PARAKLESIS

PARAKLESIS. The Greek verb, parakaleo, means “to call upon, exhort, comfort.” A paraklesis is thus an invocation or intercession, and the term today is used for a prayer service of intercession addressed most commonly to the Virgin Mary, Theotokos (q.v.). It is especially popular among Greek Orthodox and is served often during the weekdays of the Dormition Lent (August 1–14). As with many such devotional prayers, its form is that of a modified matins (orthros).