Irmos: The godly baptist was engulfed, but was not held fast by fear: for though straw shrinketh when it draweth near to fire, when he heard “Suffer it to be so now,” he hastened, like a servant, to fulfill the command; and he heard the voice from on high bear witness to the preëternal Son!
Thou didst register, yet didst not become a slave, when Thou didst submit to the edicts of Cæsar; for though, while granting us release from slavery, Thou dost voluntarily submit and pay his tax, yet hast Thou now freed us who before were sold under the law of sin, and hast made us worthy of adoption.
As King of nature, Thou dost reign, yet not in earthly fashion; for even though, being born of the tribe of David according to the flesh, O Savior, Thou hast received the throne of his kingdom, yet dost Thou have Thine own dominion of kingship with the Father from before time began, and Thou reignest forever with the Spirit.
Of old the prince of this world was also called king of those in the waters; yet he is drowned by Thy cleansing and cast down, as once was Legion in the lake, O Savior; and by Thy mighty hand Thou hast vouchsafed liberation to the work of Thy hands, which was enslaved by him.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.