Ode 8. Irmos.

‘The unwearied fire, nurtured by limitless fuel shuddered at the unsullied body, close companion of the soul, of the docile youths, and gave way; while as the ever-living flame died down a hymn that lives for ever was being raised, ‘Praise the Lord, all you his works, and highly exalt him to all the ages’’.

‘I will recognize you as my chosen vessels if the seal of my gift has been marked on you, blazing with triple light’ says Christ the Word to those who delay Baptism by the hesitation of sloth; for for this I have come, granting a new way of salvation and a life of freedom.

‘The deed that is now being accomplished in you is contrary to the natural order; for what is less is normally blessed by what is mightier. Therefore I am afraid to lay my hand on your head’, the Forerunner cried out to the Word, ‘It is not usual to bring grass close to fire. Do you rather hallow me, your servant’.

Another Diode. Same Tone. Its acrostic is:

And on Tuesday

The tyrant’s decree.

Shaking off the soul’s sleep of idleness with wakefulness of heart, let us cry out to the One who comes to cleanse souls in streams of water, ‘Bless the Lord, you works of the Lord’.

Let action in us be brought to perfection by lofty contemplation of soul, so that appearing radiant in both we may cry out to the One who cleanses all, ‘Bless the Lord, you his works’.

Let us the faithful, having adorned with practical reason by double activity our talent, offer it with faith, like servants, to the Master, who comes be baptized for the refashioning of souls.

‘The tyrant’s decree the three holy Youths did not obey, but cast into the furnace they confessed God as they sang, ‘Bless the Lord, you works of the Lord’’.