Ode I

Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.

Katavasia from the Pentecostarion.

To Athanasius do I offer praise, lauding him as a doer of good; and I offer yet higher laudation unto God, by Whom men are given the right-praiseworthy gift of virtue, of which he became the animate image and seal.

Theotokion: Thou gavest birth to the divine Word of the Father, Him Who before was incorporeal yet became incarnate for our sake, O most immaculate one, thou boast of virgins, vessel of purity and temple of purity, O Mistress of the world, Bride of God.

Irmos: Having traversed the water as though it were dry land, and escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israelite cried aloud: Let us chant unto our Deliverer and God!

Thou wast full of divine wisdom, O blessed one, and shining in thine angelic life more than the sun, thou hast surpassed the laws of our praise; yet accept praise from us, O venerable father, even though it is not worthy of thee.

Theotokion: In the unburnt bush the great Moses foresaw our liberation through thy birthgiving, O pure one. Instruct us, who have been delivered, that we chant with joy unceasingly to our Deliverer and God.

We fittingly weave a hymn on the glorious day of thy commemoration, O Athanasius; yet, lacking greater hymns fit for thee, we ask that thou forgive us, and that the abundant grace of the Spirit be given us through thee.

Travelling the royal path with thy people, straight from the Egypt of idolatry to the Red Sea of baptism, in thanksgiving thou didst chant with faith to our Deliverer and God.

Even though the pharaonic opposition of the pagan nobles sought to hinder thy path and turn it back to bondage to the demons instead of freedom in Christ, yet thou, going on to victory, didst chant unto our Deliverer and God.

With steadfast understanding thou didst hasten to the new law of piety given by God, O holy king, like Abraham slaying all the ungodly, and chanting with compunction unto our Deliverer and God.