Paraklesis and Akathists for the Days of the Week

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Paraklesis and Akathists for the Days of the Week

Paraklesis and Akathists are liturgical services appointed by the Church and especially loved by Orthodox Christians. Long ago, they passed from public worship into private devotion as well. The Paraklesis appears to have emerged in the thirteenth century through the devotion of Emperor Theodore II Laskaris (1254–1258), as an office centred on the chanting of a hymnographic Canon enriched with elements from Matins. The emperor himself composed the entire Great Paraklesis to the Mother of God. Following its model, the Small Paraklesis, also called the First Paraklesis, was assembled in Constantinople from an older Canon by Saint Theophanes of Nicaea. Other Paraklesis services were later created on this pattern, seeking the help of the Persons of the Holy Trinity or the saints. The Akathists follow the renowned Akathist to the Annunciation, solemnly chanted in churches at Matins on the Saturday of the fifth week of Great Lent, served on Friday evening. The word akathist (a+kathistos, “not seated”) recalls its introduction into worship after the miraculous victory over the Avars and Persians who besieged Constantinople on 7 August 626, a victory attributed to the miraculous intervention of the Mother of God. In gratitude, the citizens of the Byzantine capital sang this hymn all night while standing in the Church of the Mother of God at Blachernae. Rich in poetic beauty and theological and spiritual depth, the hymn was loved from the beginning by clergy and faithful, who included it in their daily rule of prayer. To this day, monks on Holy Mount Athos and in many other monasteries recite the akathist every day. Inspired hymnographers began composing Akathists in honour of many saints from the fourteenth century onwards. Because Paraklesis are prayers of supplication, while Akathists are prayers of praise and thanksgiving, reading both forms a complete prayer in content. For this reason, many spiritual fathers recommend a daily Akathist and Paraklesis. The need therefore arose for a book meeting the desire of Orthodox Christians to follow a complete and varied daily prayer rule that also reflects the Church's liturgical rhythm and the character of each day of the week. Publishing House of the Biblical and Orthodox Mission Institute