St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is one of the most revered not only in Russia, but also in the countries of the Catholic Church. For Orthodox believers, one of the ways to turn to a saint is to read the canon or akathist. These types of solemn chants differ in the structure of the text and the history of writing. The canons were created many centuries ago by people who were canonized by the Church as saints. Akathist can be written at the present time by a spiritual writer, who is not always a minister of the Church.
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker was born in 270 in the city of Patara in the province of Lycia. From a young age, he was distinguished by piety and a desire to serve God. As a priest, the saint was an example for his flock, he preached, exhorted and guided the inhabitants of Lycia on the path of salvation. After several years of serving as a priest, St. Nicholas was elected Bishop of the World of Lycia.
The asceticism of St. Nicholas took place during the period of persecution of Christianity. When the bishop along withother Christians were imprisoned, the saint not only courageously endured all the hardships and hardships, but also supported the rest of those imprisoned.
Even during his lifetime, St. Nicholas is credited with many miracles and deeds of true mercy and love for one's neighbor. Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is revered in both Western and Eastern Christianity. This saint is especially loved by believers, and many people pray to him.
Canon to Nicholas the Wonderworker
Canons to Nicholas the Wonderworker are works of church hymnography, complex in structure, praising the saint. Their text consists of biblical hymns, to which additional verses were later added - irmoses and troparia. The latter sing of the festive event. Irmoses serve to connect the biblical song and troparion, drawing an analogy between the celebrated event and the one described in the Bible. The structure of the irmos is the basis for the melody and the rhythmic structure of the troparion. The length and number of stanzas must match.
There are several canons to the saint:
- “In the depths of the bed sometimes……” - the beginning of the irmos of the first canon.
- 2nd canon to Nicholas the Wonderworker begins with the irmos “Christ is born - praise…..”
- “Let us sing a song, people…..” - irmos of the canon from the service for the transfer of the relics of the saint.
- “I will open my mouth…..” - the beginning of the fourth canon to Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Canon 2 to Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as the 1st canon, is read during the service on the day of the saint's memory on December 19 in a new style. Othertwo canons are read at the service on the day of commemoration of the transfer of the relics of the saint on May 22.
Why read canon?
Canons to Nicholas the Wonderworker can be read at home or heard during worship in the temple. The holy fathers of the church say that those who read the Canons of the Mother of God, the Savior and the saints, are especially protected by the Lord. The canons to Nicholas the Wonderworker are also prayers, reading which a person turns to the saint through biblical events.
Canons were written many centuries ago by highly spiritual people and, as a rule, later ranked as saints. Reading the laudatory chants and prayers written by them, a person together with them lifts up a prayer to God.
Canon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is read for healing from illnesses, help in need and material shortage. The saint is also considered the protector of widows and orphans. They pray to him in despondency, sadness and despair. Since the saint himself was imprisoned for some time, people turn to him in captivity and in other difficult life circumstances.
Where can I find the canon and akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker?
Almost any canons and akathists can be purchased at church shops. The Canon of Nicholas the Wonderworker with accents can be found on Orthodox websites on the Internet. It is better if the text of explanations is written in parallel with the canon, since the language of liturgical songs is not always understandable only to a person starting his path to faith.
Before reading, you must make sure that the canon or akathist is approved by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. It's better for thisuse texts from canons purchased in church shops or found on reliable Orthodox websites. The list of approved akathists is also published on the Internet.
Besides, you can always go to a priest or a deacon in the church and clarify whether the akathist meets the requirements established by the Holy Synod.
How to read canon correctly
The Canon of Nicholas the Wonderworker in Russian is not as difficult to read as in Church Slavonic. When reading the canon, it is necessary to carefully pronounce each word. Unlike the akathist, the canon of repentance to Nicholas the Wonderworker can be read while sitting. You can chant laudatory chants to the saint at any time. There are special initiatory prayers that are read before the canon. If biblical hymns to the saint are followed after the daily prayer rule, then additional prayers are not required.
In the case when it is not possible to read the canon aloud, you can also say a prayer to yourself. The main thing is that her words are pronounced consciously, with a sense of repentance and love for God, the saint. It is better to read the canon aloud in a calm and monotonous voice. Paying attention to the expressiveness of the voice is not necessary. Church and home prayers are not secular poetic works, therefore they are pronounced a little differently. The most important thing when reading sacred chants is the conversion of the soul to God, the spiritual world.
Before reading the canon, you can light a candle or lamp near the icon of St. Nicholas. If there is no suitable image of the saint, then you can turn to the image of the Mother of God or the Savior.
Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker
Akathist - a song of praise to God, the Mother of God or saints. The first was written to the Most Holy Theotokos in 626 in honor of the liberation of Constantinople from the Persians.
Akathist consists of ikos and kontakia. There are 24 stanzas in the song of praise. Each kontakion ends with a call to praise God: "Alleluia!" And the ikos is a greeting to the saint being sung: “Rejoice!”
Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker was written some time after his death. According to one version, the laudatory hymn was written by the church ministers of Constantinople, according to another, by Russian hieromonks who participated in the transfer of the relics of the saint exuding myrrh.
The text of the akathist can be purchased at the church shop, found on websites on the Internet, and listened to on audio media. In the first case, you can be sure of the quality and authenticity of the text. In addition, in the churches consecrated in honor of the saint, an akathist to St. Nicholas the Pleasant is read once a week. A forty-day reading of the akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker can also be ordered in monasteries. In this case, it is necessary to indicate the name of the person whose he alth the akathist will be read about.
How to read an akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker
Before committing to reading an akathist to a saint for a certain period, it is better to take a blessing from a confessor. The priest who performs the sacrament of confession, knowing the spiritual forces, life circumstances and inner state of the believer, will bless or give advice to postponereading.
There are certain rules for reading an akathist. The thirteenth kontakion - a prayerful appeal to the saint - is read three times. After the last kontakion of the Akathist, the first ikos and kontakion are read again. Then a prayer is read to Nicholas the Wonderworker.
The number of days during which an akathist is read is unlimited. Akathist can be read at any convenient time. It is better if during this the icon of the saint is located nearby.
Often a hymn of praise is recited for forty days. At the same time, if you had to skip a day, then you can continue the next one.
You can read the akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker once, most importantly, to feel in your soul the desire and desire to turn to the saint. Akathist is equated to a hymn, so it is better to stand while reading it.
Why read an akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker?
Akathist, like the canon to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, helps believers in a variety of cases. A prayer appeal to a saint helps with any difficulties. You can find many grateful reviews and real stories from the life of people who tell about the resolution of difficult life circumstances after prayers to the saint. Especially often they turn to him in case of illness, financial and domestic difficulties, while traveling. Even during his lifetime, Bishop Mir of Lycian provided assistance to many in need.
The text of the akathist contains the biographies of the saint. Many people perceive it much easier than the canon to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
You should not treat reading an akathist asmagic rite and conspiracy. The desire for a quick result will not bring benefits. The main feeling when turning to a saint should be repentance and faith that the Pleasant of God will hear the request and help.
Prayers before reading the akathist and canons
Before the akathist, it is necessary to read the initial prayers that will help prepare the human mind for a laudatory song: discard all vain thoughts, focus on the text of the prayer. Usually, the preparatory prayers include: "To the King of Heaven", "Thrice Holy Song", "Holy Trinity", "Our Father", "Come let us worship." Also, “Lord, have mercy” is said several times, and psalms from the ps alter are read. The same prayers are read before the canon.
If it is necessary to read both the canon and the akathist, then they can be combined, and the latter should be pronounced after the sixth ode of the first.
After reading the akathist or canons, prayers are said to Nicholas the Wonderworker, which are the same for all prayer rules.
Canons and Akathist in Church Slavonic
Prayer chants in Church Slavonic are much harder to find than in Russian.
In churches, all the texts of worship are pronounced only in Church Slavonic. This language incorporates the centuries-old experience of communication between a Russian person and God. In addition, reading in Church Slavonic helps to escape from everyday thoughts, create a special atmosphere and immerse yourself in the world of prayer.
Akathist onChurch Slavonic will be difficult for the perception of only a believer who is starting to learn this language. In order for the text to be better perceived, you can read the translation and interpretation in Russian.
Canons, more complex in structure, are best read in Russian, so they will be easier to understand.
Which is better to read: an akathist or a canon to a saint?
Canon is a more ancient genre of church hymns than akathist. The text of the canons was written by the holy fathers, whose level of spiritual growth and awareness of the Divine universe far exceeds ordinary human understanding. Akathists, as a rule, were created in a later period by spiritual writers, not all of whom were monks or ministers of the church. Therefore, when choosing between the canon and the akathist, according to some priests, it is better to give preference to reading the former.
At the same time, the akathist to the saint is easier to read and understand, since the structure of the text is much simpler.
Canons to Nicholas the Wonderworker - less laudatory prayer than an akathist, but has a pleading character. Despite this, you can also ask for help by reading an akathist.
