ODE 8

Irmos: Him whom the hosts of heaven glorify, whom the Cherubim and

Theotokion: The spiritual purple of Emmanuel was woven inside thy womb as if from scarlet silk, O Most-pure Virgin. Therefore we honor thee as truly Theotokos.

Seraphim dread, let every breath and creature praise, bless and magnify throughout all ages. Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Irmos: Him whom the hosts of heaven glorify, whom the Cherubim and

Theotokion: The spiritual purple of Emmanuel was woven inside thy womb as if from scarlet silk, O Most-pure Virgin. Therefore we honor thee as truly Theotokos. Katavasia, Irmos 8 from the verse: We praise bless and worship the Lord singing and exalting Him throughout all ages. Him whom the hosts of heaven glorify, whom the Cherubim and Seraphim dread, let every breath and creature praise, bless and magnify throughout all ages. ∗

I have sinned, O Savior, have mercy on me. Awaken my mind to conversion, accept my repentance and take pity on me as I cry: Against Thee only have I sinned and have done evil in Thy sight, have mercy on me. Elijah once ascended above all earthly things in the chariot of his virtues as if to Heaven. Meditate, then O my soul, on this ascent. Elisha once took up the mantle of Elijah and received a double portion of grace from the Lord. But thou, O my soul, hast no share in this grace because of thine uncontrolled desires. With the mantle of Elijah, Elisha made the streams of the Jordan stand still on either side. But thou, O my soul, hast no share in this grace because of thine uncontrolled desires.

Irmos: Him whom the hosts of heaven glorify, whom the Cherubim and

The Shunammite woman graciously gave shelter to the righteous man,

Irmos: Him whom the hosts of heaven glorify, whom the Cherubim and

but thou, O my soul, hast welcomed neither stranger nor traveler into thy house. Therefore shalt thou be cast out weeping from the bridal chamber. In all ways hast thou imitated the unclean thoughts of Gehazi, O my wretched soul. At least now, in thine old age, rid thyself of his greed and flee from the fires of hell, turning away from thine evil ways. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. To the Trinity: O Eternal Father, Co-eternal Son and Gracious Comforter, the Spirit of Righteousness, Father of the Divine Word, Word of the Eternal Father, and Living and Creating Spirit. O Trinity, One in Unity, have mercy on me! Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Irmos: The eternal King of Glory before whom the powers of heaven tremble,

Seraphim dread, let every breath and creature praise, bless and magnify throughout all ages. Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

Repeat Irmos: The eternal King of Glory before whom the powers of heaven tremble, and the ranks of Angels stand in fear, O ye Priests praise and ye people exalt above all throughout all ages. Refrain: Apostles of Christ, pray to God for us.

Having imitated Uzziah, O my soul, thou hast contracted a double leprosy: for thy deeds are wicked and thy thoughts, impure. Leave these all behind, and hasten to repentance. Thou hast heard of the Ninevites, O my soul, who repented before God wearing sackcloth and ashes; yet thou hast not imitated them and hast become worse than all who have ever sinned both before and after the Law. Thou hast heard, O my soul, how Jeremiah in the muddy pit cried out with lamentations and sought tears for the city of Sion. Imitate his life of lamentation, therefore, and be saved. Jonah fled to Tarshish foreseeing the conversion of the Ninevites, for as a Prophet he knew of God’s compassion and was anxious that his prophecy be

Irmos: Him whom the hosts of heaven glorify, whom the Cherubim and

fulfilled. Thou hast heard, O my soul, how Daniel stopped the mouths of the lions in the pit; and how the Three Youths quenched the fiery flames of the furnace through faith. I have set before thee the names of people from the Old Testament to serve as examples, O my soul. Imitate the God-pleasing deeds of the Righteous, and flee from the sins of the wicked. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. To the Trinity: O Eternal Father, Co-eternal Son and Gracious Comforter, the Spirit of Righteousness, Father of the Divine Word, Word of the Eternal Father, and Living and Creating Spirit. O Trinity, One in Unity, have mercy on me! Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: The spiritual purple of Emmanuel was woven inside thy womb as

In the Slavic Tradition, the Irmos of the Three-Ode Canon is prescribed as the Katavasia,

if from scarlet silk, O Most-pure Virgin. Therefore we honor thee as truly Theotokos.

Seraphim dread, let every breath and creature praise, bless and magnify throughout all ages. Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

O righteous Judge and Savior, have mercy on me and deliver me from the fire and from the punishment that I deserve to suffer at the Judgement. O grant me Thy forgiveness before the end, through my practice of the virtues and through my repentance. Like the thief I cry, ‘Remember me’, and like Peter I weep, ‘Forgive me’; Like the Publican I cry ‘Have mercy on me’, and like the Harlot I weep bitterly, O Savior. Accept these, my lamentation, as once Thou didst accept those of the woman of Canaan.

Heal, O Savior, the corruption of my humbled soul; and as the One Physician, apply the healing salve and oil and wine — the works of repentance, compunction and tears. Like the woman of Canaan, I cry to Thee, ‘Have mercy on me, O Son of David.’ Like the woman with the issue of blood, I touch the hem of Thy garment; and I weep as Martha and Mary wept for Lazarus. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. To the Trinity: O Eternal Father, Co-eternal Son and Gracious Comforter, the Spirit of Righteousness, Father of the Divine Word, Word of the Eternal Father, and Living and Creating Spirit. O Trinity, One in Unity, have mercy on me! Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: The spiritual purple of Emmanuel was woven inside thy womb as

if from scarlet silk, O Most-pure Virgin. Therefore we honor thee as truly Theotokos.

Seraphim dread, let every breath and creature praise, bless and magnify throughout all ages. Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

As precious myrrh, O Savior, I empty on Thine head the alabaster jar of my tears, and like the Harlot I cry beseeching Thy mercy: I offer Thee my supplications and I beg for Thy forgiveness. No one has sinned against Thee as I have; yet accept even me, O compassionate Savior, for I repent with fear and I cry out with love: against Thee only have I sinned, have mercy on me, O Most merciful One. Spare the work of Thine hands, O Savior, and as the Shepherd, seek the lost sheep that has gone astray. Snatch me away from the wolf and make me as a lamb, safe among the sheep of Thy pasture. When Thou sittest upon Thy throne, O merciful Judge, and revealest Thy dread glory, O what fear there will be then; when the furnace shall burn, and all

shall tremble before the majesty of Thy Judgement seat, O Christ! Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us.

To St Mary of Egypt: The Mother of the eternal Light hath illumined thee and freed thee from the darkness of the passions. Therefore, having received the Grace of the Spirit, O Mary, enlighten even us who praise thee now in faith. Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us. To St Mary of Egypt: Beholding in thee a new wonder, O Venerable Mother, the holy Zosimas was truly amazed; for he saw an Angel in the flesh, and was filled with great astonishment, praising Christ unto all ages. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. To the Trinity: O Eternal Father, Co-eternal Son and Gracious Comforter, the Spirit of Righteousness, Father of the Divine Word, Word of the Eternal Father,

and Living and Creating Spirit. O Trinity, One in Unity, have mercy on me! Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: The spiritual purple of Emmanuel was woven inside thy womb as if from scarlet silk, O Most-pure Virgin. Therefore we honor thee as truly Theotokos.

and the ranks of Angels stand in fear, O ye Priests praise and ye people exalt above all throughout all ages. Refrain: Apostles of Christ, pray to God for us.

As coals of immaterial fire, O Apostles, burn up my material passions and kindle within me now a longing for divine love. Let us honor the well-tuned trumpets of the Word, which have caused the ill-founded walls of the enemy to tumble down, and have firmly established the ramparts of the knowledge of God. Break the passionate idols of my soul, as you broke into pieces the temple and pillars of the enemy, O ye consecrated temples, the Apostles of the Lord. Most Holy Theotokos, save us. Theotokion: O Pure Virgin, thou hast contained Him Who by nature cannot be contained; thou hast held Him who upholds all things; thou didst suckle Him Who sustains creation — Christ the Giver of Life.

(SECOND CANON)

TONE 8

O Apostles of Christ, with the Spirit as Architect you have built the whole Church, and within it you bless Christ throughout all ages. Sounding the trumpets of the dogmas, the Apostles have overthrown all

the error of idolatry, exalting Christ throughout all ages.

O noble company of the Apostles, guardians of the world and citizens of heaven, deliver from danger those who ever sing your praises. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. To the Trinity: O Three-fold Sun, All-radiant Sovereignty of God, O Nature— One in glory, One enthroned: Father, All-creating, Son and Spirit of God, I sing of Thee forever. Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Theotokion: Let us praise in ceaseless song the Mother of God, as a throne Most-honored and Most-high, O ye people; for after childbirth she alone is both Mother and Virgin.

NOW WE CONTINUE WITH ODE 8 OF THE GREAT CANON:

Seraphim dread, let every breath and creature praise, bless and magnify throughout all ages. Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.

1. I have sinned, O Savior, have mercy on me. Awaken my mind to conversion, accept my repentance and take pity on me as I cry: Against Thee only have I sinned and have done evil in Thy sight, have mercy on me. 2. Elijah once ascended above all earthly things in the chariot of his virtues as if to Heaven. Meditate, then O my soul, on this ascent. 3. Elisha once took up the mantle of Elijah and received a double portion of grace from the Lord. But thou, O my soul, hast no share in this grace because of thine uncontrolled desires.

4. With the mantle of Elijah, Elisha made the streams of the Jordan stand still on either side. But thou, O my soul, hast no share in this grace because of thine uncontrolled desires. 5.

The Shunammite woman graciously gave shelter to the righteous

man, but thou, O my soul, hast welcomed neither stranger nor traveler into thy house. Therefore shalt thou be cast out weeping from the bridal chamber. 6. In all ways hast thou imitated the unclean thoughts of Gehazi, O my wretched soul. At least now, in thine old age, rid thyself of his greed and flee from the fires of hell, turning away from thine evil ways. 7. Having imitated Uzziah, O my soul, thou hast contracted a double leprosy: for thy deeds are wicked and thy thoughts, impure. Leave these all behind, and hasten to repentance. 8. Thou hast heard of the Ninevites, O my soul, who repented before God wearing sackcloth and ashes; yet thou hast not imitated them and hast become worse than all who have ever sinned both before and after the Law.

9. Thou hast heard, O my soul, how Jeremiah in the muddy pit cried out with lamentations and sought tears for the city of Sion. Imitate his life of lamentation, therefore, and be saved. 10. Jonah fled to Tarshish foreseeing the conversion of the Ninevites, for as a Prophet he knew of God’s compassion and was anxious that his prophecy be fulfilled. 11. Thou hast heard, O my soul, how Daniel stopped the mouths of the lions in the pit; and how the Three Youths quenched the fiery flames of the furnace through faith. 12. I have set before thee the names of people from the Old Testament to serve as examples, O my soul. Imitate the God-pleasing deeds of the Righteous, and flee from the sins of the wicked.

13. O righteous Judge and Savior, have mercy on me and deliver me from the fire and from the punishment that I deserve to suffer at the Judgement. O grant me Thy forgiveness before the end, through my practice of the virtues and through my repentance. 14. Like the thief I cry, ‘Remember me’, and like Peter I weep, ‘Forgive me’; Like the Publican I cry ‘Have mercy on me’, and like the Harlot I weep bitterly, O Savior. Accept these, my lamentation, as once Thou didst accept those of the woman of Canaan. 15. Heal, O Savior, the corruption of my humbled soul; and as the One Physician, apply the healing salve and oil and wine — the works of repentance, compunction and tears.

16. Like the woman of Canaan, I cry to Thee, ‘Have mercy on me, O Son of David.’ Like the woman with the issue of blood, I touch the hem of Thy garment; and I weep as Martha and Mary wept for Lazarus. 17. As precious myrrh, O Savior, I empty on Thine head the alabaster jar of my tears, and like the Harlot I cry beseeching Thy mercy: I offer Thee my supplications and I beg for Thy forgiveness. 18. No one has sinned against Thee as I have; yet accept even me, O compassionate Savior, for I repent with fear and I cry out with love: against Thee only have I sinned, have mercy on me, O Most merciful One. 19. Spare the work of Thine hands, O Savior, and as the Shepherd, seek

the lost sheep that has gone astray. Snatch me away from the wolf and make me

as a lamb, safe among the sheep of Thy pasture. 20. When Thou sittest upon Thy throne, O merciful Judge, and revealest Thy dread glory, O what fear there will be then; when the furnace shall burn, and all shall tremble before the majesty of Thy Judgement seat, O Christ! Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us. To St Mary of Egypt: The Mother of the eternal Light hath illumined thee and freed thee from the darkness of the passions. Therefore, having received the Grace of the Spirit, O Mary, enlighten even us who praise thee now in faith. Venerable Mother Mary, pray to God for us. To St Mary of Egypt: Beholding in thee a new wonder, O Venerable Mother,

the holy Zosimas was truly amazed; for he saw an Angel in the flesh, and was

filled with great astonishment, praising Christ unto all ages. Venerable Father Andrew, pray to God for us. To Saint Andrew: As thou hast boldness before the Lord, O Andrew of Crete, worthy of all praise, intercede I implore thee, that through thy prayers I may be delivered from the bonds of iniquity, for thou art the instructor of repentance and the glory of the Saints. We bless the Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To the Trinity: O Eternal Father, Co-eternal Son and Gracious Comforter, the Spirit of Righteousness, Father of the Divine Word, Word of the Eternal Father, and Living and Creating Spirit. O Trinity, One in Unity, have mercy on me! Now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Refrain: More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: without defilement thou gavest birth to God the Word: true Theotokos, we magnify thee. 2.

For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden; for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessèd.

For He Who is mighty has done great things for me; and Holy is His Name.

And His mercy is on those who fear Him; from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in

the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and has exalted those of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things, and

the rich He has sent empty away.

He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy; as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever.

The eternal King of Glory…

NOW, THE THREE-ODE CANON CONTINUES (The Troparia and Refrains are chanted by the Reader — without bows or prostrations):

THREE-ODE CANON

(FIRST CANON)