Ode III

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.

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII —

Hippo possesseth thee as a precious lamp, yet now the whole world adorneth itself for thy commemoration, O Augustine. For thou wast a bulwark of Orthodoxy and the confirmation of the Church, a rule of life and a most honorable law of virtue.

Theotokion: Honoring thee with love, we bless thee, O Mother of God, all-comely flower of the garden of incorruption, never-fading wreath of chastity, great throne of the Almighty, glory of the Christian race and great astonishment of the angels.

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.

Sessional hymn, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word, Who is equally unoriginate…” —

Though Hippo hath fallen silent, the grave, the bringer of oblivion, hath not closed thy mouth. For the whole world proclaimeth thy corrections and struggles and hymneth the labors whereby thou didst toil in teaching, instructing and setting forth the divine doctrines whereof thou hadst drunk.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

When divine love came upon thee, O holy hierarch, thou didst reject all earthly things; and having distributed thy corruptible riches, thou didst acquire treasure in the heavens; and having left all thy kin, thou didst receive the choirs of angels as fellow intercessors in prayer.

Theotokion: In thee, O Virgin, there is no blemish or defilement, and thou hast been shown to be a dwelling-place transcending the virtues of heaven. For all holiness abode within thee, O Mistress.

Full of wisdom divine, thou didst proclaim the precious doctrines of the Church, setting forth the corrections of the dogmas, interpreting the divine Scriptures, honoring the memory of the saints with discourses, and providing a rule for monastics by thy manner of life and thy writings; and having thus ascended to the heights of theology, and like Moses having struck the hidden and unapproachable rock of theology with the staff of divine love, thou didst cause to flow a wellspring of water flowing toward life everlasting, wherewith thou didst give drink in abundance to a thirsting people. Wherefore, we cry unto thee: O holy hierarch Augustine our father, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who with love honor thy holy memory.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

All of us, the generations of men, bless thee as the Virgin who, alone among women, gavest birth without seed unto God in the flesh; for the fire of the Godhead made its abode within thee, and thou hast given suck unto the Creator and Lord as a babe. Wherefore, we, the race of angels and men, glorify thine all-holy birthgiving as is meet, and cry out to thee together: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who with faith worship thine all-holy Offspring.

Adorned with beauty of character, thou wast loved by all, a venerable favorite of God, and one glorious among the saints, O all-blessed one.

Enriched with a pure mind, thou didst study the wisdom of the Greeks, the Jews and the Latins, the Chaldæans and the Persians, O glorious one, yet didst commit thyself to Christ, Who is wisdom itself.

Thou didst apply thyself to fasting and to every labor of abstinence out of love for Christ, for which sake thou wast divinely wise, a sweet savor unto God and a consolation unto men.

O ye faithful, with hymns let us honor Jerome, who honored the works of Christ the Lord, and hath taught us the ways of salvation and piously to believe in the true God; for as our fervent intercessor he prayeth for peace and the salvation for our souls.

Rejoice, O holy mountain whereby God hath travelled! Rejoice, animate bush which was not consumed! Rejoice, only bridge between God and the world, leading mortals to life everlasting! Rejoice, O incorrupt Maiden who without knowing man gavest birth to the Savior of our souls!