Ode VI

Irmos: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord, the Church crieth unto Thee, cleansed of the blood of demons by the blood which, for mercy’s sake, flowed from Thy side.

Kontakion, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up…”—

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

They who were starving for the gifts of God condemned thee to starvation, O martyr who dost ever partake of heavenly gifts and enjoyest endless sustenance.

Theotokion: Thou hast destroyed the condemnation of death and the curse of the law, O pure one who gavest birth to Christ, the Destroyer of death, Who hath poured forth blessing upon all.

Let the eyes of the iniquitous be closed, for they are unable to look upon the radiant beauty of the Cross.

Irmos: When I was troubled, I cried unto the Lord, and the God of my salvation hearkened unto me.

Having put to shame the ungodly arrogance of the tyrants, thou didst drown the serpent, the author of evil, in the deep of thy blood, and didst soar aloft to the heavens as a victor, O Acacius.

Theotokion: O Virgin who knewest not wedlock, who gavest birth to God, do thou never cease to entreat thy Son in our behalf.

Let those who acknowledge that God was crucified in the flesh on the Tree delight in the radiance of the all-pure Cross.

Emulating the death of the Master by thy death, O martyr, thou dost reign eternally with Him, delighting in the sight of Him and His joy.

The all-pure Cross, which opened the heavens which were shut, hath shed upon the earth all-radiant heavenly beams; wherefore, receiving the effulgence of its activity, we are guided to the never-waning Light; and amid battles we have it as a weapon of peace, an invincible trophy.

Having drowned the enemy in the outpourings of thy blood, O martyr Acacius, thou didst put to shame all the legions of the tyrants; and attaining unto the immaterial choirs of the angels thou hast received a never-fading wreath of incorruption. Wherefore, by thine entreaties save us from misfortunes.

Ikos: Behold, the awesome sign of the great God which Constantine the Great beheld! And we have heard Jesus speaking therein, Who spake of old to the sovereign emperor of faithful Christians: “Until the Second Coming this sign shall preserve the inheritance of thy city, and it shall remain until the end of time, and shall be the first of all cities. Let the Cross be its rampart, the weapon of peace, the invincible trophy!”