Ode 6. Irmos. Τοῦ βίου τὴν θάλασσαν.

Ode 7. Irmos. Δροσοβόλον μὲν τὴν κάμινον.

Kontakion. Τὴν ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν.

Watching life’s sea rising with a tempest of temptations, fleeing to your calm haven, I cry out to you, ‘Bring my life up from corruption, O Most merciful’.

When you were crucified with the nails, Master, you wiped the curse against us, while when pierced in the side by the lance you tore up Adam’s record of our debt and freed the world.

Adam, when tripped up by deceit, was brought down to the pit of Hades, but you, by nature God and compassionate, came down to search for him and, bearing him on your shoulders, raised him with yourself.

All-pure Lady, who gave birth for mortals to the Lord, our helmsman, calm the unstable and dread tumult of my passions and grant calm to my heart.

Another, of Cross and Resurrection. Συνεσχέθη, ἀλλ’ οὐ κατέσθη.

The multitude of Hebrews killed Christ and the Prophets, for as it was not afraid of old to kill Prophets, rays of truth, so now, like those of old, overcome by envy they killed the Lord, whom the Prophets once proclaimed; but for us his death has become our life.

You were confined but not held fast by a grave, O Saviour, for though you willingly tasted death, O Word, but as immortal God you arose, raising the prisoners in Hades with you and giving the women joy in place of their former grief.

‘The form of your flesh appeared dishonoured and deceased to mortals at the time of your Passion, although by the nature of your Godhead you revealed to David that you are fair in your beauty; but with the rod of your Kingship you smash the strength of your enemies’, said the Pure Virgin, ‘my Son and my God, and arise’.

Another, of the Mother of God. Τοῦ βίου τὴν θάλασσαν.

Moses, great among the Prophets, described you as Ark, Table, Lampstand and Jar, symbolically depicting the incarnation from you of the Most High, O Virgin Mother.

Death, Adam’s condemnation, becomes a corpse, corruption too is abolished, when it attacks your fruit, Sovereign Lady, for you gave to birth to Life that ransoms from corruption those who sing your praise.

The law grew weak and the shadow passed away when grace that surpasses mind and understanding shone out for me, the birth of our God and Saviour from you, Virgin highly praised.

With his life-giving hand, Christ God, the Giver of life, raised all from the murky vaults below and gave resurrection as the prize to mortal clay; for he is the Saviour of all, resurrection and life, and the God of all that is.

Your Cross and Burial, O Giver of life, we the faithful praise and worship, for you bound Hades, O Immortal, as God all-powerful, you raised the dead with you, you smashed the gates of Hades and destroyed Death’s might as God. Therefore we born of earth with love glorify you who rose, destroyed the might of the all-destroying foe, raised all who believe in you, redeemed the world from the arrows of the serpent and as all-powerful redeemed us from the error of the foe. Therefore we devoutly sing the praise of your Resurrection, through which you saved us as the God of all that is.

An Angel made the furnace moist with dew for the godly Youths, while God’s command consuming the Chaldeans persuaded the tyrant to cry out, ‘Βlessed are you, God of our Fathers’.

Lamenting at your Passion, the sun robed itself in darkness, Master, and in broad day quenched its light over all the earth, crying out, ‘Blessed are you, the God of our fathers!’

The powers below the earth clothed themselves in light, O Christ, at your condescension; while the Forefather appeared filled with gladness, dancing he leapt with joy as he cried out, ‘Blessed are you, the God of our fathers!’

Through you, Virgin Mother, a radiant light has dawned for the whole inhabited world, for you gave birth to God, the Creator of all things. Ask him for us, All-pure, that there may be sent down to all the faithful his great mercy.

Another, of Cross and Resurrection. Ἂφραστον θαῦμα.

O strange conduct! The one who delivered Israel from the slavery of Pharao is willingly crucified by him and looses the bands of his errors. To him we sing with faith, ‘God, our Redeemer, blessed are you!’

Impious children of transgressors crucified on Calvary you, the Saviour, who smashed gates of bronze and their bolts for the salvation us who sing, ‘God, our Redeemer, blessed are you!’

By bearing the first Eve’s liberation, pure Virgin, you delivered Adam from the curse, therefore with Angels we hymn you with your Son and we cry out, ‘God, our Redeemer, blessed are you!’

Another, of the Mother of God. Δροσοβόλον μὲν τὴν κάμινον.

The furnace did not burn three youths, fore-imaging your giving birth, for the divine fire, without burning you, dwelt in you, and taught all to sing, ‘Blessed are you, the God of our fathers!’

The ends of the earth call you blessed, all-pure Mother, as you prophesied; enlightened by your shining beams and grace they sing, ‘Blessed are you, the God of our fathers!’

The most evil serpent impaled me on his deadly fangs, but your Son shattered them, Mother of God, and gave me strength to cry out, ‘Blessed are you, the God of our fathers!’

You alone are nature’s mercy-seat; bearing in your arms the God who is seated on the shoulders of the Cherubim, you cry out, ‘Blessed are you, the God of our fathers!’