Ode IX

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “Hearken, ye women…”—

Irmos: The bush which burnt with fire yet was not consumed showed forth an image of thy pure birthgiving. And now we pray that the furnace of temptations which rageth against us may be extinguished, that we may magnify thee unceasingly, O Theotokos.

On the Praises, 6 stichera: 3 from the Pentecostarion, and 3 for the evangelist, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “O all-praised martyrs…”—

Theotokion: The honored apostle Mark was given as a holy hierarch to the Egyptians, to whom the Lord of glory had also come, incarnate as a babe through the pure Virgin Mother of God; and Him do we magnify as is meet.

Having attained unto the ineffable source of the effulgence of the threefold Sun, O thou who art divinely revealed, thou dost delight in deification most pure and clear, which surpasseth understanding, unceasingly holding chorus with the angels, O most blessed one.

O most blessed Mark, thou didst drink from a sweet stream, the pure river of peace which doth flow most splendidly from Eden, flooding the face of the earth with the waters of thy preaching of the Gospel and pouring forth divinely inspired teachings upon the firmament of the Church.

Having shared in the teaching and divine preaching of Peter, thou dost live with him in the mansions of heaven, O divinely eloquent and most blessed one, and dost pray for us, O apostle Mark.

O Mark most glorious, in times past Moses drowned the Egyptians in the sea, but thou, O most wise one, didst lead them forth from the sea of deception by the power of Him Who had come to them in the flesh and utterly destroyed the works of the their hands with His lofty arm.

The Light, thrice-radiantly joined and strangely unified, didst thou piously preach, O right worthy one, illumined by a ray of grace. Wherefore, we entreat thee: Ever offer supplication in our behalf.

O Mark most sacred, abiding in the light of the Spirit, thou wast wholly spiritual; and now, O thou who art most rich, deified by adoption and through abundant visions and most blessed radiance, thou hast attained the summit of thy mystery, the longed-for goal.

Having been taught heavenly wisdom, with thy tongue thou didst destroy the webs of the orators and the calculations of the astrologers, O most glorious apostle Mark; and as a disciple of Peter thou didst preach the words of the Gospel to the world. Twice

Glory…, in Tone VI—

Glory…, Now & ever…, from the Pentecostarion.

O fisherman most wise, holy disciple, husbandman of the Savior and recounter of His sufferings, thou who didst traverse the world with faith, and, having gathered the deluded gentiles, didst lead them to God: as a sweet-smelling fragrance of incense hast thou been wafted up to the heavens. Wherefore, standing before the Judge, pray that we be delivered from our transgressions and from torment on the day of judgment.

Great Doxology, troparia, litanies and dismissal.

Now & ever…, from the Pentecostarion.