Ode 4. Irmos.

Of the Mother of God. Same Irmos.

Both now. ****Theotokion.****

Let the Prophet Avvakum, inspired by God, keep the divine watch with us, and show forth the radiant Angel, who with resounding voice declares, ‘Today brings salvation to the world, for Christ has risen as omnipotent’.

Of the Myrrhbearers. The Irmos.

Christ appeared as a ‘male’ who opened a virgin womb; but as our food he is called ‘lamb’; ‘unblemished’, as our Passover without stain; and ‘perfect’ for he is true God.

As a yearling lamb, for us the blessed crown, Christ was willingly sacrificed for all, a cleansing Passover; and from the tomb the fair sun of justice has shone for us again.

God’s forebear David dancing leaped before the Ark, mere shadow; but seeing the fulfilment of the types, let us, God’s holy people, inspired, rejoice, for Christ is risen as omnipotent.

ven he who fashioned Adam your forefather, O holy one, is fashioned from you, and by his own death he has today destroyed the death that came through him, and shed light on all with the divine beams of his Resurrection.

Seeing Christ, whom you bore, shining in beauty from the dead, O Pure One, fair and lovely, and spotless among women, as you rejoice to-day with the Apostles at the salvation of all, glorify him.

Foreseeing your birth from a Virgin, the Prophet cried out and proclaimed, ‘I heard your report, O Christ, and was afraid, for you came from Theman and from a holy shaded mountain.’

****Troparia.****

Through a Cross you took prisoner the belly of Hell, you raised the dead with you and overthrew the tyranny of death. Therefore we, Adam’s descendants, falling down in worship sing the praise of your burial and your Rising, O Christ.

You were well pleased, our Saviour, through the bowels of your mercy, to be nailed to the Cross, and to redeem us from the ancestral curse. Release me from the bonds of my many offences, for you can accomplish whatever you will.

Having nailed my ancient curse on the Cross, O Saviour, and become a source of blessing for me through the blood from your side, release me from the bonds of my many offences, for you can accomplish whatever you will.

When Hell met you in the infernal regions, O Saviour, he was embittered, seeing that the dead, whom he of old had had the strength to swallow, now, unwilling, he was giving back. The depths below are being scoured, laid bare and despoiled of the dead.

Though the stone was sealed, O lawless foes, and the watch set, yet the Lord arose as he foretold, releasing the bonds of my many offences, for he can accomplish whatever he wills.

Having risen from the dead, despoiled Hell, given life to the dead and become for me a source of incorruption by your Rising, release the bonds of my many offences, for you can accomplish whatever you will.

Be ashamed indeed, lawless ones, for Christ has risen and raised the dead with him, crying, ‘Be of good courage. I have conquered the world’. Obey him then, or keep silence, misguided ones, who deny his Resurrection.

Having risen from the tomb, O Good One, you greeted the Myrrhbearers with the cry, ‘Rejoice’, and commanded the Apostles, ‘Proclaim my Rising’; release the bonds of my many offences, for you can accomplish whatever you will.

Let us honour the noble Joseph, zealot for true religion, counsellor and disciple, with the Myrrhbearers and the Apostles, as we cry out with them, and with faith and gladness praise the Saviour’s Resurrection.

Who can declare the indivisible glory of the Godhead beyond all being? For a Trinity in nature is praised, without beginning, identical in nature, praised as a Unity in Trinity, with simple substances.

Holy Virgin-mother, unceasingly implore the One who dwelt in your womb, whom you bore without pangs, to release me from the bonds of my many offences, for you can help whatever you will.

Let the Prophet. ********