The Paraklesis to the Most Holy Theotokos is a supplicatory service chanted in Orthodox churches to honor the Theotokos and ask for her intercessions on behalf of the living. The service is chanted during the Dormition Fast in August and may be chanted at other times as needed. The text of the Small Paraklesis, authored by Theosterictus the Monk in the 9th century, is available on the Greek Archdiocese of America website. More information on the Paraklesis is published on Orthodoxwiki.Here is a selection from the service (Ode 6):
"I pour out my supplication before the Lord, and I speak of my sorrows before Him. For my soul has been filled with evils, and my life has approached Hades. Wherefore, I supplicate Thee like Jonah, crying out: 'Raise me up from corruption, O my God.'
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
Intercede with thy Son and God, O Virgin, who by delivering Himself to death, He saved from death and corruption, our nature overtaken by death and corruption, that He may deliver me from the evil harm of the enemies.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
We have known thee to be an intercessor for our lives, a sound protection, a remover of different trespasses, and a vanquisher of the wiles of demons, O Virgin. Wherefore, we beseech thee ceaselessly, to deliver us from the corruption of our passions.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit!
We have possessed thee as a wall of refuge, O Maiden, and as a complete salvation for our souls, and a comfort from distress. We always rejoice in thy light. Wherefore deliver us now, O Lady, from passions and sufferings.
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages, Amen!
Since we lie now on the bed of infirmities, and there is no healing for our bodies. O thou who didst give birth to God, the Savior of the world, and Remover of sicknesses, we beseech thee, O righteous one, to raise us from the corruption of ills."
(The above selection from the Paraklesis service (Ode 6) has been taken from the translation used in our parish.)
