Ode I

Irmos: I shall sing to Thee, O Lord my God; for Thou didst lead Thy people forth from the bondage of Egypt, and didst overwhelm the chariots of Pharaoh and his might.

O preacher equal to the apostles, with divinely inspired discourse and a life which confirmed thy words, thou didst lead the people of Ireland out of the darkness of paganism into the light of the Christian Faith, as Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Theotokion: The rod of Aaron, which put forth leaves, and the unburnt bush, prefigured thee, O unwedded Bride, Virgin Theotokos, who served for the incarnation of the preëternal Word.

Irmos: Overwhelming power once laid low the whole army of Pharaoh in the deep, and the incarnate Word hath destroyed pernicious sin. All-glorious is the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified.

Manfully opposing the heresy of Pelagius, thou didst manifest the power of the grace of Christ to the people, enlightening kings and princes and men of every age and station, bringing them into the fold of the Church.

Theotokion: The Son Who is equally without beginning had thee, O Virgin, as the means of His assuming our likeness, for He found thee alone, O pure one, to be more pure than all creation. Wherefore, all of us, the generations of man, hymn and bless thee.

What, therefore, shall we who commemorate the holy Patrick say? Shall we praise his apostolic zeal? Shall we marvel at the tribulations and threats which he endured? Shall we hymn his labors and struggles and the depths of his humility? Let us then glorify God Who gave His power to His chosen one to accomplish all of these things.

In passing through thy blameless and venerable life, O wise one, from thy youth thou didst traverse the most narrow way. Wherefore, broaden thou the narrowness of my mind, that I may praise thee, O Alexis, who abidest in the broad expanse of paradise.

Relying wholly upon God, O blessed one, thou didst transcend thy body and the world. To fleeting riches didst thou prefer what is heavenly and abiding, and the everlasting city of Sion which hath been promised to the faithful.

Thou didst loose the barrenness of thy mother’s womb, being born like Samuel, O thou who art most rich. And having conceived pure fear in the womb of thy heart, in the divine virtues thou didst through faith give birth unto the spirit of salvation.