Ode III

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

Kontakion, in Tone IV—

Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…”—

Theotokion: Every rank of being exalteth the wonder of thy divine birthgiving, O pure one; for in supernatural manner thou didst conceive God in thy womb, and having given birth unto Him thou remainest Ever-virgin.

Putting aside all earthly thought, O ye divinely wise, come ye to greet the all-comely beam who holdeth the all-luminous Ray Who enlighteneth and enricheth the whole world with mercy.

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.

Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Joseph marvelled...”—

Glory…, Now & ever…, Theotokion—

Having acquired thy most precious and wonder-working icon as a mighty ally and an impregnable rampart, O Mother of God, the princes of Russia pray to thee, that thou grant victory over all heresies to our pious Orthodox hierarchs.

Thou hast been shown to be a radiant cloud washing clean the defilements of our bodies with the dew of grace and enlightening our souls, O thou who alone art most hymned.

Thou hast been revealed as a most fruitful tree delighting all with food which perisheth not, and gladdening men’s souls, O pure Bride of God. Pour forth goodly gifts upon all, and save us from violent tribulations.

O ye God-loving people, come to greet the Virgin! For, lo! she who surpasseth all the prophets doth arrive, bearing in the arms of her precious image Him Who bestoweth life upon the world, that she might preserve her suffering city, cast down the boldness of the barbarians and show herself to be the steadfast guardian of all who entreat her might and protection with faith.

Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Escaping the bonds of the vanity of idolatry, O martyr, thou wast bound with a desire for the love of Christ, and with joy thou didst share the bonds of His athletes.

Your legs broken with iron bars, O athletes of the Lord, with bars of patience and valor ye truly broke the fetters of ungodliness.

Utterly disdaining carnal love, O Natalia, with desire for Christ thou didst enflame the soul of thy husband which was kindled with the fire of divine love.

Having laid up in thy heart the divine words of thy divinely wise wife, O Adrian, martyr of Christ, thou didst earnestly rush to sufferings, receiving a crown with thy spouse.

Thou didst extinguish the pyre of ungodliness with the dew of piety, O athlete, and by the crushing of thy members didst break the might of the idols, acquiring thy spouse as an aide against all their cruel array; and with her thou hast made thine abode in the kingdom on high, O Adrian, mighty of soul. Entreat Christ, that He give mercy to those who honor thee.

Tempest-tossed by the threefold waves of the passions, O pure one, I who am without conscience invoke thee fervently, that thou disdain me not lest I perish, wretch that I am, for other than thee I have no hope. Having set my hope on thee, let me not become the object of the delight or an occasion of the derision of the enemies of our salvation; for whatsoever thou desirest, thou canst do, in that thou art the Mother of the God of all.

Stavrotheotokion—

The Virgin and ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb Who was born of her without seed on the Cross, pierced by a spear, wounded with darts of grief, cried out in pain, exclaiming: “What is this new mystery? How is it that Thou diest, Who alone art the Lord of life? Wherefore, arise, raising up our fallen forefather!”