Ode 3. Irmos.

Of the Mother of God. A different Irmos.

Cross-Theotokion.

May my heart be established to your will, Christ God, who established the second heaven on the waters and built the earth in the waters, O All-powerful.

You spread out your palms on the Cross and covered your divine fingers in blood, Master, ransoming from a scarlet hand Adam, the work of your hands, for you alone are good and love mankind.

You were pierced in the side by a lance, Master, so setting right the fall of the side. You were once lifted up on a Tree, so leading the one who was once shipwrecked by the fruit of a tree into Paradise with the grateful Thief.

Of the Martyrs.

With pure mind let us in song sing the praise of the Martyrs of the Lord, the towers of the Church, the ramparts of true religion, the destroyers of the foe.

The Martyrs, being godlike branches of the spiritual vine, clearly bore grape clusters of courage, pouring out the wine that makes glad the hearts of all the faithful.

Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Virgin all-praised, who through the tree of his Cross made those who had been corrupted by the fruit partakers, by divine grace, of incorruption.

In the light of your Son, Sovereign Lady, scatter the murk of my faults by your intercession.

As you possess a depth of wonders and a source of healings, All-Immaculate, wipe away from my soul every stain caused by sin.

We worship your ineffable birth-giving, blessed Lady, as we call on your intercession. Implore that those who sing your praise, Pure Virgin, may be delivered from every constraint.

We have gained you, Mother of the Word, as fulfilment of hopes, divine protection and day of salvation. Make the light of repentance shine out for me.