Ode 3. Irmos.

Of the Martyrs.

O Mother of God, as living and ungrudging source, establish those united in spiritual fellowship who sing hymns you of praise, and in your divine glory grant them crowns of glory.

Cross Theotokion.

The lawless people dragged you like a sheep to the slaughter, O Christ, who are the Lamb of God, and who wish to rescue from the bitter wolf the sheep whom you loved for you love mankind.

Of the Mother of God. Another Irmos.

You stood judged before the unjust judge, you who judge justly the whole earth, and you endured blows, for you wished to free me, O Lord, who am enslaved to the evil ruler of this world.

Contending according to the laws, O Saints, you put to shame your lawless foes, and being willingly put to death for the resurrection of all you threw down the dragon, the cause of death.

The Martyrs have been lifted up from earth, already mounted as martyrs on true glory, and, filled with ineffable joy, though formed of matter, have been united with the immaterial Hosts.

O truly Virgin, from you appeared the refashioning of Eve, God born in the flesh and raised on the Cross and routing demons, O Sovereign Lady full of God’s grace.

The One who fashioned me, man­kind, from clay in the beginning, is fashioned for me in your womb, O All-pure, so righting the former fall.

By conceiving Life, O Mother of God, you destroyed the might of death and the sentence of the ancient curse; therefore we honour your im­maculate Birth-giving.

O Mother of God, we honour you as her who gave birth to God, as we fit a title and a name suitable to your offspring, Sovereign Lady.