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The Supplicatory Canon (Paraklesis)

To

St Nikephoros the Leper

St George Monastery Jerusalem

Published by: Virgin Mary of Australia and Oceania 2020 © www.oceanitissa.com

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Published by: Virgin Mary of Australia and Oceania 2020 ©

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This translation is dedicated to all those effected by the Corona Virus pandemic that swept through the world in the first half of 2020. St Nikeforos the Leper appeared to a pious Orthodox Christian in March 2020 in Greece and said that he will heal anyone who asks for help from this illness. May this book be a constant reminder of his intercessions and also a reminder that this life is temporary and we should always be prepared in repentance for the next life.


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The Life of St Nikephoros the Leper

Father Nikephoros (Nicholas Tzanakakis in the world) was born in 1890 in a mountainous village in Khania, in Sikari, Kastanohori to the west of the prefecture with a healthy climate, with beautiful forests, rich waters, gorges and caves. This village has a peculiarity that we do not often encounter: it is divided into eleven neighborhoods, which have also been named after the families who first settled there. So Saint Nikephoros was born in the neighborhood of Kostoyianides.

His parents were simple and pious villagers, who died when he was still a young child, leaving him as an orphan. So, at the age of thirteen, he left his home. His grandfather, who had undertaken to raise him, went to Khania to work there in a barber shop in order to learn the job. Then he showed the first signs of Hansen’s disease, i.e. leprosy. The lepers were isolated on the island of Spinalonga because leprosy was a contagious disease and it was treated with fear and dismay.

Nicholas was sixteen years old when signs of the disease began to become more conspicuous, so he left on a boat to Egypt in order to avoid being confined to Spinalonga. He remained in Alexandria, working in a barber shop again, but the signs of the disease became more and more apparent, especially on his hands and face. That is why, through the intervention of a cleric, he went to Chios, where there was a church for lepers at that time, and the priest was Father Anthimos Vagianos, later Saint Anthimos (February 15).

Nicholas arrived in Chios in 1914 at the age of twenty-four. In the leper hospital of Chios, which was a complex with many homesteads, there was a chapel of Saint Lazarus, where the wonderworking icon of Panagia Ypakoe1 (Feb. 2) was kept. In


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this space, the course of virtues was opened for Nicholas. Within two years Saint Anthimos considered him ready for the angelic Schema and tonsured him with the name Nikephoros. The disease progressed and evolved in the absence of suitable drugs, causing many large lesions (a drug was found in 1947).

Father Nikephoros lived with unquestioning, genuine obedience to his Spiritual Father, and with austere fasting, working in the gardens. He also recorded the miracles of Saint Anthimos, which he had witnessed with his own eyes (many of these were related to the deliverance of those possessed by demons).

There was a special spiritual relationship between Saint Anthimos and the monk Nikephoros, who always remained close to him, as Father Theoklitos Dionysiatis writes in his book Saint Anthimos of Chios. Father Nikephoros prayed at night for hours on end making countless metanias, he did not quarrel with anyone, nor injure anyone's heart, and he was the master chanter of the temple. Because of his illness, however, he slowly lost his sight, and so he chanted the troparia and the Epistles from memory.

The Chios leprosarium was closed in 1957 and the remaining patients, together with Father Nikephoros, were sent to Saint Barbara’s home for lepers in Athens, in Aigaleo. At that time, Father Nikephoros was about 67 years old. His members and his eyes were completely altered and distorted by the disease.

There, Father Eumenios also lived there at the home for lepers. He also suffered from Hansen’s disease, but with the medication he received, he was completely cured. However, he decided to remain in the home for lepers for the rest of his life near his fellow sufferers, caring for them with much love. Thus he submitted to Father Nikephoros, to whom the Lord had given many gifts as a reward for his patience. A crowd of people


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gathered in the humble cell of the leper Nikephoros, in Saint Barbara in Aigaleo to obtain his prayers. Here are some testimonies of those who met him:

“While he was prostrate with wounds and pains, he did not complain, but he showed great patience.”

“He had the charisma of consoling those who were sad. His eyes were permanently irritated, and he had limited sight. He also had stiffness in his hands and paralysis in his lower limbs. Nonetheless, he endured all of this in the sweetest, meek, smiling, delightful way, and he was also pleasant and lovable.”

“His face, which was eaten away by the marks of his illness, and his wounds, shone. It was a joy for those who saw this destitute and seemingly feeble man saying, May His holy name be glorified.”

Father Nikephoros reposed on January 4, 1964 at the age of 74. After three years, his holy relics were exhumed and found to be fragrant. Father Eumenios and other believers reported many cases where miracles occurred by calling on Saint Nikephoros to intercede with God.

The life of Saint Nikephoros was a brilliant example and model for everyone. He was pleasing to God because he had endured so much. For this reason, we have many testimonies that our saint received from the Holy Spirit the gift of discernment as and a host of other charisms. We should note that most of the miracles are recorded, and today the saint gives generous help to anyone in need. Surely there will be many more miracles which not have not yet been made manifest.


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The Supplicatory Canon (Paraklesis) to St Nikephoros the Leper

Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and forever and to the ages of ages. People: Amen. Psalm 142 O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear to my supplications in Your truth; hear me in Your righteousness. Do not enter into judgment, with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is justified. For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead, and my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed. I remembered the days of old; I meditated on all Your works: I pondered on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You, like a thirsty land. Hear me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not turn Your face away from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, for in You I have put my trust. Cause me to know, O Lord, the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Rescue me, lord, from my enemies; to You have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Your good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, You shall quicken me. In Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of trouble, and in Your mercy, You shall utterly destroy my enemies. And you shall destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant.


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Tone 4 God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Vs. 1. Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His holy name. God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Vs. 2. All the nations have surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord, I have overcome them. God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Vs. 3. This has been done by the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes. God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Mode 4. He who was lifted upon the Cross. Bravely, and patiently you did endure leprosy of the flesh, like Job, O Nikephoros, radiantly dedicating the raiment of your soul, you ascended and completed the ladder of virtues, by your ascetic struggle you have reached the city of angels, unto God singing unceasingly, O Trinity one in essence, unto You glory is due. Theotokion Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.


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(Repeat the above or the Apolytikion of the Church.) Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. O Theotokos, we shall never be silent. Of your mighty acts, all we the unworthy; Had you not stood to intercede for us who would have delivered us, from the numerous perils? Who would have preserved us all until now with our freedom? O Lady, we shall not depart from you; For you always save your servants, from all tribulation. Psalm 50 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassion blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight, that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin my mother bore me. For behold, You have loved truth: You have made known to me the secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean: You shall wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that bones which You have broken may rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast 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 establish me with Your governing Spirit.


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I shall teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, my tongue shall rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifice, I would give it: You do not delight in burnt offering. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, God will not despise a broken and humbled heart. Do good in Your good pleasure to Sion; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then You shall be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole burnt offerings. Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. Plagal of Mode 4. Ode 1. Crossing the waters. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. To the pure vessel showing grace, in soul whiter than snow, to the Leper Nikephoros, let all come to magnify him with the purest odes. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. O holy seal of love, who bravely completed the course of faith, in hope for the Kingdom above, Nikephoros the Leper you do we beatify. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. By the sweat and labor of your piety, O Nikephoros, more brilliant than gold you have made you divine soul, committing yourself into the hands of your God. Most Holy Mother of God save us.


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Theotokion O Most-Holy Daughter, heeding the ineffable words of Gabriel most obediently, You did bear God into the world, correcting Eve’s disobedience. Ode 3. The apse of the heavens. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. Hailing from Crete as a newly risen sun, with your way of life reflecting light unto all the earth, you renew it with dignity, O son of light, Nikephoros, ever delivering it from the darkness of the passions. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. Prudently engaging in monastic life, you did complete the narrow path and did live in perfect self-mastery, O most-blissful one! Attaining to the incorporeal choirs in the flesh, O Nikephoros, truly you have honoured the monastic life, equal to the angels. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. He Who possesses a vast sea of healing also teaches those in infirmity, and accepts them as genuine sons; thus did Christ give you, O Nikephoros, leprosy of the flesh as a confirmation of his love. Most Holy Mother of God save us. Theotokion.


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O Maiden, Lady of all the world, despite my offenses, through your motherly prayers, show forth my enslaved soul to be superior to the passions, and raise me up again to my original glory. Heal our passions and sufferings by your intercessions, O Nikephoros, you who did courageously bear the leprosy of your flesh unto the perfect measure of patient endurance. Turn to me, in your good favour, all praise-worthy Theotokos; Look upon my grave illnesses, which painfully sting my flesh and heal the cause of my soul's pain and suffering. Petition by the Priest. Kathisma. Mode 2. A fervent intercession. You did endure the great suffering of leprosy, valiant in soul, patient in mind, you did call unto God by name. O Nikephoros, delighting in song, with pure lips you do magnify the divine goodness unceasingly. Ode 4. O Lord, I have heard. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. You did mortify the pleasures of the body, living in perfect self-mastery, O Nikephoros, and divinely recalled the spirit to life. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour.


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Bearing well the name of your heavenly vocation, O Nikephoros, “Bearer of Victory,” you were victorious against all the intrigues of the evil one. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. O Nikephoros, despite bearing blindness of sight, you did see from within; shining forth the brilliant rays of the unapproachable light of the Holy Spirit. Most Holy Mother of God save us. Theotokion In you are prophecies fulfilled, O All-blameless One, for you did conceive without knowing man, as those of old did foretell. Ode 5. O Lord, enlighten us. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. You did establish the mind upon the rock of your Lord, O Nikephoros, hence you did stand firm as one unbreakable, and undaunted in your suffering. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. Leprosy of the flesh like Job did you endure, wherefore O Nikephoros, in your soul you do shine forth more than gold, and most precious silver. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour.


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You did set your hope in God, O Nikephoros, in the protector of orphans and widows, the Father of mercies, from whom you did find succour. Most Holy Mother of God save us. Theotokion. You are a strong tower against our enemies, O Lady, dashing down their machinations, as the Birth-Giver of our God, whose strength is immeasurable. Ode 6. My petition. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. Healed by the grace of God from the creeping passions, O Nikephoros; the infirmity of your flesh you did accept as a gift of God’s sympathy; from Him Who delightest in the salvation and restoration of mortals in His boundless compassion. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. We have come to know you as a light of the Trinity set upon a hill, O Nikephoros; and cheerfully you do pour the illumination and splendour of the Spirit unto all, dissipating the fog of the passions, and brightening multitudes of people upon the earth. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. You have conquered the haughtiness of the enemy, O Nikephoros, by your divine lowliness; in your soul and in your


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flesh, you did gratefully receive infirmities and scars1; and truly you did become immeasurably whiter than snow. Most Holy Mother of God save us. Theotokion O Mary, Your holy womb did become more spacious than the heavens, for God dwelt within it, Whom the heavens and the universe cannot contain; in your maternal boldness entreat Him to deliver me from the snare of the passions. Heal our passions and sufferings by your intercessions, O Nikephoros, you who did courageously bear the leprosy of your flesh unto the perfect measure of patient endurance. Spotless one, Who by a word, did bring to us the Word eternal, in the last days ineffably; Do you now plead with him as the one with the motherly favour. Kontakion. Mode 2. O Protection of Christians. Walking the narrow path of infirmity, O Nikephoros, and completely heeding the Master as an obedient and worthy son, for His yoke is easy, and His burden is light, which on your shoulders you did bear, you did enter into the delightful rest of the glory of eternity rejoicing, exulting in gladness.

1 Lit. stigmata (στιγμάτα). Here we’ve avoided the direct translation

because in English the word is associated with a particularly Roman Catholic phenomenon like that which was experienced by St Francis of Assisi. - See Galatians 6:17: “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” Τοῦ λοιποῦ κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω, ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω.


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Prokeimenon: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints! (x2) Verse: Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, He will delight exceedingly in His commandments! Verse: I waited patiently for the Lord, and He heeded me. He heard my supplication. Gospel reading: The reading is from the Gospel according to Matthew (Chapter 11:27-30) The Lord said unto his disciples: All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Through the prayers of Your Saint Nikephoros, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of mine offences! Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Through the prayers of The Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of mine offences! .


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Verse: Have mercy on me, o God, have mercy on me! According to Your great mercy and according to the multitude of Your compassions, blot out my transgression. Prosomion. Having placed all their hope. Plagal of Mode 2. You did ascend the heavenly ladder of the virtues, O Nikephoros, godly-minded in thoughts, and firm in soul; for like Job you did endure leprosy of the flesh and weakness in your eyes; sores and scars, and suffering in all your members; but to the heights exalted, you did behold the things of heaven; the beauties and glory which the Lord God hath prepared for all them that fulfill His commandments. Priest: O God, save Your People, and bless Your inheritance; look upon Your world with mercy and compassion; raise the Orthodox Christians to glory, and shower us with your abundant mercies, through the intercessions of our all-pure Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, through the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; through the protection of the honourable, heavenly bodiless powers; of the honourable, glorious prophet, the Forerunner John the Baptist; of the holy glorious and all-praised Apostles; of our holy fathers the great hierarchs and ecumenical teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasios and Cyril, John the Merciful, patriarchs of Alexandria; Nicholas of Myra, Spyridon bishop of Trimythous, the wonder-workers; of -the holy glorious great martyrs George the triumphant, Demetrios the myrrh flowing, Theodore of Tyros and Theodore the Commander; of the holy-martyrs Charalambos and Eleutherios; of the holy glorious


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triumphant Martyrs; of our pious and God-bearing Fathers; of (the Saint of the Church); of the holy and righteous Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; of Saint (Name) whose memory we celebrate today; and of all Your Saints, we beseech You Lord, Who alone are all merciful; hear the prayers of us sinners and have mercy upon us. Ode 6. Coming out of Judea. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. You did possess unceasing prayer as a work of virtue in life, by which you did speak with God, O Nikephoros, imitator of the angelic way of life; crying aloud, “O God of our fathers, Blessed are You!” Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. Being guided, O blessed one, by Anthimos on Chios you did finish the course of ascesis and win great trophies, inscribing your name, O Nikephoros, “Bearer of Victory”; wherefore have you received crowns of victory from the Life-Giving hand. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. While dispensing your divine prayers, O Nikephoros, at midnight, you were raised up from the ground, astonishing your disciple, Evmenios when he saw you; with whom you do raise hymns to God unto the ages. Most Holy Mother of God save us. Theotokion


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The pot of manna was truly a precursor to You, O Pure Virgin Mother, for in Your womb, You did keep the Heavenly Bread of Life, Christ, Who nourished the souls of the faithful ineffably. Ode 7. The King of Heaven. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. By your divine words and wise admonitions, to those afflicted in soul, you did provide sweet consolation, O Nikephoros! Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. You are a treasure, O Nikephoros, of freedom from possessions, by which we are enriched with a secure and great treasure in heaven, for you were poor2 in spirit, O blessed one. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. You did reflect in your spiritual eyes things that were far away as though they were near, O Nikephoros, for you were adorned with divine insight. Most Holy Mother of God save us. Theotokion Robed in divine glory, O Virgin, you are seated at the right of the King, in the heavens, as the Lady of the world. Ode 8. Birthgiver of Our Lord.

2 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3


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Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. Lightly did you bear the burden of most grievous leprosy, O Nikephoros, and did ascend to the free city of God, taking flight as if unburdened. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. O Nikephoros, seed of the Gospel, in the earth of your good and beautiful heart you did cultivate in abundance, bringing forth a harvest. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. Having filled the lamp of your soul with the oil of patience, O Nikephoros, the Bridegroom Christ did number you among the choir of prudent virgins. Rejoice, O Nikephoros of the Lepers, O New Splendour. Your reliquary ever streams the grace of the Comforter and the sweet fragrance of life, O Nikephoros, for those who venerate them with reverence. Most Holy Mother of God save us. Theotokion O Theotokos, moon most resplendent, you do cause the never-setting light to spring into the world, as the Birth-Giver of the great Sun of Glory.


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Truly you are worthy to be blessed, Mother of our God, the Theotokos, You the ever blessed one, and all blameless one, and the Mother of our God. You are honored more than the Cherubim, and you have more glory, when compared, to the Seraphim; You, without corruption, did bear God, the Logos; You are the Theotokos; You do we magnify. And the present Megalynaria which form the acrostic ‘Isidora’:3 That you might become a partaker of eternal joy in the heavens, the Lord did give unto you the afflictions and sorrows of leprosy in life, O Nikephoros, as a compassionate Father. We have celebrated you, as a rule most precise, as a model of humility and self-mastery, as a column of vigilance and a worker of obedience, O Nikephoros, and as a great teacher of prayer! You did prevail in the perseverance of pains like Job, O Nikephoros, wherefore You do exult with him eternally; in the ineffable vision of God are you magnified. Come now, O divine multitude of friends of Christ, to Nikephoros the Leper and friend of Christ; with hymns of praise let us adorn him as is right, as the best fighter in holy perseverance. Having pressed the affliction of leprosy as ripe grapes in a winepress, you have made the divine wine of virtues, gladdening the hearts of them that praise you.

3 ‘Ἰσιδώρας’ in Greek.


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Possessing the rod of God’s power, O Nikephoros, and his mighty staff, you did run with vigour the narrow path of life leading to the broad plains of divine tabernacles. You did prove to be an anvil of unbending patience, O Nikephoros, amidst tribulations, and tested in the forge of pains, now You beam brighter than gold, in immense splendour. Today, the angelic powers rejoice in seeing the divine soul of Nikephoros standing like them before the throne of the Master, illuminated by the glory of purity. All ye angelic hosts, O Forerunner of the Lord, Twelve Apostles, and All Saints, together with the Theotokos, do now intercede for our salvation. Trisagion: People: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us (3). Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Most holy Trinity, have mercy upon us; Lord, pardon our sins; Master, forgive our transgressions; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Your name's sake. Lord have mercy (3). Glory to the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.


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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. Priest: For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Apolytikion. Mode 1. City in the Desert. The Angels marvelled at your feats and your courageous struggles, O Nikephoros, as another Job did you endure your pains while glorifying God, now in glory are you crowned by Him, with the gift of your wonder-working. Rejoice, O guide of monastics, Rejoice, O projecting light, Rejoice, you who do stream forth sweet fragrance from your relics. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion When Gabriel had uttered to you, Rejoice O Virgin, the voice of the Master of all became incarnate in you, the holy Ark, as the righteous David said. You did bear your own Creator and proved to be more spacious than the heavens. Glory to Him who dwelt within you, glory to Him who came forth from you, glory to Him who through your childbirth has set us free.


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Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great love, we pray to you, hear us, and have mercy. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Again we pray for our Archbishop (Name), and our Bishop (Name), and all the clergy and the laity in Christ. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious and Orthodox Christians, those who reside and visit in this city, the members, council members, contributors, and benefactors of this holy church. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Again we pray for the servants of God ... (at this time the Priest commemorates those for whom the Paraklesis is sung.) People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Again we pray for the safekeeping of this holy church and this city, and of all cities and towns from pestilence, famine, earthquake, flood, fire and the sword, from invasion of enemies, civil war, and unforeseen death; for His mercy, that He will be kind to entreat as our good God, Who loves all people and that He may turn away and scatter all wrath and disease that moves against us, and deliver us from His impending, justified chastisement, and have mercy on us. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Again we pray that the Lord God will hear the voices of the petitions of us sinners and have mercy on us. People: Lord, have mercy (3). Priest: Hear us, O God, our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are far off upon the sea; and show compassion on us, O Master, on our many sins, and have mercy upon us. People: Lord, have mercy (3).


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Priest: For you are a merciful and loving God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of the ages. People: Amen. Priest: Glory to You, O God, our hope, glory to You. May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of Your all-pure and blameless holy Mother; of the holy glorious and praise-worthy Apostles; of the holy glorious and triumphant martyrs; of (the Saint of the Church); of the holy righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; of Saint (Name) whose memory we celebrate today; and of all the Saints, have mercy and save us, as a good and loving God. Tone 2. Rejoice, O athlete of perseverance, O lamp of consolation, O divine image of hope, O seal of faith, O full measure of love; O teacher of prayer, O rule of self-mastery, O much-loved wealth of purity. Being formed in the furnace of leprosy, O Nikephoros, you do now enlighten the world, immeasurably more splendid than gold. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion.


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My numerous hopes are placed before you, most holy One; Mother of our God, guard me with care, within your sheltered arms. Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy upon us and save us! Amen.

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