Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker (Archbishop of Myra in Lycia) is one of the most beloved and widely recognized saints in the entire Christian world. He is known as a swift intercessor, the patron saint of children, travelers, sailors, captives, and all who find themselves in material distress, poverty, or desperate situations. During his earthly life, he became famous for countless miracles, exceptional mercy, and his zealous defense of the faith. To this day, millions of believers receive aid through his prayers.
On this page, you can read the Akathist to Saint Nicholas online in English, learn the rules of prayer, and download high-quality formatted text files of the Akathist for free to print or read offline.
Who is Saint Nicholas and Why is He So Revered?
Saint Nicholas was born in the 3rd century in Patara (Asia Minor) to a wealthy Christian family. From his youth, he dedicated his life to God: he distributed his entire inheritance to the poor, secretly assisted the needy (which gave rise to the modern tradition of Christmas and St. Nicholas Day gifts), and was ordained Archbishop of Myra. Along with Saint Spyridon of Trimythous, he participated in the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea (325 AD), where he passionately defended the Orthodox doctrine.
In What Matters Does the Akathist to Saint Nicholas Help?
Believers turn to Saint Nicholas for all kinds of earthly and spiritual needs. Traditionally, he is petitioned for:
- Travel & Safety on the Road: He is the patron saint of drivers, sailors, pilots, and all travelers.
- Protection of Children & Family: Parents pray for their children’s health, upbringing in faith, and happy future.
- Overcoming Financial Hardship & Poverty: He is a helper in resolving debts, financial distress, and finding employment.
- Release of the Unjustly Imprisoned: Saint Nicholas saved three innocent men from execution, making him a patron in legal and court trials.
- Marriage & Family Well-being: He famously provided three bags of gold to a destitute father, saving his daughters from desperate lives and enabling them to marry happily.
AKATHIST 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, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Kontakion 2
Beholding the miraculous pouring out of thy myrrh, O divinely wise Nicholas, our souls and bodies are enlightened, and we recognize thee as a wondrous, life-giving source of miracles; for by the wonders that pour out through thee like waters of God’s grace, thou dost nourish the faithful who sing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
Revealing incomprehensible knowledge of the Holy Trinity, thou wast in Nicaea with the Holy Fathers a defender of the Orthodox faith; for thou didst confess the Son to be co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and didst put the foolish Arius to shame. Therefore, the faithful have learned to sing to thee:
Rejoice, great pillar of piety; rejoice, refuge and shield of the faithful.
Rejoice, stronghold of the Orthodox faith; rejoice, bearer of Divine glory.
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 to you from Heaven, and not from earth; for how can any man express the greatness of thy holiness? Yet, overcome by thy love, we sing to thee thus:
Rejoice, good example for both lambs and shepherds; rejoice, holy purification of customs.
Rejoice, storehouse of great virtues; rejoice, pure and honorable dwelling of holiness.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Kontakion 4
A storm of confusion swept the world, but thou, holy hierarch Nicholas, bringest calm and peace to all, soothing afflictions and trials. Therefore, the faithful, saved by thy protection, gratefully sing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 4
Hearing of the greatness of thy miracles, O divinely wise Nicholas, those near and far have learned that by the wings of grace thou art accustomed to precede those in distress, quickly delivering all who cry out to thee:
Rejoice, deliverance from sorrow; rejoice, giver of grace.
Rejoice, defender of the unjustly condemned; rejoice, nourisher of the poor and orphans.
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
Three maidens, prepared for a life of dishonor due to extreme poverty, saw thy great mercy toward the poor, O most blessed Father Nicholas, when in the night thou didst secretly toss three bags of gold to their elderly father, delivering them and their father from a sinful fall. Therefore, we sing to thee:
Rejoice, treasury of mercy; rejoice, giver of gold to the destitute.
Rejoice, guardian of maidenly purity; rejoice, comforter of fatherly hope.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Kontakion 6
The whole world proclaims thee, O most blessed Nicholas, as a quick helper in distress; for, preceding those that travel by land and sail upon the sea, thou helpest them in a single hour, 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:
Rejoice, thou who helpest them that fervently call upon thee; rejoice, thou who deliverest from unjust death.
Rejoice, thou who art a guardian of sacred truth; rejoice, thou who art an exposer of unrighteous judges.
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, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Kontakion 8
A strange wonder is thy Sacred Church shown to be to those that flock to thee, O blessed Nicholas; for by offering in it even a small supplication, we receive healing from great illnesses, if only, after God, we place our hope in thee, faithfully crying out: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
Knowing the grace given to thee by God, we joyfully celebrate thy memory as is fitting, O glorious Father Nicholas, and with all our soul we flee to thy wondrous protection, singing to thee:
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, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Kontakion 9
All our afflictions do thou soothe, O great intercessor Nicholas, granting gracious healing which sweetens our souls and gladdens the hearts of all who run to thee for help, singing to 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, shield of Christian piety; rejoice, sword that cuts down false teachings.
Rejoice, defender of God’s commandments; rejoice, faithful servant of the Lord.
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 and shield, most blessed Nicholas, unto those who praise thy miracles and flee to thine intercession. Free also us who are poor in virtue from pride, temptation, illness, and needs of various kinds, who sing to 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, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Kontakion 11
No song of ours can equal the multitude of thy wonders, holy hierarch Nicholas. Yet we bring this small praise to thee, and gratefully sing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
A radiant light is thy life, Father Nicholas, illuminating our souls and dispersing the darkness of doubts and despair. Therefore we cry to thee with joy:
Rejoice, guide to the Kingdom of Heaven; rejoice, guardian of our souls from sin.
Rejoice, swift consolation for those who sorrow; rejoice, our hope after God and the Theotokos.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Kontakion 12
Knowing the grace given to thee by God, we joyfully celebrate thy memory as is fitting, O glorious Father Nicholas, and with all our soul we flee to thy wondrous protection, singing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Singing of thy wonders, we praise thee, O great wonderworker Nicholas; for in thee God is glorified, Who has given us so great an intercessor and protector. With faith and love we sing to thee:
Rejoice, faithful servant of the King of kings and Lord of lords; rejoice, co-dweller with His heavenly ministers.
Rejoice, for through thee we are delivered from eternal death; rejoice, for through thee we are counted worthy of everlasting life.
Rejoice, Saint Nicholas, Great Wonderworker.
Kontakion 13
Most holy and wonderful Father Nicholas, consolation of all who sorrow, accept our present offering. Entreat the Lord that we be delivered from eternal torment through thy God-pleasing intercession, so that with thee we may sing to Him: Alleluia!
A PRAYER TO SAINT NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER
O all-good Father Nicholas, shepherd and teacher of all who run to thy protection with faith, and call upon thee with fervent prayer: hasten and deliver the flock of Christ from the wolves that destroy it; and protect and preserve every Christian land by thy holy prayers from worldly storm, earthquake, foreign invasion, and civil strife; from famine, flood, fire, sword, and sudden death. And as thou didst have mercy on the three men in prison, and didst deliver them from the king’s wrath and the cutting of the sword, so have mercy on us also, who in the darkness of sins are in mind, word, and deed, and deliver us from the wrath of God and eternal punishment, so that through thine intercession and help, and by His own grace and mercy, Christ our God may grant us to live a quiet and sinless life in this world, and deliver us from standing on the left hand, and make us worthy to stand on the right with all the saints. Amen.
How to Pray the Akathist to Saint Nicholas: 5 Practical Rules
To make your prayer deeper and more focused, follow these helpful tips:
- Pray with a Fervent Heart. Do not view prayer as a routine. Saint Nicholas hears those who call out with earnestness and sincerity.
- Establish a Consistent Prayer Rule. Many believers commit to praying the Akathist daily for 40 consecutive days to ask for help with critical issues.
- Eliminate Distractions. Quiet your mind, turn off your devices, and light a candle or lamp before the icon of Saint Nicholas.
- Intercede for Others. Sincere prayer for your children, spouse, or parents carries exceptional power, reflecting Saint Nicholas’s own life of charity.
- Show Gratitude. When your prayer is answered, remember to read a prayer of thanksgiving or perform an act of mercy for someone in need.
Download the Akathist to Saint Nicholas for Free
You can download beautifully formatted digital files of the complete Akathist text below:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Saint Nicholas’s Akathist
1. Can I pray the Akathist to Saint Nicholas during Great Lent?
During the weekdays of Great Lent, the public singing of akathists is not done in churches. However, for private home prayer, you may read the Akathist on any day if you feel a special spiritual need, preferably with the blessing of a priest.
2. Which day of the week is dedicated to Saint Nicholas?
In the Orthodox liturgical calendar, **Thursday** is the day of the week dedicated to glorifying Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker alongside the Holy Apostles. Thus, Thursday is traditionally a special day to read his Akathist.
3. Can I read the Akathist sitting down?
Strictly speaking, the word “Akathist” means “not sitting.” However, in cases of physical illness, severe fatigue, pregnancy, or travel, God accepts sincere prayer offered while sitting. “It is better to think of God while sitting than to think of your sore legs while standing,” teach the Holy Fathers.