Ode 4. Irmos.

Of the Mother of God. Same Irmos.

**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: ‘To-day brings salvation to the world, for Christ has risen as omnipotent’.

Of the Paralysed Man. 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.

Even He who fashioned Adam your forefather, O holy one, is fashioned from you, and by his own death He has destroyed Adam’s death to-day, and shed light on all with the divine beams of his Resurrection.

Seeing Christ, whom your 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.

Consumed by envy the Hebrew people crucified you on a tree, O Lord; and having annulled the sentence of death, you rose from the dead as mighty, raising the world with you.

‘Why, O women, do you seek the inexhaustible Sweetness with sweet spices? he has risen’, the one who was seated clothed in white said to the Myrrhbearers, ‘and fills the whole world with fragrance.

Bearing the image of a servant in your surpassing compassion, O Word, you passed by on your way and restored health to the man who had lain sick for many years, and ordered him to take up his bed.

An Angel of the Lord went down at a certain time and stirred up the water in the Sheep Pool, making one, and only one person well; but Christ saves countless multitudes by divine Baptism.

Prince of the Angels, guide of the erring, God’s Chief Captain, be among us at this hour, and offer all our prayers to the only Maker and Master.

The holy Trinity is united in nature, divided in persons: the Father beyond all being, and the co-eternal Son and the Holy and alone all-powerful Spirit.

How did you give suck, O pure one? How give birth to an infant more ancient than Adam? How bear in your embrace as Son him who is borne on the shoulders of the Cherubim? As he understands, as he knows, he who gave everything being.

Let the Prophet. ****