Ode 1. Tone 5. Irmos.

Irmos. Christ who brings wars.

Land on which the sun had never shone, had never seen; deep which the vault of heaven had never seen laid bare, Israel passed through dry-shod, O Lord. And you led him to the mountain of your sanctification as he sang and chanted a hymn of victory.

Grant me pardon for the deeds I have done, O Saviour, and let me, before I go from here, be clean of much rottenness, O Lord who cleansed lepers. And count me also worthy to stand before you, who are going to come to judge the living and the dead.

The rheum with which I have covered the eyes of my soul prevents me from seeing your bright rays, which you have outspread manifestly, O Sun that never sets. Cleanse it, Saviour, and grant me, compassionate Lord, to reflect the light of your gifts of grace.

Of the Martyrs.

You became unsleeping guardians of Christ’s commandments and put to sleep all the wickedness of the foe, blest Athletes. Therefore I beg you, rouse me also who am weighed down by the sleep of sins to the godly awakening of repentance.

Grappling in flesh with the warlike foe, O Martyrs, you wounded him with the weapon of the Cross and drowned him in streams of blood; and you have received the crowns of victory from God, as you sing and chant a hymn of victory.

Deliver me, pure Virgin, from my evil habits; on the rock of the commandments establish me who am surrounded by the wiles of the ancient supplanter, Sovereign Lady; and count me also worthy to be truly well-pleasing to Christ, as I sing and chant a hymn of victory.

Another Canon, to the honoured Forerunner, of which the Acrostic is:

Baptist, receive this supplication. Joseph.

You displayed in a material body, O Prophet, a hallowed way of living and an immaterial life; and so we beseech you make those you with faith call you blessed you imitators.

You plunged Christ the deep of compassion in the river’s streams; implore him, Forerunner, I beg, to dry up the deep of my evils and to enlighten my understanding.

Forerunner of the Saviour, entreat the Lover of mankind, I implore you that I may be given compunction which is cause of the stirrings of repentance and which washes me of the filth of sins.

Without pangs you gave birth ineffably to the One whom the Father begot without change before the ages, all-praised Sovereign Lady. Entreat him to save from all harm those who have recourse to you.