Ode VI

Irmos: The abyss of my sins and the tempest of my transgressions discomfit me and thrust me down into the depths of violent despondency; but stretch forth Thy mighty arm unto me, as Thou didst to Peter, and save my, O my Guide.

Kontakion, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Today the Virgin…”—

Heal thou the wounds of my heart, O divinely wise Nicephorus, and, dispelling the gloom of the passions, drive it away with the beams of the divine radiance which is within thee, entreating Christ the Deliverer, O blessed one.

Theotokion: The noetic hosts of the angels are in awe, marvelling as they behold Him, Who is with the Father and the Spirit since before time began, born in the flesh, of thy womb, as a babe, O all-pure Theotokos.

Calmly traversing the tempest of the threefold waves of idolatry with the sail of the Cross and the winds of the Spirit, O invincible martyred athlete Nicephorus, thou hast attained unto the calm harbor of Christ.

Thou didst suffer in martyrdom and hast truly become a victor, destroying the machinations of the serpent right mightily; and having shared in the sufferings of the Master, O blessed one, thou hast now been glorified as is meet.

Soaring aloft in the love of the Lord, O glorious one, and taking His glorious Cross upon thy shoulder, thou didst put to shame the wiles of the devil, didst suffer even unto death, and hast been shown to be a bearer of the trophy of truth, a warrior and initiate of the mysteries of the grace of God.

Ikos: Thou didst manifestly love the teaching of Paul and didst plant it in thy breast, O glorious one, crying out: “Love vaunteth not itself! The perfect Creator of man hath given it to us. For the sake of love He endured all — the nails and the Cross, vinegar and spittle; with a spear was His holy side pierced, and thereby He hath poured forth upon us His divine blood and water.” And having desired Him, thou hast been shown to be a victor, a warrior by profession, and an initiate of the mysteries of the grace of God.