The first antiphon of the Hymn of Degrees, in Tone IV.
Glory..., Now & ever...: from the Pentecostarion; or the following Theotokion—
After the first chanting of the Psalter, the sessional hymn from the Pentecostarion, twice.
Thou didst make thy hierarch wondrous among the nations, O Master, bestowing upon him the grace of miracles: to dispel divers ailments from men, to loose those in fetters and to deliver the oppressed from grievous circumstances. To him do we cry out in supplication: O holy Nicholas, deliver us from our enemies. Twice .
At “God is the Lord...”, the troparion from the Pentecostarion, twice; Glory..., that of the holy hierarch; Now & ever...: that from the Pentecostarion again.
Glory..., Now & ever...Alleluia... Thrice .
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn of the holy hierarch, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled...”—
Who can recount the multitude of mine impure desires and the ragings of my wicked thoughts, O all-immaculate one? And who can describe the watchfulness and malice of mine incorporeal foes? But by thine entreaties, O good one, grant me deliverance from all of these.
Glory..., Now & ever...: from the Pentecostarion; or this Theotokion—
Then, the sessional hymn of the Polyeleos, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior...”—
After the Polyeleos, the Megalynarion of the saint, with selected psalm verses for a holy hierarch—
We magnify thee, O holy hierarch Nicholas, and we honor thy holy memory; for thou dost entreat Christ our God in our behalf.
A Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world. [Ps. 48: 2]
B My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. [Ps. 48: 4]
A Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. [Ps. 33: 12]
B I have proclaimed the good tidings of Thy righteousness in the great congregation. [Ps. 39: 10]
A Thy truth and Thy salvation have I declared. [Ps. 39: 11]
B I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I hymn Thee. [Ps. 21: 23]
A That I may hear the voice of Thy praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. [Ps. 25: 7]
B O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. [Ps. 25: 8]
A I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and with the ungodly will I not sit. [Ps. 25: 5]
B For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not acted impiously toward my God. [Ps. 17: 22]
A The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment. [Ps. 36: 30]
B His righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [Ps. 110: 3]
A Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice. [Ps. 131: 9]
B Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house; unto ages of ages shall they praise Thee. [Ps. 83: 5]
Having sanctified thyself with a perfect life, thou wast shown to be a hierarch of God Most High; and, strengthened by Him, thou didst stop the mouths of the heretics. Wherefore, magnifying Christ God, we joyously celebrate the translation of thy relics. Twice .
O pure and unwedded Virgin Theotokos, thou sole defense and protection of the faithful: Deliver from misfortunes and grievous circumstances all who place their trust in thee, O Maiden; and save our souls through thy divine entreaties.
The Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?
Let every breath praise the Lord.
The Gospel according to John, § 35,
from the midpoint [Jn. 10: 1-8].
The Lord said to the Jews that came to Him: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them; but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
O heir of God, fellow communicant of Christ, minister of the Lord, holy Nicholas: as was thy name, so also was thy life. For the radiance of thy countenance bore witness to thine intellect, shining forth in thy hoary head and thine innocence of spirit; and thy serenity proclaimed thy meekness. Thy life was glorious, and thy repose is with the saints. Pray thou in behalf of our souls.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.