Ode 6. Irmos.

**Of the Mother of God. The same Irmos.**

**Katavasia.** You went down.

Kontakion. Model Melody. Tone 2.

Both now. **Theotokion.**

You went down to the deepest parts of the earth, and you shattered the everlasting bars that held fast those that were fettered, O Christ. And on the third day, like Jonas from the whale, you arose from the tomb.

Of the Myrrhbearers. Irmos.

Keeping the seals intact O Christ, you rose from the tomb, you who did not harm the locks of the Virgin’s womb at your birth, and you have opened to us the gates of Paradise.

O my Saviour, the living, unslain Victim, as God offering yourself willingly to the Father, you raised with yourself all Adam’s race in rising from the tomb.

** **risoner of old of death and corruption, the human race has been brought back through him was took flesh from your spotless womb to incorruptible and everlasting life, O Virgin Mother of God.

He who went down into your womb, O pure Maiden, dwelt there and took flesh beyond understanding, went down into the lowest parts of the earth and raised Adam with himself when he rose from the tomb.

Hell is dead. Take courage, you who are born of earth, for Christ, hung upon the tree, has hurled away the sword against him and Hell lies dead. For, stripped naked, he has been despoiled of those he held.

‘Hell has been despoiled! Take courage you dead! The graves have been opened, arise!’ Christ, who came to ransom all mankind from death and corruption, cries out to you from Hell.

‘Now, Hell, you have orders. Give me back the dead you once had strength to swallow’, the Life-giver and God, who came to ransom all mankind from your insatiable maw, cries out to you.

The Lord has risen, having despoiled the foe and delivered the prisoners. He has brought back all mankind and raised Adam the first-formed, for he is compassionate and loves mankind.

Having wrapped you in a winding sheet, O Christ, the noble Joseph laid you in a grave. having anointed the temple of your body which had been destroyed, he rolled a great stone to the mouth of the sepulchre.

O Myrrh-bearing women, why do you still hurry? Why do you bring spices for the living? Christ has risen as he foretold. Let your tears cease: they have changed to joy.

Let us believers praise the Trinity in Unity, glorifying the Father with the Son, and the Spirit consubstantial with the Son, and him who with the Father is without beginning and eternal God.

Like a vine, pure Maiden, you conceived unhusbanded in your womb the Grape Cluster of incorruption, from which for us the streams of immortality pour out, like wine, eternal life.

When you cried to the Myrrhbearers, ‘Rejoice!’, Christ our God, you ended the lament of our foremother Eve by your resurrection, while you ordered your Apostles to proclaim, ‘The Saviour has risen from the grave’.

As they went to your tomb, O Saviour, the Myrrhbearers were troubled among themselves in mind and they said, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the grave for us?’ And looking up they see that the stone has been rolled away. They were amazed by the appearance of the Angel and his raiment; they were seized with fright and thought to flee; but the young man cried out to them, ‘Do not be afraid. The one you seek has risen. Come, see the place where the body of Jesus was laid and going quickly tell his disciples: The Saviour has risen from the grave’.

Synaxarion from the Menaion, then the following:

On the same day, the third Sunday from Pascha, we celebrate the feast of the Myrrhbearers. We also remember Joseph of Arimatheia, who was a disciple in secret, as well as Nikodemos, the disciple by night.

**Verses** **

**Women Disciples bring sweet spice to Christ;

While I to them, like spices, bring my hymn.