Canon II of the Saint, the acrostic whereof is

Exapostilarion —

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.

Kontakion, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “To thee, the champion leader…” —

Sessional hymn, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who with the Father is without beginning…” —

“I celebrate the grace of Nicodemus”,

Theotokion: O Lady, thou stream of divine and spiritually nourishing things, thou inexhaustible wellspring: pour forth upon my soul the water which rusheth forth unto life everlasting, that thou mayest quench the burning coal of sin, O Virgin, that I may become full to overflowing with immaterial effulgence.

Great Doxology. Troparion. Litanies. First Hour.

Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and abundant fountain: in thy divine glory establish those who hymn thee and spiritually form themselves into a choir; and vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.

the composition of Gerasimus, in Tone VIII —

Theotokion: Thou hast been shown to be the luminous temple and throne of God, Whom thou didst conceive in the flesh, O blessed Lady. Wherefore, illumine me with the splendor of thy glory.

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

Enlighten my mind with Thine effulgence, O Lord, Bestower of light, and grant me discourse, O Word, that with my mouth I may chant splendid hymnody worthy of Nicodemus, Thy divine and wondrous servant.

Theotokion: O all-glorious Mary, Virgin Queen of all, who ineffably gavest birth unto God: heal thou my soul, which hath grown corrupt through the passions, and grant me swift and saving conversion.

Irmos: O Christ, Who in the beginning established the heavens in wisdom and founded the earth upon the waters, make me steadfast upon the rock of Thy commandments; for none is holy as Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Thy pure way of life revealed thee on Athos as a habitation of light, O venerable one a most radiant pillar, and a most luminous beacon shining forth the doctrines of immortality in the world, O divinely eloquent father Nicodemus.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Irmos: Seated in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus most divine hath come on a light cloud, and with His incorrupt arm hath saved those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!

Disclosing the law of God, O venerable father, with thy God-pleasing tongue thou didst rain down upon the Church divinely inspired discourse, a sea of understanding and a wealth of divine knowledge with all manner of wisdom, as it were manna from heaven.

Theotokion: Thou hast been shown to be heaven on earth, transcending the heavens, O all-holy Virgin, who held in thine arms as a babe the Creator of heaven and earth, Who in His mercy leadeth us up to life in heaven.

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

Rejoice, O pure Mother and Virgin, thou mountain wholly overshadowed and divine, from whence the King of creation hath issued forth and found Adam in the mountains of perdition.

Theotokion: O only Ever-virgin Theotokos, in our behalf ever entreat Him Who issued forth from thy pure womb, that He be merciful to the people He hath fashioned, and that He grant unto us all remission of sins and a share in eternal light.

Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord, Thou art my power; Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the Prophet Habbakuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

Rejoice, thou who hast rained a torrent of healings in abundance upon the people! Rejoice, inexhaustible wellspring from whence the Water which hasteneth toward eternal salvation hath flowed forth upon us!

Theotokion: O gracious Theotokos, thou all-splendid habitation of Almighty God, enlighten my benighted soul, and show it forth to be a pure vessel of Him Who shone forth from thee, O Mother of God.

Irmos: All things are filled with awe at thy divine glory; for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, didst contain within thy womb Him Who is God over all, and gavest birth to the timeless Son, granting peace unto all who hymn thee.

Rejoice O Virgin, thou golden jar, who without seed hast given rise for the world to the Bread of life, like manna from heaven! Rejoice, O most luminous lamp of the Effulgence of the Father!

Theotokion: O Mother, Virgin and Daughter, who ineffably conceived God the Word, preserve thy flock, the glorious Mount Athos, and with thy beauty protect it from all need and from destruction as thou hast promised.

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

Let us hymn the tablet of the New Covenant, whereon the Master of all was writ in the body; and let us cry aloud: Rejoice, fulfillment of the law and voice of the prophets!

Theotokion: Rejoice, O Ever-virgin, thou most radiant lamp of the Light of the Godhead, illumining with mystic effulgence those who piously cry out to thee: Rejoice!

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Thou wast filled with the light of heaven, O Nicodemus, having purified thy mind; and like a lamp of many lights thou didst shine forth within the Church in the latter times, unto the salvation of the pious.

Theotokion: O only pure and blessed Ever-virgin, joy of the angels and helper of men, help us ever in our needs and amid every evil circumstance.

Irmos: Celebrating this divine and most honored festival of the Mother of God, come, ye divinely wise, let us clap our hands and glorify God Who was born of her.

The grace of thy divine words hath shone forth throughout the whole world like lightning from heaven, purifying the morals of men’s souls and guiding them to the light of the precepts of Him Who hath created all things.

Theotokion: With divine inspiration the sacred Nicodemus praised thy mighty works, O truly wondrous and all-hymned Virgin; and thou didst glorify him with mystic manifestations of thy good will, as thy divine minister.

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

With divine songs let the divinely chosen Nicodemus be hymned today as is meet: the lamp of divine understanding, the right laudable clarion of God, the divinely eloquent tongue.

Theotokion: Grant me heavenly serenity and a compunctionate character, O Virgin Theotokos, and a light unto the feet of my soul, that I may walk the paths which lead well unto the life of heaven, O pure Virgin.

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.

Cleansing thy soul and body of the defilement of every passion by ready asceticism, O divinely wise Nicodemus, thou didst cultivate the grace of dispassion, and by thy words dost call all to the acquisition thereof.

Theotokion: Heal thou my ailing soul, which is enflamed by sinful passions and unclean and defiled thoughts, O most pure one, and illumine my heart with the light of repentance, for, wretch that I am, I flee unto thee. Despise not my prayer, O Virgin!

Irmos: The divinely wise youths worshipped not a creation rather than the Creator, but, manfully trampling the threat of the fire underfoot, they rejoice, chanting: Blessed art Thou, the all-hymned God of our fathers!

O blessed Nicodemus, thou hast been shown to us as a God-bearing initiate of the life which is hidden in Christ, adorned with the virtues, and leading our souls to divine ascent.

Theotokion: O Virgin, in the flesh thou didst conceive the incorporeal Lord, Who is in the bosom of the Father — the Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning, and Who without corruption hath restored the world: through true repentance restore my soul, which hath become corrupt through the evil of the flesh.

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

Thy mind, illumined with the glory of the Comforter, O father Nicodemus, and thy hand, moved by Him, have set forth heavenly doctrines for us in many holy books.

Theotokion: O all-blessed one, who alone didst ineffably conceive the Most High God, Who in His goodness hath led us up from hades: Unto the heights of a pure life lead me up, who have fallen into the abyss of the passions, O Theotokos, our hope.

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fire stood in awe of the condescension of God; wherefore, the youths, dancing with joyous step in the furnace, as in a meadow, chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Let the divinely wise Nicodemus, the divinely inspired mouth of the divine Spirit, the melodious harp of heavenly hymns, the adornment of the monks of Athos, the God-bearing scribe of the wisdom of God, be praised with joy as a true servant of Christ.

Theotokion: O pure one, thou all-radiant lamp of the Effulgence of the Father, O throne of God, about Whom the hosts of heaven stand with great fear, O only Ever-virgin Mary: enlighten my mind with the light of the precepts of Him Who shone forth from thy womb.

Irmos: The birthgiving of the Theotokos saved the pious children in the furnace — then in figure, but now in deed — and it moveth all the world to chant to Thee: Hymn ye the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O Virgin Theotokos, help of the world, in time of need aid those who ever fervently have recourse unto thine intercession; and from all harm preserve thou thine honored portion, for it ever hasteneth to thine aid, O Lady.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

Rejoice, O Virgin, thou luminous lamp shining forth the unapproachable Light upon those who sit in the image of death, who hast revealed the never-waning Dawn, the Sun of righteousness!

Irmos: Madly did the Chaldæan tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but, beholding them saved by a higher Power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Thou hast been shown to be a portal of salvation for those who cry out: Rejoice! Rejoice, O phial, who didst conceive Christ the Word, Who granteth the fragrance of incorruption unto those who have cultivated death by disobedience!

Irmos: Let every mortal leap for joy, enlightened by the Spirit; and let the nature of the incorporeal intelligences keep festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry aloud: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!

Rejoice, O life-gushing wealth of heavenly gifts! Rejoice, dwelling-place of the goodness of the Godhead, vessel of divine fragrance! Rejoice, thou who hast not known wedlock, through whom corruption vanisheth away!

Irmos: Same as the foregoing.

Shining forth from thy womb, the Effulgence of the Father showed thee to be a divine cloud of immortality, O Virgin, overshadowing those who cry out to thee: Rejoice, O habitation of the King of creation!

Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Having studied the teachings of the law of God and the words of the Spirit day and night, O Nicodemus, thou wast shown to be a most fruitful tree planted by the waters of divine grace, bearing as fruit a higher knowledge.

Tranquil of character, meek in appearance and sweet in discourse, O father, thou wast shown to be divinely wise in thine admonitions to those who had recourse unto thee, O holy one, imparting the doctrines of salvation unto all.

The height and depth, the length and breadth, and the grace-bearing riches of thy wisdom strike the minds of the faithful, O venerable father; for thou hast been shown to be a great abyss of knowledge.

The mellifluous, most sweet and divinely eloquent instrument of thy tongue, inspired by God, O Nicodemus, hymned the glorious struggles of the venerable ones, gladdening the hearts of the pious with the sweetest of sounds and melodious hymns.

O Nicodemus, initiate of the mysteries of heaven, thy discourse giveth rise to the manna of life, to honey divinely flowing from a rock, to divine dew descending upon the earth through the Holy Spirit, nurturing, gladdening and bedewing the hearts of those who with faith delve into thy books.

The sweetness of divine grace, poured forth from thy mouth by thine immaculate heart, O venerable Nicodemus, was preserved in thy holy books, and sweeteneth and bringeth joy to all who with faith study thy books.

Delivered from the ancient curse by thy birthgiving, we joyously cry to thee “Rejoice!” Rejoice, O Virgin who hast reconciled with our God, the King of all, those who were beguiled by the serpent.

O most pure one, thou divinely planted field which hath given rise to the beauteous and sweet-smelling Blossom Who adorned the earth with flowers, thou hast filled with divine and sweet savor those who cry out to thee: Rejoice, O fragrance divine!

Rejoice, O Lady and Virgin, thou city of the great King, thou Sion of many names, of whom it is manifestly strange to speak! Rejoice, thou who hast opened unto us the gates of heaven and joy which fadeth not away!

Rejoice, O pure Virgin, thou bush which was not consumed! Rejoice, thou who hast slain hades, in that thou gavest birth unto the Author of life Who by His death and sufferings hath poured forth dispassion and life upon all!

O Nicodemus, thou hast poured forth divine doctrines like a river of the living God, and as a torrent of joy thou dost ever gladden the whole Orthodox Church of Christ with the streams of thy discourses.

Thou didst live peaceably, O Nicodemus, learning vigilance of mind and asceticism, and studying the divinely inspired Scriptures; and thou hast been noetically upborne to the heavenly effulgence of the Spirit.

Thou didst hymn the labors of the martyrs and the struggles and valor of the venerable, whom thou didst follow in leading an angelic life on earth, and with whom thou hast been glorified, O venerable one.

In thy holy books thou dost splendidly set forth the excellence of the virtues, the mastery of spiritual struggles, and the divine scriptures, and as is meet thou didst name it in accordance with these works.

With the cultivation of thy discourse thou didst sever the roots of the passions, O Nicodemus, and didst wisely plant the salvific seed of the commandments of God in the fields of thy soul, as a most divine husbandman of God, O father.

Thou dost reveal the ways of invisible warfare against the princes of darkness, O Nicodemus, as one who triumphed therein, and with active counsels thou preparest us for the struggle against the passions and the demons, O divinely inspired one.

Rejoice, O pure one, who gavest birth to the Myrrh of heaven, thou phial of grace, who hast filled the whole world with sweet fragrance! Rejoice, divine vessel of alabaster, full of incorruption!

O all-pure one, thou hast been shown to be an animate palace and the ark of the sanctity of the Almighty. Wherefore, we chant to thee: Rejoice, O all-honorable temple of the glory of God!

Rejoice, river full of the waters of the Spirit, whereby the whole world is bedewed with divinely slowing streams, crying out to thee: Rejoice!

Rejoice, O adornment of the angels, boast of the prophets and confirmation of the venerable! Rejoice, crown of martyrs and refuge of the despairing!

Thou hast been shown to be a newly revealed sun of the Church of Christ, O Nicodemus, ever enlightening the council of the Orthodox with the rays of the words of thine instructions.

Thou hast been shown to be a great teacher, O Nicodemus, for thou didst fulfill the will of God and didst teach others to fulfill it. Wherefore, thou hast been vouchsafed great honor by the Lord Who hath glorified thee.

Divinely inspired in the virtues and divinely wise in discourse and wisdom, thou wast shown forth on Athos as a mystic guide for the thoughts of monks, full of divine understanding.

Having reached the end of thy life with patience, tranquility of mind and divine purification, O Nicodemus, thou wast shown to be a habitation of the writings of the fathers and the mouth of their doctrine.

Strengthened by the power of love for God, O venerable father Nicodemus, thou didst lay waste to the weakness of the flesh, setting down teachings in writing for the sake of the salvation of thy neighbor.

O father Nicodemus, our thoughts are ever bedewed by the flow of words abundantly poured forth from thy mouth, rendering us ground fruitful for virtuous works.

The Church doth celebrate thee as a most excellent initiate of the mysteries of the life of virtue and piety, a God-bearing teacher of Orthodoxy; for receiving gifts from heaven, with thy divine writings thou dost illumine those who cry to thee: Rejoice, O father Nicodemus!

Ikos: O Nicodemus, on Athos thou wast shown to be an angel in character, great in understanding; for, possessed of an angelic life, with an angelic voice thou didst elucidate the writings of the fathers, whereby thou enlightenest those who cry: Rejoice, goodly adornment of Naxos! Rejoice, illumination of Athos! Rejoice, revelation of the dogmas of the fathers! Rejoice, explanation of the sayings of the saints! Rejoice, height of understanding and river of wisdom! Rejoice, abyss of divine knowledge and treasury of love! Rejoice, for thou hast been shown to be a God-bearing scribe! Rejoice, divinely eloquent interpreter! Rejoice, beacon of moral purity! Rejoice, fire of heavenly radiance! Rejoice, thou by whom the faithful are made steadfast! Rejoice, thou before whom the enemy tremble! Rejoice, O father Nicodemus!

Knowing thee to be an abundant stream of healings, we cry out to thee with faith: Rejoice, O wellspring all of gold, pouring forth the water of immortality which floweth to life everlasting!

Rejoice, Let us hymn the most precious tongs who holdeth the burning Coal of love in her all-pure arms, saying: Rejoice, O Mother of God, the divinely chosen golden censer of the sweetly fragrant Word!

Rejoice, O ineffable robe of purple, wherein the beginningless Word was woven, O thou robe of His incarnation not wrought by the hands of men! Rejoice, O Mistress, who hath clothed Adam in the vesture of incorruption!

O Virgin, thou hast been shown to be an uncultivated field which hath produced Christ, the Source of good things, Who giveth redemption unto all who cry out to thee: Rejoice, O divine land which Joel proclaimed beforehand!

O venerable Nicodemus, by the ladder of thy discourses, which thou hast set up, thou leadest those who with faith have recourse to thy book to ascend the steps of the life of light. This book thou callest the New Ladder.

O father Nicodemus, with the plough of thy divinely eloquent tongue thou hast shown thy divinely inspired book, which thou callest the Garden of Grace, to be a fragrant meadow of the divine Spirit, a garden of the life of grace.

Having enriched thy divine tongue and thy God-pleasing mind, O venerable Nicodemus, thou wast shown to be a sacred instructor of the words of faith in these latter times, and thou callest all to acquire that which is higher.

The assemblies of the wise were in nowise able to withstand the mighty and truly abundant outpouring of thy divine words, thy radiance and heavenly grace, O father Nicodemus; wherefore, they were vanquished by thee.

Thou didst cleanse soul, body, senses and thoughts of all defilement, O father Nicodemus; wherefore, by thy wise teaching thou leadest us up to purity and the preservation of our mind.

With purity of mind and strength of thought thou didst explain the divinely eloquent words of the holy fathers, O father, and hast left thy divine books to the Church of Christ as a spiritually profitable treasure.

Rejoice, O Virgin, thou noetic ladder! Rejoice, thou through whom the most Perfect One descended unto men and as God raised fallen Adam up to his former glory, who crieth out to thee: Rejoice, O Virgin, thou luminous tabernacle of Him Whom created all things out of nothing!

Thou hast been shown to be a haven unassailed by storms, O thou who gavest birth to the Helmsman of the world; wherefore, lead me up from the billows of perdition unto the harbor of salvation, that I may cry to thee: Rejoice, O Virgin, thou protection and help of those who hymn thy glory!

Following after love divine, with faith we call thee the lamp-stand and table of heaven, the chariot of many names, and the splendid bower; and we cry out to thee: Rejoice, O cause of our joy! Rejoice, thou who deliverest us from the pain of Eve!

O thou who alone wast a virgin before birthgiving, during birthgiving and after giving birth, in that thou gavest birth to the Unapproachable One in the flesh: with thy divine glory heal thou our ailments of soul and body, that in thanksgiving we may cry out to thee: Rejoice!

O holy one, thy divine discourse, which shineth heavenly light upon those who reverently have recourse unto it, ever imparteth purification of the sin of the passions, healing for suffering souls, redemption from grief, and the radiance of holy life.

Thou wast shown to be guileless and meek, and, adorned with all justice, O venerable Nicodemus; and, revealing the splendor of righteousness in thy person, thou wast merciful unto all, in that thou wast full to overflowing with divine effulgence.

Having made plain the strictness of Orthodox dogmas with thy most wise mouth, O venerable Nicodemus, thou didst amaze those who came to thee from the West, and by the torrent of thy divine speech didst show them truly to be fish devoid of speech, O father.

On Athos thou wast gloriously adorned with discourse and wisdom, O Nicodemus, and in the splendor of thy way of life thou wast shown to be a model and a saving guide for all monks to the acquisition of the virtues, crying out unceasingly: Ye priests, bless; ye people, exalt Christ supremely forever!

Armed about with the word of God as with a heavenly sword, and arrayed in the grace of the Spirit as in a breast-plate, O father, thou didst put to flight heretics and evil spirits, crying aloud in gladness: Ye priests, bless; ye people, exalt Christ supremely forever!

Thy head is seen to be a treasure of holiness, pouring forth divine fragrance; for thy mouth wast shown to be a vessel of perfume, O venerable one, as Wisdom hath said, ever imparting unto us the odor of immortality and food of gladness, which is ­dispassion.

O most immaculate Lady, thou art the bridge which God traversed; for through thee the Word, visiting the rejected, hath led forth from death to never-ending light those who cry: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!

Rejoice, O thou who knewest not wedlock, thou holy land from whence Christ formed Himself into man! Rejoice, thou rock which letteth fall life-giving Honey for those who wander in the wilderness of life, and are saved by thy goodness, O Mistress!

Rejoice, O Bride of God, who hath rained down Manna upon us! Rejoice, O thou who bringest life unto those who once died through eating of the tree! Rejoice, thou who openest the gates of Eden unto those who cry: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!

O most hymned one, thou art a true Mother, and even after giving birth wast preserved an incorrupt Virgin. Who, then, will not manifestly hymn thy mighty works? Accept my hymnody, which I have offered unto thee from mine ardent heart.

Through splendor of mind thou becamest a steadfast initiate of the mysteries of the Spirit and of the ancient fathers, O venerable Nicodemus, imparting to the faithful a radiant blossom by thy sacred works, and a fragrant understanding of their words.

Thou didst offer thy whole life, from thy youth, unto the Word, the Bestower of life, like incense and an unblemished sacrifice, following in His steps, O venerable one; wherefore, in sanctity Christ hath crowned thee with a crown of wisdom.

Sanctified by thy grace, O most wise Nicodemus, with sacred hymns we celebrate thy holy memory. As a right acceptable gift, O father, receive thou the praise of all of us who fervently venerate thee as our father and teacher.

Having parted from thy flesh, O venerable Nicodemus, thou wast vouchsafed to behold the light and grace of the thrice-radiant Godhead, whereof thou wast also an heir and partaker, in that thou didst live a divinely inspired life in all things, O divinely eloquent one.

Thy precious discourses pour forth perfume like the fragrant flowers of spring; for unto all thou didst show forth sweet savor from God — a meadow of doctrine, O divinely wise father Nicodemus, thou beacon of the Church and adornment of the ­Orthodox.

Having received heavenly delight from God, O God-bearing Nicodemus, and come to enjoy invincible life, by thy supplications preserve and protect those who celebrate thee with love, and with thine enlightenment illumine me who earnestly hymn thee, O father.

Nourished with the love of divine philosophy, O divinely wise father Nicodemus, thou didst delight in heavenly wisdom, living with the instruments of theology and the righteous. With them cease thou never to pray for us, O God-bearer.

Having given flesh to the transcendent God, O Virgin, by thy birthgiving thou didst annul the condemnation of Eve, and hast poured forth a spring of blessing upon those who glorify thee and piously proclaim thee to be the most pure Ever-virgin Theotokos.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Joy of the ranks of heaven…” —

With love let us celebrate the luminous memorial of our teacher, the sacred Nicodemus; for, living in holiness and the virtues, he was well-pleasing unto Christ, and hath been revealed by the divine Spirit as a bestower of holy doctrines.

Let all Athos join chorus, rejoicing and glorifying the divine Nicodemus, wise among the venerable; for, illumined with abundant gifts and mystic lamps, like a radiant beacon he casteth light upon the whole world.

Soaring above the fields of the divine Scriptures with upright mind, O father, like a bee thou didst gather sweetness and the honey of grace there, and thou bringest joy unto our souls with divinely inspired understandings.

Standing about thy most precious and all-holy head with faith, O most blessed Nicodemus, we venerate it with love and draw forth divine grace therefrom; and in the Spirit we find the gift of life which ageth not.

Glory…, in Tone V —

Let us sound the clarion of hymnody! Let us join chorus in celebration and holy festival, rejoicing in the luminous memorial of our teacher! Let priests and monks hasten forth, and let them praise in hymns the God-bearer who poureth forth sacred springs of doctrine upon the world, which issue forth upon all as from Eden. Ye councils of the Orthodox, assembling let us hymn the newly shining beacon of Orthodoxy, the treasury of wisdom, the receptacle of the virtues, the mouth of the Comforter, the pillar of honorable morals, the tongue of divinely eloquent theologians, the divinely radiant lamp of abstinence, the harp of right dogmas, the divinely inspired guide of all the pious; and praising him with divinely eloquent hymns, let us say thus: O divinely wise Nicodemus, instruct us with thy teaching, and ever mediate before the Trinity in behalf of those who honor thee.

Now & ever…, in the same tone —

Let us sound the clarion of hymnody! For the Queen of all, who is both Mother and Virgin, hath been revealed from on high, and with blessings crowneth those who hymn her. Let those who exercise dominion assemble and in hymns praise the Queen who hath given birth unto the King Who before was well-pleased, in His love for mankind, to deliver those held fast by death. Ye pastors and teachers, assembling, let us praise the all-pure Mother of the good Shepherd, the golden lamp-stand, the Light-bearing cloud, her who is more spacious than the heavens, the animate ark, the fiery throne of the Master, the golden jar which received the Manna, the gate of the Word which was shut, the refuge of all Christians; and praising her with divinely eloquent hymns, let us say thus: O palace of the Word, vouchsafe the kingdom of heaven unto us, the lowly, for nought is impossible for thy mediation.