Ode 3. Irmos

Of the Mother of God. Another Irmos.

Cross-Theotokion

Your Church, O Christ, rejoices in you and cries: You, Lord, are my strength, my refuge and my firmament.

Lifted up on the Cross you lifted up those that had been drawn down to corruption, and you made the enemy fall, O Master, Christ our God.

The swords of the hostile one were blunted when your side was lanced and Eden opened, O empersonned Word of the Father.

Of the Martyrs

The rivers of fire have put an end to the rivers of deception, and the Martyrs have extinguished the pyre of the worship of many gods.

Crucified and beaten to the ground, Martyrs of Christ, you slew the hostile dragon with a sword of steadfastness.

When the blameless Ewe Lamb saw you hanged on a Cross, Master, she wept with grief as she sang the praise of your might.

I implore you, Sovereign Lady, higher than the Cherubim, prove my mind, fallen victim to the assaults of the serpent, to be higher than the passions.

In the dread trial, when the Lord is about to sentence me who have sinned greatly, may I find you to deliver me from condemnation.

In your pity, O Christ, change my uncompassionate ways by your compassion; save me who am without compassion at the entreaties of the One who bore you.