Service of Paraklesis?

[Momzilla]

I'm listening to an audio file of a service of Paraklesis. I'm working at the same time, so I can't pay a great deal of attention, but I'd still appreciate it if someone would tell me what this service is about, and how often/when is it performed.

Also, it is being sung/chanted entirely by women. Is this unusual?

[Matrona]

You're listening to Eikona singing the Paraklesis on the goarch.org website, right?

Paraklesis is a service asking the Theotokos for her prayers. It is chanted during times of trouble, and also during the 15 days before the Dormition of the Theotokos in August.

I've never been able to go to a Paraklesis so I don't know much else about it, but as far as I know, anyone can chant the choir parts of the Paraklesis. Both men and women sing in Orthodox church choirs. In fact, at my church, the choir is ALL women! (Except during Matins--our subdeacon is the only one who knows Matins really well, so he sings with us then.)

[Momzilla]

That's the one, Matrona. It was lovely.

I only asked about the women because even the prayers were chanted by a woman.

[OrthodoxTexan]

One of the Eikona sisters is the Presvytera at my church. Their voices are divine.