Святитель Николай Чудотворец – один из самых revered not only in Russia, but also in the countries of the Catholic Church. For Orthodox believers, one of the ways to appeal to the saint is to read the canon or the 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 canonized the Church. The akathist can also be written 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 inPatare city, Lycia province. From a young age he was distinguished by his piety and desire to serve God. Being a priest, the saint was an example for his flock, preaching, exhorting and directing 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 in the periodpersecution of christianity. When the bishop, together with other Christians, was imprisoned in a dungeon, the saint not only bravely endured all the hardships and deprivations, but also supported the rest of those imprisoned.
During the life of St. Nicholas attributedmany miracles and deeds of true mercy and love of neighbor. Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker is revered both in Western and Eastern Christianity. This saint is especially loved by believers, and many people address him with prayer.
Canon Nicholas the Wonderworker
The canons to Nicholas the Wonderworker are complexthe structure of the work of church hymnography, praising the saint. Their text consists of biblical chants, to which later were added additional verses - irmos and tropari. The latter celebrate the festive event. The Irmoses are used to relate the biblical song and the troparion, drawing an analogy between the event celebrated and the one described in the Bible. The structure of the irmos is the basis for the tune and rhythmic structure of the troparion. The length and number of stanzas must match.
There are several canons to the saint:
- "In the depth of the bed sometimes ......." - the beginning of the Iermos of the first canon.
- The 2nd canon to Nicholas the Wonderworker begins with Hirmos "Christ is born, praise ....."
- "Let us sing the song, people ... .." - the canon of rum from worship to 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 Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as the 1stcanon, read during the service on the day of the memory of St. December 19 in a new style. The other two canons are read during the service on the day of remembrance 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 orhear them 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 St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are also prayers, reading which a person addresses to the saint through biblical events.
The canons are written many centuries ago by humans.highly spiritual and, as a rule, subsequently ranked as saints. Reading the praise chants and prayers written by them, a person together with them offers a prayer to God.
Canon of sv.Nicholas the Wonderworker is read for healing from diseases, help in need and material disadvantage. Also, the saint is considered the protector of widows and orphans. They pray to him with despondency, sadness and despair. Since the saint himself was imprisoned for some time, they turn to him in captivity and in other difficult life circumstances.
Where to find the canon and akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker?
Almost any canons and akathists canpurchase in church shops. The canon Nikolay the wonderworker with accents can be found on Orthodox sites on the Internet. It is better if, in parallel with the canon, the text of explanations will be written, since it is not always the language of the liturgical songs that is understandable only to a person who begins his journey to faith.
Before reading it is necessary to make sure thatcanon or akathist are approved by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. For this, it is better to use texts from canons acquired in the shops at churches or found on reliable Orthodox sites. The list of approved Akathists is also published on the Internet.
In addition, you can always go to the priest or deacon in the temple and clarify whether the akathist is in accordance with the requirements established by the Holy Synod.
How to read the canon
Canon Nicholas the Wonderworker in Russian is not sodifficult to read, as in Church Slavonic. Reading a canon, it is necessary to pronounce each word thoughtfully. Unlike the Akathist, the canon of the penitent Nicholas the Wonderworker can be read sitting. It is possible to utter praise to the saint at any time. There are special predestination prayers that are read before the canon. If the holy biblical chants follow the daily prayer rule, then no additional prayers are required.
In case when it is not possible to read canonout loud, you can say the prayer and silently. The main thing is that her words are pronounced consciously, with a sense of repentance and love for God, the holy. It is better to read the canon aloud in a calm and monotonous voice. Pay attention to expressive voice is not necessary. Church and domestic prayer books are not secular poetic works, therefore they are pronounced somewhat differently. The most important thing 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 a lamp at the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. If there is no suitable image of the saint, then you can turn to the image of the Mother of God or Savior.
Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker
Akathist - a song of praise to God, the Virgin Mary or the saints. The first was written by the Most Holy Theotokos in 626 in honor of the liberation of Constantinople from the Persians.
Akathist consists of eggs and kondak. There is a total of 24 stanzas in the eulogy. Each kondak ends with a call to praise God: “Alleluia!” And Ikos - a greeting to the holy saint: “Rejoice!”
Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker was written throughsome time after his demise. According to one of the versions, the hymn of praise was written by the ministers of Constantinople of the church, on the other, by the Russian hieromonks who participated in the transfer of the saint's relics.
The text of akathist is available in the church.shop, found on sites on the Internet, listen to audio media. In the first case, you can be confident in the quality and authenticity of the text. In addition, in the churches consecrated in honor of the saint, once a week the akathist to St. Nicholas the Convict is read. The forty-day reading of the Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker can also be ordered in monasteries. At the same time, it is necessary to indicate the name of the person about whose health the akathist will be read.
How to read akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker
Before you commit to readingAkathist to a saint for a certain period, it is better to take the blessing from the spiritual father. 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 akathist.The thirteenth Kondak - prayer appeal to the saint - is read three times. After the last kondak of the Akathist, the first Ikos and Kondak are read again. Then read the prayer to Nicholas the Wonderworker.
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 time the icon of the saint is located nearby.
Often the hymn of praise is read for forty days. At the same time, if you had to miss the day, then you can continue to the next.
You can read the akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker and once, the main thing is to feel in your soul the desire and desire to turn to the saint. Akathist is equal to the anthem, so when reading it is better to stand.
Why read the Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker?
Akathist, like canon to St. NicholasWonderworker helps believers in various cases. Prayer appeal to the saint helps with any difficulties. One can find many grateful reviews and real stories from the life of people telling about the resolution of difficult life circumstances after prayers to the saint. Especially often he is approached in case of illness, financial and domestic difficulties, while traveling. During his lifetime, the Bishop of the World of Lyca helped many in need.
The text of the Akathist contains the biographies of the saint. It is perceived by many people much easier than the canon to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Do not treat reading akaphist asmagical rite and conspiracy. The desire for quick results will not benefit. The main feeling when addressing the saint should be repentance and the belief that the God-suitor will hear the request and help.
Prayers before reading akathist and canons
Before akathist need to readinitial prayers that will help prepare a person’s consciousness for a song of praise: discard all vain thoughts, focus on the text of the prayer book. Usually, the prayers of the forefront include: "To the Heavenly King," "The Trisagion," "The Most Holy Trinity," "Our Father," "Come Come, We Will Worship." Also, “Lord, have mercy,” are recited several times, and psalms from the Psalter 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 put together, and pronounced the last after the sixth song of the first.
After reading the akathist or canons to Nicholas the Wonderworker, prayers are said that are the same for all the prayer rules.
Canons and Akathist in Church Slavonic
Prayer chants in Church Slavonic are much more difficult to find than in Russian.
In the temples all texts of worship are pronouncedonly in Church Slavonic. This language absorbs the centuries-old experience of communication between a Russian person and God. In addition, reading in Church Slavonic helps to distract from everyday thoughts, create a special atmosphere and plunge into the world of prayer.
Akathist to Church Slavonic will be difficult forperception only beginning to learn this language to the believer. To make the text better perceived, you can read the translation and interpretation in Russian.
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 saint?
Canon is a more ancient genre of church chants,than akathist. The text of the canons was written by the holy fathers, whose level of spiritual growth and awareness of the Divine universe is far beyond 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 a canon and an akathist, in the opinion of 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 constructing the text is much simpler.
The canons to Nicholas the Wonderworker are less praiseworthy than the Akathist, but have a pleading character. Despite this, you can ask for help and reading akathist.
