Ode 3. The Irmos.

You fixed the earth on nothing by your command, and raised it though ungovernably dragged down; establish your Church on the unshakeable rock of your commandments, O Christ, alone good and lover of mankind.

The ungrateful children of Israel, who sucked the honey from the rock offered you gall, O Christ, who worked the wonder in the wilderness; in exchange for your deeds of goodness gave you vinegar instead of manna.

They who of old were protected by a cloud of light laid Christ, who is life, in a tomb; but by your own power you arose and granted all the faithful the radiance of the Spirit, which mystically overshadows them from above.

Without wedlock and without a mother’s pains you became Mother of the God, who shone from a father who is uncompounded; therefore, since you bore the Word made flesh, with right belief we proclaim you Mother of God.

Another, of Cross and Resurrection.

You rose from the tomb, O Christ, giver of life, delivering from the corruption of death those who hymn your voluntary crucifixion.

The Myrrhbearers were hastening to anoint your body, O Christ, and when they did not find it they returned hymning your Rising.

O pure one, implore without ceasing the one who was incarnate from your loins that those who hymn you, pure Virgin, may be delivered from the deception of the devil.

Of the Mother of God. Another.

You have now been most clearly revealed to all, honoured Virgin, to be the ladder by which the Most High came down to right corrupted nature. For through you the supremely good was well-pleased to be joined to the world.

The mystery preordained of old and known before the ages to God who knows all things, now in the last times has been revealed in your womb, All-blameless, having reached its term.