a guide
of the ark of salvation, Holy Father Nicholas, who dispels the storm of all evils
by your spiritual direction, and bring divine calm to those who cry to you:
Rejoice, quiet heaven of those bestormed;
Rejoice, sure protection of those who are
drowning;
Rejoice, good pilot of those sailing amid
whirlpools;
Rejoice, for your prayers calm the raging of
the sea;
Rejoice, guide of those in whirlwinds;
Rejoice, warmth of those in frosts;
Rejoice, radiance which dispels the gloom of
sorrow;
Rejoice, light which illumines all the ends
of the earth;
Rejoice, for you deliver people from the abyss
of sin;
Rejoice, for you cast Satan into the abyss of
hell;
Rejoice, for through you we boldly invoke the
abyss of God's mercy;
Rejoice, for through you we are saved from
the flood of wrath, and find peace with God;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 8
Your holy church proves a strange wonder to
those who flock to you, blessed Nicholas; for by offering in it even a small
prayer, we receive healing from great illnesses, if only, after God, we put our
hope in you and faithfully cry: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
You are truly a helper to all, O God-bearing
Nicholas, and you have gathered together all who have recourse to you, for you
are a deliverer, feeder and quick healer to all on earth, and you move all to
praise you:
Rejoice, source of all kinds of healing;
Rejoice, helper of those in terrible
suffering;
Rejoice, dawn shining for those wandering in
the night of sin;
Rejoice, heaven-sent dew for those in the
heat of labors;
Rejoice, giver of prosperity to those who
require it;
Rejoice, for you prepare an abundance for
those who ask;
Rejoice, for you often forestall prayer;
Rejoice, for you restore strength to the old
and gray-headed;
Rejoice, convictor of many who have wandered
from the true way;
Rejoice, faithful steward of the mysteries of
God;
Rejoice, for through you we conquer jealousy;
Rejoice, for through you we lead a good life;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 9
Allay all our pains, O our great intercessor
Nicholas, and grant gracious healings to delight our souls and rejoice the
hearts of all who run fervently to you for help and cry to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
The sophisticated spokesmen of the impious,
we see, were put to shame by you, O divinely wise Father Nicholas; for you
confuted Arias the blasphemer who divided the God-head and Sabellius who
confounded the Holy Trinity, but you have strengthened us in Orthodoxy.
Therefore we cry to you:
Rejoice, shield that defends piety;
Rejoice, sword that cuts down impiety;
Rejoice, teacher of the divine commandments;
Rejoice, destroyer of anti-God doctrines;
Rejoice, ladder set up by God by which we
mount to heaven;
Rejoice, God-given protection, by which many
are sheltered;
Rejoice, for by your words the unwise are
made wise;
Rejoice, for you stir the slothful by your
example;
Rejoice, inextinguishable light of God's
commandments;
Rejoice, bright ray of the Lord's precepts;
Rejoice, for through your teaching the heads
of heretics are crushed;
Rejoice, for through you the faithful are
granted glory;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 10
Wishing to save your soul, you truly
subjected your body to the spirit, O our Father Nicholas. For by silence first
and by wrestling with thoughts, you added contemplation to activity; and by
contemplation you didst acquired perfect knowledge with which you boldly
conversed with God and the Angels, always crying: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
You are a wall; O blessed Nicholas, to those
who praise your miracles and to all who seek your protection. Therefore, free
us who are poor in virtue from poverty, adversity, sickness and want of various
kinds, as we cry to you with love:
Rejoice, rescuer from eternal misery;
Rejoice, granter of incorruptible riches;
Rejoice, imperishable food for those who
hunger for righteousness;
Rejoice, inexhaustible drink for those who
thirst for life;
Rejoice, for you preserve us from revolution
and war;
Rejoice, for you free us from chains and
imprisonment;
Rejoice, glorious intercessor in misfortunes;
Rejoice, great defender in temptations;
Rejoice, for you have snatched many from
perdition;
Rejoice, for you have kept countless numbers
unharmed;
Rejoice, for through you sinners escape a
frightful death;
Rejoice, for through you those who repent
obtain eternal life;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 11
Your life was a song to the Most Holy
Trinity, surpassing others in thought, word and deed, O Most blessed Nicholas.
For with much research you explained the precepts of the true faith, teaching
us to sing with faith, hope and love to the one god in Trinity: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
We see you as a bright storm lantern for
those in the darkness of this life, O God-chosen Father Nicholas. For you conversed
with the immaterial angelic lights concerning the uncreated light of the
Trinity, and you enlighten the souls of the faithful who cry to you:
Rejoice, radiance of the triune Light;
Rejoice, daystar of the never-setting Sun;
Rejoice, lamp lit by the divine Flame;
Rejoice, for you have extinguished the
devilish flame of impiety;
Rejoice, bright preaching of true faith;
Rejoice, luminous radiance of the light of
the Gospel;
Rejoice, lightning that consumes heresy;
Rejoice, thunder which terrifies sinners;
Rejoice, teacher of true knowledge;
Rejoice, revealer of the secret mind;
Rejoice, for through you the worship of
creatures has been abolished;
Rejoice, for through you we have learned to
worship the Creator in the Trinity;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 12
Knowing the grace that has been given to you
by God, we joyfully celebrate your memory, most glorious Father Nicholas, and
with all our soul we crave your wonderful intercession. Unable to count your
glorious deeds which are like the sand of the sea and the profusion of stars,
in utter bewilderment we cry to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
While we sing of your wonders, we praise you,
O all-praised Nicholas. For in you God who is glorified in the Trinity has been
wonderfully glorified. But even if we were to offer you with all our soul a
multitude of psalms and songs, O holy wonder worker, we should do nothing to
equal the gift of your miracles, and amazed by them we cry to you:
Rejoice, servant of the King of kings and
Lord of lords;
Rejoice, co-dweller with His heavenly
servants;
Rejoice, support of faithful kings;
Rejoice, exaltation of Christendom;
Rejoice, namesake of victory;
Rejoice, eminent victor;
Rejoice, mirror of all the virtues;
Rejoice health of our bodies and salvation of
our souls;
Rejoice, strong buttress of all who have
recourse to you;
Rejoice, after God and the Mother of God, all
our hope;
Rejoice, for through you we are delivered
from eternal death;
Rejoice, for through you we are granted
eternal life;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 13 (read three times)
O Most holy and wonderful Father Nicholas,
comfort of all in sorrow, accept our present offering, and pray to the Lord
that we may be delivered from Gehenna through your gracious intercession, that with
you we may sing: Alleluia!
Ikos 1
The Lord of all creation made you an Angel in
mannerism though earthly by nature. Foreseeing the fruitful beauty of your
soul, blessed Nicholas, he taught all to cry to you:
Rejoice, for you were purified from your
mother's womb;
Rejoice, for you kept holy even to the end;
Rejoice, for you amazed your parents by your
birth;
Rejoice, for you showed soon after your birth
the vigor of your soul;
Rejoice, garden of the land of promise;
Rejoice, flower of divine planting;
Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ's vineyard;
Rejoice, wonderworking tree of the Paradise
of Jesus;
Rejoice, lily of heavenly growth;
Rejoice, myrrh of the fragrance of Christ;
Rejoice, for through you lamentation is
banished;
Rejoice, for you bring to all joy;
Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Kontakion 1
Chosen Wonderworker and superb servant of
Christ, who poured out for all the world the most precious myrrh of mercy and
an inexhaustible ocean of miracles, I praise you with love, Saint Nicholas; and
as you have boldness towards the Lord, deliver me from all adversities that I
may call to you: Rejoice, Great Wonderworker Nicholas!
Let us pray to our Holy Hierarch Father
Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia,
let us all say:
O Holy Hierarch Father Nicholas pray unto God
for us.
O all-praised and all-honored Hierarch, great
Wonderworker and Saint of Christ, Father Nicholas, man of God and faithful
slave, man of desires, chosen vessel, strong pillar of the Church, most brilliant
light, star which illumines and enlightens the whole universe: you are a
righteous man flourishing like a palm-tree planted in the courts of your Lord.
Living in Myra
you diffused the fragrance of myrrh, and you poured out the ever-flowing myrrh of
the grace of God. By your presence, most holy Father, the sea was blessed, when
your most wonderful relics were carried to the town of Bari from east to west to praise the name of
the Lord. O most gracious and marvelous wonderworker, speedy helper, fervent
intercessor, good shepherd who saves his spiritual flock from all kinds of
harm, we glorify and magnify you as the hope of all Christians, a source of
miracles, protector of the faithful, most wise teacher, feeder of the hungry,
joy of the sorrowful, clothier of the naked, healer of the sick, guide of those
who sail on the sea, liberator of prisoners, feeder and defender of widows and
orphans, guardian of chastity, gentle tutor of children, support of the aged,
director of fasters, rest of those who turn to you for protection, intercede on
our behalf with the Most High, and obtain through your powerful prayers all
that is useful for the salvation of our souls and bodies. Protect this holy
community, every town and village, and every Christian country and the people
there resident,
Especially protect those who are serving in
the Armed Forces, those who provide support to them, those who oversee their
efforts and who make their plans, the officers, the military leaders, our
Congress, Senate and President. Remember those who supply their physical needs,
and those who minister to them spiritually and physically. Grant that these may
serve in holiness and honor, guarding this God-protected land from invasion of
enemies, from acts of terror, and from every enemy who sets themselves against
us. Remember, O Lord, your servants and handmaids:
[names of the living who are serving in the
Armed Forces]
Remember also, O Lord, those who have served
in this capacity, those who have sacrificed to provide for our security and to
secure our freedom in previous times, especially the servants and handmaids:
[names of the living who have completed their
service]
Remember also, O Lord, those who have fallen
asleep in defending us. For although we have accomplished no good on earth,
these have sacrificed, that perhaps for a good man or woman they may have dared
to die. And so we come to you now and beseech Your mercy, remember in Your
heavenly Kingdom the servants and handmaids:
[names of the departed who have died in the
service of our country],
granting to them a place of brightness, a
place of rest, a place of refreshment, where there is no sickness, sorrow, or
sighing, but where the sight of Your Face brings joy to Your saints from all
the ages. Grant them Your Kingdom, and a portion of Your eternal blessings, and
the enjoyment of Your unending Life.
Deliver all of us from all evil through your
help, blessed Father Nicholas; for we know that the prayer of a righteous man
is a great and potent force for good. Next to the Most Blessed Theotokos, we
have you as a righteous intercessor with the All-Merciful God, and to your
fervent intercession and protection, most gracious Father, we humbly have
recourse. Keep us, as a watchful and good shepherd, from all enemies, from
pestilence, earthquake, hail, famine, flood, fire, the sword, invasion of
enemies and civil war, and in all our adversities and afflictions give us a
helping hand and open the doors of God's mercy; for we are unworthy to behold
high heaven on account of the multitude of our sins; we are bound by the bonds
of sin and have not done the will of our Creator nor kept His commandments.
Therefore, in repentance and humility, we bow the knees of our hearts to our
Maker, and entreat your fatherly intercession with Him. Help us, Saint of God,
lest we perish with our sins; deliver us from evil and from every hostile
power, direct our minds and strengthen our hearts in true faith which, through
your intercession, neither wounds, nor threats, nor epidemics, nor the wrath of
our Creator shall lessen; but grant that we may live a peaceful life here and
that we may see the good things in the land of the living, glorifying the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God worshipped and glorified in
Trinity, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Wisdom, Most Holy Theotokos save us.
More honorable than the Cherubim, and more
glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim. Without defilement you gave birth to
God the Word. True Theotokos, we magnify you.
Glory to you O Christ, our God and our hope,
glory to You.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (3X)
Father, bless!
