A Paraklesis () or Supplicatory Canon in the
Byzantine Rite, is a service of
supplication for the welfare of the living. It is addressed to a specific
Saint
In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...
or to the Most Holy
Theotokos whose intercessions are sought through the chanting of the supplicatory
canon together with
psalms,
hymn
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...
s, and
litanies.
The most popular Paraklesis is that in which the supplicatory canon and other hymns are addressed to the Most Holy
Theotokos (the
Mother of God). There are two forms of this service: the ''Small Paraklesis'' (composed by Theosterictus the Monk in the 9th century), and the ''Great Paraklesis'' (composed by Emperor
Theodore II Laskaris in the 13th century). During the majority of the year, only the Small Paraklesis to the Theotokos is chanted. However, during the
Dormition Fast (August 1—14, inclusive), the
Typikon prescribes that the Small and Great Paraklesis be chanted on alternate evenings, according to the following regulations:
*If August 1 falls on a Monday through Friday, the cycle begins with the Small Paraklesis. If August 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the cycle begins with the Great Paraklesis.
*On the eves of Sundays (i.e., Saturday nights) and on the eve of the
Transfiguration (the night of August 5) the Paraklesis is omitted.
*On Sunday nights, the Great Paraklesis is always used unless it is the eve of Transfiguration.
''Moleben''
In the
Russian Orthodox Church, the equivalent of a Paraklesis is the ''moleben'', ''molében'' (
Slavonic: молебенъ), ''molieben'', ''service of intercession'' or ''service of supplication'', which is similar in structure, except that the canon is omitted, retaining only the refrains and
Irmoi of the third, sixth and ninth
odes. When the full service itself is performed, it is called the "Supplicatory Canon" (''Molebnyj Kanon''). It is used in honor of
Jesus Christ
Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...
, the
Mother of God, a
Feast, or a particular
saint
In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...
or
martyr
A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' Word stem, stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In ...
.
The present form of the ''Moleben'' originated in
Slavic culture, but its use is now widespread both in
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
and in the Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches that follow the Slavic tradition. Whereas the Paraklesis includes as its principal focus the
canon to the subject being honored, the ''Moleben'' omits the
odes of the canon and includes only the simple refrains that occur between the odes.
''Molebens'' are traditionally served by a
priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...
, but may also be done as a
reader's service (i.e., the format used when served by a layperson or deacon; omitting or replacing those portions normally chanted by the priest). It is the custom to celebrate a ''moleben'' service only in honor of a
glorified saint, and when possible the service is done in front of an
icon of the person or feast to whom the ''Moleben'' is celebrated. Sometimes an ''
Akathist'' will be chanted during the celebration of a ''Moleben''.
The general outline of a ''Moleben'' is based on the service of
Matins, as served on a feast day, complete with a Gospel reading.
''Molebens'' may be (a) ''occasional'' (i.e., served according to need), for instance for one who is ill or going on a journey; they may be (b) ''commemorative'' (assigned to a particular day), such as the beginning of the new year, or when children begin school; or they may be (c) ''devotional'' (in honor of a particular saint).
''Molebens'' are very important in the Russian Orthodox tradition, and an entire volume of the
Great Euchologion is devoted to them. Most ''molebens'' are served in the church, but they may also be served in homes, fields, schools or other appropriate places.
''Molebens'' may also be served in
processions. The procession may be going to a particular place, such as during a
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...
, or it may circle around the outside of the church building (this is very common on the feast day of the
Patron Saint of the church or monastery, and during
Bright Week). When a processional ''Moleben'' circles around the church, very often the procession will pause on each of the four sides of the building, and the bishop or priest will sprinkle
holy water on the church, the
icons and people that are taking part in the procession.
Indulgence
The office of the ''Paraclisis'' and the hymn ''
Akathistos'' are recognized within the Eastern Rite Catholic Church.
The ''
Enchiridion Indulgentiarum'' of 2004 confirmed the plenary
indulgence on condition that it is recited piously in a church or oratory (even alone), in a family, religious community, an association of Christ's faithful or, more generally, in a meeting of a plurality of people who come together honestly for this purpose. In other circumstances, partial indulgence is permitted.
['' Enchiridion Indulgentiarum'', ]
Concessiones
', n°. 23, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 4th edition, 2004, pp. 68-69. .
See also
*
Dormition of the Theotokos
*
Akathist
References
{{Reflist
External links
The Service of the Small Paraklesis(text of the service with audio b
Eikona from the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOArch; ), headquartered in New York City, is an eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Its current Primate (bishop), primate is Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. The Greek Orthodox ...
Website
The Paraclesis Service ExplainedSt Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church,
Dallas
Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
,
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
Paraklesisarticle from
OrthodoxWikiThe Order of the General Moleben according to the usage of the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of RussiaTropar & Kontakion for Royal Martyrs & New Martyrs Of Russiacompiled by Fr. Demetrios Serfes
Byzantine Rite
Christian prayer
Eastern Christian liturgy
Christian processions