Ode 6. Irmos.

Of the Mother of God. Irmos.

Kontakion. As first fruits of nature.

Have mercy on me Saviour, for my iniquities are many; and bring me up, I beg, from the deep of evils—for to you have I cried—and hear me, O God of my salvation.

Through a tree the author of evil mightily overthrew me, but raised on a Cross, O Christ, you hurled him down more mightily, humiliating him, while you raised the one who had fallen.

You took pity on Sion when you shone from the grave, in your compassion having made it new instead of old by your divine blood, and now, O Christ, you reign it as king for ever.

May we be delivered from grievous faults at your entreaties, pure Mother of God, and may we experience the divine radiance of the Son of God, who from you ineffably became incarnate.

Another, of Cross and Resurrection.

You spread out your hands on the Cross, so healing the hand of Adam the first-formed greedily stretched out in Eden, and you tasted instead gall of a bitter tree , O Christ; and, as you are powerful, you saved those who glorify your sufferings.

The Redeemer tasted death and the ancient sentence that he might abolish the palace of corruption, and when he had visited those in Hell, he saved, as he is powerful, those who sing the praise of his Resurrection.

Do not cease to intercede for us , All-holy Virgin Mother of God, for you are the support of believers and by our hope in you we are made strong, and with love we glorify you and him who from you was made flesh ineffably.

Mother of God, we the faithful proclaim you Temple and Ark and living Bridal Chamber of God, and gate of heaven.

Mary bride of God, your Offspring, who became the destroyer of wooden idols, is worshipped with Father and the Spirit.

The Word of God revealed you to mortals to be a heavenly ladder, for through you he same down to us.

On rising from the grave you roused the dead and raised up Adam. Eve dances at your Resurrection, and the ends of the world keep festival at your Rising from the dead, O Most Merciful.

When you had ransacked the palaces of Hell and raised the dead, O Longsuffering, you met the Women bearing myrrh, bringing them joy instead of sorrow; and to your Apostles you revealed the symbols of your victory, my Saviour, giver of life, and you enlightened creation, lover of humankind. Therefore too the world rejoices at your Rising from the dead, O Most Merciful.