Ode IX

Exapostilarion—

Irmos: God the Lord, the Son of the unoriginate Father, hath revealed Himself to us incarnate of the Virgin, to enlighten those in darkness and to gather the dispersed. Wherefore, we magnify the all-hymned Theotokos.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone I—

Theotokion: Rejoice, O Bride of God, thou divinely glorified tabernacle, joy of the angels and ornament of hierarchs! Rejoice, O most lauded one, thou beauty of the faithful and boast of all men.

O assemblies of the pious, come ye together to celebrate the solemnity of the divine Gregory; for he granteth health to the bodies and sanctification to the souls of those who honor him with love.

Let Gregory now be praised: the treasury of spiritual gifts, the most sacred primate of Rome, the divinely inspired clarion, who was truly pleasing to the Trinity. Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Restrained by the bonds of my countless offenses, I flee to thee, O God-pleasing father, praying with faith, that I may receive liberation therefrom through thine intercession.

Instructing the people in the mysteries, thou didst piously teach them the word of God, as an initiate of the mysteries of Christ’s apostles and a brilliant theologian of Orthodoxy, O Gregory, thou boast of patriarchs.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Having increased the talant of grace, thou didst stand forth with joy, saying to the Master: “Behold, I have brought Thee much more than was given me!” Wherefore, as a good and faithful servant, thou hast entered into the joy of thy Lord.

From all sorrow and temptations, from infirmities of soul and body, from the harm wrought by enemies visible and invisible, by thy supplications save those who hymn thee, O holy hierarch Gregory.

A pillar of fire descending on thee from heaven showed thee to be an archpastor of the Romans most worthy, O Gregory; for, afire with divine love, thou wast shown to be a lamp of the Church for the enlightenment and salvation of many.

Glory…, in Tone II—

Unto thee do we flee, O Mother of the Light, crying aloud: With the shining radiance of thy grace dispel the dark cloud of our passions, that, through thy supplications, O Theotokos, we may be shown to share in the never-waning Light .

Let us hymn Gregory as one perfected in the labors of asceticism, who struggled well for the sake of life everlasting, and raised up monasteries and temples to the glory of God; and let us say: Rejoice, thou majesty of hierarchs, confirmation of the faithful, who hath illumined the ends of the earth with thy virtues and doctrines. Entreat the all-good Savior in behalf of those who celebrate thine honored memory.

All my hope do I set on thee, O Mother of God. Keep me under thy protection.