Ode 4. You, Lord, are my strength.

Christ, who with providence arranges for all things as he is good, has given you to us as another of like manner to the Apostles, herald of the heavenly initiation and godlike instructor in the mysteries on high, all-blessed John Chrysostom.

Let us honour John, shining like gold, golden of speech, making all golden with the gold-formed beams of his teaching and making the world radiant with his tongue, brighter than gold and filled full of light, pouring out inspired grace.

You became wholly a dwelling place of God; you appeared as wholly an instrument of the Spirit raising a melody inspired by God of every virtue and a foundation of salvation, and showing forth the beauty of the kingdom of heaven, all-blessed John Chrysostom.

You proclaimed the compassion of God, setting out ways of repentance; and teaching excellently and most completely the flight from evils, O all-blessed; and showing forth counsels for works of excellence, all-revered Father Chrysostom.

After God we have gained you as protection, for you were declared Mother of God, of the Maker and Creator, who took our form, O all-blameless, and saved it from corruption and death and glorified it with divine glory.

The Prophet Avvakoum. ****