Ode 8. Irmos

Τ He that by the Spirit stretched out the sky [71] , has been willingly stretched out on a Cross; while he has been fastened with nails, longing to unfasten Adam’s propensities to passions. Therefore let us raise the hymn and sing, ‘Let all creation bless the Lord and highly exalt him to all the ages’.

To the tune, The furnace moist with dew.

Ο When a stony hearted people, O Word of God, lifted you, the Rock, upon a rock, mountains were tumbled in confusion, earth quaked, and souls that had been shaken were made steady for divine life, ever singing, ‘Let all creation bless the Lord and highly exalt him to all the ages’.

The furnace bedewed [70] with fire revealed of old an image of a wonder beyond nature, for the fire did not consume the young Men, depicting the Christ’s divine Nativity without seed from a Virgin. Therefore let us raise the hymn and sing, ‘Let all creation bless the Lord and highly exalt him to all the ages’.

Of the Martyrs

Υ The Champions wove for themselves a robe of salvation, when they struggled bravely in bodily nakedness and underwent storm showers of torments; and so they raised a hymn and sang, ‘Let all creation bless the Lord and highly exalt him to all the ages’.

Ο Though mercilessly rent with iron claws, their limbs relentlessly hacked off, acquainted with tortures of every kind, the Champions did not offer sacrifice to wooden gods, but for believers were revealed as pillars of courage, as they cried, ‘Bless Christ, all you his works, and highly exalt him to all the ages’.

Cross-Theotokion

Ι ‘So that a rebellious foolish people might, as they supposed, remove you from the earth, I have become childless, I am troubled and as a mother am anguished in heart’, cried she who knew not wedlock, ‘when she saw you lifted up on a Cross’. With her creation glorifies you, Jesu, Redeemer of all, to the ages.

Another, of the Mother of God. Irmos.

T The acquisition of passions, the abuse of demons tyrannise me, but with you as refuge I am saved, O Immaculate, as I sing to your Son, ‘All you his works bless the Lord, praise and highly exalt him to all the ages’.

Y Pure Virgin, higher than the heavens, make higher than matter and than life’s transgressions my mind that sings, ‘Let all creation bless the Lord, praise and highly exalt him to all the ages’.

F Virgin wholly light, who gave birth to God, the Giver of light, illuminate the eyes of my heart with the light of the knowledge of God, that I may chant, ‘All you his works bless the Lord, praise and highly exalt him to all the ages’. [72]