08/14/2026
Fri 8/14, 6pm: The Small Paraklesis to the Theotokos
Sat 8/15, 10am: Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Dormition
Sun 8/16 10am: Divine Liturgy
2:30pm: Thomas and Silouana's wedding
(No Vespers on Saturday night)
The text for tonight's service can be found here:https://saintandreworthodox.com/files/texts/Paraklesis.pdf
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What is the Paraklesis?
A paraklesis is a service of intercession specifically for the living. Some lovely words about tonight's service from Fr. Alex Goussetis:
One of the beautiful characteristics of the Orthodox faith is the liturgical cycle of services. Worship in the Church is a rhythmic pattern of fast periods leading to a feast. The liturgical cycle allows time for preparation, reflection, and then . . . celebration!
On August 15th, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Dormition or Falling Asleep of the Theotokos. This feast honors the Virgin Mary, through whom the mystery of the Incarnation took place. The two weeks preceding the feast, August 1-14, represent a time of prayer and fasting. Liturgically, the Church offers a wonderful prayer service called the Paraklesis to the Theotokos.
For anyone who suffers from grief, depression, sorrow, or anxiety, the Paraklesis is a welcome salve to the soul. Although the gospel message of Jesus Christ is one of joy, the Paraklesis service recognizes that everyone, from time to time, experiences emotional and spiritual pain. Rather than isolating ourselves or feeling shame over our distress, the Paraklesis extends to us an invitation to share that pain with the Theotokos, asking for her prayers and comfort.
Listen to these verses from hymns chanted during the service:
I entreat you, O Virgin, disperse the storm of my grief,
and my soul's most inward confusion, scatter it far
from me...
Heal me from the ills, which the passions bring, most
pure one, make me worthy of your guiding care.
And unto me grant health, through your intercessions
and your prayer.
Whatever emotional or spiritual state we find ourselves in, the message throughout the Paraklesis service is that God accepts and affirms us. We are welcomed and consoled whether our suffering is from despair or hopelessness, fear or isolation, grief or rejection. It is important to note that not once does the Paraklesis attribute our suffering to a lack of faith. Instead, we are allowed to see things as they are and to give voice to our feelings. Being permitted to name things as they are and not as they “should” be or “must” be can be cathartic and transformative.
The Paraklesis service, however, does not leave us in our wounded state. We are invited to start where we are emotionally and spiritually, and to slowly ascend to enlightenment, peace, hope, and the knowledge that God is the Physician of our souls and bodies. Listen to these verses that illustrate this point:
Pure one fill my heart, with a merriment, a happiness;
bestow on me your spotless joy...
With the brightness of your light, dispel the darkness
of my sins,
O bride of God who gave birth to the divine
and eternal Light!
We seek to pass through our sorrows, not to revel in them. As much as we cannot hide from the experience of darkness, so too we can never become so accustomed to dwelling therein that we do not try to find the light. This service is a holy avenue toward that light.
[From https://www.stnicksgoc.org/paraklesis ]
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