Ode 9.

Exapostilarion. Tone 3.

The choir of the Apostles shrouded your Body, which had received God, as they looked with awe and addressed you with clear voice: As you depart into heavenly bridal chambers to your Son, may you ever save your inheritance.

At Lauds we insert 6 Stichera and sing Prosomia, doubling the 1st.

Megalynarion, which is sung before each Troparion of the following Ode:

Megalynarion, sung as the one above:

Tone 4.

All generations call you blessed, the only Mother of God.

Glory. Both now.

At your glorious Falling Asleep the heavens rejoice and the armies of Angels exult; the whole earth is glad as it utters its funeral hymn to you, Mother of the Master of all things, all-holy Virgin, who knew not wedlock, who have delivered the human race from the ancestral sentence.

In you, O Virgin without spot, the bounds of nature have been overcome; for childbirth remains virgin, and death is betrothed to life; Virgin after bearing child, and alive after death, O Mother of God, may you ever save your inheritance.

Then the King will desire your beauty, for he is your God and your shall worship him.

At a divine command the chief Apostles hastened from the ends of the earth to bury you, and when they saw you being taken from the earth to heaven they cried out with joy in Gabriel’s words: Hail, chariot of the whole Godhead; hail, who alone by your childbirth have joined together things on earth with those on high.

The angelic Powers were amazed as they looked in Sion on their own Master bearing in his hands the soul of a woman; for as befitted a Son he was saying to the one who gave him birth without spot: Come, honoured Lady, be glorified with your Son and God.

Virgin Mother, Bride of God, who gave birth to life, you have passed over to immortal life by your revered Falling Asleep. Angels, Rulers and Powers, Apostles, Prophets and all creation escorted you, and your Son received in his immaculate hands your unblemished soul.

Second Canon.

At your immortal Falling Asleep, O Mother of God, Mother of life, clouds caught the Apostles up into the air; and though they were scattered through the world, made them form a single choir in the presence of your immaculate body. As they reverently buried you they sang Gabriel’s song, crying out: ‘Hail, full of grace, Virgin Mother without bridegroom, the Lord is with you’. With them implore him as your Son and our God that our souls may be saved.

Angels, when they saw the falling Asleep of the Virgin, were amazed at how the Virgin went up from earth to the things on high.

Great Doxology.

Let all those born of earth, bearing torches, in spirit leap for joy; let the nature of the immaterial Minds keep festival as it honours the sacred festival of God’s Mother, and let it cry out: Hail, all-blessed Mother of God, pure and ever-virgin’.

Holy oil is also given to the brethren.

Come now, on Sion, the divine and fertile mountain of the living God, let us be glad as we gaze on the Mother of God. For as his Mother Christ translates her to a far better and more divine tabernacle, the Holy of Holies.

At the Liturgy, the Typika, the Beatitudes, and from the Canons of the Feast Odes 3 and 6.

Come, you faithful, let us approach the tomb of God’s Mother, and let us embrace it, touching it sincerely with the lips, eyes and brows of the heart; and let us draw abundant gifts of healings, which flow from an ever-owing fount.

**Psalm 44**

Receive from us this burial hymn, O Mother of the living God; and overshadow us with your light-bearing and divine grace. Grant victories to our Sovereign, peace to the people that loves Christ, to us who sing forgiveness and salvation of our souls.

A good word, Alleluia.

O you Apostles, assembled here from the ends of the earth, bury my body in Gethsemane; and you, my Son, receive my spirit. (

My heart has uttered a good Word. I tell my works to the King.

**Three times**) ****

My tongue is the pen of ready writer, You are lovely with a beauty beyond the sons of men.

Grace has poured from your lips, therefore God has blessed you for ever.

Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty warrior, in your splendour and beauty.

Draw your bow and prosper and reign in the cause of truth and meekness and justice, and your right hand will guide you wonderfully.

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; the sceptre of your Kingdom is a rod of justice.

You have loved right and hated wrong, therefore God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your fellows.

Your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia, from the ivory palaces which gladden you.

Kings’ daughters are in your train. The Queen stood at your right hand arrayed in gold wrought with many colours.

Listen my daughter and see, and incline your ear, and forget your people and your father’s house.

And the daughter of Tyre will worship you with gifts; the richest of the people will entreat your favour.

All the glory of the King’s daughter is within, though she is arrayed in tasselled gold wrought with many colours.

The virgins in her train will be brought to the King; those near her will be brought to you.

They will be brought with joy and gladness; they will be led into the King’s temple.

Instead of your fathers, sons are born to you. You shall make them rulers over all the earth.

I will remember your name throughout all generations, therefore people will praise and thank you for ever and ever.

Psalm 135

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, Alleluia: for his mercy endures for ever, Alleluia.

O give thanks to the God of gods, Alleluia: for his mercy…

O give thanks to the Lord of lords, Alleluia: for his mercy…

To him who alone does great wonders, Alleluia: for his mercy…

To him who made the heavens with Wisdom, Alleluia: for his mercy…

To him who established the earth on the waters, Alleluia: for his mercy…

To him who alone made the great lights, Alleluia: for his mercy…

The sun to rule the day, Alleluia: for his mercy…

The moon and the stars to rule the night, Alleluia: for his mercy…

To him who smote Egypt with their firstborn, Alleluia: for his mercy…

And brought Israel out from among them, Alleluia: for his mercy…

With a mighty hand and arm upraised, Alleluia: for his mercy…

To him who divided the Red Sea in two, Alleluia: for his mercy…

And led Israel through the midst of it, Alleluia: for his mercy…

And shook off Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, Alleluia: for his mercy…

To him who led his people in the wilderness, Alleluia: for his mercy…

To him who smote great kings, Alleluia: for his mercy…

And slew mighty kings, Alleluia: for his mercy…

Sehon, King of the Amorites, Alleluia: for his mercy…

And Og, the King of Bashan, Alleluia: for his mercy…

And gave their land as a heritage, Alleluia: for his mercy…

A heritage for Israel his servant, Alleluia: for his mercy…

For in our humiliation the Lord remembered us, Alleluia: for his mercy…

And redeemed us from our enemies, Alleluia: for his mercy…

Who gives food to all flesh, Alleluia: for his mercy…

O give thanks to the God of heaven, Alleluia: for his mercy…

All the earth, Alleluia.

Rejoice in the Lord all the earth, Alleluia: rejoice before the Lord, the King, Alleluia.

O give thanks to him, praise his name, Alleluia: In the city of the lord of hosts, in the city of our God, Alleluia.

His place was in peace, Alleluia: and his dwelling in Sion, Alleluia.

The Lord loves the gates of Sion, Alleluia: more than the tabernacles of Jacob, Alleluia.

Glorious things are spoken of you, City of God, Alleluia: God has founded her for ever, Alleluia.

God is in the midst of her and she shall not be shaken, Alleluia: the Most High has hallowed his tabernacle, Alleluia.

Holiness and majesty, Alleluia: in your hallowing, Alleluia

My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready, Alleluia: I will sing and chant in my glory, Alleluia.

What shall I give in return to the Lord, Alleluia: for all that he has given me, Alleluia.

This is mount Sion, Alleluia: in which You have pitched your tent, Alleluia.

I will take the cup of salvation, Alleluia: and call on the name of the Lord, Alleluia.

In peace with him, Alleluia: I will rest and sleep, Alleluia.

Return, my soul to your rest, Alleluia: for the Lord has done good to you, Alleluia.

Into your hands I shall commit my spirit, Alleluia: the Lord has smitten the necks of sinners, Alleluia.

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever, Alleluia: You fashioned me and placed your hand upon me, Alleluia.

You held my right hand, Alleluia: and received me with glory, Alleluia.

For I will pass into a place of wondrous protection, Alleluia: to the house of God, Alleluia.

With a voice of joy and salvation in the tents of the just, Alleluia: This change is due to the right hand of the Most High, Alleluia.

But I in justice will look on your face, Alleluia: and be satisfied with beholding your glory, Alleluia.

Arise, O Lord, into your resting place, Alleluia: You and the Ark of your holiness, Alleluia.

Holy is your temple, Alleluia: Wonderful in justice, Alleluia.

Holiness becomes your house, Lord, Alleluia: for length of days, Alleluia.

I will remember your name, Alleluia: throughout all generations, Alleluia.

Let us worship the Father and let us glorify the Son, and let us all together sing the praise of the All-Holy Spirit, as we cry out and say, ‘All-Holy Trinity save us all’.

Your people, O Christ, brings your Mother in supplication. At her entreaties grant us your acts of compassion, that we may glorify you, O Good One,  who dawned for us from the tomb.