Ode III

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—

Watered by the showers of the divine Spirit, with divine husbandry the virgins produced the grain of martyrdom.

Theotokion: Rend asunder the grievous record of my transgressions, O Mistress who by thy seedless birthgiving hast broken the bonds of hell.

Having loved invisible things more than that which is visible, ye conquered enemies visible and invisible.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Enkindled by the divine fire of the Spirit, ye were not afraid of the fire; wherefore, ye pour forth the divine dew of healings.

Betrothing yourselves to the Lord in manner divine, ye brought to Him your blood and sacrifice as a gift, O passion-bearing maidens, and have worthily received the divine bridal-chamber, unceasingly filled with ineffable enlightenment. Wherefore, we who spiritually celebrate your honored memory glorify Christ and cry out with faith: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins to those who honor your holy memory with love!

Conceiving the Wisdom and Word of God in thy womb without being consumed, O Mother of God, thou gavest birth to Him Who sustaineth the world, didst hold in thine arms Him Who holdeth all things, the Nurturer of all and Author of creation. Wherefore, I beseech thee, O most holy Virgin, and faithfully glorify thee, that I may be delivered from my transgressions. And on the day of judgment, when I will stand before the face of my Creator, do thou then grant me thine aid, O pure Virgin Mistress; for all things soever thou desirest, thou canst do, O most hymned one.

Stavrotheotokion—

The ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, exclaimed, weeping, and bitterly lamenting, cried out: “The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee, but my womb doth burn, beholding Thy crucifixion, which Thou endurest in the loving-kindness of Thy mercy. O long-suffering Lord, Thou abyss and inexhaustible well-spring of mercy, take pity and grant remission of transgressions unto those who hymn Thy divine sufferings with faith!”