POLAND. Hundreds of thousands of Catholics pray Rosary at the borders (The Battle of Lepanto, 1571)

Thousands of Polish Catholics formed human chains on the country's borders Saturday, begging God "to save Poland and the world" in an event many viewed as a spiritual weapon against the "Islamisation" of Europe.

Reciting "Rosary to the Borders", they called to be protected from the dangers facing them. The episcopate insisted that it was a purely religious initiative.

Beautiful!

The Orthodox Small Paraklesis (Supplicatory Canon) to the Theotokos:

ODE ONE
Heirmos

Traversing the water as on dry land, and thereby escaping from the toils of Egypt’s land, the Israelites cried aloud, proclaiming: to our God and Redeemer let us now sing.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.

By many temptations am I distressed; in search of salvation, unto you have I taken flight; O Mother of the Word, Ever-virgin, from all ordeals and afflictions deliver me.
Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Still the attacks of the passions that disquiet me and overfill my soul with despondency, O Maiden, with the calmness of your own Son and your God, O all-blessed one.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

To Christ God, the Saviour, you gave birth; I beg you, O Virgin, from afflictions deliver me; for now to you I flee for refuge, bringing to you both my soul and my reasoning.
Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Diseased are my body and my soul; make me worthy of your divine guidance and care, O you who alone are God’s Mother, for you are good and the Birthgiver of the Good.
ODE THREE
Heirmos

The vault of the heavens is You, O Lord, Fashioner; and the Holy Church’s great founder; likewise establish me in unfeigned love for You, for You are the height of things sought for, the support of the faithful and the only Friend of all.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

I have you as the shelter and the defence of my life, you, the Theotokos and Virgin; pilot and govern me into your sheltered port, for you are author of good things and support of the faithful, O you the only all-praised one.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

I entreat you, O Virgin, disperse from me all of the distress of despair and turbulence in my soul; for you, O Bride of God, have given birth to the Lord Christ, Who is Prince of peace, O only all-blameless one.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Since you have brought forth Him Who is our Benefactor, the cause of good, from the wealth of your loving-kindness pour forth upon us all; for you can do all things, since you carried Christ, the One Who is mighty in power; for you are blessed of God.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

With most grievous diseases and with corrupt passions too, I am put to trial, O Virgin; come to my aid; for I know you to be an inexhaustible treasure of unfailing healing, O only all-blameless one.

Preserve and save, O Theotokos, your servants from every danger; after God do all of us for refuge flee unto you; you are a firm rampart and our protection.

With your good will, look on me, O all-hymned Theotokos; and behold my grievous illnesses, and heal the cause of my soul’s sorrow.

The priest commemorates those for whom the Paraklesis is sung:

Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Again we pray for our Bishop (Name), and for all our brotherhood in Christ.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, pardon and remission of the sins of the servants of God, all pious and Orthodox Christians who dwell and sojourn in this city, the parishioners and benefactors of this holy temple, and all that serve, chant, labour and gather herein; and for the servants of God (Names), and for the forgiveness of their every transgression, both voluntary and involuntary.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

For a merciful and man-befriending God You are, and unto You do we send up glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

The choir: Amen.

After these petitions, we chant the following Sessional Hymn:

Second Tone.
Seeking things on high

O fervent advocate, invincible battlement, fountain of mercy, and sheltering retreat for the world, earnestly we cry to you: Lady Theotokos quickly save us from all imperilment; for you alone art our speedy protectress.

ODE FOUR
Heirmos

I have heard, O Lord, of the wondrous mystery of Your salvation; and I have contemplated Your works, and I have glorified Your Divinity.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Calm the tempest of all my sins, and still the raging of passions with your great peacefulness; for it was you who bore the guiding Lord, and you who are the blessed Bride of God.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

O grant, out of the endless depth of your great compassion, on me your supplication; for you brought forth One compassionate Who is Saviour of all who sing hymns to you.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

While delighting, O spotless one, in your many favours, a hymn of thankfulness do we all raise up in song to you, knowing you to be the Theotokos.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Having you as our support and hope, and as our salvation’s unshaken protection, from all manner of adversity are we then redeemed, O all-praised one.

ODE FIVE
Heirmos

Lord, enlighten us by Your precepts and by Your commands; and with Your arm most powerful grant us Your peace, O You Who are the Friend of all.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Pure one, greatly fill my heart with rejoicing; and grant me your undefiled happiness, since you gave birth to Him Who is the cause of joy.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Come, deliver us out of dangers, O pure Theotokos, since you are mother of deliverance, and of the peace which surpasses all human reasoning.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Dissipate the gloom of my trespasses, O Bride of God, with the clear brightness of Your radiance; for you carried the Light divine which was before all time.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Heal me, O pure one, of the sickness, which the passions bring, and make me worthy of your guiding care, and by your prayers and intercessions grant health to me.

ODE SIX
Heirmos

My petition, I pour out to the Lord, and to Him do I proclaim all my sorrows, for many woes fill my heart to its limits, and unto Hades my whole life has now approached; like Jonas I pray to You: Raise me up from corruption, O Lord my God.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

My nature, held by corruption and by death, has He saved from out of death and corruption, for unto death He Himself surrendered. For which reason, O Virgin, intercede with Him Who is in truth your Lord and Son to redeem me from the enemies’ wickedness.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

I know you as the protection of my life and most safe fortification, O Virgin; disperse the multitude of my many temptations, and put to silence demonic audacity; unceasingly I pray to you: deliver me from corruption of passions.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

We have you as a wall of refuge, and our soul’s perfect salvation; you are an aid, in affliction, O Maiden; and in your light do we exult with joy. O Lady, deliver us from all passions and perils.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Bedridden, I now lie on my back with sickness, and no healing for my flesh is existent except for you, who carried the world’s Saviour, our God, the Healer of every infirmity; I pray to you, for you are good: raise me from the corruption of illnesses.

Preserve and save, O Theotokos, your servants from every danger; after God do all of us for refuge flee to you; you are a firm rampart and our protection.

O spotless one, who inexpressibly in the last days with a word brought forth the Word; request of Him, as one who has motherly boldness.

The priest commemorates those for whom the Paraklesis is sung:

Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy, we pray to You, hear us and have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Again we pray for our Bishop (Name), and for all our brotherhood in Christ.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

For You are a merciful and man-befriending God, and to You we give glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

The choir: Amen.

Kontakion (Second Tone):

O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, you are the most constant mediation to the Creator. O despise not the suppliant voices of those who have sinned; but be quick, O good one, to come to our aid, who in faith cry to you: Hasten to intercession, and speed to make supplication, you who always protects, O Theotokos, them that honour you.

Then we chant the First Antiphon of the Hymns of Ascent of Fourth Tone:

From my youth do many passions war against me; but You, Who are my Saviour, assist and save me. (2)

The Lord shall shame you haters of Zion; for, like grass, the fire shall wither you. (2)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In the Holy Spirit every soul is quickened, and through cleansing is exalted and made radiant by the Triple Unity in a hidden sacred manner.
Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

By the Holy Spirit, the streams of grace gush forth, watering all creation for the begetting of life.
Prokeimenon:

I shall commemorate your name in every generation and generation. (2)

Listen, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear; and forget your own people, and your father’s house; and the King shall greatly desire your beauty.
I shall commemorate your name in every generation and generation. (2).

The priest: And that we may be deemed worthy to hear the holy Gospel, let us beseech the Lord our God.

Lord, have mercy. (3)

The priest: Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the Holy Gospel. Peace be with all.

The choir: And to your spirit.

The priest: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke.

The choir: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

The priest: Let us attend.
(Luke 1:39-49; 56)

Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to the city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of those things which were told her from the Lord”. And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things to me, and holy is His name”. And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

The choir: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Second Tone).

O Father, Word, and Spirit, the Trinity in Unity: blot out the multitude of my offences.
Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Theotokion

By the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of my offences.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassions blot out my transgression.

By the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of my offences.

Plagal (Second Tone).

Having placed their every hope

O entrust me not, I pray, to any human protection, O our Lady, holy one, but accept the prayer of your supplicant. Sorrow has overpowered me, and I am unable to endure and bear the demons’ darts; a shelter have I not, neither a place to run, I, the wretched one; embattled from all sides am I, and you are my only consolation. Mistress of creation, protection and hope of faithful ones: Turn not away when I pray to you; do that which will profit me.
Theotokia

No one is turned away from you, ashamed and empty, who flee to you for refuge, O pure Virgin Theotokos; but he asks the favour and receives the gift from you, to the advantage of his own request.

In truth, you are the transformation of the afflicted and the relief of those in sickness, O Virgin Theotokos; save your people and your flock, you who are the peace of the embattled and the calm of the storm-driven, the only protectress of those who believe.

Prayer of the priest:

Save, O God, Your people, and bless Your inheritance; visit Your world with mercy and compassion; exalt the Orthodox Christians to glory, and send down upon us Your abundant mercies, through the intercessions of our all-pure Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, through the power of the honoured and life-giving Cross; through the protection of the venerable, heavenly bodiless powers; through the supplications of the venerable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John; of the holy, glorious, and all-famed Apostles; of our Fathers among the Saints, the great Hierarchs and universal Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom; Athanasius, Cyril, and John the Almsgiver, Patriarchs of Alexandria; Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra, and Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythun, the wonderworkers; of the holy, glorious Great Martyrs, George the Trophy-bearer, Demetrius the myrrh -streaming, Theodore the Tyro, Theodore the Commander, and Menas the wonderworker; of the Sacred Martyrs Haralampos and Eleutherius; of the holy, glorious, and triumphantly victorious Martyrs; of our righteous and God-bearing Fathers; of (the Saint to whom the church is dedicated); of the holy, righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; of (the Saints of the day) whose memory we celebrate, and of all Thy Saints: We beseech You, Who alone are all merciful; hear the prayers of us sinners and have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy. (12)

The priest: By the mercy and compassions and love for man of Your Only-begotten Son, with Whom You art blessed, together with Your All-holy and good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

The choir: Amen.

ODE SEVEN
Heirmos

Once from out of Judea did the Children go down to the land of Babylon; they trampled down the fire of the furnace while chanting by their faith in the Trinity: O God of our Fathers, blessed are You.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Having willed thus, O Saviour, to dispense our salvation in Your economy, inside the Maid’s womb, and showed to all creation that she was our guardian; O God of our Fathers, blessed are You.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Do request, O pure Mother, to your Son who has willed to grant mercy to us, to rescue from transgressions and from the soul’s defilement those who cry out most faithfully: O God of our Fathers, blessed are You.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

A fountain of incorruption and a tower of safety is she who gave birth to You; a treasure of salvation and portal of repentance have you proved her to them that shout: O God of our Fathers, blessed are You.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Condescend to restore from diseases of body and soul to those who run to your divine protection with faith, O Theotokos, and thus grant them recovery; for Mother of Christ our Saviour are you.

ODE EIGHT
Heirmos

The King of Heaven, Whom all the hosts of Angels hymn with their chants and praises of glory, praise and exalt Him to the ages for ever.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Do not neglect those who seek the help you grant, for, O Virgin Maiden, they do hymn you, and they all exalt you throughout the ages.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

On all that hymn you with faith, O Virgin, and exalt your truly unspeakable Offspring, you have poured a great abundance of your cures and healings.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

You make well all the diseases that plague my soul, and you also heal the sufferings of the flesh; this is why I, O Maiden full of grace, glorify you.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

You drive away all assaults of temptations, and attacks of the passions, therefore we praise you throughout all ages, O Virgin.

ODE NINE
Heirmos

Most rightly we confess you as our God’s Birthgiver, we who through you have been saved, O Virgin most pure; with choirs of bodiless Angels, we magnify you.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Do not reject the torrent of my tears, for you gave birth to Him Who takes away all tears from every face, O Virgin, for He is Christ indeed.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

Fill my heart, O Virgin Maiden, with gladness, for you are she who received all the fullness of joy, and made all sorrow of sinfulness to vanish.

Most Holy Theotokos save us.

A haven and protection, and an unshaken wall, and a rejoicing and shelter and place of retreat you become, O Virgin, for those who flee to you.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Illumine with the radiance of your light, O Virgin, all those who piously call you the Mother of God, and banish away all darkness of ignorance.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

It is truly fitting to call you blessed, the Theotokos, the ever-blessed and all-pure Theotokos. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, you who without corruption gave birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, you do we magnify.

The priest censes the Holy Table and the people, or the house where the Paraklesis is being chanted; and we chant the following Megalynaria:

You are higher than the heavens above, and you are much purer than the radiance of the sun; for you have redeemed us out of the curse that held us, O Mistress of creation, with hymns we honour you.

From the great abundance of all my sins, ill am I in body, ailing also am I in soul. I have you as refuge; help me, therefore, O hope of all the hopeless, for you are full of grace.

O Lady and Mother of Christ our God Who saves, receive supplication from us wretches who beg for your entreaty to the One born from you; O Mistress of creation, intercede for us.

Now we chant with eagerness to you with this ode most joyful, O all-hymned Theotokos; together with the Baptist and all the saintly choirs, beseech, O Theotokos, that we find clemency.

Speechless be the lips of the impious who refuse to reverence your revered icon which is known by the name Directress, and which has been depicted for us by the Apostle Luke the Evangelist.

O all arrays of Angelic Hosts, with the holy Baptist, the Apostles’ twelve-numbered band, all the Saints together, as well as God’s Birthgiver, we seek your intercession for our deliverance.

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