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.
Kontakion, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “To thee, the chosen leader…”—
Theotokion: O most honored Mistress, who for men gavest birth unto the Lord Pilot, still thou the constant and cruel tumult of my passions, and grant my heart peace.
From thee, O Mother of God, hath a Torrent of sweetness issued forth, giving drink to all men and washing their souls clean of defilement. O Mistress Theotokos, save all who with faith bow down before thy precious image.
Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, fleeing to Thy calm haven I cry unto Thee: Lead up my life from corruption, O greatly Merciful One!
Kontakion, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Thou hast appeared today...”—
Having assembled together, let us all hymn the pure Virgin, the divinely chosen Maiden of Jacob, the fleece of Gideon, the mediatress of joy, the might and boast of those who are saved, the pure Theotokos.
Behold, gladness now draweth nigh, and sorrow is destroyed! The faithful are saved, drawing forth joy as from a wellspring, and they chant continually in praise: Rejoice, O pure Mistress, thou inception of our salvation, bulwark and boast of all the faithful!
By thine entreaties grant us thine aid, O all-pure Theotokos, for sorrows descend upon us, griefs have multiplied, and the enemy array themselves against us. Yet, interceding, O all-pure one, deliver us: cast down the arrogance of our foes and grant us victory over our enemies, that all who do evil to thy servants may be put to shame.
As ones delivered from evils by the arrival of thy precious image, O Mistress Theotokos, do we splendidly chant hymns of victory to thee, the chosen leader, on the feast of thy meeting, and we cry to thee as is our wont: Rejoice, O Bride unwedded!
Ikos: An angelic messenger was sent from heaven to say to the Theotokos: “Rejoice!”, with his incorporeal voice, O Lord; And perceiving Thee incarnate, he was filled with awe and stood, crying out to her such things as these: Rejoice, thou through whom Joy hath shone forth; rejoice, thou who didst annul the curse! Rejoice, restoration of fallen Adam; rejoice, deliverance of Eve from tears! Rejoice, height not easily scaled by the thoughts of men; rejoice, depth not easily plumbed even by the eyes of angels! Rejoice, for thou art the throne of the King; rejoice, for thou bearest Him Who bearest all things! Rejoice, thou star who revealest the Sun; rejoice, womb of the incarnation of God! Rejoice, thou through whom creation hath been restored; rejoice, thou by whom the Creator is worshipped! Rejoice, O Bride unwedded!
Guided in piety by the hand of Christ, ye traversed the deep of ungodliness and made haste to the calm haven of the radiance of the Most High, O athletes of Christ.
Thy victories, which transcended nature, perfume thy struggles like flowers, O wise one; for thou wast shown to be a fragrant censer of God, enkindled by the fire of torments, O Adrian.
Adorned with the beauty of faith was thy holy soul, O most honored Natalia, and seeking the beauty of Christ, which is truly infinite, thou didst attain thy desire.
The divine commemoration of the martyrs hath shone forth and radiantly illumined all the ends of the earth with the gladness of those who cry out: Thou art the joy of the martyrs, O Christ!
Ikos: The two score and three warrior martyrs, valiantly desiring Christ the King, Who was nailed to the tree of the Cross in the flesh, ardently endured cruel pangs and dreadful torments, trampling down all the ungodliness of the idols and setting at naught the opposition of the iniquitous. Wherefore, Adrian and Natalia, that comely pair, beholding them, emulated them, and, rejoicing, they cry out: Thou art the joy of the martyrs, O Christ!
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.