Ode 9.

Exapostilarion.

The choir of holy Fathers, having hurried together from the ends of the whole world, proclaimed the doctrine of the one being and nature of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and clearly delivered to the Church the mystery of the godhead. Praising them with faith, let us call them blessed as we say: O godly host, inspired warriors of the Lord’s battle-line, brightly shining stars of the spiritual firmament, impregnable towers of the mystical Sion, sweet-scented flowers of Paradise, pure golden mouths of the Word, Nicea’s boast, the whole world’s ornament, intercede insistently on behalf of our souls.

ord most mighty and King of all, great in might and counsel, who hold the universe in being, incomprehensible, alone God, strengthen the Church, protecting her by your orthodoxy, at the entreaties of the all-glorious Fathers, who have condemned false doctrine.

ven on earth, O Saints, whose minds were in heaven, you were found worthy of great honours, for you gave Christ’s image a relative honour; and now having laid aside the shadow and the covering of the flesh, you see him in person face to face, and are found worthy of yet greater things.

o that we might be chastened you provoked an assault by barbaric cavalry with all their host, do you shatter it yourself and their violence against us; and fight with the King who has shown his trust in you, who achieve all things, at the confident prayers of the Fathers whose memory we celebrate.

he mystery of your awe-inspiring child-bearing no mortal mind can fathom; but no more than can the lofty mind of Angels that above nature you gave birth to God incarnate; therefore, acknowledging you as Mother of God and depicting you with him, we magnify you.

O Fathers with minds in heaven, who were gathered in the Seventh Council, offer an insistent supplication to the Trinity that those who sing the praise of your divine assembly may be delivered from every heresy and eternal punishment and may reach the Kingdom.

O Lord supremely good, at the prayers of your Mother and of the Fathers gathered in the seven Councils, establish the Church and strengthen the Faith; and make all sharers in the Kingdom of heaven, when you come on earth to judge all creation.

At Lauds we sing 4 Stichera of the Resurrection and 3, Prosomia, of the Fathers, doubling the first.

Tone 6.

Having welded together all spiritual knowledge, and having examined together by the Divine Spirit the heavenly and revered Creed, the revered Fathers, under God’s inspiration, traced it out. In it, clearly following the teachings of the Apostles, they most distinctly teach that the Word is without beginning with his Begetter and most surely consubstantial. Renowned they are, truly all-blessed and godly-minded.

Blessed are you, Lord, the God of our Fathers.

Having received the spiritual brilliance of the Holy Spirit, and divinely inspired, the good heralds proclaimed the supernatural oracle, brief in words, but rich in meaning; the blest defenders of Gospel teachings and the godly traditions, whose revelation they clearly received from on high, and, enlightened, set forth the Faith taught them by God.

Gather to him his holy ones.

Having collected together all their skill as shepherds, and stirred up their most just anger, the godly Shepherds, as Christ’s truest servants, the most sacred initiates of the inspired proclamation, most justly drove off the fierce and ravening wolves with the sling of the Spirit, having cast as from a sling from the body of the Church those fallen as though sick of a deadly and incurable sickness.

Both now. You are most blessed.

Great Doxology and Dismissal.

At the Liturgy, Typika and Beatitudes of the Tone and from the and 6th Odes of the Canon of the Fathers.

The just will be held in eternal memory.