Ode 3. Irmos.

Holy Youths fittingly you were shown to be an acceptable sacrifice of prayer to Christ, and a most sweet savour, as you stoutly put to shame the foul stench of error.

Glory. Both now.

**Theotokion.**

You appeared, O Victors, as seven unerring stars, shining by faith, and you point those swimming in the deep of error to the harbour of salvation.

Or Cross-Theotokion.

Standing stoutly like the Maccabees of old before a tyrant’s judgement seat, you exchanged the army’s perishable glory by soldiering for Christ.

The bush on Sinai prefigured the wonder of your child-bearing, O Virgin; for when you faithfully accepted the fire of the godhead in your womb, you were not consumed by its flame.

Establish us in you, O Lord, who put sin to death by a Tree, and plant your fear in the hearts of us who sing your praise.

Kathisma. Tone 4. Lifted up on the Cross.

They despised the things of the world as corruptible, and received incorruptible gifts; dying they remained beyond corruption, therefore they rose up after many years and buried all the unbelief of the hostile. As we believers celebrate them today with praise, let us honour Christ in song.

As a natural lover of sin I implore you, Honoured One who gave birth to God who takes away the sin of the world, take pity on my soul of many sins, and wipe away my many sins; for you are the propitiation of sinners, the salvation and succour of the faithful.

When she, who in the last times gave you birth, O Christ, begotten from the Father without beginning, saw you hanging on a Cross, she cried aloud, ‘Alas! My Jesu, dearly loved, how can you, who as God are glorified by Angels, now willingly be crucified by lawless mortals? I sing your praise, O long-suffering.’