Ode 1. Tone 7. Irmos.

Irmos. He who brings wars.

At your behest, O Lord, the nature of the waters that before flowed freely was transformed and became like earth; and so Israel having marched dryshod sings you a song of victory.

The tyranny of death was judged through a tree, Lord, when you were condemned to an unjust death; and so the ruler of darkness had no power over you and was rightly cast out.

Irmos. At your behest.

Hades drew near you and having no strength to crush your body with its teeth it broke its jaws; and so, O Saviour, loosing the pains of death, you rose on the third day.

The pangs of the foremother Eve have been abolished, for you escaped pangs when you gave birth without wedlock; and so knowing you to be truly Mother of God we all glorify you.

Of the Cross and Resurrection.

Two life-bearing sources the Saviour poured out for us on the Cross from his pierced side. Let us sing to him, for he has been glorified.

By dwelling in a tomb and rising on the third day Christ granted mortals the expectation of incorruption. Let us sing to him, for he has been glorified.

Alone you were revealed a virgin even after child-birth; for you gave birth to the Creator of the world made flesh. Therefore we all cry to you, ‘Hail!’

Hymn to the Mother of God,

of which the Acrostic is the Alphabet.

O Virgin who gave birth of the abyss of compassion, flood my soul with your light-bearing radiance, that I may sing with love the praise of the abyss of your wonders.

Seeing us wounded by the arrow of sin, the Word took pity on us as benefactor. Therefore the One who is beyond godhead, O all-pure, was united ineffably to flesh from you.

Human nature had become subject to death, corruptible and mortal. But by conceiving life, O all-pure, you led it back from corruption to life.