Ode III

Irmos: O Christ, Who in the beginning established the heavens in wisdom and founded the earth upon the waters, make me steadfast upon the rock of Thy commandments; for none is holy as Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Glory..., Now and ever....: Theotokion—

Sessional hymn, in Tone VII—

O venerable ones, establish us in the love of Christ, wherein ye were established by God, that having loved our neighbor as ourselves and forgiving the trespasses of those who trespass against us, we may obtain forgiveness of our sins.

Theotokion: The unceasing amazement of the angels, and the never-ending routing of demons, the salvation of men art thou, O all-immaculate Virgin. In thee do we confidently boast. With thee do we lay low our adversaries, and through thee do we hope to obtain eternal life.

Irmos: The bow of the mighty is become weak, and the strengthless have girded themselves with power; wherefore, my heart is established in the Lord.

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

Young in years, but elders in understanding were ye shown to be, O venerable ones, when, forsaking all the beauties of this world and looking toward the end of all things, ye made your abode in the desert; that following after Christ there with diligence, ye might, by the narrow and exceeding sorrowful gate, rather than by the most opportune path, enter in unto the Kingdom of heaven. Wherefore, ye now abide in the mansions of paradise.

Theotokion: O most pure one, thou hast been revealed as the mountain overshadowed by the virtues, from whence the Master hath come forth as a servant, to free men from slavery.

Taught by faith and the fear of God, protected by the grace of the Holy Spirit, having Christ alone as instructor after the repose of your abba, ye acquired certain salvation, and amazed the angels with your great patience. Wherefore, be ye now our instructors, and teach us to fulfill the commandments of the Lord.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Wandering in the desert of the virtues, and tormented by spiritual thirst, we have found you to be like the four rivers of paradise, O venerable ones; for to all who follow your life ye pour forth streams of grace abundantly and bedew withered hearts with your prayers, and ye give joy as drink to the souls of the faithful. Now celebrating your most glorious memory, we humbly entreat you, O blessed ones, that through your fervent supplications ye rain down upon us the mercy of God.

Rejoice, O thou through whom the Word immutably became flesh and dwelt among us! Rejoice, O pure one, joy of the venerable and the righteous, and salvation of us, the faithful! Rejoice, O Mother of Christ God!

Stavrotheotokion—

O pure, Ever-virgin Theotokos, beholding thy Son hanging upon the Cross, and weeping as a mother, thou didst magnify His strange condescension, O Mistress who knewest not wedlock.

Elevated by lifting thy gaze unto God, and illumined by the effulgence which doth emanate from Him, thou didst foresee the form of things to come, O thou who art made manifest by God.

Thou didst have every virtue, and with thy mind didst hate all wickedness, O most blessed one; and thou didst justly revile the iniquitous.

As one pure, O right wondrous one, thou wast entrusted with speech by the Holy Spirit, most manifestly prophesying the fulfillment of things to come.

Thou didst stand on divine watch, O blessed and divinely inspired Habbakuk, and with the eyes of prophecy didst perceive the coming of God; wherefore, thou didst cry out with fear: O Lord, I have heard of Thy dread coming, and I hymn Thee, Who hast willed to bear the flesh of clay which Thou didst receive from the Virgin!

After God, it is to thy divine protection that I, the lowly, flee, O Theotokos, and falling down I pray: Have mercy, O all-pure one, for my sins have gone over my head, and I fear torment and tremble, O Mistress. O pure one, make supplication to thy Son, that He deliver me therefrom.

Stavrotheotokion—

She who in latter times gave birth in the flesh unto Thee Who wast begotten of the unoriginate Father, beholding Thee hanging upon the Cross, cried out: “Woe is me, O most beloved Jesus! How is it that Thou Who art glorified as God by the angels art now crucified by iniquitous men, O my Son? I hymn Thee, O Long-suffering One!”