Full Text to the Akathist Hymn to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
Kontakion 1
O champion wonderworker and splendid
servant of Christ, thou who pourest out for all the world the most precious
myrrh of mercy and who art an inexhaustible sea of miracles, we praise thee
with love, Saint Nicholas. Since thou art one having boldness toward the Lord,
from all dangers do thou deliver us, so that we may cry unto thee:
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Ikos 1
An angel in manner, though earthly by
nature, did the Creator reveal thee to be, O most blessed Saint Nicholas.
Having foresight into the fruitful beauty of thy soul, He taught all to cry
unto thee thus:
Rejoice, thou who wast purified from thy
mother’s womb.
Rejoice, thou who wast sanctified even
unto the end.
Rejoice, thou who didst amaze thy
parents by thy birth.
Rejoice, thou who didst manifest power
of soul straightway after birth.
Rejoice, plant of the Promised Land.
Rejoice, flower of divine planting.
Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ’s
vineyard.
Rejoice, wonderworking tree of the
Paradise of Jesus.
Rejoice, lily of paradisiacal growth.
Rejoice, myrrh of the fragrance of
Christ.
Rejoice, through thee lamentation is
banished.
Rejoice, through thee rejoicing is
brought to pass.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the effusion of thy myrrh, our
souls and bodies are enlightened. Therein we recognize thee to be a wonderful
living source of unction, O divinely wise Saint Nicholas. Miracles like waters
pour out through the grace of God, whence thou mercifully fillest them that
faithfully cry unto Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Teaching incomprehensible knowledge
about the Holy Trinity, thou wast with the holy fathers in Nicea a champion of
the confession of the Orthodox Faith. Thou didst confess the Son equal of the
Father, co-everlasting and co-enthroned, and thou didst convict the foolish
Arius. Wherefore the faithful have learnt to sing unto thee:
Rejoice, sanctuary of prayer and
devotion.
Rejoice, beautiful city of refuge for
the faithful.
Rejoice, unfailing stronghold of
Orthodoxy.
Rejoice, wondrous praise of the Holy
Trinity.
Rejoice, thou who didst preach the Son
of equal honour with the Father.
Rejoice, thou who didst expel the
demonic Arius from the council of the saints.
Rejoice, father, thou worthy splendour
of the fathers.
Rejoice, wise goodness of all the
divinely wise.
Rejoice, thou who utterest golden words.
Rejoice, thou who guidest so well thy
flock.
Rejoice, through thee faith is
strengthened.
Rejoice, through thee heresy is
overthrown.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 3
Through power given unto thee from on
high thou didst wipe away every tear from the face of those in cruel suffering,
God-bearing Father Nicholas. Thou wast shewn to be a feeder of the hungry, a
superb pilot of those upon the high seas, and a healer of the ailing. Thou hast
proved to be a helper of all that cry unto God: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Truly, Father Nicholas, a song should be
sung unto thee from Heaven, and not from earth. How can mere men proclaim the
greatness of thy holiness? Wholly conquered by thy love, we cry unto thee:
Rejoice, model of lambs and shepherds.
Rejoice, model of lambs and shepherds.
Rejoice, holy purification of mortals.
Rejoice, container of great virtues.
Rejoice, pure and honourable abode of
holiness.
Rejoice, all-luminous lamp, beloved by
all.
Rejoice, light golden-rayed and
blameless.
Rejoice, worthy converser with angels.
Rejoice, good guide of men.
Rejoice, treasury of spiritual fortunes.
Rejoice, seeker of those in need.
Rejoice, through thee we are delivered
from bodily passions.
Rejoice, through thee we are filled with
spiritual delights.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 4
A storm of bewilderment confuseth our
minds. How can we worthily hymn thy wonders, O blessed Nicholas? No one could
count them, even though he had many tongues and willed to tell them.
Notwithstanding, we make bold to sing unto God Who is wonderfully glorified in
thee: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
People near and far have heard of the
greatness of thy miracles, O Nicholas worthy of praise, for in the air with the
delicate wings of grace thou art accustomed to forestall those in misfortune,
quickly delivering all who cry unto thee in this manner:
Rejoice, wonderworker in the Church of
Christ.
Rejoice, servant in God’s grace.
Rejoice, dispeller of unexpected evils.
Rejoice, planter of good desires.
Rejoice, compassionate father of those
in misfortune.
Rejoice, dread punisher of wrongdoers.
Rejoice, abyss of miracles poured out by
God.
Rejoice, tablets of the Law of Christ
written by God.
Rejoice, strong uplifting of the fallen.
Rejoice, support of them that stand
aright.
Rejoice, through thee all deception is
exposed.
Rejoice, through thee all truth is
realized.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 5
Thou didst appear as a divinely moving
star, guiding those who sailed upon the cruel sea who were once threatened with
imminent death — if thou hadst not come to the help of those who called upon
thee, O wonder-working Saint Nicholas. Having forbidden the flying demons that
shamelessly wanted to sink the ship, thou didst drive them away, and didst
teach the faithful whom God saveth through thee to cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
The maidens, prepared for a
dishonourable marriage because of their poverty, beheld thy great compassion
for the poor, most blessed Father Nicholas. During the night thou secretly
gavest their aged father three bundles of gold, thereby saving him and his
daughters from falling into sin. For this reason, thou hearest praises from all
the faithful:
Rejoice, bestower of blessings upon the
humble.
Rejoice, worker of miracles for the
destitute.
Rejoice, consolation of those that flee
to thine aid.
Rejoice, inexhaustible bread of the
hungry.
Rejoice, God-given wealth of those
living in poverty on earth.
Rejoice, speedy uplifting of paupers.
Rejoice, quick hearing of the needy.
Rejoice, acceptable care of the
sorrowful.
Rejoice, blameless provider for the
three maidens.
Rejoice, replenishment of their aged
father.
Rejoice, fervent guardian of purity.
Rejoice, delight of all the helpless.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 6
The entire world proclaimeth thee,
wonderful Nicholas, as a quick intercessor in adversities. Oftentimes,
preceding those that travel by land and sail upon the sea, thou helpest them in
a single hour, whilst at the same time keeping from evils all that cry unto
God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Thou didst shine as a living light,
bringing deliverance unto the generals who received sentence to an unjust death
and who called upon thee, good shepherd Nicholas. Thou didst quickly appear in
a dream unto the emperor, and didst terrify him and didst order him to release
them unharmed.
Together with them we also gratefully cry unto thee:
Together with them we also gratefully cry unto thee:
Rejoice, thou who helpest them that
fervently call upon thee.
Rejoice, thou who deliverest from unjust
death.
Rejoice, thou who preservest from false
accusation.
Rejoice, thou who destroyest the counsels
of the unrighteous.
Rejoice, thou who tearest lies to shreds
like cobwebs.
Rejoice, thou who gloriously exaltest
truth.
Rejoice, release of the innocent from
their fetters.
Rejoice, revival of the dead.
Rejoice, revealer of righteousness.
Rejoice, exposer of unrighteousness.
Rejoice, through thee the innocent were
saved from the sword.
Rejoice, through thee they enjoyed the
light.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 7
Desiring to dispel the blasphemous
stench of heresy, thou didst appear as truly fragrant and mystical myrrh, Saint
Nicholas. Shepherding the people of Myra, thou hast thereby filled the entire
world with thy gracious myrrh. In like manner, dispel from us the stench of
abominable sin, so that we may acceptably cry unto God. Alleluia.
Ikos 7
We understand thee to be a new Noah, a
guide of the ark of salvation, holy Father Nicholas who drivest away the storm
of all evils by thy direction, and bringest divine calm unto those that cry
with wonder:
Rejoice, calm harbor of the
storm-tossed.
Rejoice, sure preservation of those that
are drowning.
Rejoice, good pilot of those that sail
upon the deeps.
Rejoice, strong ruler of the raging of
the sea.
Rejoice, guidance of those in
whirlwinds.
Rejoice, warmth of those in frosts.
Rejoice, radiance dispersing the gloom
of sorrow.
Rejoice, light illumining all the ends
of the earth.
Rejoice, thou who deliverest people from
the abyss of sin.
Rejoice, thou who castest Satan into the
abyss of hades.
Rejoice, through thee we boldly invoke
the abyss of God’s compassion.
Rejoice, through thee we are rescued
from the flood of wrath and we find peace with God.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 8
A strange wonder is the sacred Church
shewn to be unto those that flock to thee, O glorious Nicholas. By offering in
it even a small supplication, we receive healing from hopeless illnesses, if
only, after God, we place our hope in thee, faithfully crying aloud: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Thou art truly a helper unto all,
God-bearing Nicholas, and thou hast gathered together all that flee to thine
aid. Thou art a deliverer, a nourisher and a quick healer, moving all the
faithful to cry out in praises such as these:
Rejoice, source of all kinds of healing.
Rejoice, helper of those that undergo
cruel suffering.
Rejoice, dawn shining for prodigals in
the night of sin.
Rejoice, Heaven-sent dew for those in
the heat of labors.
Rejoice, thou who givest prosperity unto
those that need it.
Rejoice, thou who preparest an abundance
for those that ask.
Rejoice, thou who often forestallest
requests.
Rejoice, thou who restorest strength
unto the aged and gray-headed.
Rejoice, convicter of many who have
strayed from the True Way.
Rejoice, faithful steward of the
mysteries of God.
Rejoice, through thee we conquer envy.
Rejoice, through thee we lead a
charitable life.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 9
Assuage all our pains, Saint Nicholas,
our great intercessor — dispensing gracious healings, delighting our souls, and
gladdening the hearts of all that fervently hasten to thee for help and cry
unto God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The falsely theorizing orators of the
ungodly, we see, were put to shame by thee, divinely wise Father Nicholas. Thou
didst confute Arius the blasphemer who divided the Godhead, and Sabellius who
mingled the Persons of the Holy Trinity, but thou hast strengthened us in
Orthodoxy. Mindful of this, we reverently cry unto thee in this manner:
Rejoice, proclaimer of truth and
discloser of light.
Rejoice, confessor of Christ before all
people.
Reioice, teacher of the Divine
Commandments.
Rejoice, destroyer of impious doctrines
Rejoice, ladder set up by God, by whom
we ascend to Heaven.
Rejoice, God-given protection, by whom
many are sheltered.
Rejoice, thou who makest wise the unwise
by thy sayings.
Rejoice, thou who movest the slothful by
thine example.
Rejoice, inextinguishable brightness of
God’s Commandments.
Rejoice, most luminous ray of the Lord’s
statutes.
Rejoice, through thy teaching the heads
of heretics are hammered.
Rejoice, through thee the faithful are
counted worthy of glory.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 10
Desiring to save thy soul, thou didst
truly crucify thy flesh to thy spirit, Father Nicholas. By silence and by
wrestling with thoughts, thou didst add contemplation to conquest, and by
meditation thou didst acquire perfect knowledge with which thou didst boldly
converse with God and angels, always crying: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Thou art a rampart, most blessed
Nicholas, unto those who praise thy miracles, and unto all who have recourse
unto thine intercession. Free also us who are poor in virtue from pride,
temptation, illness, and needs of various kinds, so that we may acceptably cry
unto thee:
Rejoice, thou who rescuest from eternal
wretchedness.
Rejoice, thou who bestowest
incorruptible riches.
Rejoice, imperishable food for those
that hunger after righteousness.
Rejoice, inexhaustible drink for those
that thirst for life.
Rejoice, thou who preservest from
revolution and war.
Rejoice, thou who freest us from chains
and imprisonment.
Rejoice, most glorious intercessor in
misfortunes.
Rejoice, strong guardian in temptations.
Rejoice, thou who hast snatched many
from destruction.
Rejoice, thou who hast kept countless
numbers unharmed.
Rejoice, through thee sinners escape a
frightful death.
Rejoice, through thee those that repent
obtain eternal life.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 11
A song unto the Most Holy Trinity didst
thou bring, surpassing others in thought, word and deed, O most holy Nicholas.
Through much searching thou didst explain the precepts of the True Faith,
guiding us to sing with faith, hope and love unto the One God in Trinity:
Alleluia.
Ikos 11
We see thee as a brilliant and
inextinguishable ray for those in the darkness of this world, O God-chosen
Father Nicholas. Therein with the immaterial and angelic lights, thou dost
speak concerning the uncreated light of the Trinity. Accordingly, thou enlightenest
the souls of the faithful who cry unto thee thus:
Rejoice, radiance of the Three-Sunned
Light.
Rejoice, daystar of the never-setting
Sun.
Rejoice, lamp kindled by the divine
flame.
Rejoice, destruction of the demonic
flame of impiety.
Rejoice, bright preaching of the True
Faith.
Rejoice, luminous radiance of the light
of the Gospel.
Rejoice, lightning who consumest heresy.
Rejoice, thunder who terrifiest
tempters.
Rejoice, by thy teachings we gain true
knowledge.
Rejoice, by thy deeds we acquire understanding.
Rejoice, through thee the worship of
creatures hath been abolished.
Rejoice, through thee we have learnt to
worship the Creator in the Trinity.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 12
Knowing the grace that hath been given
unto thee by God, dutifully and joyfully we celebrate thy memory, O divinely
wise Father Nicholas, and with all fervency we hasten to thy wonderful
intercession. Unable to count thy glorious deeds which are like the sands of
the seashore and the multitude of the stars, and being at a loss to understand,
we truly cry unto God: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Whilst singing of thy wonders, we praise
thee, O all-praised Nicholas, for in thee God Who is glorified in the Trinity
is wondrously glorified. Yea, even if we were to offer thee a multitude of
hymns composed from the soul, holy wonderworker, we should do nothing to equal
the gift of thy miracles, and amazed by them we cry unto thee thus:
Rejoice, servant of the King of kings
and Lord of lords.
Rejoice, co-dweller with His heavenly
servants.
Rejoice, patron of devout rulers.
Rejoice, praise of pious Christians.
Rejoice, namesake of victory.
Rejoice, triumphant follower of the True
Way.
Rejoice, mirror of all the virtues.
Rejoice, attentive helper of all who
confide in thee.
Rejoice, after God and the Theotokos,
all our hope.
Rejoice, health of our bodies and
salvation of our souls.
Rejoice, through thee we are delivered
from eternal death.
Rejoice, through thee we are deemed
worthy of everlasting life.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Kontakion 13
Most holy and wonderful Father Nicholas,
consolation of all who sorrow, do Thou accept our present offering. Entreat the
Lord that we be delivered from gehenna through thy God-pleasing intercession,
so that with thee we may sing: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
(Repeat Kontakion 13 three times.)
Kontakion 1 (repeated)
O champion wonderworker and splendid
servant of Christ, thou who pourest out for all the world the most precious
myrrh of mercy and who art an inexhaustible sea of miracles, we praise thee
with love, Saint Nicholas. Since thou art one having boldness toward the Lord,
from all dangers do thou deliver us, so that we may cry unto thee:
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
Ikos 1 (repeated)
An angel in manner, though earthly by
nature, did the Creator reveal thee to be, O most blessed Saint Nicholas.
Having foresight into the fruitful beauty of thy soul, He taught all to cry
unto thee thus:
Rejoice, thou who wast purified from thy
mother’s womb.
Rejoice, thou who wast sanctified even
unto the end.
Rejoice, thou who didst amaze thy
parents by thy birth.
Rejoice, thou who didst manifest power
of soul straightway after birth.
Rejoice, plant of the Promised Land.
Rejoice, flower of divine planting.
Rejoice, virtuous vine of Christ’s
vineyard.
Rejoice, wonderworking tree of the
Paradise of Jesus.
Rejoice, lily of paradisiacal growth.
Rejoice, myrrh of the fragrance of
Christ.
Rejoice, through thee lamentation is banished.
Rejoice, through thee rejoicing is
brought to pass.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great
Wonderworker.
A Prayer
Saint Nicholas, thou art a wondrous
helper unto all unfortunate people – the poor and the sorrowful, the young and
the old, the fallen and the dispossessed, those who journey afar and those who
are homebound with illnesses. Count us among the multitudes which entreat thy
compassion, and nurture us with the bread of thy mercy. Though we are many,
thou knowest the very heart of each one of us and thou knowest our needs.
Deliver us, Saint Nicholas, from all things that lead unto death, and bless us
with all things that please God. Since thou art a tireless worker of wonders,
teach us to be repentant prodigals and fruitful vines for Christ our Lord and
Master. We thank thee for thy bountiful nourishment and provision. Amen.
Source: https://akathistreconstructed.wordpress.com/nicholas-great-wonderworker/
