Ode III

Irmos: O Lord, Fashioner of the vault of heaven and Creator of the Church: establish me in Thy love, O Summit of desire, confirmation of the faithful, Who alone lovest mankind.

Glory..., Now and ever...: Theotokion—

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “That which was mystically ordered...”—

Having sanctified your whole blameless life, O martyrs, ye truly offered yourselves up to the all-seeing God as divine immolations, and have received perfect crowns.

Theotokion: Having dwelt in the Virgin corporeally, O Lord, Thou didst appear as a man, in that it befitteth Thee to be seen; and Thou hast shown her to be the true Theotokos and help of the faithful, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.

As dedicated disciples of the God-bearing Sabbas, desiring to withdraw from the tumults of the world, ye attained unto everlasting life, unerringly treading the path of tribulation.

Having cultivated the seed which was the word of God sown within you, and watered it abundantly with streams of tears, O venerable ones, bearing fruit ye have produced grain for God an hundredfold.

Having mortified the fiery assaults and movements of the passions, O God-pleasing fasters, following the steps of God Who alone hath wrought all things, beaten, slain and cut down with violence by slaughter at the hands of barbarians, ye offered yourselves up to Him as living and hallowed ­sacrifices.

O thou who art full of divine joy, pure and blessed one, with the powers on High, the archangels and all the incorporeal ones, beseech Him Who was born of thee for the loving-kindness of His compassions; that before the end He grant us forgiveness, cleansing of our sins and amendment of life, that we may find mercy.

Or this stavrotheotokion—

Ever protected by the Cross of thy Son and God, O Virgin, we vanquish the assaults and wiles of the demons, hymning thee who art truly the Theotokos; and all generations bless thee with love, O all-pure one, as thou didst foretell. Wherefore, by thy supplications grant remission of our offenses.