Ode III

Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.

Kontakion, in Tone II—

Sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Of the divine Faith…”—

Preserving the saving and pious doctrines of Orthodoxy inviolate, O father, thou didst pasture thy flock on life-bearing meadows and didst lead them to the fold of heaven.

Theotokion: O tongs of the divine and luminous Coal, O bush which was not consumed by the fire of the Godhead: burn up all my flammable passions, and rescue me from everlasting fire.

With the light of the true Faith thou didst enlighten those who worshipped idols. And with the grace of the All-good One Who loveth mankind enlighten also us sinners, who flee to thine aid.

Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.

Sessional hymn, in Tone III—

Having ascended to the heights of the virtues, O venerable one, thou didst receive sacred anointing, and in thy most exalted see didst praise the Most High, serving Him with grace, like an angel, O most wise one.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

While thou didst pray that blessings of body and soul be granted to all, thy body was slain by the treachery of the evil ones, yet thy spirit hath made its abode with the saints; and thou prayest now to Christ in our behalf, O venerable one.

Having endured trials for the sake of Christ, O venerable one, thou didst win a share of deification by immortality; and pouring forth right fragrant myrrh unceasingly, thou dost sanctify those who have recourse to thee with faith.

Theotokion: In thy temple, as on a ship steered by thee, O Theotokos, we are now delivered from enemies visible and invisible, and are strengthened by thy help, O Ever-virgin.

Having now passed from the earth into never-ending glory, O venerable one, with the zealous cleansing of thy prayer heal thou my soul, which hath been cursed with the passions.

In the splendors of thy virtues, thou didst shine forth like a great sun upon the universe, enlightening the assemblies of the faithful with the brilliance of miracles, and dispelling the darkness of the passions. O venerable Leo, entreat Christ God, that He grant us great mercy.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Having given thyself over to labors and struggles from childhood, O wondrous Cornelius, thou wast made abbot of the Monastery of the Caves of Pskov, and as a model of faith and the ascetic life for all, thou didst lead many unto God. And persecuted by the wicked out of hatred for thy great virtues, in martyrdom thou didst surrender thy soul unto God. Wherefore, we cry aloud with faith: O right glorious venerable martyr Cornelius, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

Without separating Himself from the divine Essence, the one Lord remained God when He took flesh in thy womb, becoming man. And even after thy birthgiving He preserved thee, His Mother, a most immaculate Virgin, as thou wast before giving birth. Him do thou earnestly entreat, that He grant us great mercy.

Even the angels in heaven were filled with awe, beholding thee ascend to the summit of the virtues by thine ascetic labors, the grace of God assisting thee; and they marvelled all the more to see the Lord of heaven bestow upon thee a wreath of victory for running well the course of life and attaining its end in the victory of martyrdom.

Stavrotheotokion—

Though thou abidest forever at the side of thy Son, arrayed in the robes and crown of the Queen of heaven, O all-pure Mother of God Most High, yet dost thou ever look down upon sinful mankind, helping and assisting them amid their sorrows and griefs, and pouring forth healings and miracles upon them through thy holy icons, that, in fulfillment of thy words, all generations may ever call thee blessed.

The unblemished ewe-lamb, the incorrupt Virgin Mother, beholding the Word, Who had sprung forth from her without pain, hanging upon the Cross, cried out, lamenting maternally: “Woe is me, O my Child! How is it that thou sufferest of Thine own will, desiring to deliver man from the dishonor of the passions?”