Ode 1. Irmos.

Mighty captains third in rank, the third part of the soul, drown in a deep of dispassion, I beg, O Born of a Virgin, that as on a timbrel I may by putting the body to death sing you a song of victory.

Cross-Theotokion

The holy Church ever shines with the contests of the shining Athletes of the Lord, and it honours and glorifies Christ, the Sun who blazed out from the Virgin and dimmed the darkness of deception.

Let us faithfully praise the Hierarchs of Christ, who were good shepherds of his people, his own possession, and let us give resplendent praise to the whole gathering of those who have lived holy lives and in spirit put to death the pleasures of the body.

Strength from God was given to Women who by ascetic struggle and valiant contest trampled on the foe by grace. At their prayers, Lord, and those of your holy Prophets send down to all your mercies

Justify, O Christ, your servants, whom in your just providence you taken over from this corruptible way of life to life without corruption, and count them worthy to dance with all the Just, disregarding their offences.

Delivering us from the ancient condemnation, the Son of God was well-pleased, Pure Virgin, to become your Son also. We therefore, through him adopted as sons, bless the heavenly Father as we sing your praise.

Another, of those Fallen Asleep, of which the acrostic is:

A fourth Canon remembering the end ****

Through the Red Sea’s deep.

Grasping the right hand of your servants, O Christ, guide them to eternal life, to the contemplation of your beauty, entreated by the Martyrs, champions of truth.

Count worthy of your ineffable and blessed glory, O Christ, those who have passed over to you, leaving aside their faults and justifying them by grace and the shedding of your Blood.

By your life-bearing death you slew the death bringer, Christ God, who breathe life into the dead. Give rest now also to your faithful servants, whom you have taken.

As God your Son was lovely with surpassing beauty; but incarnate from you, O Virgin, and hanged upon the Tree he had no beauty as he accepted death on behalf of all.