Ode 1. Tone 8. Irmos.

Moses’ wonderworking staff, striking and dividing the sea in the figure of a cross, once drowned Pharao the charioteer, while it saved Israel the fugitive as he marched on foot, singing a song to God.

How can we not marvel at Christ’s all-powerful divinity? To the faithful it pours out dispassion from his passion, while from his holy side it sheds a fount of incorruption and from his tomb eternal life.

How glorious does the Angel now appear to the Women, wearing the bright symbols of innate and immaterial purity; while by his form he reveals the radiance of the Resurrection as he cries out, ‘The Lord has been raised!’

Glorious things have been said of you in generation after generation, Virgin Mother of God, who, while remaining pure, contained in your womb God the Word. And so we all honour you as our protection after God.

Another Canon, of Cross and Resurrection.

Hell’s gates of pain have been removed, its gatekeepers quailed in fear when they saw in the lowest depths the One who on high is beyond the nature of all things.

The ranks of Angels were amazed when they saw seated on the Father’s throne humanity’s fallen nature that had been held fast in the lowest depths.

The ranks of Angels and of mortals without ceasing sing your praise, Mother without bridegroom, for you carried their Creator as an infant in your arms.

Another Canon, of the Mother of God. In alphabetical order.

Immaculate Mother of God, who gave birth beyond nature to the incarnate and eternal Word, we sing your praise.

The Virgin gave you birth, O Christ, you the grape cluster from which drops the life-bearing sweetness of the whole world’s salvation.

Adam’s race, raised to blessedness beyond all thought, Mother of God, fittingly glorifies you.