Ode 5. Irmos.

Of the Mother of God. Same Irmos.

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

Let us arise in the early dawn, and instead of myrrh, offer praises to the Master, and we shall see Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, who causes life to dawn for all.

Of the Myrrhbearers. Irmos.

Those who were held by the chains of Hell, seeing your measureless compassion, press forward to the light, O Christ, with joyful step, praising an eternal Passover.

With torches in our hands let us go forth to meet Christ as he comes from the grave like a bridegroom, and with the festive ranks of Angels let us feast God’s saving Passover.

immaculate Mother of God, the assembly of the devout is enlightened by the divine and life-giving rays of your Son’s resurrection, and is filled with joy.

You did not open the gates of the Virgin, when you took flesh. You did not break the seals of the sepulchre, O King of creation. Therefore when she saw you risen, she rejoiced.

The ancient garment, which the sower of sin wove for me, alas, you stripped off me, my Saviour, when you clothed yourself in me.

My sin sewed fig leaves for me when I, alas, by the counsel of the serpent did not keep your most pure commandment, my Saviour.

Coming upon my soul wounded by my thieving thoughts, Christ, the child of Mary, poured oil on it and healed it.

Standing by the Cross the blameless Mother of God called out as a mother, ‘You have left me behind alone, my Son and my God’.

Having overthrown the serpent, origin of evil, with the weapon of your Cross, you smashed the sting of death, O Jesu.

‘Where death is your sting? Where Hell your victory?’ Let Adam join the cry. You have been smashed by the return to life of him who raised the dead.

The Myrrh-bearing women, coming to the tomb of him who gave life to those below, heard a voice saying, ‘Christ has risen!’

As we celebrate the memory of the devout Myrrhbearers and of all your Disciples, in your shining Rising, we sing your praise, O Christ.

Let us all worthily honour the noble one who took down the Lord’s body from the tree and faithfully gave it burial.

I worship God, Father and Son and Spirit, three Persons, and I believe the one to be three with one Essence.

We faithful praise you, who gave birth by a conception beyond nature without seed to him who renews nature, Christ, the only Master.

Let us rise at dawn. ********