Ode I

Canon of the Apostles Peter & Paul, with 8 troparia, including the irmos, the acrostic whereof is: “I honor Peter and hymn Paul with understanding”, in Tone IV —

Theotokion: The most eloquent of orators and musical tongues of exalted sound are unable to honor or hymn thee, O pure one; for in thee alone have divine mysteries which transcend man been wrought.

O Lord, grant me the gifts of Thine all-holy Spirit like drops of rain, fitting discourse; and I shall rejoice, faithfully praising the corrections of Thy foremost apostles.

Irmos: I will open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear, keeping splendid festival; and, rejoicing, I will hymn her wonders.

Theotokion: O all-pure Virgin Mother, thou gavest birth to One of the all-divine Trinity, Who through thee hath shown Himself to be like unto us in the flesh, through the good pleasure of Him Who begat Him, and through the activity of the all-holy Spirit.

O all-praised Peter, zealously thou didst forsake transitory things and didst follow in the steps of Christ; and leaving behind thine unbelief, O Paul, thou didst follow Him Who called thee.

Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dryshod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

O apostles Peter and Paul, receiving the grace of the divine Spirit which descended upon you in essence, ye traversed the world, teaching the ends of the earth.

Canon of the twelve apostles, with 6 troparia, the acrostic whereof is: “I honor the wise apostles of Christ”, the composition of Theophanes,

in the same tone —

O Christ, in that Thou art God grant unto me, who desire to hymn the choir of the apostles, the radiance of the all-holy Spirit and the light of Thy wisdom through their supplications.

Strengthened by Thy power and grace, O Christ, Thine honored apostles destroyed the power of the adverse foe, in that they have become seers of God through Thine expansive gesture.

Working healings by Thy name, O Master, the glorious apostles looked upon the multitudes of the nations and illumined them with Thy light.

Having learned heavenly wisdom, O all-wise and all-glorious apostles of Christ, with your successful preaching ye manifestly showed the overweening discourse of the ungodly to be foolish.