Ode 6. Irmos.

Of the Mother of God. The same Irmos.

Kontakion. Tone 3. Today the Virgin.

**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 Paralysed Man. The 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 up with Yourself all Adam’s race, in rising from the tomb.

Prisoner 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, O Holy one, into your womb, 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.

Willingly you were raised on a tree, you were placed as a dead man in a tomb, and having given life to all the dead in Hell together, you rose, O Christ, by divine power.

Hell meeting you below was embittered, Merciful one, and hastily gave back his prisoners, as they hymned your dread Resurrection, Saviour, with never silent voices.

The divine Disciples, when they saw the life of all come from the grave, with great desire, right judgement and gladness of soul worshipped the risen Christ.

he who of old had lain for many years on a bed of pain, at your order, O Christ, was made whole, and with hymns glorified your compassion, O Giver of life.

Michael, Prince of Angels, who stand by the throne of the Master, be present among us now and guide us who have gained you as a fervent protector towards paths of life.

With the dread armies above, I reverence you, Trinity in persons; I proclaim you, Unity in Being, O Father without beginning, Son, right Spirit, God of all.

He who bears all things by divine spirit is held, Virgin Mother of God, in your arms. He snatches us all from the enslaving hand of the foe, for he is compassionate.

*.* You went down to the deepest. ****

By your divine presence, O Lord, raise my soul, grievously paralysed by sins of every kind and by unnatural deeds, as you also raised the Paralysed Man of old, that saved I may cry to you: O merciful Christ, glory to your might.

You grasp the ends of the earth in the hollow of your hand, Jesu, God without beginning with the Father, Master of all things with the Holy Spirit; you appeared in flesh, healing diseases and banishing sufferings, giving light to the blind, and with a divine word you raised up the Paralysed Man, ordering him to walk quickly and to take up on his shoulders the bed which had borne him; therefore with him we all sing praises and cry out: O merciful Christ, glory to your might.

Synaxarion of the Menaion, then the following:

On the same day, the fourth Sunday from Easter, we remember the Paralysed Man, and as is fitting we celebrate so great a wonder.

Strength to the paralysed, the word of Christ.

And so this word was healing, this alone.

In your boundless mercy, Christ our God, have mercy on us. Amen.