Canon of the Dormition

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

Irmos: O Christ, Thou creative and almighty Wisdom and Power of God, establish the Church immovable and unshaken; for Thou alone art holy Who restest in the saints.

Katavasiae: The irmoi of the canon of the Dormition (see above).

Kontakion of the feast, in Tone II—

The choir of the divine apostles gathered together to bury thee with all honor, O most pure Theotokos; and with them the ranks of angels hymned thy repose, crying aloud with all praise. And with them we the faithful, leaping up with love, O pure one, offer thee praise with sounds of hymnody, and cry out: Rejoice, thou intercessor for those who ever honor thee!

Sessional hymn of the Image, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…”—

On the Praises, 4 stichera of the Image, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Called from on high…”—

Theotokion: Desiring to cut off at every root the disobedience of our forefather which had sprung forth, thy Son, O pure Virgin, assumeth all humanity from thy womb.

The glorious apostles, seeing thee to be a mortal woman, yet, in manner transcending nature, the Mother of God, O all-immaculate one, with awe touched with their hands thee who art resplendent in glory, perceiving thee to be a habitation acceptable to God.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Exapostilarion of the Dormition, in the same melody—

Irmos: There is none as holy as Thee, O Lord my God, Who hast uplifted the horn of Thy faithful and established us on the rock of the confession of Thee, O Good One.

Kontakion, in Tone II: Spec. Mel: “In thy supplications...”—

The choir of the apostles assembled, borne as on a cloud to Sion from the ends of the earth, to serve thee, the light cloud through whom God Most High, the Sun of righteousness, hath shone forth upon those who are in darkness and shadow.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn in Tone I: Spec. Mel: “When the stone was sealed…”—

He Who is God in His divine Person, as the Effulgence of glory and the Image of the Father, by His divine desire and in His infinite loving-kindness made visible the image of Him in the form of a servant. There is but one likeness, as He Himself knoweth, which He wondrously formed with His divine impress in the likeness of His countenance. By its coming He hath joined a multitude of angels to men, and hath illumined the world, visible and invisible. Twice

Theotokion: Make thou entreaty, we pray thee, O all-pure one, that thy city may be preserved unharmed by barbarian invasion; for see what the beseigers devise against it.

When God preserved with the glory of His divinity the honor of the animate ark wherein the Word became flesh, the judgment of retribution overtook the insolent one through the severing of his audacious hands.

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

Irmos: The sayings and images of the prophets revealed Thine incarnation from the Virgin, O Christ. The splendor of Thine effulgence goeth forth unto the enlightenment of the nations and the abyss gave forth her voice to Thee with gladness: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Kontakion of the feast, in Tone II—

The choir of angels buried thy body, which had received God, gazing upon it with fear, and exclaiming with a loud voice: O Theotokos who ascendest to thy Son in the heavenly mansions, thou ever savest thine inheritance!

Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Having been lifted up…”—

Behold! God Who once glorified the face of Moses through the divine vision of His back parts, and through him sent the divinely graven law unto the unbelieving people of Israel, hath now come forth as from Egypt, coming from a foreign land to the Christian city of His new people, in the divine depiction of His dread and prototypical image. And vouchsafed to behold Him face to face, let us glorify Him.

Theotokion: Bring an end to the frequent attacks of our enemies, O Virgin, destroy their counsels, and help thine inheritance; for thou seest how we, the afflicted, are in despair.

O Savior, Thou hast clothed the honored Church in the raiment of the virtues, moving the heart of the king to seek out Thy likeness as a defense.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Exapostilarion of the Dormition: Spec. Mel: “The heaven with stars…”—

Irmos: Christ is my power, my God and my Lord, the honored Church doth sing, crying out in godly manner with a pure mind, keeping festival in the Lord.

Kontakion, in Tone II: Spec. Mel: “In thy supplications...”—

The choir of the apostles assembled, borne as on a cloud to Sion from the ends of the earth, to serve thee, the light cloud through whom God Most High, the Sun of righteousness, hath shone forth upon those who are in darkness and shadow.

O Thou Who reignest over all creation, accepting voluntary poverty Thou dost enrich with divinity those who have acknowledged Thy lordship; wherefore, having sent divinely written letters to Abgar, who asked for salvation and health, to him Thou didst send the likeness of Thy divine countenance. And joyously celebrating its arrival now, let us rejoice with faith, drawing forth enlightenment.

Theotokion: I am now left without the strength of Thine arm, O Savior, yet Thou hast withdrawn Thy wounding from me through the supplications of her who gave Thee birth without knowing wedlock, O Word, that I might not be left foundering in the storm of sin and barely afloat, O only Deliverer.

The father of envy, desiring to strip the good naked and cut short their time, shamelessly betrayed them into the hands of the abominable; but he hath been reproved, plotting in vain.

Irmos: We confess the divine and ineffable beauty of Thy virtues, O Christ; for having shone forth from eternal glory as the co-eternal and hypostatic Effulgence, incarnate of the Virgin’s womb Thou hast shone forth as the Sun upon those who are in darkness and shadow.

The choir of angels buried thy body, which had received God, gazing upon it with fear, and exclaiming with a loud voice: O Theotokos who ascendest to thy Son in the heavenly mansions, thou ever savest thine inheritance!

Glory…, in Tone IV—

Theotokion: Humanity hath been loosed from the ancient condemnation by Thy birthgiving; for God, finding thee alone to be more spacious than the heavens, made His abode within thee, O most immaculate one.

David once rejoiced with splendor, dancing before the holy ark; and now he who hath received the royal scepter to govern rejoiceth greatly in the divine depiction.

Irmos: With Thy divine light illumine the souls of those who with love rise at dawn unto Thee, O Good One, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who calleth all forth from the darkness of sin.

Let the clouds let fall sweetness, and let the mountains leap up in joy over the all-glorious mighty works of Christ our God; for yesterday on Mount Tabor the light of the Godhead shone forth, assuring the preëminent disciples, and presenting Moses and Elijah with glory, bearing witness unto Him Who hath authority over the law and dominion over the living and the dead. Today, in the midst of the world, the radiant depiction hath shone forth, assuring all that He is our God incarnate, to Whom we chant: Glory to Thy love for mankind, O Christ!

Theotokion: The Angel of the Great Counsel of the Father, Who willed to assume the flesh, acted perfectly within thy womb, O all-pure one, and hath restored human nature which had grown old. Him do we all bless as Creator and exalt supremely for all ages.

Thou Who of old fashioned man in Thine image straightway formed Thyself therein in Thy loving-kindness. Wherefore, with the angels we glorify Thee Who truly assumed the immutable likeness, O Christ.

Irmos: The inner fire of the sea from the deep which giveth rise to the whales was a prefiguring of Thy three-day burial, whereof Jonah was shown to be the proclaimer; for, remaining unharmed as he was before he was sent forth, he cried: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord!

Now & ever…, in Tone I—

Theotokion: Through thee the Word was seen on earth in the flesh, dual in nature through the bestowal of the Godhead, O most immaculate one, but one in hypostasis, having brought the union together without confusion. Him do we glorify.

The tomb and mortality could not hold the Theotokos, who is untiring in her supplications and our certain hope in her intercessions. For, as the Mother of Life, she hath passed over to the Life Who dwelt within her ever-virgin womb.

Irmos: Jonah was swallowed, but was not held fast in the belly of the monster; for, serving as an image of Thee, Who didst suffer and wast given over for burial, he issued forth from the whale as from a bridal chamber. And he said to the watchmen, the vain and false guardians: Ye have forsaken His mercy!

It was fitting that the servants of the Word, who saw Him with their own eyes, see also the repose of His Mother in the flesh, inasmuch as it was the final mystery concerning her, that they might behold not only the Savior’s ascension from the earth, but also witness the translation of her who gave Him birth. Wherefore, assembled from all parts of the earth by the power of God, they reached Sion and bade farewell to her who is more highly exalted than the cherubim as she passed on to heaven. And we also, with them, bow down to her as one who prayeth for our souls.

Theotokion: The account of thy giving birth unto the God-man have we truly come to know, honoring thee, O most pure one, and being counted worthy to behold the image, not fashioned by the hands of man, of the countenance of Him Who was born of thee.

Ikos: Guard thou my thoughts, O my Christ, for I make bold to hymn the bulwark of the world, Thy pure Mother. Establish me firmly in the bastion of my words, and help me in the midst of difficult thoughts; for Thou fulfillest the entreaties of those who cry out and ask with faith. Wherefore, grant unto me a deft tongue and a ready mind, for every good deed of enlightenment cometh down from Thee, O Bestower of light, Who dwelt within her ever-virgin womb.

Irmos: The divine will, opposing the shameless rage and the fire, bedewed the fire and put wrath to shame by the divinely inspired three-stringed lyre of the venerable youths, opposing the musical instruments amid the flames, chanting: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Great Doxology. Ektenias. Dismissal. First Hour.

Theotokion: O thou who art full of the grace of God, though thou gavest flesh unto God, Who in manner past understanding descended upon thee, thou who wast fashioned of earth art, because of the deception of the enemy, returned to the earth; yet, taken from the earth, thou hast ascended to heaven.

The king of Edessa, acknowledging Thee as the King of all, Who wielded neither scepters nor armies, but multitudes of miracles at Thy word, begged that he might offer hospitality to Thee, the God-man. And in Thine image he beheld Thee, and cried out: Thou art God and Lord!

Irmos: The children in Babylon did not fear the flame of the furnace, but, cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed, they sang: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone V: Spec. Mel: “Rejoice…”—

Theotokion: Before, salvation shone forth from thee in the flesh upon those who are in the world; and now, through thy mediation, Life hath appeared to the faithful in the world, the light-bearing arrival of the likeness of the image of Christ.

Behold, O ye people, and marvel, for the holy and openly manifest mountain of God is exalted on high to the mansions of heaven: the earthly heaven becometh a celestial and incorrupt habitation.

Irmos: The almighty Angel of God showed forth for the youths a flame which bedewed the venerable and utterly consumed the ungodly; and He made the Theotokos a life-creating well–spring pouring forth destruction for death and life for those who chant: O ye who have been delivered, let us hymn and exalt the one Creator for all ages!

Rejoice, most precious image of Him Who created Adam, adored by the angels, desired of men, and truly frightening to the demons, token of the love of God, imprint of the face of sweet Jesus, surety of blessing to come, great treasure of the whole world, which never feareth exhaustion! Grant us unity of mind, peace and great mercy. Twice

Theotokion: David described thee beforehand, O most lauded one, as the place of the Lord which was to appear; for He Who can in no wise be contained was contained in thy womb, and the Immaterial One is clad in material flesh.

Thy death became a passage to an everlasting and better life, O pure one, translating thee from transitory life to that which is truly divine and eternal, that thou mightest behold thy Son and Lord in gladness, O pure one.

Irmos: The blessed youths in Babylon, braving danger for the laws of their fathers, reviled the mindless command of the ruler, and, united by the fire which burned them not, they chanted a fitting hymn unto the Almighty: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Rejoice, divine image of Him about Whom the cherubim stand and to Whom the seraphim minister, before Whom all the hosts of heaven tremble, Whom all creation obeyeth and the deeps fear; whereby darkness hath been banished and the devil set at naught, Adam freed of the bonds of sin and the tears of Eve assuaged! Grant us unity of mind, peace and great mercy.

Theotokion: Of old Christ revealed Himself to those on earth, seated upon thine arm as upon a cloud; and now, in latter times, He hath revealed Himself to the people who honor thee, O most pure one, in His divine image.

The gates of heaven were raised and the angelic choirs chanted; and Christ received the vessel of His Mother’s virginity. The cherubim lifted her up with gladness, and the seraphim glorify her, rejoicing.

Irmos: In thee are the laws of nature overcome, O pure Virgin, for thy birthgiving is virginal and death is betrothed to life. A Virgin giving birth and alive after death, O Theotokos, thou hast saved thine inheritance.

Rejoice, image of the King more comely in beauty than all the sons of men, Jesus the Deliverer Who covered Himself with flesh and came to seek the lost sheep which was sought as prey by the world, and carried it upon His shoulder and brought it to His Father, purified by His Cross and Blood. Grant to the whole world unity of mind, peace and great mercy.

Theotokion: For the people that acknowledge thee to be the Mother of the ever-existent Christ, ask thou heavenly blessedness, for with faith they hymn thine ineffable birthgiving.

Sweet is the sun, which lighteneth our eyes; but sweeter yet is the sight of Thy likeness, O Christ; for the sun lighteneth our physical eyes, but Thine image illumineth our noetic eyes.

Irmos: Come, ye faithful, and with minds uplifted let us delight in the hospitality of the Master and the feast of immortality in a high place, learning from the Word, Whom we magnify, and Who hath ascended.

Glory…, in Tone IV—

Theotokion: Let the clouds now drop sweetness upon mortals through thy mediation, O Virgin; for thy Son and God hath taken pity on the world and given the horn of salvation to the faithful: His divine image.

The might of the Ishmaelites hath failed; for in his land the emperor wise in government hath set in his right hand the full fortification of the weaponry of the Cross.

Irmos: I shall open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear radiantly keeping festival; and rejoicing I shall hymn her wonders.

Let the clouds let fall sweetness, and let the mountains leap up in joy over the all-glorious mighty works of Christ our God; for yesterday on Mount Tabor the light of the Godhead shone forth, assuring the preëminent disciples, and presenting Moses and Elijah with glory, bearing witness unto Him Who hath authority over the law and dominion over the living and the dead. Today, in the midst of the world, the radiant depiction hath shone forth, assuring all that He is our God incarnate, to Whom we chant: Glory to Thy love for mankind, O Christ!

Theotokion: Thy purity unaffected by thy birthgiving, thou wast known to be a Mother even though thou didst not undergo that which pertaineth to mothers. For the divine will accomplished both within thee, O Mother of God.

O all ye princes and judges of the earth, with the chief bishops, hierarchs and all the people, bless ye Christ, having been vouchsafed to behold Him.

Irmos: The children of those who were saved have hidden beneath the earth Him Who of old covered the pursuing tyrant with the waves of the sea; but let us chant unto the Lord like the maidens: Gloriously hath He been glorified!

Now & ever…, in Tone I—

Theotokion: Salvation hath been shown to be known to the countries of the world, O pure Mother of God, for we have now been vouchsafed, through thy mediation, to see the depiction of our Savior Who was born of thee.

More melodious than clarions, the God-­pleasing tongues of the theologizing men sounded forth to the Theotokos, playing a funeral hymn inspired by the Spirit: Rejoice, O incorrupt fountain of God’s life-creating incarnation which saveth all!

Irmos: O Christ, Thou creative and almighty Wisdom and Power of God, establish the Church immovable and unshaken; for Thou alone art holy Who restest in the saints.

It was fitting that the servants of the Word, who saw Him with their own eyes, see also the repose of His Mother in the flesh, inasmuch as it was the final mystery concerning her, that they might behold not only the Savior’s ascension from the earth, but also witness the translation of her who gave Him birth. Wherefore, assembled from all parts of the earth by the power of God, they reached Sion and bade farewell to her who is more highly exalted than the cherubim as she passed on to heaven. And we also, with them, bow down to her as one who prayeth for our souls.

Theotokion: The destroyer changed the immortal founder of our race through his disbelief in the dread commandment of God Who created him; but, having given birth to the Bestower of life, O Virgin, thou alone hast made us steadfast with power and incorruption.

Of old a little city prepared to receive Thee, O Christ, and the coming of Thaddæus cureth its ills with the letter written in Thy hand and the divine impress of Thy countenance.

Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and abundant fountain, in thy divine glory establish thou those who hymn thee and that spiritually form themselves into a choir; and vouchsafe unto them crowns of victory.

Great Doxology. Ektenias. Dismissal. First Hour.

Theotokion: Robe yourselves in righteousness, ye priests, and rejoice with splendor, all ye venerable; for, lo! Christ hath prepared for us a lamp: the divinely wrought likeness of His image, which He received from the Virgin.

The eyes of the Lord are upon just kings, and His ears are open to the entreaty of kings wise in piety, who magnificently honor His likeness, which He Himself wrought.

Irmos: Creation, beholding Thee, Who suspended the whole earth without support upon the waters, Thyself hanging upon Golgotha, was seized with great awe, crying out: None is holy save Thee, O Lord!

Theotokion: Thou alone wast radiant in the beauty of virginity, O Theotokos, nourisher of the Creator, and hast cleansed away all the defilement of sin from us who cry aloud: Blessed art Thou, O God!

God, the King of all, giveth thee that which transcendeth nature; for, as He kept thee a virgin during thy birthgiving, so did He preserve thy body untouched by corruption in the tomb; and He glorified thee with Himself by a divine translation, rendering thee honor as a Son to His Mother.

Irmos: The sayings and images of the prophets revealed Thine incarnation from the Virgin, O Christ. The splendor of Thine effulgence goeth forth unto the enlightenment of the nations and the abyss gave forth her voice to Thee with gladness: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Theotokion: He Who before shone forth from thy holy womb, O Virgin, hath sanctified all creation; and today He hath shone forth yet more, His divine image having appeared most gloriously from a heathen land, as from a region of unwaning light, giving it to His faithful people and city for their salvation.

Truly, O Virgin, thine Offspring set thee in the Holy of Holies as the splendid candlestick of the immaterial Light, the golden censer of the divine Coal, the jar and the staff, the divinely inscribed tablet, the holy ark, the table of the Word of life.

Irmos: Perceiving the unfathomable counsel of God, the incarnation from the Virgin of Thee, the Most High, the prophet Habbakuk cried out: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Theotokion: Beholding the one Hypostasis, consisting of two natures unconfused, which was incarnate of thine all-precious blood, O Mother of God, we confess Him to be both God and man, Who was begotten of the timeless Father before time, without pain or mingling.

O Savior, Thou art more comely in beauty than all the sons of men: for if Thou wast bereft of form and beauty at the time of Thy passion, yet Thou didst enlighten all things and reveal the form of Thy countenance, whose likeness, depicted upon an aged napkin, hath been given unto us as a treasure.

Irmos: Foreseeing Thy divine condescension upon the Cross, Habbakuk cried out in awe: Thou hast cut down the dominion of the mighty, O Good One, entering into fellowship with those who are in hades, as Thou art almighty!

Theotokion: The height and depth of thy mystery are truly ineffable, O pure one; for as the Most High came forth from thee ineffably, so He became visible, coming to us today in the incorporeal light of His countenance, mingling with mortals in the matter of His flesh.

The depiction of Thy face hast Thou now given to the new Israel as strength against the hordes of the Moslems, as of old Thou gavest the ark against the Philistines, O Christ. And it hath acquired glory; for it is not fitting to cast holy things to dogs.

Irmos: We confess the divine and ineffable beauty of Thy virtues, O Christ; for having shone forth from eternal glory as the co-eternal and hypostatic Effulgence, incarnate of the Virgin’s womb Thou hast shone forth as the Sun upon those who are in darkness and shadow.

Theotokion: Thou didst lift the reproach of women, and didst remove and annul the curse on men; and thou hast poured forth joy and blessing upon all, O all-pure Virgin Theotokos.

Thou didst send Thine apostle unto Abgar who was ignorant of Thy heavenly kingdom, to which Thou, O Christ, hast led us up from corrupt things which drag us down, O Good One Who art unapproachable even to the immaterial cherubim; and he revealed the mysteries, that Thou didst descend even unto hades.

Irmos: All things are filled with awe at thy divine glory, for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, didst have within thy womb Him Who is God over all, and didst give birth to the timeless Son, granting peace unto all that hymn thee.

O uncircumscribable Word of the Father, knowing the victorious image, uninscribed and divinely wrought, of Thine ineffable and divine dispensation towards man, of Thy true incarnation, we honor it with veneration.

Irmos: With Thy divine light, O Good One, do Thou illumine the souls of those who with love wake at dawn to Thee, I pray, that they may know Thee, O Word of God, to be the true God Who doth call them forth from the gloom of sin.

Ikos: Persuading men of the dread mystery of His incarnation, the Lord Himself imprinteth the image of His divine manhood upon the napkin and, taking up the Prototype from the Mount of Olives, He seateth it on the throne of the Father to be worshipped by the bodiless angels; and embracing it with heart and soul, we honor it with veneration.

Irmos: The inner fire of the sea from the deep which giveth rise to the whales was a prefiguring of Thy three-day burial, whereof Jonah was shown to be the proclaimer; for, remaining unharmed as he was before he was sent forth, he cried: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord!

Enraged, Moses smashed the divinely wrought tablets which had been inscribed by the divine Spirit; but the Master, preserving unharmed her who gave birth to Him, hath now caused her to dwell in the mansions of heaven. Celebrating with her, let us cry out to Christ: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Irmos: Celebrating this divine and most honored festival of the Mother of God, come, ye divinely wise, let us clap our hands and glorify God Who was born of her!

On the cymbals of pure lips, with the music of a radiant heart, on the high-sounding clarion of exalted thought, clapping our diligent hands on the renowned and chosen day of the repose of the pure Virgin, let us cry aloud: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Irmos: Jonah was seized, but not held, in the belly of the sea monster; for being the image of Thee, Who suffered and wast given over for burial, he came forth from the beast as from a bridal chamber; and He beckoned to you, O guardsmen, ye vain and false keepers of the watch, but ye refused His mercy.

Gather ye together, O divinely wise people, for the dwelling-place of the glory of God is translated from Sion to the habitation of heaven, where is the pure voice of those who keep festival, the voice of the unutterable rejoicing of those who cry out to Christ in gladness: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Irmos: The divine will, opposing the shameless rage and the fire, bedewed the fire and put wrath to shame by the divinely inspired three-stringed lyre of the venerable youths, opposing the musical instruments amid the flames, chanting: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Walking the earth, by Thy word Thou didst drive away every illness, O Word of God; yet ascending to the throne of the Father, Thou healest our illness by Thine image.

Irmos: The divinely wise youths worshipped not a creation rather than the Creator, but, manfully trampling the threat of the fire ­underfoot, they rejoiced, chanting: Blessed art Thou, the all-hymned Lord and God of our fathers!

O Thou Who created all things by Thy word, and took on a form not Thine own, Thou didst leave the portrait of Thy countenance unto us, and taking it up we rejoice in gladness.

Irmos: O ineffable wonder! He, that in the furnace delivered the venerable children from the flame, is laid in the grave, dead and bereft of breath, for the salvation of us that chant: O God our Deliverer, blessed art Thou!

The faithful emperor, who sought the lineaments of Thy features with all his soul, received that which he sought, O Lord, his wish being the fulfillment of God’s desire.

Irmos: The divine will, opposing the shameless rage and the fire, bedewed the fire and put wrath to shame by the divinely inspired three-stringed lyre of the venerable youths, opposing the musical instruments amid the flames, chanting: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Let us prepare our eyes for the vision of God, and let us worthily strive to see the most precious image of Christ, unto our salvation.

Irmos: The Offspring of the Theotokos saved the pious youths in the furnace, then in figure, but now in deed; and she moveth all the world to chant to Thee: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

With discourses the whole multitude of theologians accompanied the sacred coffin of the Theotokos in Sion, exclaiming: Whither goest thou, O tabernacle of the living God? Cease not to regard those who chant with faith: O ye who have been delivered, let us hymn and exalt the one Creator for all ages!

Irmos: The godly youths denounced the pillar of God-opposing wickedness; and the Sanhedrin of the iniquitous, raging against Christ, doth plan to slay Him Who holdeth life in His hand, Whom all creation blesseth, glorifying Him forever.

Thou goest forth, O all-immaculate one, lifting up thine hands, the hands wherewith thou didst bear God in the flesh; and as a Mother thou didst with boldness say to Him Who was born of thee: Preserve Thou forever those whom Thou hast given to me, who cry out to Thee: O ye who have been delivered, let us hymn and exalt the one Creator for all ages!

Irmos: In thee are the laws of nature overcome, O pure Virgin, for thy birthgiving is virginal and death is betrothed to life. A Virgin giving birth and alive after death, O Theotokos, thou hast saved thine inheritance.

Hoping to come upon Thee, the Lord, face to face, all the most elect people of the city arranged a wondrous greeting for Thee. The divine choir of hierarchs, leading, bore Thee on their shoulders; and drawn to Thine inheritance, O Compassionate One, Thou didst rest in the church of Thy Mother.

Irmos: Let every earthborn man leap for joy, enlightened by the Spirit, and let the nature of the incorporeal intelligences keep festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry aloud: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!

The mouths of innocent children sang hymns to Thee of old as Thou didst enter the city which murdered the prophets; but the iniquitous assembly of the Jewish Sanhedrin armed its murderous hand in rage against Thee. But now, the lawful city, beholding Thee coming forth as Creator, rejoiceth, receiving the image of Thy countenance.

Irmos: More honorable than the cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, thee who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos do we magnify.

More than Moses who beheld God and received the divinely inscribed tablets hast Thou, the honorable local prince, been magnified, who received the precious letter of the Word of God, which blesseth thee who believed in piety without having beheld any of His miracles.

The angelic hosts were amazed, seeing their Master in Sion, bearing in His arms a woman’s soul; for as befitteth a Son, He exclaimed to her in all-pure manner: Come, O pure one, and be glorified with thy Son and God!

The mindless people spat upon Thee, O Savior, and in return for Thy benefactions audaciously did unseemly things to Thee; but we who stood afar off have been adopted through Thy sufferings.

Give aid against the enemy to pious and faithful kings, for, having acquired the standard of Thy flesh as an unassailable fortress, O Master, in it they see their salvation.

O immutable Image of the Father, Effulgence of the glory of the eternal Light, Seal of the Most High, O Word, Power and Wisdom: be Thou easily reconciled to those who theologize concerning Thee.

O Christ, Thou never-waning Light, through the prayers of the Theotokos, who gave Thee birth, illumine us with the visage of Thy countenance, and count us worthy of the splendor of the saints, when Thou wilt sit to render unto each according to his works.

O how many great things hath the Mighty One done for thee! For thou wast born of a barren woman, and as a virgin gavest birth, remaining virgin still. And even after death thou remainest aloof from death, O pure one; and without leaving the world thou prayest for the world.

On the renowned day of our festival, O ye people, let us open our mouths and purify our tongues, radiantly glorifying the revelation of the divine image of Christ our God.

Fulfilling the words of the Father, the preëternal Light before became visible to men in the image and likeness of the flesh; and now He hath revealed Himself in the image not made by the hands of man, shining forth upon us the light of His divine incarnation.

Desiring to speak forth His grace, the Most High assumed the image of a servant and, as an assurance of His human nature, hath given the faithful the likeness of His countenance today.

Illumining now the earthly world, with its gifts divine grace from on high filleth those who chant: Let us sing unto the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

It was meet to bear unto the city which reigneth over all cities the lineaments of the King of heaven and earth, which He, incarnate, didst limn by Himself, and that the translation be accomplished through the efforts of the Christ-loving emperors.

The divinely radiant beams have filled all things, illumining and adorning human nature, proceeding from the image which the seraphim cover with the glory of Christ.

The glorious apostles, seeing thee to be a mortal woman, yet, in manner transcending nature, the Mother of God, O all-immaculate one, with awe touched with their hands thee who art resplendent in glory, perceiving thee to be a habitation acceptable to God.

When God preserved with the glory of His divinity the honor of the animate ark wherein the Word became flesh, the judgment of retribution overtook the insolent one through the severing of his audacious hands.

As Master in essence, Thou didst unite Thyself to Thy servants through the flesh; and working out and planning our salvation in divers ways, O Christ, Thou art seen by us in Thine image.

The most honorable city of Edessa hath for its faith received Thine honorable and divine image as a firm pledge; and Thine imperial city now receiveth it as the best of gifts.

As hypostatic Life Thou hast now tasted of the death of the flesh, whereby Thou hast poured forth life upon the dead by Thy rising, O Christ. And now Thou hast given us the image of Thy countenance as a conduit of life.

With the angels we glorify Thee, O Christ, Who of old created many according to Thine image, wherein Thou didst give Thyself form in Thy loving-kindness, truly taking on an immutable likeness.

O Compassionate One, Who in Thy great goodness art right accessible and inclined to hearken unto all who seek Thee, we marvel at the beauty of Thy love which is manifest in the approach of Thine icon.

When the local prince beheld Thee, O Savior, in Thy depiction, by Thine all-accomplishing might Thou didst grant his desires which he expressed to Thee—for love and the healing of his infirmity—by Thy gladsome gift.

The tomb and mortality could not hold the Theotokos, who is untiring in her supplications and our certain hope in her intercessions. For, as the Mother of Life, she hath passed over to the Life Who dwelt within her ever-virgin womb.

Ikos: Guard thou my thoughts, O my Christ, for I make bold to hymn the bulwark of the world, Thy pure Mother. Establish me firmly in the bastion of my words, and help me in the midst of difficult thoughts; for Thou fulfillest the entreaties of those who cry out and ask with faith. Wherefore, grant unto me a deft tongue and a ready mind, for every good deed of enlightenment cometh down from Thee, O Bestower of light, Who dwelt within her ever-virgin womb.

O compassionate Savior, Who camest down from heaven in the loving-kindness of Thy mercy, today Thou hast given the all-pure countenance of Thine all-holy flesh to the city which honoreth Thee as a treasure and to the Christian people as a strong suit of armor. And drawing forth sanctification therefrom, we fervently receive it with faith. twice

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same tone and melody—

Having surrendered thy holy soul now into the hands of thy Son and God, neither didst thou leave thy body in the grave; for as thou didst receive the Life of all, thus, translated to life after thy death, thou pourest forth everlasting life upon those who know thee to be the true Theotokos.

Behold, O ye people, and marvel, for the holy and openly manifest mountain of God is exalted on high to the mansions of heaven: the earthly heaven becometh a celestial and incorrupt habitation.

Thy death became a passage to an everlasting and better life, O pure one, translating thee from transitory life to that which is truly divine and eternal, that thou mightest behold thy Son and Lord in gladness, O pure one.

The gates of heaven were raised and the angelic choirs chanted; and Christ received the vessel of His Mother’s virginity. The cherubim lifted her up with gladness, and the seraphim glorify her, rejoicing.

The divine image of the likeness of the flesh of Him Who drew nigh to men in the flesh hath today come to the newly-chosen Israel as from Egypt, and enlighteneth the ends of the earth.

Moses, asking, was vouchsafed of old to behold obscurely a divine vision of the glory of Thy back parts; and the new Israel now clearly beholdeth Thee, the Deliverer, face to face.

O all ye people, behold ye wondrous things and be merry now in spirit, hymning Christ Who hath given us the depiction of His countenance as riches of great value.

They who are now clad in royal purple, who have been ordained by the King of kings to reign, glorifying Him, receive the majestic sight of His likeness.

The visage of the Savior, for which the prophets longed of old, the emperors behold, blessed by all, depicted in the image He Himself wrought without the use of men’s hands.

O all ye princes and judges of the earth, bless ye Christ today, together with the high priests, the hierarchs and all the people, counted worthy to behold His countenance.

More melodious than clarions, the God-pleasing tongues of the theologizing men sounded forth to the Theotokos, playing a funeral hymn inspired by the Spirit: Rejoice, O incorrupt fountain of God’s life-creating incarnation which saveth all!

Let us clap our hands today and cry out praises to the Lord; for, lo! He hath truly come and revealed Himself, illumining all the faithful with the divine likeness of His pure flesh.

Today hath the assembly of the Orthodox been enlightened. Let the horde of the heretics be put to shame, seeing the image fashioned not by men’s hands venerated, which hath been produced for us by the flesh of the Deliverer.

The coming solemnity is a great mystery; for the light of the Lord’s countenance hath shone forth upon the world through the precisely limned image and the divine letters written by the hand of God Himself, whereby Abgar of old was strengthened.

The godly crown-bearers rejoice not in purple cloaks, nor in scarlet, nor yet in precious crowns, but in the Lord God, beholding Whose beauty they are adorned.

The righteous eyes of the Lord are upon the king, and His ears are open to the supplication of kings who reason with piety.

Beholding now the visage of the undepictable countenance of the immutable God and Savior, the people stand before it to behold it as inspired, and they make haste to be enlightened thereby.

God, the King of all, giveth thee that which transcendeth nature; for, as He kept thee a virgin during thy birthgiving, so did He preserve thy body untouched by corruption in the tomb; and He glorified thee with Himself by a divine translation, rendering thee honor as a Son to His Mother.

Truly, O Virgin, thine Offspring set thee in the Holy of Holies as the splendid candlestick of the immaterial Light, the golden censer of the divine Coal, the jar and the staff, the divinely inscribed tablet, the holy ark, the table of the Word of life.

Life hath shone forth upon the dead, light hath come for the blind, healing hath been disclosed for those who are grievously afflicted, and salvation hath drawn nigh for all today.

Every mind is bewildered, seeing the divine image of the immaterial countenance of Christ now clearly limned, pouring forth enlightenment upon those who venerate it.

Let us prepare the way of Christ, crying out now to Christ: Hosanna! Blessed is the name of the glory of God, which hath in His divine image been revealed to those on earth!

Thou didst not disdain to suffer with men, who are held fast by evil and have fallen into corruption, O Creator and Restorer of our race; but, abasing Thyself, O Most High, and showing Thyself to be in my likeness and lowliness, Thou hast most wisely built me up, giving me man’s primeval beauty.

When I believed not in Thy heavenly kingdom, to which, O Good One, Thou hast brought us up who are corrupt and lie below, Thou Who art inaccessible to the immaterial cherubim didst descend for me down into hades; and to King Abgar Thou didst send Thine apostle, who confirmed the mystery, O Christ.

O Word and Wisdom of God the omnipotent Father, Who from before the ages hath been ever continually invisible, the local ruler, beholding the image of Thine all-human countenance, marvelled, beholding Thee, God Who assumed flesh, blood and a noetic soul.

O uncircumscribable Word of the Father, knowing the victorious image, uninscribed and divinely wrought, of Thine ineffable and divine dispensation towards man, of Thy true incarnation, we honor it with veneration.

Ikos: Persuading men of the dread mystery of His incarnation, the Lord Himself imprinteth the image of His divine manhood upon the napkin and, taking up the Prototype from the Mount of Olives, He seateth it on the throne of the Father to be worshipped by the bodiless angels; and embracing it with heart and soul, we honor it with veneration.

Enraged, Moses smashed the divinely wrought tablets which had been inscribed by the divine Spirit; but the Master, preserving unharmed her who gave birth to Him, hath now caused her to dwell in the mansions of heaven. Celebrating with her, let us cry out to Christ: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

On the cymbals of pure lips, with the music of a radiant heart, on the high-sounding clarion of exalted thought, clapping our diligent hands on the renowned and chosen day of the repose of the pure Virgin, let us cry aloud: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Gather ye together, O divinely wise people, for the dwelling-place of the glory of God is translated from Sion to the habitation of heaven, where is the pure voice of those who keep festival, the voice of the unutterable rejoicing of those who cry out to Christ in gladness: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Every city rejoiceth with faith, celebrating with the new Sion; for its King hath meekly come, not on a foal as before, but in His image, saving those who chant with faith: Blessed art Thou, O God!

The divine words of the incorporeal ones, who heard the voice of the Lord before, have been fulfilled; and we, illumined by the light-giving splendors of His appearance, have now seen His visage.

Those of heaven make merry with those of earth, and the multitude of all the saints rejoice together; kings and princes, rich and poor, celebrate the divine image which hath appeared today.

Let us prepare our eyes for a divine vision, and let us make haste, as is meet, to behold the image of Christ precious to all, for the salvation of us who chant: O God our Deliverer, blessed art Thou!

Upborne as on Mount Tabor, beholding the radiant effulgence in the divine manhood of Christ, with eyes uplifted, we ever theologize Him as being in two natures, yet a single Hypostasis.

Composed and filled with every voice may the hymnody be of all of us who keep festival and rejoice fervently in the Lord, chanting together: O God our Deliverer, blessed art Thou!

Enraged, Moses smashed the divinely wrought tablets which had been inscribed by the divine Spirit; but the Master, preserving unharmed her who gave birth to Him, hath now caused her to dwell in the mansions of heaven. Celebrating with her, let us cry out to Christ: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

On the cymbals of pure lips, with the music of a radiant heart, on the high-sounding clarion of exalted thought, clapping our diligent hands on the renowned and chosen day of the repose of the pure Virgin, let us cry aloud: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Gather ye together, O divinely wise people, for the dwelling-place of the glory of God is translated from Sion to the habitation of heaven, where is the pure voice of those who keep festival, the voice of the unutterable rejoicing of those who cry out to Christ in gladness: O all-glorious God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Being perfect in essence, the God-man became visible, truly saving in perfect manner according to both His natures; for as God, confirming the image of man, He transformed it as One Incorporeal, and gave it to us as a rampart and protection.

O Word of God, exalt Thou the horn of those who confess Thee to be God and man, and who bow low before Thy divinely imprinted image, whereby everlasting life hath been given to all the faithful; and set at naught the arrogance of the pagans who know not Thy divine power.

The new Church is resplendent, for the light of glory hath shone forth the image of the corporeal aspect of our God; and, as He Himself knoweth, He hath adorned His incorporeal countenance, illumining it for the salvation of the Christian people.

Being invisible to all in Thy divine essence, O Savior, yet visible as man in Thy human nature, having depicted Thyself by the illumination of Thy very face, without the use of pigments, Thou hast not deprived Thy servants of the sight thereof, who sang: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

The chosen one, who hath authority over all, gazeth with reverence and honor at the self-imprinted prototypical depiction of the very countenance of the Savior, the divinely wrought image, for those who put their trust therein are protected and made steadfast.

More than Moses the God-beholder, who received the divinely inscribed tablets of the law, wast thou magnified, O honored King Abgar, receiving the precious epistle of God the Word, which calleth thee blessed who believed with piety in Christ’s wonderworking which thou didst not see.

The angelic hosts were amazed, seeing their Master in Sion, bearing in His arms a woman’s soul; for as befitteth a Son, He exclaimed to her in all-pure manner: Come, O pure one, and be glorified with thy Son and God!

Rejoice now mystically, O great Christ-loving city of God, for to thee hath come He Who reigneth over all in the likeness of His divine prototypical visage; and thee hath He deigned to choose as His dwelling place.

Let us chant a hymn of thanks unto God, Who was pleased to give us great riches, an unassailable rampart, and a firm foundation: the divinely formed countenance of His godly flesh, which honoring, we, the faithful, magnify.

O the wonders which pass understanding, which Thou hast wrought upon us who hope on Thee! For as Thy birth was ineffable, so also hast Thou shown forth the depiction of Thy countenance, which is strange and incomprehensible to all. From all wrath deliver us who honor it.

Unimaginable beauty and comeliness surpassing nature in beauty are truly visible to those who desire to see them, as is meet! Let us therefore make haste, sanctifying our faces.

A rampart and mighty foundation, a weapon of peace, an unassailable buttress impervious to all the artifices of the adversary, a bulwark, hath been given to our city.

O immutable image of the Father, Effulgence of the glory of the everlasting light, Seal of the Most High, Word, Power and Wisdom: be Thou readily reconciled with those who theologize concerning Thee.

O Christ, Thou never-waning Light, through the prayers of the Theotokos, who gave Thee birth, illumine us with the visage of Thy countenance, and count us worthy of the splendor of the saints, when Thou wilt sit to render unto each according to his works.

O ye apostles, having gathered here from the ends of the earth, bury my body in the Garden of Gethsemane! And do Thou, O my Son and God, receive my spirit!