Ode 8. The Lord glorified.

Let us rival the Angels’ life and wing our minds on high, and immaterially raise the song with them, praising the Lord and highly exalting him to all the ages.

The Angels, worshippers of the heavenly choir, circling the throne of glory and ever wheeling about God, praise and highly exalt him to the ages.

The Trinity that makes a flame of fire those who minister unceasingly in the heights, and shows the Angels to be spirits, let us worship and glorify to all the ages.

The One before whom in heaven tens of thousands of Angels and Archangels trembling stand you were worthy to carry in your arms; implore him, Mother of God, that we may be saved, who glorify him to the ages.

Second Canon.

Michael the Archangel is Prince of Angels; but resplendently glorified with him is the initiate of grace and the Virgin’s honoured suitor, the Captain of the Bodiless hosts, Gabriel who fittingly announces joy to those who cry: You people, highly exalt Christ to the ages.

Ezekiel saw the ranks of Angels in varied form and in his opening proclaimed: Among them stand the six-winged Seraphim, and the many-eyed Cherubim circle round. With them he saw the Archangels shining like amber as they glorified Christ to all the ages.

Daniel clearly foretold how fearful would be the arrival of your second coming down when he proclaimed how thrones were placed, and an Ancient took his seat; and he speaks of tens of thousands of Angels who stand around in fear and cry out to the Trinity with never silent voices to all the ages.

The Word, consubstantial with the Father and the Spirit, willingly appeared from the Virgin with the same form as us, not mingling the elements of the dread union; for he is shown to be one in both, in the two natures and one person; the image of whose likeness we now worship.

The Offspring of the Mother of God. ****