Akathist to Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker
He is entreated for protection from robbers and from losing one’s way, and for the marriage of daughters.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things with Thy grace, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
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, 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship 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 our God.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
The truth of things hath shown thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an image of meekness and a teacher of abstinence; therefore thou hast won the heights by humility and riches by poverty, O holy great hierarch Nicholas; entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls.
We praise thee, O beloved one, holy hierarch Nicholas, surpassing wonderworker and most virtuous servant of Christ, who grantest the world the precious myrrh of mercy and a sea of wonders; and do thou, since thou hast boldness before God, set us free from all afflictions, that we may unceasingly magnify thee: Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
Foreknowing the goodness of thy soul, O blessed Nicholas, the Creator of all creation showed thee, who wast of earthly nature, in angelic form; and He hath taught us to sing thus to thee:
Rejoice, thou who wast sanctified from thy mother’s womb; rejoice, perfect goodness; rejoice, thou who by thy birth didst amaze thy parents; rejoice, thou who from thy birth didst show forth spiritual power; rejoice, garden of the promised land; rejoice, flower of the divine planting; rejoice, virtuous vine of the vineyard of Christ; rejoice, wonder-streaming tree of the paradise of Jesus; rejoice, flower that sprang up in Eden; rejoice, myrrh of the fragrance of Christ; rejoice, thou who dispellest all pains; rejoice, giver of joy; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
Beholding the myrrh that floweth from thee, we are enlightened in soul and heart, O divinely wise one, and we confess thee a fountain of wondrous and life-giving myrrh, with which, as with living water, thou fillest those who sing in faith: Alleluia.
Understanding the incomprehensible Holy Trinity, thou, a confessor and guardian of the Orthodox faith with the holy fathers at Nicaea, didst confess the Son equal to the Father, co-beginningless and co-enthroned, and didst reprove the folly of Arius; therefore the faithful have learned to sing thus to thee:
Rejoice, glorious pillar of godliness; rejoice, city of refuge for the faithful; rejoice, steadfastness of Orthodoxy; rejoice, thou who art clothed with God; rejoice, preacher of the Son equal to the Father; rejoice, thou who didst drive the demon-possessed Arius from the holy council; rejoice, boasted beauty of the fathers; rejoice, wisest of all the divinely wise; rejoice, stream of fiery words; rejoice, good shepherd of thy flock; rejoice, for through thee the faith is strengthened; rejoice, for through thee heresies are overthrown; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
By the power given thee from on high thou didst wipe away every tear of those who suffer bitterly, O God-clothed father Nicholas, for thou didst appear as a feeder of the hungry, a good pilot of those at sea, a physician of the sick and a helper of all who sing to God: Alleluia.
Truly thou art to be sung with heavenly and not earthly song, O father Nicholas, for no son of the flesh can tell thy holiness; but we, overcome by love for thee, cry to thee:
Rejoice, image of sheep and shepherds; rejoice, holy cleanser of conscience; rejoice, chosen vessel of virtues; rejoice, pure and honourable tabernacle of grace; rejoice, all-radiant lamp beloved of all; rejoice, golden-rayed spotless light; rejoice, worthy companion of the angels; rejoice, good teacher of men; rejoice, rule of the right faith; rejoice, image of true meekness; rejoice, for through thee we are parted from the passions of the flesh; rejoice, for through thee we are filled with spiritual sweetness; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
The poverty of my mind troubleth me, for I praise thy wonders unworthily, O blessed Nicholas, nor can others tell them, though many be eloquent and moved to speak; but we boldly sing to God, who is wondrously glorified in thee: Alleluia.
Those near and those far off have heard the glory of thy wonders, O divinely wise Nicholas, how flying through the air by grace on light wings thou helpest the afflicted and swiftly deliverest those who sing to thee:
Rejoice, dispelling of sorrow; rejoice, receiving of grace; rejoice, instant banisher of evils; rejoice, planter of blessed good things; rejoice, swift comforter of those in affliction; rejoice, punisher of oppressors; rejoice, sea of wonders poured out from God; rejoice, God-written tablet of the commandment of Christ; rejoice, firm raiser of the fallen; rejoice, strength of those who stand aright; rejoice, for through thee all mockeries are laid bare; rejoice, for through thee all righteousness is fulfilled; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
To those sailing in ships on the raging sea, made ready for destruction, thou didst appear as a star moving by God’s will, O holy wonderworker Nicholas, when thou wast sent to save those who called on thee and didst drive away the multitude of demons flying round about who plotted to sink the ship, and didst teach the faithful to sing to God: Alleluia.
The maidens made ready through poverty for a shameful life saw thy great mercy to the poor, O all-blessed father Nicholas, when thou didst secretly give their aged father three bags full of gold and didst turn him and his daughters away from falling into sin; therefore thou hearest from all:
Rejoice, treasury of great mercy; rejoice, fulfiller of the providential will towards men; rejoice, food and joy of those who flee to thee; rejoice, unfailing bread of the hungry; rejoice, God-given wealth of the poor; rejoice, swift raiser of the fallen; rejoice, swift hearer of the needy; rejoice, good carer for those in want; rejoice, thou who didst give three maidens in marriage undefiled; rejoice, zealous guardian of purity; rejoice, hope of those left without hope; rejoice, blessedness of the whole world; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
The whole world knoweth thee as a deliverer in afflictions, all-blessed Nicholas, for thou guidest and helpest travellers on land and at sea, and many times thou dost swiftly turn away evils and save all who cry to God: Alleluia.
Thou didst shine as the light of life upon the commanders who were being led to an unjust death and who entreated thee, O good shepherd Nicholas, when thou didst appear to the king in his sleep, cast fear upon him and command their swift release. Therefore we too, together with them, cry to thee with thanksgiving:
Rejoice, helper of those who call on thee with zeal; rejoice, defender from unjust death; rejoice, protector from slanders; rejoice, destroyer of unjust judgments; rejoice, thou who dost tear falsehood like a spider’s web; rejoice, exalter of the truth; rejoice, thou who settest free the innocent from bonds; rejoice, raiser even of the dead; rejoice, revealer of righteousness; rejoice, shamer of falsehood; rejoice, for through thee the innocent are delivered from the sword; rejoice, for through thee the light is made sweet; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
Reprover of the blasphemous falsehood of the heretics, banisher of darkness, thou didst appear as a preacher of the truth, O blessed Nicholas; teaching the dwellers of thy city, thou didst fill the whole world with the grace of faith; now then, O holy one, turn away from us too the darkness of sin and heresy, that we may sing to God: Alleluia.
We understand thee as a new Noah, the guide of the ark of salvation, and know thee as the stiller of fierce storms and giver of divine calm, O holy father Nicholas, and we cry:
Rejoice, peaceful haven of the storm-tossed; rejoice, renowned protector of the drowning; rejoice, good helmsman of sailors in peril; rejoice, stiller of the waves of the sea; rejoice, helper of those harmed by winds; rejoice, warmer of the frozen; rejoice, light that dispellest the darkness of grief; rejoice, luminary that enlightenest all the ends of the earth; rejoice, deliverer of men from the abyss of sins; rejoice, thou who castest the devil into the fire of hell; rejoice, for through thee we boldly receive the abyss of God’s mercy; rejoice, for by thine intercession we who have escaped the wrath of the flood become partakers of peace with God; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
A wondrous miracle is thy holy church, O blessed Nicholas, to those who flee to thee, for there, offering a small prayer, we receive healing of great sicknesses, if only we set our hope on God through thee, crying: Alleluia.
Truly we know thee as the helper of all, O God-clothed Nicholas, who gatherest those who flee to thee as their deliverer, feeder and swift physician, and stirrest all to praise and song:
Rejoice, fountain of healings of every kind; rejoice, help of the sick; rejoice, dawn shining for those who have strayed from the way in the darkness of lawlessness; rejoice, heavenly dew for those wearied by labour in the heat; rejoice, good guide of those who entreat thee; rejoice, giver of abundance to those who ask; rejoice, thou who goest before our petitions; rejoice, renewer of the strength of the aged; rejoice, reprover of those who have strayed from the true way; rejoice, faithful minister of the divine mysteries; rejoice, for through thee we trample on envy; rejoice, for through thee we learn a good life; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
Still all our pains, O Nicholas our intercessor, mixing graced remedies to sweeten the souls and gladden the hearts of those who call on thee for help and sing to God: Alleluia.
We have seen, O divinely wise father Nicholas, the vain wisdom of the wicked put to shame by thee, when thou didst trample on the blasphemer Arius, who divided the Godhead, and Sabellius, who confounded the Holy Trinity; and strengthen us in Orthodoxy, for we cry to thee:
Rejoice, shield that guardeth piety; rejoice, sword that cutteth off impiety; rejoice, preacher of the divine commands; rejoice, destroyer of God-hated teachings; rejoice, ladder set up by God, by which we ascend to heaven; rejoice, thou who by thy word makest the foolish wise; rejoice, thou who stirrest the slothful and the heedless to good conduct; rejoice, shelter sent down by God, protecting many; rejoice, unquenchable light of God’s commandments; rejoice, ray of the Lord’s justice; rejoice, for by thy teaching the heads of heretics are crushed; rejoice, for through thee the faithful are made worthy of glory; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
Desiring the salvation of thy soul, O holy hierarch Nicholas, thou didst truly subject thy flesh to thy spirit; first by silence and by struggle with the desires thou didst add counsel and divine vision to thy work, and, having perfect understanding, thou didst converse boldly with God and His angels, singing: Alleluia.
Thou art a firm wall for those who praise thy wonders and entreat thy help, O all-blessed one; therefore we sinners ask thee with hope: set us free from all the assaults of enemies, from pains and afflictions, who call on thee with love:
Rejoice, deliverer from spiritual poverty; rejoice, bestower of incorruptible wealth; rejoice, unfailing food of those who hunger for righteousness; rejoice, inexhaustible drink of those who thirst for salvation; rejoice, defender from tumult and war; rejoice, deliverer from bonds and captivity; rejoice, all-praised helper of the grieving; rejoice, invincible protector from the assaults of enemies; rejoice, deliverer of many from perdition; rejoice, unharmed guardian of multitudes; rejoice, for through thee sinners are kept from a merciless death; rejoice, for through thee the penitent inherit eternal life; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
More than others thou didst send up the hymn of the all-holy Trinity in thought, word and deed, O all-blessed Nicholas; thou didst make known to all the rules and canons of Orthodoxy, and by faith, hope and love didst teach us to sing to the one God: Alleluia.
We behold thee as an unquenchable ray bright as the dawn for those who sit in the darkness of life, O father Nicholas chosen of God; for, sharing in the light of the immaterial angels and contemplating the uncreated light of the Holy Trinity, thou enlightenest the souls of the faithful who sing to thee:
Rejoice, radiance of the light of the three Suns; rejoice, dawn of the Sun that setteth not; rejoice, candle kindled with divine fire; rejoice, for thou didst quench the demonic fire of godlessness; rejoice, radiant preaching of the right faith; rejoice, fair shining of the light of the Gospel; rejoice, lightning that burneth up heresies; rejoice, thunder that terrifieth seducers; rejoice, teacher of true wisdom; rejoice, revealer of the mystical mind; rejoice, for through thee the worship of the creature is trampled down; rejoice, for through thee the worship of the Trinity as Creator is established; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
Knowing the grace given thee by God, we ask thy help, all-glorious father Nicholas; as is our duty we joyfully keep and celebrate thy memory; thy wonders are countless as the stars of heaven and the sand of the sea; amazed at such things, we sing to God: Alleluia.
Singing of thy signs and wonders, we praise thee with love, O all-blessed one, for in thee God glorified in Trinity is wondrously made manifest; though we offer many psalms and praises, being unable to tell thy wonders, we cry to thee:
Rejoice, servant of the King of kings and Lord of lords; rejoice, thou who dwellest with the heavenly powers; rejoice, help of our God-protected people; rejoice, exaltation of the race of Christians; rejoice, thou who bearest the name of victory; rejoice, crowned one chosen by providence; rejoice, mirror of all the virtues; rejoice, helmet of those who flee to thee; rejoice, hope of all after God and the Theotokos; rejoice, health of our bodies and salvation of our souls; rejoice, for through thee we are delivered from eternal perdition; rejoice, for through thee we become partakers of endless life; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
O all-holy and all-wondrous father Nicholas, comforter of all who sorrow, accept this our offering, and, as one who standeth boldly before the Lord, ask our deliverance from the fires of hell, that we sinners too may sing with thee to God: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. (Thrice)
Foreknowing the goodness of thy soul, O blessed Nicholas, the Creator of all creation showed thee, who wast of earthly nature, in angelic form; and He hath taught us to sing thus to thee:
Rejoice, thou who wast sanctified from thy mother’s womb; rejoice, perfect goodness; rejoice, thou who by thy birth didst amaze thy parents; rejoice, thou who from thy birth didst show forth spiritual power; rejoice, garden of the promised land; rejoice, flower of the divine planting; rejoice, virtuous vine of the vineyard of Christ; rejoice, wonder-streaming tree of the paradise of Jesus; rejoice, flower that sprang up in Eden; rejoice, myrrh of the fragrance of Christ; rejoice, thou who dispellest all pains; rejoice, giver of joy; rejoice, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Iberia and protector of our people; Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
We praise thee, O beloved one, holy hierarch Nicholas, surpassing wonderworker and most virtuous servant of Christ, who grantest the world the precious myrrh of mercy and a sea of wonders; and do thou, since thou hast boldness before God, set us free from all afflictions, that we may unceasingly magnify thee: Rejoice, holy great hierarch Nicholas, all-glorious wonderworker!
O all-blessed holy hierarch Nicholas, wise helmsman of the holy Church of Georgia and protector of our people, well-pleasing to the Father, enlightened by the Son, made wise by the Holy Spirit, united with the angels, successor of the apostles, fellow-struggler of the martyrs, beauty of hierarchs, guide of the faith, helper and intercessor of the right-believing;
O all-glorious holy hierarch Nicholas, worker of many wonders by thy holiness: by the divine grace that dwelleth in thee enlighten and shelter our God-protected people, its authorities and its armed forces, the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Bichvinta and Tskhum-Abkhazeti, our father Ilia, the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops, bishops and all the clergy, the monastic orders and all Orthodox Christians.
Entreat, O holy Nicholas, the God whom thou didst preach, to grant us peace and health of soul and body, that we may glorify His goodness;
O all-blessed great hierarch Nicholas, enlightened in godly beauty by the all-holy Trinity and honoured for thy many virtues with an all-radiant crown, be our intercessor before Him, that He may grant us enlightenment in Orthodoxy, radiance through good works, the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, singing with the angels, reigning with the saints and crowning with the righteous, that we may ever sing to the Father who glorified thee, the Son who blessed thee and the Holy Spirit who made thee wise, to whom befitteth all glory, honour and worship, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
