Ode 4.

You mounted upon horses, Lord.

You mounted upon Angels, as upon horses, Lover of mankind, and took their reins in your hands, and your riding became salvation for those who ceaselessly cry out to you: Glory to your power, O Lord.

Your virtue covers Angels, Lover of mankind, and the ends of the earth are full of your glorious, divine praise, O Unoriginate, which with the Angels cries out to you: Glory to your power, O Lord.

You came forth, O merciful Christ, for the salvation of your people; you summon with you your beloved Powers and your Coming is joy for those who cry out to you in faith: Glory to your power, O Lord.

O All-pure, you were seen to be Virgin and Mother, for you bore Christ, God himself and man, to whom the ranks of Angels cry with fear: Glory to your power, O Lord.

Second Canon.

You, Lord, are my strength.

As Jesus son of Navi warred of old against Jericho, the Chief Captain of power appeared to him, great Michael, victor and champion, the leader of the Bodiless Powers; receiving strength from him, the servant of the Lord took the citadel captive.

A Prince of the bodiless Powers, great Gabriel, truly the great Archangel, once appeared to Zachary the priest bearing the good tidings of a child; and so when John, the voice of the Word, was born he gave his father back his voice.

All the ends of the earth rejoice with joy today, as they celebrate the sacred memory of your Archangels, O God, of godlike Michael and of Gabriel, inspired by God; and the whole order of Angels rejoices with them, because the world is saved by their protection.

You alone are pure even after child-birth; you alone were seen, though unwedded, giving suck to the true Word of God when, by the Holy Spirit, he had taken the form of a servant that is ours, O Virgin Mother of God; as we honour his appearing, we reverence the likeness of his form.

The Prophet Avvakoum. ****