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The Paraclisis:
The Office of Consolation to the Most Holy Theotokos
The Paraclisis (or Paraklesis) is a special office, or service, dedicated to the
Theotokos--the Mother of God. It is penitential in nature and--although it
may and should be prayed at anytime--it is commonly recited, or chanted,
during times of great trial. Invoking the compassion of the Theotokos, as
the Mother of Sorrows, it is designed to bring consolation to those who
suffer for whatever reason. It is commonly celebrated during the Dormition Fast in the Byzantine Church (from August 1-14).
Note: This version reflects Slavic usage. English translations of Greek usage can be found at Service of Great Paraklesis and Small Paraklesis. Click here to listen to
a recording of the Small Paraklesis in English from the Greek Archdiocese sung
by Eikona.
Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and forever. Amen.
--Come, let us adore the King, our God.
--Come, let us adore Christ, the King, our God.
--Come, let us adore and bow down to the only Lord Jesus Christ, the King
and our God.
Psalm 143
O Lord, listen to my prayer;
in your truth, give heed to my request
and in your justice hear me,
And enter not into judgment with your servant
since of all the living none is just before You.
The enemy has pursued my soul,
he has crushed my life into the ground;
He has forced me to dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
My spirit was overwhelmed with grief
and within me my heart was troubled.
Remembering the days of old,
I meditated on all your deeds,
I thought of the works of your hands.
I stretched out my hands to You;
like a parched land my soul longed for You.
Listen to me without delay, O Lord:
my spirit has failed me.
Turn not your face away from me
nor let me sink in the pit like the others.
Grant that I may hear your love at dawn,
for I have placed my hope in You.
O Lord, let me know which way I should go,
for I have lifted up my soul to You.
Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies:
it is to You that I have fled.
Teach me to do your will, for You are my God;
may your good Spirit lead me over level ground.
For the sake of your Name, O Lord,
You will keep me alive;
In your saving bounty,
You will deliver my soul from oppression,
And in your loving kindness,
You will destroy my enemies,
And bring to naught all those who grieve my soul,
for I am your servant.
--Glory be to the Father +, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever and forever. Amen.
---Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Glory be to You, O God!
--God is the Lord, and has revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
R. God is the Lord, and has revealed Himself to us. Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord. (Twice).
Troparion (Tone 6)
Let us sinners humbly and diligently have recourse to the Theotokos.
Prostrate in repentance, let us cry out from the depths of our soul: O
Queen, in your compassion, come to our aid! Hasten, for we are perishing
from the multitude of our sins. Do not turn away your servants empty-handed,
for we have no protection besides you.
--Glory be to the Father +, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and forever. Amen.
--Unworthy as we are, we shall never cease to proclaim your power, O
Theotokos. If you no longer intercede for us, who will deliver us from so
many misfortunes? Who will keep us free? We shall never leave you, O Queen:
O blessed Lady, you always save your servants from every calamity.
Psalm 50
O God, have mercy on me
in the greatness of your love;
In the abundance of your tender mercies,
wipe out my offense.
Wash me thoroughly from malice
and cleanse me from my sin,
For I am well aware of my malice
and my sins are before me always.
It is You alone I have offended:
I have done what is evil in your sight,
Wherefore You are just in your deeds
and triumphant in your judgment.
Behold, I was born in iniquities
and in sins my mother conceived me.
But You are the Lover of Truth:
You have shown me the depths
and secrets of your wisdom.
Sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be pure,
cleanse me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear sounds of joy and feasting:
the bones that were afflicted shall rejoice.
Turn your face away from my offenses
and wipe off all my sins.
A spotless heart create in me, O God;
renew a steadfast spirit in my breast.
Cast me not afar from your face,
take not your blessed Spirit out of me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and let your guiding Spirit dwell in me.
I will teach your ways to the sinners
and the wicked shall return to You.
Deliver me from blood-guilt,
O God, my saving God,
and my tongue will joyfully sing your justice.
O Lord, You shall open my lips
and my mouth will declare your praise.
Had You desired sacrifice,
I would have offered it.
But You will not be satisfied
with whole-burnt offerings:
Sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit;
a crushed and humbled heart God will not spurn.
In your kindness, O Lord, be bountiful to Sion;
may the walls of Jerusalem be restored.
Then will You delight in just oblation,
in sacrifice and whole-burnt offerings.
Then shall they offer calves upon your altar.
Canon of Supplication
First and Second Chant
When Israel passed through the waters as upon dry land and escaped the
malice of the Egyptians, they cried out: Let us sing to our Redeemer and our
God.
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--Many temptations have surrounded me, O Virgin. To you I come for shelter
and salvation. O Theotokos, deliver me from all trouble and affliction!
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--The assaults of my passions disturb me: they fill my soul with great
discouragement. O Maiden, without stain and ever-pure, restore the balance of
my soul through the peace of your Son, through the peace of your God!
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--O Virgin, I beseech you who have given birth to God the Savior, deliver me
from my afflictions. It is to you I now come for shelter, to you I lift my
heart and thoughts.
--Glory be to the Father +, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and forever. Amen.
--You alone are the Theotokos: you are good and the Mother of Goodness. Take
away the disease of my body and soul: make me worthy of your good care and
of the coming of God.
Third Chant
O Lord and supreme Creator of the heavenly firmament, Founder of the Church:
confirm me in your love, O Summit of desire, for You are the Stronghold of
the faithful and the only One who truly loves mankind.
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--O virgin Theotokos, I chose you to be my protection and the shelter of my
life. Direct me towards your haven, for you are the channel of all good
things and the support of the faithful, and you alone are worthy of every
praise.
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--I beseech you, O Virgin, dispel the troubles of my soul, quiet the surge
of my despair; for you, O bride of God, have carried the Prince of Peace,
and you alone are perfectly pure.
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--You gave birth to the Doer of Good, to the Cause of all Delight: let the
wealth of his generation abound within all souls, for since you have borne
the Almighty Christ, you have power to act as you please, O you who are
blessed of God.
--Glory be to the Father +, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and forever. Amen.
--O Virgin, help me who am pressed by incurable ills and distressing
passions, for I know that you, all-blameless one, are a perfect and abundant
treasury of healing.
Litany
Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy; we pray You, hear us
and have mercy.
R. Lord, have mercy! (Three times)
--We also pray for our holy father N., Pope of Rome, for our most reverend
archbishop and metropolitan N., for our God-loving bishop N., for those who
serve and have served in this holy church, for our spiritual fathers, and
for all our brethren in Christ.
R. Lord, have mercy! (Three times)
--We also pray for our civil authorities and for all those in the service of
our country.
R. Lord, have mercy! (Three times)
--Let us pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, God's visitation,
for the forgiveness of sins, and for the well-being of the servant of God N.
R. Lord, have mercy! (Three times)
--We also pray for the people here present who await your great and abundant
mercy, for those who have shown us mercy, and for all orthodox Christians.
R. Lord, have mercy! (Three times)
--For You are a merciful and gracious God, and we glorify You, Father +,
Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
R. Amen.
Fourth Chant
O Lord, I have heard of the mystery of your plan of redemption, and I have
understood your works: that is why I give glory to your divinity.
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--Quiet the seething of my passions and calm the storm of my sins, for you
are the bride of God who gave birth to the good Lord.
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--O Virgin who gave birth to the compassionate Lord, the Savior of those who
praise you: grant that I who cling to you may enjoy the depth of your
compassion.
R. We who rejoice on account of your gift are aware that you are the
Theotokos, and so we sing a hymn of gratitude to you who are perfectly pure.
--Glory be to the Father +, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever and forever. Amen.
--You whom we possess as our hope, our supporting strength, our
indestructible wall of salvation, are worthy of all praise. Grant that we
may be worthy to be delivered from all affliction.
Fifth Chant
Enlighten our hearts with your commands, O Lord; with your outstretched
hand, grant us your peace, O Lover of Mankind!
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--O immaculate Lady, give me your pure happiness. You gave birth to the
Cause of Joy: fill my heart with joy!
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--Deliver us from dangers, O immaculate Theotokos, for you gave birth to
Eternal Salvation and to Peace beyond our understanding.
R. O most holy Theotokos, save us!
--With the brightness of your light, dispel the darkness of my sins, O bride
of God who gave birth to the divine and eternal Light!
-Glory be to the Father +, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and
ever, and forever. Amen.
--Heal the misery of my passions, make me worthy of your assistance, and
through your intercession, grant me health.
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