SUPPLICATORY
CANON TO ST. NICHOLAS PLANAS
Ode I.
Irmos. Having crossed the sea as though it were dry
land and having escaped the malice of the Egyptians, the Israelite cried
out: to our savior and God let us sing.
When
you were offering the Lord your unsleeping prayers, Father Planas, you were
sanctified as a pure minister of the divine mysteries; but now we have acquired
you as one who prays for us.
Knowing you to be our intercessor with God, we
earnestly praise you with a suppliant’s hymn.
Protect us who celebrate your feast, and by your intercessions, Father,
preserve us from dangers.
Win for us the favor of Christ, O saint, and deliver
from chastisement, suffering and corruption those who have fallen into sins,
which each of us has committed through the body.
O
beauty, fame, glory, august queen of the world and most holy Mother of God: receive the petitions of your suppliants and bring
them to your Son and our God.
Ode
III.
Irmos. O Lord, roofer of the apse of Heaven and
builder of the church, establish me in your love, for you are the perfection of
desires, the support of the faithful and the only compassionate one.
The innocent boys saw with astonishment the feet
of Nicholas above the ground, and they described the glory of uncreated heavenly
light shining forth and pouring about him from above as he prayed.
You are a priest of the Most High, Father Nicholas;
you received a heavenly calling and you heeded it; and as you remembered your spiritual
children by name, so also now remember our supplication.
Serving as a
priest from a pure heart, O saint, you did not cease praying to Christ day and
night; so also now beg the compassionate God by your prayers, Father Planas, to
grant to all of us those things which we need.
Wholly among
those below, yet inseparable from those above, the infinite Word came to save
man; shelter us, guard us and keep us safe under your protection,
all-immaculate Virgin, for you are the dwelling place of the uncontainable one.
[Some prayers read
between odes III & IV.]
Preserve your
servants from dangers, all-merciful God, by the prayers of Nicholas Planas, our
saintly father, to whom you gave great boldness of speech with you.
O all-hymned
Mother of God, together with our intercessor and patron, Nicholas, look
graciously upon our supplication, though we are unworthy.
Kathisma in Tone 2. Fervent intercession.
We entreat you to make fervent intercession with Christ, O blessed one, for those who run to you. Holy Nicholas, since you enjoy liberty of speech in Heaven, zealously intercede with the transcendently good God, that those who hymn you obtain mercy.
Ode
IV.
Irmos. I have heard, O Lord, of the mystery of your
dispensation. I have meditated on your
works and glorified your divinity.
Greatly
merciful Redeemer, through the prayers of the venerable Nicholas Planas accept our
supplication, for we take refuge in you because of our faith in you.
Forbearing
Lord, do not be mindful of the sins of your unprofitable servants, for they have
dedicated themselves to you through the intercessions of Nicholas Planas.
Shining with
the beauty of holiness, you stand boldly before the throne of the King of all with
boldness of speech, O saint.
Most holy
Bride of God, you are the queen and help of the world; be our mediatress, too, hearkening
to holy Planas.
Ode V.
Irmos. Illumine us with your commandments, O Lord,
and with your upraised arm grant us peace, compassionate God.
Inasmuch as your heart uttered a good
word day and night, holy Father, make supplication for us now to God.
Do not cease
to use your pious boldness with God, O saint, as you seek from the Lord God our
deliverance from all kinds of distresses.
Mortify the passions and temptations which attack us, Father; may we who imitate your life
in divine grace lead an upright life with you.
Venerable queen,
all-blessed Mother of God, you are truly greater than the saints, for you
conceived the holiest God the Word.
Ode VI.
Irmos. I will pour out my supplication to the Lord
and I will tell him my afflictions, for my soul has been filled with evils and
my life has drawn near to Hades and I pray as did Jonah: O God, bring me up from corruption.
By your
prayers, O saint, enable us to walk the way of the Lord, to preserve the faith steadfastly,
to fight the good fight and to receive crowns of life in the day of judgment.
Having
called on your venerable name we worthily honor your virtue, Father Planas; knowing
to call on you, we publicize the example of your holiness and we glorify God
who is wondrous in his saints.
Bless from
Heaven, O saint, those who run to your help, and freely give gifts to those who
lack them, as you, Father, freely received them, and hearken to our
supplications in your goodness.
You drew salvation and divine grace from
the springs of salvation, thrice blessed one, and we recognize you, most holy
Father, as our intercessor for our salvation, and we dedicate ourselves to the
Lord by your God-pleasing prayers.
[Some prayers read
between odes VI & VII.]
Preserve your
servants from dangers, all-merciful God, by the prayers of Nicholas Planas, our
saintly father, to whom you gave great liberty of speech with you.
All-praiseworthy
Mother of God, together with our intercessor and patron, Nicholas, look
graciously upon our pitiful supplication, though we are unworthy.
Ode VII.
Irmos. Having coming from
Judea, the youths of old in Babylon with faith in the Trinity trampled down the
flames of the oven, singing, O God of our fathers, blessed are you.
You
consecrated yourself to the Savior by offering the holy things and, invested with
the garment of holiness, you sang from the depths of your heart, O God of our
Fathers, blessed are you.
You appeared
to be an angel as you ministered to the Lord, Father Nicholas. Illumined in the face by the rays of love and
raised off the ground, you said, O God of our Fathers, blessed are you.
In your holy
temple, we beg, Father Nicholas Planas, that you bless from Heaven your humble
suppliants and preserve those who chant, O God of our Fathers, blessed are you.
All of us,
your unworthy servants, beseech you, O Mother of God: though we have fallen into a multitude of
sins, we cry now to your Son, O God of our Fathers, blessed are you.
Ode VIII.
Irmos. Hymn and exalt exceedingly the King of
Heaven, whom the armies of angels hymn unto all ages.
Incline your
ear to us, Father Nicholas, and accept the supplication of your children who
exalt Christ supremely forever.
See, all
around your icon, divinely wise saint, are those who have gathered to hymn you
and exalt Christ forever.
Accept the supplication
of those who remember your name and remember us in your prayers, for we hymn
the Lord with hope.
The church and
the island of Naxos, which is dear to you, fitly hymn you day and night, for
you are the suppliant of the Mother of God.
Ode IX.
Irmos. Worthily we
confess you to be the Mother of God, for we were saved through you, pure Virgin,
and we magnify you with the choirs of the incorporeal hosts.
Magnify, O
my soul, the instructor of divine truths, Nicholas Planas, the offspring of
Naxos, for he gives you timely help.
All-venerable
intercessor, as our kinsman turn your kindly ears to us as we celebrate you
with hymns and supplications.
With faces
wet from the shedding of tears, Father Nicholas, we entreat you: help those who call on you, O noble saint.
All-blameless
Virgin, Mother of God the Word, whom you conceived by the Holy Spirit, with the
priest Nicholas Planas keep watch over me.
