Ode III

Irmos: The bow of the mighty is become weak, and the strengthless have girded themselves with power; wherefore, my heart is established in the Lord.

Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Go thou quickly before…” —

Beaten with staves, thou didst rejoice, thereby shattering the bones of ungodliness, and crying aloud: “Nought shall separate me from Thy love, O Christ!”

Theotokion: The words piously uttered by Isaiah have been fulfilled, for the Virgin hath given birth to the incarnate Bestower of life and Savior of our souls.

Putting aside all earthly thought, O ye divinely wise, come ye to greet the all-comely beam who holdeth the all-luminous Ray Who enlighteneth and enricheth the whole world with mercy.

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 IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…”—

Thou wast stripped of thy garments, O martyr, and dost denounce the nakedness of the enemy; wherefore, Christ hath given unto thee the vesture of incorruption.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Having acquired thy most precious and wonder-working icon as a mighty ally and an impregnable rampart, O Mother of God, the princes of Russia pray to thee, that thou grant victory over all heresies to our pious Orthodox hierarchs.

The mouths which iniquitously spake against thee were rightly stopped, O martyr of Christ, when thou didst proclaim the mighty works of the Savior.

Thou hast been shown to be a radiant cloud washing clean the defilements of our bodies with the dew of grace and enlightening our souls, O thou who alone art most hymned.

In vain did the servant of ungodliness have thy body stretched out upon the ground, for thou didst have thy mind stretched forth unto the Master.

Thou hast been revealed as a most fruitful tree delighting all with food which perisheth not, and gladdening men’s souls, O pure Bride of God. Pour forth goodly gifts upon all, and save us from violent tribulations.

They who, greatly deceived, worshipped stones, with stones weighed thee down, who confessed Christ, the invincible Rock; wherefore, when thou didst repose, O glorious Agrippina, thou didst emit the radiance of all-glorious miracles, enlightening the souls of us who praise thee.

O ye God-loving people, come to greet the Virgin! For, lo! she who surpasseth all the prophets doth arrive, bearing in the arms of her precious image Him Who bestoweth life upon the world, that she might preserve her suffering city, cast down the boldness of the barbarians and show herself to be the steadfast guardian of all who entreat her might and protection with faith.

O Bride of God, who alone gavest birth to the Creator of all, who alone hast adorned mankind with thy birthgiving: Deliver me from the snare of the deceitful foe, and establish me upon the rock of Christ’s will, earnestly entreating Him to Whom thou gavest flesh.

Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.

Stavrotheotokion —

As she beheld Thee suspended upon the Cross, O Word of God, Thine all-pure Mother exclaimed, lamenting maternally: “What is this new and strange wonder, O my Son? How is it that Thou tastest of death, O Life of all, Who, in that Thou art compassionate, hast desired to give life to the dead?”