Ode 8. Irmos.

Of the Mother of God. The same Irmos.

**Theotokion.**

This chosen and holy day is the first of Sabbaths, the Queen and Lady, the Feast of Feasts and the Festival of Festivals on which we bless Christ to all the ages.

Of the Paralysed Man. The Irmos.

Come let us share in the new fruit of the vine, of joy divine, and in the kingdom of Christ, on the glorious day of the Resurrection, hymning Him as God to all the ages.

Lift your eyes around you, O Zion, and see: for behold like beacons shedding light divine your children have come to you, from West and North, from the Sea and from the East, blessing Christ in you to all the ages.

Almighty Father, Word and Spirit, nature united in three Persons, beyond all being and beyond all Godhead, into You we have been baptised and we bless to all the ages.

As the creator came into the world through you, O Virgin Mother of God, He tore open the womb of Hell and gave us mortals the Resurrection; therefore we bless Him to the ages.

Your Son, O Virgin, having overthrown the might of death, in his resurrection, as a mighty God, has exalted us with himself and deified us; therefore we praise him to the ages.

The veil was rent when you were crucified, O our Saviour, and death gave up the dead whom it had swallowed; and Hell was stripped bare when it saw you in the lowest regions of the earth.

Where death is your sting? Where grave is now your victory? You have been slain and destroyed by the risen King; you reign no longer; the Mighty One has taken away those whom you held prisoner.

‘Run quickly, announce the Resurrection to the Apostles’, cried the shining young man to the Myrrhbearers, ‘The Master has risen, and with him wondrously the dead from time’s beginning’.

The Paralysed Man, who had lain for many years, cried: Have mercy on me, afflicted by distress, O Redeemer. But he orders him to take up his bed with haste and to walk upright.

O Chief Captain, as leader of the immaterial Powers, with them ask for us redemption from faults, correction of life and enjoyment of the eternal good things of heaven.

Let us hymn in consort the uncreated, indivisible Essence, the three-personned Godhead, Father without beginning, and Son and Holy Spirit, crying with the Seraphim the dread melody.

Of old Isaias saw you as a book, Ever-virgin, in which the timeless Word had been inscribed by the Father’s finger, saving us from all unreason, who hymn you with sacred words.

This chosen. ****