Ode III

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

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

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “Of the Wisdom....”—

Obedient to the laws of thy Master, O glorious high priest, thou didst spurn the laws of the most iniquitous emperors.

Theotokion: That Thou mightest show us the path which leadeth to holiness, O Master, in most holy manner Thou madest Thine abode in the all-pure womb of the Virgin.

With honor didst thou venerate the divine and all-pure depiction of Christ, shunning the dishonor of the impious.

At first thou didst endure torment of conscience with fasting, and now thou hast been invested with the crown of martyrdom.

Having fasted, thou wast anointed as a hierarch, O wise and venerable father, to perform the divine mysteries for the preservation of souls. And, honoring the icon of Christ, thou didst endure exile, tribulation and prolonged imprisonment. Wherefore, pouring forth healings after thy repose, thou healest the suffering and enlightenest those who sing, O holy hierarch Theophylactus: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who honor thy holy memory with love.

Having fallen into most devious temptations wrought by foes visible and invisible, and been caught in the tempest of my countless offenses, I flee to the haven of thy goodness as to my fervent aid and protection, O pure one. Wherefore, O all pure one, earnestly pray to Him Who was seedlessly incarnate of thee, in behalf of all thy servants who unceasingly entreat thee, O all-pure Theotokos, ever beseeching Him to grant remission of offenses unto those who hymn thy glory as is meet.

Or this Stavrotheotokion—

The Ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, cried out, weeping and, bitterly lamenting, exclaimed: “The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee; but my womb doth burn, beholding Thy crucifixion, which Thou dost endure in the loving-kindness of Thy mercy. O long-suffering Lord, abyss of mercy, inexhaustible wellspring: take pity, and grant remission of offenses unto those who with faith hymn Thy divine sufferings!”