Ode I

Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.

Canon of Saint Athanasius, the acrostic whereof is: “Athanasius was the boast of Orthodoxy”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone VIII—

Theotokion: All-glorious things have been spoken of thee among generations of generations, for thou didst contain God the Word in thy womb, and didst remain pure, O Theotokos Mary. Wherefore, we all honor thee, after God, as our intercessor.

Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dryshod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

Offering up laudation unto Athanasius and praising his virtue, I offer yet higher praise to God, Who hath given men the praiseworthy gift of virtue, of which he was the animate image and seal.

Theotokion: O most pure Bride of God, thou gavest birth to One of the all-divine Trinity Who through thee revealed Himself to us in the flesh, at the Father’s good pleasure and with the coöperation of the most Holy Spirit.

Thou wast full of divine wisdom, O blessed and venerable one, shining now in thine angelic life more than the sun; and thou hast surpassed the laws of praise which govern us. Yet accept it from us, O father, even though we are not worthy to praise thee.

Though we are bereft of mighty works, we weave hymnody as is meet, O Athanasius, according to the dignity of thy hymns; and we ask that through thee we be granted forgiveness and the abundant grace of the Spirit.

As a youth thou didst mortify the uprisings of the carnal passions, acquiring in thy youth the right constant wisdom of an elder, O blessed Athanasius; for thou didst govern all thy senses with the desire of wisdom.

Canon of Saint Cyril, the acrostic whereof is: “Cyril is the harp of the vision of God”, the composition of John of Damascus, in Tone IV—

Receiving light-giving grace from God, and manifest as a radiant beacon, O Cyril, thou hast shone forth rays of reason upon us on the day of thy commemoration, that we may hymn thee as is meet.

Thou wast full of the effulgence of the Spirit, O wise Cyril, as a keeper of the commandments of Christ, cleansed of the passions; and thou wast truly a dwelling-place of the all-divine Trinity.

Filled with zeal and boldness, O glorious Cyril, and defending Orthodoxy, thou didst truly rebuke all those who opposed God and the endless pratings of their vile heresies.