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.
Kontakion, in Tone VIII —
Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…” —
When the time came for all the fathers to assemble in the Church of the Protaton, to celebrate praise throughout the night, then did the archangel chant thy divine hymn, O pure one.
The elder of that novice went with the others; and to the one left behind the Archangel Gabriel appeared in similar guise, providing a beginning for thy hymn.
Adding a phrase to the beginning of that hymn which Cosmas sang to thee of old, thy divine servant said that it was his habit to begin thy hymn thus.
O thine awesome wonders, O divine Archangel Gabriel: how in the guise of a monk didst thou chant to the Mother of God on this day and didst magnify her as is fitting!
O Queen of all, we cry out to thee the words of the archangel: It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and all-immaculate, and the Mother of our God!
The monk marvelled at the hymnody of the angel, who chanted a strange hymn before thee, O pure one, appearing to him in monastic guise. And when the monk wished him to set it down in writing, he miraculously engraved it on a tablet of stone, and then vanished. Wherefore, this hymn hath proclaimed to all that thou, the Theotokos, be glorified, O most immaculate one.
Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.