Small Paraklesis to Hieromartyr Haralambos

St. Charalampos depicted kneeling in prayer to Christ, and thereby driving away the demonic plague

The Service of the Small Paraklesis 

(Intercessory Prayer) 

to Hieromartyr Haralambos

(it is read in epidemics)

Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Psalm 142

O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear to my supplications in Your truth; hear me in Your righteousness.  Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is justified.  For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead, and my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed.  I remembered the days of old; I meditated on all Your works: I pondered on the work of Your hands.  I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You, like a thirsty land.

Hear me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails.  Do not turn Your face away from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.  Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, for in You I have put my trust.  Cause me to know, O Lord, the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.  Rescue me, lord, from my enemies; to You have I fled for refuge.  Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.  Your good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness.  For Your name’s sake, O Lord, You shall quicken me.  In Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of trouble, and in Your mercy, You shall utterly destroy my enemies.  And you shall destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Glory to You, O God! (3 times) Our God and our hope, Lord, glory to You!

God is the Lord

Tone 4. God is the Lord and has revealed Himself to us; blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. (Θεός Κύριος και επέφανεν ημίν, ευλογημένος ο ερχόμενος εν ονόματι Κυρίου)

Vs. 1. Give thanks to the Lord and call upon His holy name. (Ps 117:1)

Vs. 2. All the nations have surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord, I have overcome them. (Ps. 117:11)

Vs. 3. This has been done by the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes. (Ps. 117:23)

Apolytikion of Hieromartyr Haralambos

Tone 4 

Let us now run to the image of the holy Martyr Haralambos, worship his bright countenance, and cry with bitterness to him: by your fervent prayers to Christ, protect us and release us from our bitter suffering. Quickly stop the devastating defeater, so that we may praise you forever.

Glory: Now: Tone 4

O Theotokos, all we the unworthy will never be silent about your mighty acts; had you not stood to intercede for us, who would have delivered us from the numerous perils? Who would have preserved us all until now? O Lady, we will not depart from you; for you always save your servants, from all tribulation.

Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; and according to the multitude of Your compassion blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight, that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin my mother bore me.

For behold, You have loved truth: You have made known to me the secret things of Your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean: You shall wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which You have broken may rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation: And establish me with Your governing Spirit.

I shall teach transgressors Your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, my tongue shall rejoice in Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For if You had desired sacrifice, I would give it: You do not delight in burnt offering. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit, God will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

Do good in Your good pleasure to Sion; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then You shall be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole burnt offerings. Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

Canon, Tone 8

Ode 1. 

Heirmos: Crossing the waters as on dry land, in that way escaping from the evils of Egypt's land, the Israelites cried out exclaiming: now let us sing to our Redeemer and God.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us! 

Seeing that this contagious disease conquers every cure and excels any healing art, we, your servants, with fervent faith, turn to you our patron: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, save us because we suffer.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

As a second Aaron, you, Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, stay between the dead and the living, and thwart the incessant onset of the terrible death. Bring your prayers as incense, holy father, and put away the wrath of God. 

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

Seeing the devastating losses of this contagious disease, O lamp of God and glorious Haralambos, entreat the merciful God whom we have angered.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion

An unhappy time, a time of anger has reached us, because this contagious disease, like grass, has cut us. Mother, Virgin Mary, hasten with your Son’s mercy to help us who have greatly sinned.

Ode 3.

Heirmos: You are the  apse of the heavens, O Lord Fashioner, and the holy Church's great Founder. Likewise establish me in constant love for You, for You are the height of our longing, Support of the faithful, the only One Who loves mankind.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

O Holy Bishop, with the life-giving breath of your prayers, scatter the contagious air, for those who breathe and live on the earth should not be infected.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

As the sharp sickle reaps the wheat, so does this infectious disease kill all the people, but you, martyr Haralambos, cut off this extermination and deliver those who flee to you from death.

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

This dread infection has scattered us each to our own home, and we are unable to meet in fellowship. By your prayers, O holy Bishop, remove it from our midst, and gather us together again.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion

Queen of the world, look at the anguish of the people who have been redeemed with your Son's Precious Blood. As a gracious Mother, beseech Him to keep us from the destructive pestilence.

Troparia

Tone 8

Hieromartyr Haralambos, save your servants from sickness and misery, we who seek refuge under your warm, holy and loving protection.

Turn to us, in your good favour, all praiseworthy Theotokos; look upon this pestilence, which painfully afflicts your people and take away from us all that causes pain and suffering.

Petitions

Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy. (Lord have mercy x3)

Again we pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

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

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and remission of sins of the servants of God, of all pious and Orthodox Christians, of those who dwell and are in this city, and of the members (and the council) of this holy church.

Again we pray for the servants of God ... (The priest commemorates those for whom the Paraklesis is being sung) for their health and salvation, let us ask.

Priest: For You are a merciful God Who loves mankind, and to You we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Kathisma

Tone 2

We are surrounded by the many evils of the wicked: and we are therefore threatened and covered by this mortal disease; we are limited and devoid of what is necessary. We pray you, sufferer, have mercy on us who are suffering.

Ode 4.

Heirmos: O Lord, I have heard of the wondrous mystery of Your salvation; I have contemplated all Your works and I have glorified Your great divinity.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

You have foretold, Father, wherever your Divine grace shines forth, and where your honest name is called, there shall be no deadly disease. Therefore, we pray, help with your grace to banish this plague from us who call upon your name.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

O sufferer, look upon us, who are suffering, and show mercy, for the pestilence has made us all wanderers, homeless people and settlers. Death in homes, death on squares, in cities and villages, death everywhere.

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

In ancient times, David saw the angel who was striking down thousands with a  blood sacrifice; but you, O sufferer, seeing that various illnesses afflict many Christians, pray for God’s mercy with a spiritual sacrifice of prayers

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion

Mother of God, listen to the sobs of your servants who grieve over their dead. For, dead bodies stand unburied. It is difficult for us because they serve as food for animals and birds. Have mercy, O Lady, on their misery.

Ode 5.

Heirmos: Lord, enlighten us, with your precepts that can guide our lives, and with your most powerful arm grant us Your peace, O You Who are the Friend of all.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

The flaming pestilence, like the Babylonian furnace, burns everything alive; but you put it out, O Sufferer.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

The tenth punishment of Pharaoh has come upon us, in that the destroyer lives in every house today. But you, the lamp of God, show your shed blood to God and death will cease immediately.

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

The pestilence cut down the divine flock of Christ, as a fierce beast tore it and devoured it. But you, O martyr Haralambos, with your prayers, as with a rod of iron, struck him, and delivered us from death.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion

Our malice, O Virgin, has become like a flammable substance which has spread the infectious pestilence and burned everything, but You, as the repository of the immaterial Fire, have ignited the substance and burned the burning oppression.

Ode 6.

Heirmos: My petition, I pour out to the Lord, and to Him I will confess my sorrows; for many woes fill my soul to its limits, and unto Hades my whole life has now approached. Like Jonah I pray to You, O God: now raise me from corruption.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

The sweet fruit of the divine cluster which Christ carried from the gloomy ungodliness and lies of Egypt, the pestilence devours like a wild beast, but you, martyr Haralambos, quickly break his jaws.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

Indeed, among the other saints, to you, O saint, has been given special grace to cast down this deadly affliction. So now do it, casting out the sickness of us who reverently honour you.

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

Just as Daniel tore the Babylonian serpent to pieces with his divine wisdom, so do you, O hieromartyr Haralambos, with your healing prayers, tear apart the pestilence that mercilessly destroys the people of God.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion

Let us prostrate ourselves, brethren, and weep with spiritual and heartfelt repentance, and let us all cry out to God: spare Your people, O Lord who loves mankind, and by the prayers of Your Holy Mother, put an end to the devastating plague.

Troparia

Tone 8 

Hieromartyr Haralambos, save your servants from sickness and misery, us, who resort to under your warm, holy and loving protection.

Turn to me, in your good favour, all praiseworthy Theotokos; look upon my grave illnesses, which painfully stings my flesh, and heal the cause of my soul's pain and suffering.

Petitions

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

Again we pray for all pious and Orthodox Christians.

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

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and remission of sins of the servants of God, of all pious and Orthodox Christians, of those who dwell and are in this city, and of the members and the council of this holy church.

Again we pray for the servants of God ... (The priest commemorates those for whom the Paraklesis is being sung) for their health and salvation, let us ask.

Priest: For You are a merciful God Who loves mankind, and to You we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 6

O Saint of Christ and servant of the law, affirmation of the victims and a valiant martyr, Saint Haralambos, entreat Christ God to end the grave illness and trials that plague us, because in your painful sufferings, which you suffered for Him with joy, you are able to fervently beg Him so to do.

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. (Ps 116:15)

S: Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. (Ps 91:14)

P/D: And that we may be counted worthy to listen to the Holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord our God. Lord have mercy X3
P/D: Wisdom. Stand up. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel.
P: Peace be with you all. And with your spirit.
P: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
P/D: Let us attend
R: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you. 

P: Let us attend

Gospel

From the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (24:4-13) 

Jesus said to his disciples: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 

People: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you. 

Glory: Tone 6

O merciful Lord, wipe out the abundance of our sins through the intercessions of the Hieromartyr.

Both now:
O merciful Lord, wipe out the abundance of our sins through the intercessions of the Theotokos.

S: O God, have mercy on me in your abundant mercy, and wipe out my offence through your great compassion.

Sticheron, Tone 6

O Holy Martyr Haralambos, all we your servants, who come to you, acknowledge you as a truly pious presbyter and a sufferer for God, an honoured elder, precious and eternal wisdom, a Divine head, a wonderful worker  and a persecutor of the deadly defeat. Look, most blessed one, on our sorrows and afflictions, and quickly, O saint, drive away the trials of sickness.

Intercession 

Short form 

P/D: O God, save your people and bless your inheritance. Visit your world with mercy and compassion; exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians and send down on them your rich mercy, through the prayers of our all-pure Lady, Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, by the power of the honourable and life-giving cross, through the protection of the honourable bodiless powers of heaven, through the prayers of the honourable, glorious, prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, of the holy, glorious, all-praised apostles, of the holy, all-praised and victorious martyrs, of our holy and God-bearing fathers, of the holy and just forebears of God, Joachim and Anna, of the holy (saint of the day), of the holy Hieromartyr Haralambos and of all the saints. We ask you, only merciful Lord, “Listen to us sinners as we pray to you, and have mercy on us.” 

People: Lord have mercy. X12 

Priest: Through the mercy, compassion and love for the human race of your only-begotten Son, with whom you are blessed, together with the all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. 

People: Amen. 

Ode 7.

Heirmos: Coming out of Judea, the young men went to the land of Babylon;  they trampled down the flames of the furnace, while chanting with their faith in the Trinity: Blessed are You, O God of our Fathers!

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

We praise you and chant your name constantly; by your prayers before God, most blessed Haralambos, set us free from these deadly tribulations.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

A cloud of bitter death covers us, but you, blessed one, with the sighs of your prayers scatter it, and with bright clarity sanctify the life of your servants.

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

Like a whirlwind, a deadly ulcer suddenly attacked and horribly disturbed our lives, but you, Sufferer, turn it into quiet calm.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion

Theotokos, a rescuer from sorrows, an expansive receptacle and joy of the world, resolve the bitter sorrow of your servants, who have been afflicted and gladden the hearts of all who sing to you.

Ode 8.

Heirmos: The King of heaven, Who is praised, and is hymned by the host of the angels; praise and exalt Him throughout the many ages.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

As unworthy slaves, God punishes us with illnesses for our correction, but by showing Himself worthy, as a merciful God, with prayers of holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, He will remove from us the punishment.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

Have mercy and spare, O Sufferer, the Christ-eminent people, and the sword of God that cuts down everything today, with your graceful prayers, turn it back into its place.

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

Out of fear of contamination, the whole city (country) became desolate, because we were scattered: abroad, the villages turned to cities, and deserts became dwellings; but you, O blessed, with your prayers, scatter this misery from us.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion

O Virgin, You are the Mother of Christ and the Mother of Christians; quickly have mercy on Your gracious children, who have suffered from the punishing  disease.

Ode 9.

Heirmos: All of creation rejoices in you, O full of grace, the ranks of Angels and the human race. From you God was incarnate, and He, who is our God before the ages, became a little child, for He made your body a throne and made your womb more spacious than the heavens.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

With our evil deeds towards each other, we have infected our souls and have become killers, but let us stop our bad behaviour to stop the deadly infection of our bodies.

Refrain: Holy Hieromartyr Haralambos, pray to God for us!

Having transgressed the commandments of God, which set the lives of those who carry them out, now we have all become infected, and we have fallen into a vain death sentence because, as divine Paul says, "the wages of sin is death" (Rom.6:23). 

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

Even after our health improves, we have no gift to bring, nor can we with any other virtue obtain the grace of God, but these weak bitter tears and moans that we bring to you, Father Haralambos, bring them to God and keep us from future sorrows.

Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion

Gather, O Virgin, all spiritual powers: Angels and Saints, and bring a fervent prayer to your Son. Show the hands, the sponge, the spear and the Cross, show yours and His wounds, and with all this, O Virgin, end the contagious ulcer.

Truly it is meet to bless you, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and all-pure and the Mother of our God.

More honourable than the Cherubim, and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim, the one who gave birth without corruption to God the Word, truly the Theotokos, you do we magnify.

Megalynaria - Magnifications - Величания

Amongst priests — a wonder-worker, amongst sufferers — a powerful helper, the pursuer of the pestilence that kills humankind, the Great Haralambos, let us magnify with songs.

Having your holy icon for strong support, in times of painful suffering, we, O sufferer, resort to it to save ourselves from all destruction.

See, cover, and preserve, O martyr, those who now seek refuge under your holy icon, and with your divine prayers, Father Haralambos, save us from all suffering.

For the glory of all Orthodox Christians, O holy hieromartyr Haralambos, Christ made your name great, because he showed you as the quickest saviour of all bodily and spiritual suffering.

With the hosts of angels, God's messengers, with the Lord's Forerunner, and the Apostles, the chosen Twelve, with the saints most holy, we seek your intercession  O Theotokos, for our salvation.

Trisagion Prayers

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us. (3) 

Glory to the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen

All Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for the glory of Your Name. 

Lord, have mercy. (3)

Glory to the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, both now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen 

Lord’s prayer

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Priest: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

Apolytikion of Hieromartyr Haralambos

Tone 4

O wise Haralambos, you were proven an unshakable pillar of the Church of Christ; an ever-shining lamp of the universe. You shone in the world by your martyrdom. You delivered us from the moonless night of idolatry O blessed one. Wherefore, boldly intercede with Christ that we may be saved.

Glory: Both now: Resurrectional Theotokion, Tone 4 - Еже от века утаенное

The mystery which was hidden from everlasting and was unknown of the angels, O Theotokos, was revealed through you to those who dwell upon earth. In that God, having become incarnate in unconfused union, of His own good will, accepted the Cross for our sake. Whereby He raised again the first created, and has saved our souls from death.

Short Litany of Supplication

Deacon: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your great mercy; we pray to You, hear us and have mercy. (Lord, have mercy X3)

Again we pray for Your servants who are here present praying to You , those praying together with us, and those who are absent for worthy reasons, praying for them, unworthy as we are. (Lord, have mercy X3)

Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, salvation, visitation, forgiveness, and remission of sins of the servants of God, all pious and Orthodox Christians, of those who dwell in this city (and country), and of the members of the council of this holy church. (Lord, have mercy X3)

Again we pray to the Lord God and His Holy Mother, to the Hieromartyr Haralambos, to St. George the Great Martyr, and to all the Saints, to deliver their servants from all sorrows, anger, woes and needs, and from any physical and mental illnesses, from deadly wounds and to forgive all their voluntary and involuntary sins. (Lord, have mercy X3)

Priest: For You are a merciful God Who loves mankind, and to You we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen.

KNEELING PRAYER

Oh, holy and great hieromartyr Haralambos, a soldier of Christ, a valiant and invincible God-pleasing saint, our special protector and intercessor, an urgent helper in all afflictions, help us sinful and unworthy slaves who live in the present age and ask the Lord God for us to forgive all the sins we have committed throughout our lives from a young age, in word, in deed, in thought, and in all our feelings. Especially when our souls leave our bodies, help us — the needy, and ask the Lord God, the Creator of all things, to free us from the aerial toll-houses and from eternal torment. Keep and protect all Christians who glorify and honour your honest sufferings. Encompass us about with your Holy prayers, and keep every Christian country from turmoil, earthquakes, attacks by invaders, internal mutual struggles, famine, flood, fire, sword, and from every death, because you prayed throughout your life saying, "Lord, I beg You, if You please, give glory to Your Name, wherever my relics are laid, and where my memory is honoured, there shall be no famine, pestilence, and broken air in that place, which destroys the fruits, but always peace, physical health and spiritual salvation." Now therefore, having boldness before God and continually standing before the throne of God, pray for us your helpless servants, who live in sinful darkness, and deliver us from the wrath of God and from eternal punishment. For it is only by your intercession and strong help that we can hope that Christ, with His gracious mercy, will give us a quiet and sinless life in this age, and that in the age to come He will place us on His right-hand side with all Saints. 

People: Amen!

Dismissal 

Priest: Glory to you, O Christ God, our hope, glory to you.

Reader: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (X3) Father, bless!

Priest: May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-pure and all-immaculate holy Mother, the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, the protection of the honourable, bodiless powers of heaven, the supplications of the honourable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist, of the holy, glorious, and praiseworthy apostles, of the holy, glorious, and triumphant martyrs, of our righteous and God-bearing fathers, of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, of St. John of Rila, of St. Haralambos, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loves mankind.

People: Amen.

Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

People: Amen.

Translated by presbyter Trayan Goranov

Devon, the UK

Bulgarian Orthodox Church