Ode 5. Irmos.

Of the Forerunner. The same Irmos.

Give us your peace, O Son of God, for we know no other God but you; we name you by name, for you are God of the living and the dead.

I have been filled with many and grievous offences, longsuffering, compassionate Master. Have compassion on me, who am condemned, and do not cast me away from your presence. ****

You justified the Tax-collector, O Christ, when he sighed and groaned; therefore I too, imitating him, beat my breast and cry to you, ‘Have mercy on me, O only compassionate and pitying’. ****

Of the Martyrs

Your Saints, Lord, appeared like unerring beacons, dispelling the deep night of error and making the whole inhabited world bright with the torchlight of their wonders. ****

Like priceless stones, Master, the Martyrs, yearning for you, the Rock of life, crushed through torments, destroyed the whole dispensation of error. ****

You gave birth, All-immaculate, to one of the honoured Trinity with two wills but one hypostasis. Fervently implore him that we may all be saved.

Like Elias of old you dwelt in the desert, All-blest Forerunner of Christ; and so with divine care make better my heart turned by offences into a desert waste. ****

You have become an immoveable pillar and greatest foundation of the faithful, Forerunner of Christ, make my thought, shaken by the wiles of the deceiver, immoveable. ****

The dead were brought the good news that the Light from Light had shone on earth by your light, blest Saint, and we, who were in darkness, were enlightened. Therefore on me who have been terribly blackened. ****

David proclaims you Virgin Queen, Immaculate Pure Lady. And so I pray you, make me an heir of the heavenly Kingdom, that I may call you blessed. ****