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: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning....”—

With steadfastness of mind thou didst endure the cruel and grievous torment of the most iniquitous woman, O glorious and most blessed Matrona.

Theotokion: With godly voice we praise thee, O all-pure one, who, as the table and the ark, received in thy womb the Word of God Who is without beginning.

Feeling the pains of thy stripes, thou didst nonetheless steadfastly endure them; and by groping in the darkness thou didst receive divine radiance.

The streams of thy blood quenched the pyre of ungodliness, and they have given the faithful to drink of the waters of piety.

Having piously enslaved thyself to the Almighty, O honored Matrona, thou wast held in thrall by the ungodliness of thy mistress; but thou didst steadfastly endure dark imprisonment and the sting of scourgings, and didst pass over to God, O divinely wise martyr. Pray thou in behalf of those who keep thy memory.

O fervent and invincible intercessor, renowned and unashamed hope, rampart, shelter and haven for those who flee to thee, O pure Ever-virgin: With the angels entreat thy Son and God, that He grant peace, salvation and great mercy unto the world.

Or this stavrotheotokion—

Beholding Thee suspended of Thine own will on the Cross between two thieves, O Christ, Thy Mother, her womb rent asunder maternally, said: “O my sinless Son, how is it that Thou art unjustly nailed to the Cross like a malefactor, desiring to give life to the human race, in that Thou art compassionate?”