Ode IX

Exapostilarion, Glory...—

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 acquired the guilelessness of Abel and the chastity of Joseph, the faith of Abraham, and the meekness of David, O venerable ones, meetly have ye been numbered among the choir of the righteous. But knowing that ye live even after death and yet more, are concerned for our salvation, we magnify you with heartfelt love.

Theotokion: Thou didst name for Thyself a Mother, O Savior, to whom Thou didst give the human race in adoption. Be Thou well pleased to obey her, O Christ, when, praying for us sinners, she boldly stretcheth forth her all-pure hands to Thee, our God; and save us, for the sake of the Theotokos, that with joy and love we may magnify her intercession.

Glorifying your most festive memory, and faithfully hymning your ascetic struggles, may we not be forgotten by you, O holy ones. Be ye mindful of us sinners when ye raise your venerable hands on high to God, praying for the whole world; that, vouchsafed divine gifts through your mediation, we may unceasingly magnify God Who is wondrous in His saints.

With love we honor your memory, O venerable ones, and with faith we venerate your ascetic feats; with fear we praise your great patience. Wherefore, we earnestly pray: Remember us, O blessed ones, who stand at the throne of the King of glory, fulfilling our humble requests which are of benefit, that we may magnify your aid and God’s love for mankind.

Desert-loving doves, swallows of heaven, announcing the spring of the Spirit in the world, taking flight from the winter of sin to the summer of dispassion, ever soaring aloft on wings of divine desire, taking shelter from the burning noonday heat of the passions beneath the shadow of the Tree of the Cross, ye did thereby avoid the talons of the cruel hawk; wherefore, abiding now in the heavenly garden, ye praise God, the Creator of all, forever.