Ode 7. He who delivered the Young Men

You rose on the third day from the tomb as one who slept, Lord, and by your divine power struck down the gatekeepers of hell; you raised up all our forebears from of old, O God of our fathers, alone blessed and greatly glorified.

**Theotokion**

Today, you peoples, as we dance and sing to the harp, let us greatly rejoice at the worship of the Cross, glorifying Christ who was nailed upon it, the God of our fathers, alone blessed and greatly glorified.

All-merciful Lord, who showed the instrument of mortality, your Cross, to be the workshop of life, honoured by the whole world, sanctify those who worship it, O God of our fathers, alone blessed and greatly glorified.

You alone, O only Jesus, are merciful and tender-hearted: enlighten and sanctify those who with faith worship your Cross and your divine Sufferings, O God of our fathers, alone blessed and greatly glorified.

I praise the Godhead, Unity in three Persons: for the Father is Light, the Son is Light, and the Spirit is Light, of Light remaining undivided, shining forth in oneness of Nature, and in three rays of the Persons.

With many names you were proclaimed by all the prophets: for you were revealed as gate of God, golden jar, holy land, O Virgin Bride of God who conceived in the flesh Jesus Christ, the God of our fathers who is greatly glorified.

The one who delivered the Young Men from the flames took flesh and came upon the earth. Nailed to the Cross, he granted us salvation, the God of our fathers, alone blessed and greatly glorified.