Canons to Nicolai the Miracle-Worker and Akathist

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 address a saint is to read a canon or akathist. These types of solemn chants differ in the structure of the text construction and the history of writing. The canons were created many centuries ago by people ranked by the Church as saints. Akathist can be written and is currently a spiritual writer, who is not always a servant of the Church.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker was born in 270 in the town of Patara in the province of Lycia. From a young age, he was distinguished by piety and the desire to serve God. Being a priest, the prelate was an example for his flock, preached, exhorted and directed the inhabitants of Lycia on the path of salvation. After several years of service in the office of the priest, St. Nicholas was elected bishop of the World of Lycia.

The asceticism of St. Nicholas took place during the persecution of Christianity. When the bishop was imprisoned together with other Christians, the saint not only courageously endured all the hardships and privations, but also supported the rest of the imprisoned.

During his lifetime, St. Nicholas is credited with many miracles and deeds of true mercy and love for his neighbor. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is revered in both Western and Eastern Christianity. This saint is especially loved by believers, and many people turn to him specifically for prayer.

Canon to Nicholas the Wonderworker

The canons of Nicholas the Wonderworker are complex in structure works of church hymnography, which praise the saint. Their text consists of biblical hymns, to which later were added additional poems - Irmos and troparia. The last sing the festive event. The Irmos serve to interrelate the biblical song and the 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 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 post sometimes ......" - the beginning of the first canon of the first canon.
• The second canon to Nicholas the Wonderworker begins with the Irmos "Christ is born - glorify ....."
• "Song of the Era, people ... .." - the canon of the canon from the worship service for the transfer of the relics of the saint.
• "I open my mouth ... .." - the beginning of the fourth canon to Nicholas the Miracle-Worker.

Canon 2 to Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as the 1 st canon, is read during the service on the day of the memory of the saint on December 19, according to a new style. The other two canons are read at the service on the day of the memory of the transfer of the relics of the saint on May 22.

Why read the canon?

The canons of 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 of Nicholas the Wonderworker are also prayers, when reading which a person turns to the saint through biblical events.

The canons were written many centuries ago by people highly spiritual and, as a rule, later ranked as saints. Reading the songs of praise and prayers written by them, a man with them raises a prayer to God.

The canon of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker is read to heal from disease, to help with need and material shortage. Also, the saint is considered the defender of widows and orphans. He is prayed with despondency, sadness and despair. Since the prelate himself was imprisoned for some time, he was taken prisoner in other difficult life circumstances.

Where can I find the canon and akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker?

Practically any canons and akathists can be purchased in church shops. The canon to Nicholas the Wonderworker with accents can be found on Orthodox websites on the Internet. It is better if the text of the explanations is written in parallel with the canon, since not always the language of liturgical songs is understandable only to the person who begins his journey to faith.

Before reading it is necessary to make sure that the canon or akathist is approved by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. To do this, it is better to use texts from canons, purchased in shops at temples or found on reliable Orthodox sites. A list of approved akathists is also published on the Internet.

In addition, it is always possible to approach the priest or deacon in the temple and clarify whether the akathist is the corresponding requirements established by the Holy Synod.

How to correctly read the canon

The canon of St. Nicholas in the Russian language is not so difficult to read as in Church Slavonic. Reading the canon, it is necessary to say every word thoughtfully. Unlike the akathist, the penitential canon to Nicholas the Miracle-Worker can be read sitting. You can say hymns to the saint at any time. There are special pre-prayer prayers that are read before the canon. If the biblical saints follow the daily prayer rules, then additional prayers are not required.

In the case when there is no possibility to read the canon out loud, you can say a prayer and to yourself. The main thing is that her words should be pronounced with a sense of repentance and love for God, the saint. Read the canon aloud better in a calm and monotonous voice. Pay attention to the expressiveness of the voice is not necessary. Church and home prayers are not secular poetry, so they are pronounced somewhat differently. The most important in reading sacred chants is the conversion of the soul to God, the spiritual world.

Before reading the canon, you can light a candle or an icon from the icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker. If there is no suitable image of the saint, then one can refer to the image of the Mother of God or Savior.

Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker

Akathist - a laudatory song to God, the Theotokos or the saint. The first was written by the Most Holy Theotokos in 626 in honor of the liberation of Constantinople from the Persians.

Akathist consists of Ikos and Kontakion. In total there are 24 stanzas in the eulogy. Each kontakion ends with a call to praise God: "Alleluia!" And Ikos - a greeting to the sainted saint: "Rejoice!"

Akathist to Nicholas the Miracle-Worker was written some time after his death. According to one version, the laudatory hymn was written by the Constantinople ministers of the church, on the other - by Russian hieromonks, who participated in the transfer of the holy relics of the relics of the world.

The text of the akathist can be purchased at a church shop, found on Internet sites, and audible on audio. In the first case, you can be sure of the quality and authenticity of the text. In addition, in the temples consecrated in honor of the saint, once a week the akathist is read to St. Nicholas the Sinner. 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 health will be read by the akathist.

How to read the Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker

Before assuming the obligation to read the akathist to the saint for a certain period, it is better to take the blessing of the confessor. The priest who performs the sacrament of confession, knowing the spiritual forces, life circumstances and the inner state of the believer, will bless or give advice for the time being to postpone reading.

There are certain rules for reading the akathist. The thirteenth kontakion - a prayerful address to the saint - is read three times. After the last kontakion of the Akathist, the first Ikos and Kontakion are read again. Then the prayer is read to Nicholas the Miracle-Worker.

The number of days during which the akathist is read is unlimited. Akathist can be read at any convenient time. It is better if during this the icon of the saint will be located nearby.

Often the laudatory hymn is read for forty days. In this case, if you had to miss a day, then the next one can continue.

Read the Akathist to Nicholas the Miracle-Worker once and, most importantly, to feel in your soul the desire and desire to turn to the saint. Akathist is equated to a hymn, therefore at its reading it is better to stand.

Why read the Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker?

Akathist, like the canon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, helps believers in a variety of cases. Prayer appeal to the saint helps with any difficulties. You can find many grateful reviews and real stories from people's lives telling about the solution of difficult life circumstances after prayers to the saint. He is especially often treated with illness, financial and domestic difficulties, while traveling. Even during his lifetime, Bishop Mir Likijsky assisted many in need.

The text of the akathist contains the biographies of the saint. Many people perceive it much easier than the canon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Do not treat the reading of the akathist as a magical rite and conspiracy. The desire for a quick result will not be of use. The main feeling when addressing a saint must be repentance and faith that the Saints 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 to prepare a person's consciousness for a song of praise: to drop all vain thoughts, to concentrate on the text of the prayer. Typically, pre-initiatory prayers include: "The King of Heaven", "The Tri-Sacred Song," "The Blessed Trinity", "Our Father", "Come Let Us Worship." Also, several times, "Lord, have mercy," and read the psalms from the psalter. These 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 pronounced after the sixth song of the first.

After reading the akathist or canons, Nicholas the Miracle-Worker recites prayers that are the same for all prayer rules.

Canons and akathist in Church Slavonic

Prayer hymns in Church Slavonic is much harder to find than in Russian.

In the churches all the texts of the divine service 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 the Church Slavonic helps to escape from everyday thoughts, create a special atmosphere and immerse yourself in the world of prayer.

Akathist in Church Slavonic will be difficult for perception only for beginners to learn this language for the believer. In order to better understand the text, you can read the translation and interpretation in Russian.

The canons, more complex in structure, are better read in Russian, so they will be easier to understand.

What is better to read: akathist or canon to the saint?

The canon is a more ancient genre of church chanting than an akathist. The text of the canons was written by holy fathers, whose level of spiritual growth and awareness of the Divine universe far exceeds the 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, choosing between the canon and the akathist, according to some priests, it is better to give preference to reading the first.

At the same time, the akathist to the saint is easier to read and perceive, since the structure of the construction of the text is much simpler.

The canons of Nicholas the Miracle-Worker are less laudatory than the Akathist, but have a petitionary character. Despite this, you can ask for help by reading the Akathist.