Ode 8. The Irmos.

**Theotokion.**

‘You established the universe, Master, by your wisdom; and laid the foundation of the earth, as you know how, upon the base of the waters; therefore we all cry out in song: You works of the Lord, unceasingly bless the Lord.’

You endured death by your will, only Immortal, you took hell captive, you smashed the gates of brass, heavenly King, and released the prisoners held there since time’s beginning, who unceasingly hymn the might of your goodness.

You were lifted up willingly on the Cross, O Longsuffering, and the rocks were split, the sun was quenched, the veil of the temple was rent in two, and the earth was shaken, and Hell, the laughing stock, trembled with fright and released all his prisoners.

You, Lord, the light that never sets and life of all, appeared to those sitting in darkness; therefore when the just saw you, O Word, they leaped for joy and cried aloud: You have come to free all from their chains; we praise your might.

You sat next the source at the sixth hour, O Saviour, and granted the Woman of Samaria living water and streams of knowledge in your great compassion; with her we all cry out in song: You works of the Lord, unceasingly bless the Lord.

We praise the Father without beginning, the Son likewise without beginning and the Holy Spirit, the three one God without confusion, inseparable, Creator of all, identical in power, might of sovereign freedom, and we cry out: You works of the Lord, unceasingly bless the Lord.

Isaias was cleansed by a coal, proclaiming in advance the spiritual coal, incarnate of you beyond understanding, O Virgin, and which burns up all the material sins of mortals, and through pity deifies our nature, O immaculate.