Ode 3. Irmos.

Of the Mother of God. The same Irmos.

The desert, the barren Church from the nations, flowered like a lily, O Lord, at your coming, by which my heart has been established.

At your passion creation was changed when it saw you, who had done all things by your divine bidding, mean in appearance and sneered at by lawless men.

You fashioned me from dust by your own hand according to your image, and when I was crushed back again to the dust of death through sin, you descended with me to hell, O Christ, and raised me up again with you.

The ranks of Angels were amazed, and the hearts of mortals trembled at your birth-giving, O All-Pure; therefore in faith we honour you as Mother of God.

Another, of the Cross and Resurrection.

The bow of mighty men was smashed.

Christ, who is beyond all, has been made a little lower than the Angels by his suffering in the flesh.

Dead you were numbered with the lawless, O Christ, but you appeared to the Women shining with the crown of the glory of your Rising.

The One beyond all time, as Maker of time, was fashioned of his own will as a babe from you, O Virgin.

Let us, the faithful, praise the womb that is wider than the heavens; for through it Adam, rejoicing, has become a citizen of heaven.