Moleben

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Receiving a blessing at the end of a Molieben at the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra (Siege of Troise-Sergieva Lavra, by Vasily Petrovich Vereshchagin, 1891).

A molében (Slavonic: молебен), also called a molieben, service of intercession, or service of supplication, is a supplicatory prayer service used within the Orthodox Christian Church in honor of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, a Feast or a particular saint or martyr.

The Moleben originated in Slavic culture but their use is now widespread both in Europe and in the Orthodox Christian diaspora. Churches of Greek and Arab tradition celebrate a related service called a Paraklesis; but whereas the Parkelsis emphasizes the Canon, the Molieben normally only has simple refrains that replace the Odes of the Canon.

Molebens are traditionally served by a priest, but may also be done as a reader's service (i.e., the format used when officiated by anyone less than a priest; omitting or replacing those portions normally chanted by the priest). It is the custom to celebrate a moleben service only in honor of a glorified saint, and when possible the service is done in front of an icon of the person or feast to which the Moleben is celebrated. Sometimes an Akathist will be chanted during the celebration of a Moleben.

The general outline of a Moleben is based on the service of Matins, as served on a feast day, complete with a Gospel reading.

Molebens may be (a) occasional (i.e., served according to need), for instance for one who is ill or going on a journey; they may be (b) commemorative (assigned to a particular day), such as the beginning of the new year, or when children begin school; or they may be (c) devotional (in honor of a particular saint).

Molebens are very important in the Russian Orthodox tradition, and an entire volume of the Great Euchologion is devoted to them. Most molebens are served in the church, but they may also be served in homes, fields, schools or other appropriate places.

Molebens may also be served in processions. The procession may be going to a particular place, such as during a pilgrimage, or it may circle around the outside of the church building (this is very common on the feast day of the Patron Saint of the church or monastery, and during Bright Week). When a processional Moleben circles around the church, very often the procession will pause on each of the four sides of the building, and the bishop or priest will sprinkle holy water on the church, the icons and people that are taking part in the procession.