Ode 3. Irmos. Οὐκ ἔστιν ἅγιος ὡς σύ.

None is holy as you, O Lord my God, who have exalted the horn of your faithful people, O Good one, and established me on the rock of confession of you.

Creation, when it saw God crucified in the flesh, grew weak through fear; but by the hand of the One who was crucified for us was mightily made firm.

Death, destroyed by death, lies a lifeless coward, for the strong one, unable to stand the divine assault of life, falls dead; and Resurrection is given to all.

The wonder of your divine child-bearing, Pure Virgin, surpasses every order of nature, for beyond nature you conceived God in your womb, and having given birth you remain Ever-Virgin.

Another, of Cross and Resurrection. Σὲ τὸν ἐπὶ ὑδάτων.

Having spent three days in a tomb, by your life-giving Rising you raised those who had earlier been condemned to death, and, freed from their sentence, they gladly rejoiced, crying out, ‘See, you have come, Lord, our redemption.’

Glory to your Rising, our Saviour, for as all-powerful you have delivered us from Hades, corruption and death, singing we say, ‘None is holy, but you, Lord, lover of humankind’.

When you saw the one born from you pierced by lance, you were pierced through the heart, All-holy and unblemished, in consternation you said, ‘How has the lawless people repaid you?’

Another, of the Mother of God. Οὐκ ἔστιν ἅγιος ὡς σύ.

Taking my changing and mortal flesh ineffably from your womb, God‘s all-pure Mother, the Good One bound it to himself eternally and made it incorruptible.

When they saw God incarnate from you, O Virgin, the choirs of Angels, were smitten with fear, and in never silent hymns they honour you as Mother of God.

The Prophet Daniel was amazed, seeing you, a spiritual mountain from which a stone was hewn without hands, and smashed with might, Mother of God, the altars of the demons.

No mortal word or tongue has strength to praise you fittingly, O Virgin, for from you, without seed, Christ the giver of life was well-pleased to be incarnate.