Ode III

Irmos: Establish us in thee, O Lord Who hast slain sin by the Tree, and plant the fear of Thee in the hearts of us who hymn Thee.

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

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “Of the Wisdom....”—

Thou wast a fruitful olive tree, as the Psalm doth say, O divinely revealed Polycarp, bringing forth the gladness of preaching in the house of thy Lord.

Theotokion: Thou didst shake off the dust of our mortality, truly giving birth unto immortality, and thou hast woven for us garments of incorruption by thy birthgiving, O Virgin.

Thou didst diligently direct thy mind according to the command of the Savior, O divinely blessed one, and wast an eminent pastor of His Church as was meet.

In torment thou didst offer thyself wholly unto Christ as a living sacrifice, having suffered before through the witness of thy conscience and by fasting, O all-blessed one.

Having truly cultivated the vine of grace in thy soul, O wise father, thou didst pour forth the word of faith like wine, making glad the thoughts of all the faithful; and thou wast shown to be an impassible abyss of miracles. Wherefore, thou art revealed as the adornment of martyrs, O Polycarp, who ended thy life in fire and hast been vouchsafed everlasting light. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission unto those who celebrate thy holy memory with love.

Dragged down by evil thoughts, I have fallen into the deep of sin; and sighing I cry out to thee with all my heart, O all-pure one: Show forth upon me the wonder of thy rich mercy and the unfathomable abyss of thy loving-kindness, and the incalculable wealth of thy compassions; and grant me repentance and forgiveness of my transgressions, that I may cry out to thee with love: Entreat Christ God, that He grant me remission of transgressions, for I, thy servant, have thee as my hope!

Or this Stavrotheotokion—

The Ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, exclaimed, weeping, and cried out, bitterly lamenting: The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee, but my womb doth burn, beholding the crucifixion which Thou dost endure for the sake of the loving-kindness of Thy mercy. O long-suffering Lord, Abyss and inexhaustible Wellspring of mercy: Take pity, and grant remission of transgressions unto those who with faith hymn Thy divine sufferings.