Ode III

Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

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

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

Surrounded by a spiritual army, O martyr of Christ, thou didst equip the divine army for feats of suffering.

Theotokion: The assembly of the martyrs emulated Thy sacrifice, O Master, knowing Thee to have sprung forth from the Maiden who kneweth not wedlock.

Having first crucified the flesh ascetically, O most glorious one, thou didst strive to vanquish the hordes of demons with the wounds of thy suffering.

Having come like a star from the East, O Nicon, thou didst attain unto the Western lands. Wherefore, dying, thou didst set and shed thy light toward Christ.

Having first lived venerably, O Nicon, thou didst assemble a choir of those obedient to God, who ever piously followed thee; and shining forth from the East to the West, like a luminous sun, with rays of sufferings, with the blood of your stripes ye set deception at nought.

O most immaculate Virgin who gavest birth to the transcendent God, with the incorporeal ones unceasingly entreat Him to grant remission of transgressions and correction of life before the end unto us who with faith and love hymn thee as is meet, O thou who alone art most laudable.

Or this Stavrotheotokion—

As Thine all-pure Mother beheld Thee suspended upon the Cross, O Word of God, lamenting maternally she exclaimed: “What is this new and strange wonder, O my Son? How is it that Thou, the Life of all, dost taste death, Who desirest to bring life to the dead, in that Thou art full of loving-kindness?”