Service of the Small Paraklesis to the Most Holy Theotokos
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Otherwise: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Reader: Amen.
O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God.
PSALM 142
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplication in Thy truth; hearken unto me in Thy righteousness.
And enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for before Thee shall no man living be justified.
For the enemy hath pursued my soul; he hath brought down my life to the ground.
He hath set me in darkness, as those that have been long dead; and my spirit is become listless against me, my heart within me is troubled.
I remember the days of old, I have meditated on all Thy works, I muse on the works of Thy hands.
I have stretched forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee likeunto parched land.
Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit waxeth faint.
Turn not away Thy countenance from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning, for in Thee do I hope.
Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee.
Rescue me, O Lord, from mine enemies; I have fled unto Thee for refuge.
Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.
Thy good Spirit shall guide me into the land of uprightness; quicken me, O Lord, for Thy name’s sake.
In Thy righteousness Thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction, and in Thy mercy Thou shalt lay waste to mine enemies.
And Thou shalt destroy all them that afflict my soul, for I am Thy servant.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. (3x)
O Lord, our Hope, glory to Thee.
Then “God is the Lord” is chanted in the Fourth Tone.
God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Verse 1. O give thanks unto the Lord, and call upon His holy Name.
Verse 2. All nations compassed me about, but in the Name of the Lord I warded them off.
Verse 3. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Then the following Troparia:
Fourth Tone.
Let us with fervor run now to the Theotokos, we sinners all and wretched ones and fall prostrate in repentance, crying from the depths of our souls: Lady, come unto our aid, have compassion upon us; hasten thou, for we are perishing in a throng of transgressions; turn not thy servants away with empty hands, for thee alone do we have as our only hope.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Same Tone.
Apolytikion of the Church.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Same Tone.
O Theotokos, we shall never cease from speaking of all thy mighty acts, though we be unworthy; for if thou hadst not stood to intercede in our behalf, who would have delivered us from such numerous dangers? Who would have preserved us all until now in true freedom? We shall not turn, O Lady, from thee; for thou savest thy servants for ever from all manner of woes.
PSALM 50
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the abundance of Thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquity. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil before Thee; that Thou mightest be justified in thy words, and prevail in Thy judgment. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou lovest truth, the unsearchable and secret things of Thy wisdom Thou declarest unto me. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that are humbled shall rejoice. Turn away Thy countenance from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in mine inward parts. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy princely spirit. I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and the impious shall return unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I should have given it; Thou delightest not in whole burnt-offerings. A sacrifice unto God is a contrite spirit; a contrite and humbled heart God will not put to shame. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole burnt-offerings.Then shall they offer calves upon Thine altar.
Then we chant the Canon, in Plagal of the Fourth Tone:
Ode 1.
Heirmos: Traversing the water as on dry land, and thereby escaping from thentoils of Egypt’s land, the Israelites cried aloud, proclaiming: Unto our God and Redeemer let us now sing.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
By many temptations am I held fast; in search of salvation unto thee do I have recourse; O Mother of the Word, thou Ever-Virgin, from all ordeals and afflictions deliver me.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Attacks of the passions disquiet me; my soul to repletion hath been filled with despondency; bestill them, O Maiden, with the calmness of thine own Son and thy God, O all-blameless one.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
To God and the Savior Thou gavest birth; I beg thee, O Virgin, from afflictions deliver me; for now unto thee I flee for refuge, bringing to thee both my soul and my reasoning.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Diseased is my body and my soul, do thou make me worthy of Divine guidance and thy care, O thou who alone art God’s Mother, for thou art good and the Birthgiver of the Good.
Ode 3.
Heirmos: Of the vault of the heavens art Thou, O Lord, Fashioner; so, too, of the Church art Thou founder; do Thou establish me in unfeigned love for Thee, Who art the height of things sought for, and staff of the faithful, O Thou only Friend of man.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I have thee as the shelter and the defence of my life, thee, the Theotokos and Virgin; pilot and govern me into thy sheltered port, for thou art author of good things, and staff of the Faithful, O only all-lauded one.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I beseech thee, O Virgin, do thou dispel far from me all of the distress of despair and turbulence in my soul; for thou, O Bride of God, hast given birth to the Lord Christ Who is Prince of Peace, O thou only all-blameless one.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Since thou broughtest forth Him Who is our Benefactor, the cause of good, from the wealth of thy loving-kindness do thou pour forth on all; for thou canst do all things, since thou didst give birth to Christ God, Who in strength is mighty; for blessed of God art thou.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
With most grievous diseases and with corrupt passions too, I am put to trial, O Virgin; come thou unto mine aid; for I know thee to be an inexhaustible treasure of unfailing healings, O thou the all blameless one.
Preserve and save, O Theotokos, thy servants from every danger; after God do all of us for refuge flee unto thee; a firm rampart art thou and our protection.
In thy good will, look thou on me, O all-hymned Theotokos; and do thou behold my body’s grievous infirmity, and heal thou the cause of my soul’s sorrow.
Then the Deacon (or Priest, if no Deacon is serving) commemorates those for whom the Paraklesis is being chanted:
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.
Again we pray for our Metropolitan (name) and all our brotherhood in Christ.
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, pardon, and remission of the sins of the servants of God (names).
Again we pray for those who have mercy on us and aid us, and also for all our benefactors and donors, and those who bring offerings to this holy and sacred Church, together with their families and relations.
Again, we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable house, for those who labor and those who sing, and for all the people here present who await from Thee great and abundant mercy.
Priest: For Thou art a merciful God Who lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Second Tone.
O fervent advocate, invincible battlement, fountain of mercy, and sheltering retreat for the world, earnestly we cry to thee: O Lady, Mother of God, hasten thou, and save us from all imperilment; for thou alone art our speedy protectress.
Ode 4.
Heirmos: I have hearkened and heard, O Lord, of Thy dispensation’s most awesome mystery; and I came to knowledge of Thy works, and I sang the praise of Thy Divinity.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Lull the tempest of all my sins, and bestill the raging of passions with thy calm, for progenitress art thou of Him Who is Lord and Helmsman, O thou Bride of God.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
O bestow, out of the abyss of thy great compassion, on me thy supplicant, forthou broughtest forth One Merciful, Who is Saviour of all who sing hymns to thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
While delighting, O Spotless one, in thy many favors, a hymn of thankfulness do we all raise up in song to thee, knowing thee to be the Mother of our God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having thee as our staff and hope, and as our salvation’s unshaken battlement,from all manner of adversity are we then redeemed, O thou all-lauded one.
Ode 5.
Heirmos: Lord, enlighten us by Thy precepts and by Thy commands; and by the power of Thy lofty arm bestow Thy peace upon us all, since art Friend of man.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Pure one, fill my heart with rejoicing unto plenitude, and grant thine incorrupt felicity, since thou didst give birth unto Him Who is the cause of joy.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Come, deliver us out of dangers, O pure Mother of God, since thou art Mother of Deliverance, and of the Peace which doth surpass all human reasoning.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Dissipate the gloom of my trespasses, O Bride of God, with the clear brightness of thy radiance, for thou didst bear the Light Divine which was before all time.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heal me, O Pure one, of the sickness which the passions bring, and make me worthy of thy guardiancy, and by thy prayers and intercessions grant thou health to me.
Ode 6.
Heirmos: Entreaty do I pour forth unto the Lord, and to Him do I proclaim allmy sorrows, for many woes fill my heart to repletion, and lo, my life unto Hades hath now drawn nigh; like Jonas do I pray to Thee: Raise my life from corruption, O Lord my God.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
My nature, held by corruption and by death, hath He saved from out of death and corruption, for unto death He Himself hath submitted; wherefore, O Virgin, do Thou intercede with Him, Who is in truth thy Lord and Son, to redeem me from enemies’ wickedness.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
I know thee as the protection of my life and most safe fortification, O Virgin; disperse the horde of my many temptations, and put to silence demonic audacity; unceasingly I pray to thee: From corruption of passions deliver me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
A bulwark of safe retreat art thou to us, and of souls art thou the perfect salvation and a relief in afflictions, O Maiden, and in thy light do we ever exult with joy; O Lady do thou also now from all passions and perils deliver us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Bedridden, I lie supine with sickness now, and no healing for my flesh is existent except for thee, who didst bear the world’s Saviour, our God, the Healer of every infirmity; I pray to thee, for thou art good: From corruption of illnesses raise me up.
Preserve and save, O Theotokos, thy servants from every danger; after God do all of us for refuge flee unto thee; a firm rampart art thou and our protection.
O Spotless one, who inexpressibly in the last days didst by a word bring forth the Word; do thou make request of Him, as one who hath motherly boldness.
Then the Deacon (or Priest, if no Deacon is serving) commemorates those for whom the Paraklesis is being chanted:
Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.After these petitions, we chant the Kontakion:
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.
Again we pray for our Metropolitan (name) and all our brotherhood in Christ.
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, pardon, and remission of the sins of the servants of God (names).
Again we pray for those who have mercy on us and aid us, and also for all our benefactors and donors, and those who bring offerings to this holy and sacred Church, together with their families and relations.
Again, we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable house, for those who labor and those who sing, and for all the people here present who await from Thee great and abundant mercy.
Priest: For Thou art a merciful God Who lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Second Tone.
O Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator most constant, disdain not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be thou quick, O good one, to come unto our aid, who in faith cry unto thee:
Hasten to intercession, and speed thou to make supplication, thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.
Then we chant the First Antiphon of the Hymns of Ascent of Fourth Tone:
From my youth do many passions war against me; but do Thou Thyself defend and save me, O my Savior. (2x)
Ye that hate Sion shall be put to shame by the Lord; for, like grass, by the fire shall ye be withered. (2x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By the Holy Spirit every soul is quickened, and through cleansing is exalted and made radiant by the Triple Unity, in a hidden, sacred manner.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amin.
By the Holy Spirit the streams of Grace gush forth, watering all creation unto the begetting of life.
And straightway we chant the Prokeimenon:
Fourth Tone.
I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation. (2x)
Verse: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear; and forget thine own people, and thy father’s house; and the King shall greatly desire thy beauty.
And we chant the Prokeimenon once again.
Deacon: And that He will vouchsafe unto us the hearing of the Holy Gospel, let us beseech the Lord our God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Deacon: Wisdom. Let us stand aright. Let us hear the Holy Gospel.
Priest: Peace unto all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Priest: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
Deacon: Let us attend.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
The Priest reads the Gospel:
In those days, Mary arose, and went into the hill country with haste, into a citynof Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” And Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the humility of His handmaiden; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His Name.” And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Second Tone.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Father, Word, and Spirit, the Trinity in Unity: blot out the multitude of mine offenses.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
By the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of mine offenses.
Verse: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, andaccording to the abundance of Thy tender mercies blot out mine iniquity.
Plagal of the Second Tone.
Entrust me not to human protection, O most holy Lady, but receive the supplication of thy servant; for sorrow hath fettered me, I cannot endure the demon’s darts; a shelter have I not, neither place to run, I, the wretched one; always I am fleeing, and no consolation have I but thee, O Sovereign Lady of creation, hope and protection of the Faithful; turn not away from my supplication, do that which will profit me. No one who hath recourse to thee departeth from thee ashamed, O pure Virgin Theotokos; but he asketh the favor and receiveth the gift from thee, unto the profit of his own request. As thou art the transformation of the afflicted, the relief of the ailing, O Virgin Theotokos, save thy city and people, thou who art the peace of the embattled, the calm of the tempest tossed, the only protection of the Faithful.
Deacon: Save, O God, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; visit Thy world with mercy and compassions; exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians; and send down upon us Thy rich mercies: through the intercessions of our all-immaculate Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary; by the power of the honored and life-giving Cross; by the protection of the venerable, heavenly, bodiless Powers; by the supplications of the venerable, glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious, and all-laudable Apostles; of our Fathers among the Saints, the great Hierarchs and Œcumenical Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostomos; Athanasios and Cyril, John the Almsgiver, Patriarchs of Alexandria; Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, and Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythoús, the Wonderworkers; of the holy, glorious Great Martyrs, George the Trophy-Bearer, Demetrios the Myrrh-gusher, Theodore the Recruit, Theodore the Commander, and Menás the Wonder-worker; of the holy Hieromartyrs Charálambos and Elevthérios; of our holy and God-bearing Fathers; of (the Patron Saint[s] of the Church); of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; of (Saint[s] of the day), whose memory we celebrate; and of all Thy Saints: We beseech Thee, Thou only greatly merciful God, hearken unto us sinners who pray unto Thee, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (12x)
Priest: Through the mercy, and compassions, and love for mankind of Thine
Only-Begotten Son, with Whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Ode 7.
Heirmos: Once from out of Judæa did the Children go down to the land of Babylon; the fire of the furnace they trampled down while chanting by their faith in the Trinity: O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Having willed thus, O Savior, to dispense our salvation in Thine œconomy,
Thou dweltest in the Maid’s womb, and unto all creation as protectress didst showher forth; O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Make request, O pure Mother, to thy Son Who hath willed to grant mercy unto us, to rescue from transgressions and from the soul’s defilement those who cry out most faithfully: O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
A fount of incorruption and a tower of safety is she who gave Thee birth; a treasure of salvation and portal of repentance hast Thou proved her to them that shout: O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Deign to grant restoration from diseases of body and soul to those who run to thy Divine protection with faith, O Theotokos, and thus grant them recovery; for thou gavest birth to Christ the Savior.
Ode 8.
Heirmos: The King of Heaven, Whom all the hosts of Angels hymn with their chants and praises of glory, praise ye and exalt Him to the ages for ever.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Do not disdain those who seek the aid that thou dost grant, for, O Virgin
Maiden, they hymn thee, and they all exalt thee unto ages forever.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
On all who hymn thee with faith, O Virgin, and exalt thine ineffable Offspring above all, thou dost pour forth thy cures and healings in abundance.
We praise Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God.
All the diseases that plague my soul dost thou make well, and the sufferings of the flesh thou healest also; wherefore, O thou Maiden full of Grace, I glorify thee.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All the assaultings of the temptations dost thou quell, and the onslaughts of thenpassions dost thou banish; wherefore, do we hymn thee to all ages, O Virgin.
Ode 9.
Heirmos: Most rightly we confess thee as our God’s Birthgiver, we who through thee have been saved, O thou Virgin most pure; with choirs of Bodiless Angels, thee do we magnify
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The torrent of my weeping spurn not with refusal, for thou didst give birth to Him Who doth take away all tears from every face, O thou Virgin; for He is Christ indeed.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
Do thou, O Virgin Maiden, fill my heart with gladness, for thou art she who received all the fullness of joy, and made all sorrow of sinfulness to disappear.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
A haven and protection and a wall unshaken, and a rejoicing and shelter and place of retreat do thou become, O thou Virgin, for those who flee to thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Illumine with the brightness of thy light, O Virgin, all those who piously call thee the Theotokos; and do thou banish away all darkness of ignorance.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Brought low am I, O Virgin, in a place of sickness and in a dwelling of anguish; grant healing to me, transforming all of mine illness into full healthfulness.
Plagal of the Fourth Tone.
It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever blessed and all-blameless, and Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thee who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.
The Deacon (or Priest, if no Deacon is serving) censes the Holy Table and theentire Church; and we chant the following Megalynaria, in Plagal of the Fourth Tone:
Higher than the heavens above art thou, / and thou art much purer / than the radiance of the sun, / for thou hast redeemed us / out of the curse that held us, // O Mistress of creation, with hymns we honor thee.
From the great abundance of all my sins / ill am I in body, / ailing also am I in soul; / thee have I as refuge; / be thou therefore my helper, / O hope of all the hopeless, for thou art full of Grace.
O Lady and Mother of Christ our God, / receive supplication / from us wretches who beg of thee / that thou make entreaty / unto the one born from thee; / O Mistress of creation, do thou entreat for us.
Now we chant with eagerness unto thee, / with this ode most joyful, / O all-hymned Mother of our God; / together with the Baptist, / and all the saintly choirs, / beseech, O Theotokos, that we find clemency.
Speechless be the lips of the impious / who refuse to venerate / the revered Icon which is known / by the name Directress / and which hath been depicted / for us by the Apostle, Luke the Evangelist.
O all ye arrays of Angelic Hosts, / with the Lord’s Forerunner, / the Apostles’ twelve-numbered band, / all the Saints together, / and thou, O Theotokos, / pray make ye intercession for our deliverance.
Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, be gracious unto our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy Name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father in the Heavens, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
Then we chant the following Troparia:
Plagal of the Second Tone.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for at a loss for any defense, this supplication do we sinners offer unto Thee as Master: Have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Lord, have mercy on us, for we have trusted in Thee, be not angry with us greatly, neither remember our iniquities; but look upon us now as Thou art compassionate, and deliver us from our enemies, for Thou art our God, and we, Thy people; all are the works of Thy hands, and we call upon Thy name.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The portal of compassion open unto us, O blessed Theotokos, for hoping in thee, let us not go astray; through thee may we be delivered from adversities, for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Then the Deacon (or Priest, if no Deacon is serving) commemorates those for whom the Paraklesis is being chanted:Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
The readers chant after each petition:
Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.
Again we pray for our Metropolitan (name) and all our brotherhood in Christ.
Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, pardon, and remission of the sins of the servants of God (names).
Again we pray for those who have mercy on us and aid us, and also for all our benefactors and donors, and those who bring offerings to this holy and sacred Church, together with their families and relations.
Again, we pray for those who bring offerings and do good works in this holy and all-venerable house, for those who labor and those who sing, and for all the people here present who await from Thee great and abundant mercy.
Again we pray for the preservation of this holy (monastery or Church), this city, and every city and country from wrath, famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of aliens, civil war, and sudden death; that our good God Who loveth mankind may be gracious, kindly disposed, and readily conciliated, that He avert and scatter all wrath and disease stirred up against us, and that He deliver us from His righteous threatening that hangeth over us, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (12x)
Again we pray also that the Lord our God may hearken unto the voice of the supplication of us sinners and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Priest: Hearken unto us, O God our Savior, Thou hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that be afar off at sea; and be gracious, be gracious, O Master regarding our sins, and have mercy on us; for Thou art a merciful God Who lovest mankind, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God our Hope, glory to Thee.
Reader: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now
and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3x)
Priest: May Christ our true God... (Small Dismissal).
After this, as the faithful venerate the Icon of the Theotokos, the following
Exaposteilaria are chanted:
Third Tone.
O ye Apostles from afar, being now gathered together here in the vale of Gethsemane, give burial to my body; and Thou, O my Son and my God, receive Thou my spirit.
Thou art the sweetness of Angels, the gladness of afflicted ones, and the protectress of Christians, O Virgin Mother of our Lord; be thou my helper, and save me out of eternal torments.
I have thee as Mediatress with the man-befriending God; may He not censure my actions before the Hosts of the Angels,. I supplicate thee, O Virgin, come unto mine aid most quickly.
Thou art a gold-entwined tower and twelve-wall encircled city, a throne besprinkled with sunbeams, a royal chair of the King. O inexplicable wonder! That thou dost milk-feed the Master.
Priest: Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us.
Choir: Amen.
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