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 III, Spec. Mel: “Of the divine Faith...”—

Thou wast the strengthening of all hearts through the bread of thy words, O holy hierarch; and anointing our hearts as with oil, thou makest them glad as with wine.

Theotokion: Strange the Offspring, strange the generation which is accomplished anew in the womb of the Virgin. He hath raised up from deception the nature which had been dragged down into corruption.

With the fervor of understanding and zeal of faith thou becamest eminent among the fathers, and thou didst break the opposition of the heretics as though they were the gates of Hades.

Lifting up thy venerable hands to God, thou didst ask peace for thy flock. Wherefore, having ascended to thine inheritance on high, thou hast found rest.

Thou didst shine forth with the works of divine knowledge, and hast illumined the Church with radiance; thou hast slain heresies with thy words and, emulating the hospitality of Abraham, hast poured forth love and care for the poor. O father Tarasius, entreat Christ God to grant us great mercy.

Thou wast the divine tabernacle of the Word, O Mother who alone art a virgin all-pure, and hast surpassed the angels in purity. With thy divine waters cleanse me who am defiled with carnal transgressions and am become filthier than all others; and grant me great mercy, O pure one.

Or this Stavrotheotokion—

The undefiled ewe-lamb of the Word, the incorrupt Virgin Mother, beholding Him Who sprang forth from her without pain hanging upon the Cross, lamenting maternally, cried out: “Woe is me, O my Child! How is it that Thou sufferest willingly, desiring to deliver man from the indignity of the passions?”