Ode IX

Exapostilarion —

Irmos: O ye faithful, in oneness of mind let us magnify with hymns the Mother of the Light, the haven of salvation for our souls, who remained a Virgin after giving birth.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…” —

Theotokion: Never shall we falter in our praise of thee, O Mother of God, for with incomparable maternal boldness thou dost mediate peace for the world and great mercy for our souls.

Israel of old blessed the Lord their God, for He visited and wrought redemption for His nation; and the New Israel likewise praiseth him, for He hath raised up a horn of salvation in the house of the holy Maximus.

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

Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Seated in glory upon the throne of the cherubim, O Lord and Master of all, Thou didst help Thy servant Maximus, mindful of Thine infinite mercy; for having languished in a prison cell, he was taken forth to be put to death, and when the time came to surrender his soul into Thy hands, O Almighty One, he confessed Thee with boldness before those who tortured him. Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

David, the king of Israel, danced in ecstasy before the ark of the covenant; and Maximus, the priest of the Lord, stood faithfully at His sacred altar, offering up the unbloody Sacrifice in holiness and righteousness.

A great and holy mystery do we proclaim! Behold, Maximus, priest and martyr, is upborne like a ship upon the tide of his blood, having skillfully traversed the raging sea of temptations, and navigated the perilous shoals of tortures. And arriving at the tranquil harbor of salvation, he presenteth himself to his Master; and having done what is good and virtuous in His sight, he hath entered into the joy of His Lord. Twice

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone —

As the prophets of old proclaimed, the Lord hath delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, that we might serve Him without fear. Wherefore, the holy Maximus was not afraid of the threats and tortures of the tyrants.

Glory…, in Tone II —

Theotokion: Let us proclaim with the voice of Gabriel: Rejoice, O chosen land! Rejoice, golden table! Rejoice, refuge of men! Rejoice, boast of martyrs! Rejoice, O holy Theotokos, joy of the angels and might of those who with pure faith call thee blessed!

Dying, thou didst bless the Lord thy Savior, and didst proclaim aloud His Holy Orthodox Faith, O martyred priest of God. Wherefore, full of joy, we magnify thy virtues and steadfast endurance, and utter praises to thee at thy memorial.

All-holy is the Spirit Who proceedeth from the Father alone, and Who spake within thee when thou wast brought before the judges for the sake of Christ, having been delivered up by the enemies of the Holy Church, and hated unjustly for His name’s sake. Yet thou didst endure to the end and wast saved, and at that same hour wast taught by the Spirit what to say, to confound the wicked plans of the ungodly.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

In toils and travails, amid misfortunes and tribulations, thy faithful servants call upon thee, whom Christ our God hath given us to be our mother. O Theotokos, look down upon us from the heights of heaven, and be thou a tireless mediatress before God for us sinners.

Come ye all, and let us glorify the Mother of Light, crying out with unceasing hymns, for she gave birth unto our Salvation! And let us offer her the salutation, “Rejoice!”, as to her who alone gave birth unto the ultimate Author of all things, Who was God before the ages. Rejoice, thou who hast set fallen Eve aright again! Rejoice, O all-pure Virgin who knewest not wedlock!

Great doxology. Troparion. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.

O divinely wise athlete, thou pourest forth divers healings and dost soothe grievous illnesses, truly receiving grace, having fought well and vanquished the enemy, O eminent among the martyrs, who dwellest with the angels.

Thou wast comely amid thy struggles, and hast made thine abode in the beautiful mansions, thy holy head having been cut off with the sword, thy head on which Jesus hath placed a magnificent crown of victory, O lamp of the Church, confirmation and boast of those who piously call thee blessed.

Thou didst crush the might of the wicked one, O all-praised athlete Eutyches, and like a youth didst hold the trophy of victory over him; and as an excellent victor thou dwellest now in the heavens, standing in splendor before the throne of the Trinity with great boldness.

Thy divine and radiant memory hath shone forth upon all more brightly than the sun, illumining those who ever faithfully and piously celebrate it with beams of splendor, O Eutyches; and thereon we also pray that, as one possessed of boldness, thou entreat salvation for us.

As thou wast heir to the thrones and didst share the ways of the sacred apostles, O divinely wise one, shed light from heaven upon those who with faith celebrate thy holy suffering, in that thou art the disciple of the Word, O holy hierarch Eutyches.

Look down upon thine inheritance, O pure one, and preserve it by thine invincible intercession. Establish and set aright the scepters of kingdoms, subdue the nations, and pour forth peace upon the ends of the earth.