SUPPLICATORY CANON TO ST. NICHOLAS PLANAS

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.