Ode 8. Irmos.

Of the Mother of God. A different Irmos.

Cross-Theotokion.

The One who saved the Youths who sang songs of praise in the furnace, and who turned the thundering flame of the furnace to dew, Christ God, praise and highly exalt to all the ages.

When you were nailed to the Cross, O Saviour, creation was shaken, the sun veiled its rays and the rocks were rent, and Hell, O Saviour, was stripped bare, unable to endure your might.

You endured condemnation for the sake of the rejected and condemned, to hang naked on a Tree for the sake of the one who was naked, O Compassionate. Great is your might and your love for mankind!

Of the Martyrs.

The fellow citizens of the Bodiless Powers, the soldiers of Christ, having put on the Cross as a breastplate, advance against the opponent and trample him down with beautiful feet.

The noble Martyrs stood in the midst of the stadium, their limbs crushed by bars, and they unbarred the bond of error and overturned the altars of demons.

She who is higher than the heavens, when she saw Christ lifted high on a Tree and bringing down the lofty pride of the foe, sang with mighty voice the praise of him, alone most high.

Appease the compassionate God and Word, O Mother of God, on behalf of those why cry in faith, ‘Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord’.

We who are fixed fast in a deep of offences and have your intercession as cleansing, Mother of God, cry, ‘Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord’.

Having you as refuge, support and protection in trouble, we all cry, ‘Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord’.

A mist of fearful waves troubles me, and so I hasten to the harbour of your intercession crying out, ‘Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord’.