Ode IX

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “He hath visited us…”—

Irmos: Let every mortal leap for joy, enlightened by the Spirit; and let the nature of the incorporeal intelligences keep festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry aloud: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone IV: “Thou hast given a sign…”—

Theotokion: Without leaving the bosom of the unoriginate Father, the Word Who is without beginning became incarnate of thee, O pure and most lauded one, wholly clothing Himself in human guise and accepting its traits, as Matthew writeth, proclaiming the glad tidings.

Thou didst receive the divine diadem of noetic beauty, O apostle, and wast adorned with the most magnificent crown of the kingdom by the right hand of the Almighty, O wise one. And thou dost shine, standing with the angels before the throne of Christ the Master, O most blessed one.

Glory…: another exapostilarion—

Thou didst shine forth, O apostle, as luminous as the sun, with the rays of the Spirit, and hast illumined the whole world with the knowledge of God, O blessed one. And thou hast dispelled the gloom of polytheism, O most wise Matthew. Wherefore, we celebrate today thine all-radiant and right wondrous solemnity as a wellspring of sanctification. Twice

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Thou didst receive the tree of life as is meet, O preacher of the living God, having spread the glad tidings of life, the visitation of God to the world; for thou didst not permit thy mind to become corrupt through the tree of knowledge, remaining an unshaken and immovable foundation of the Church, O most blessed one.

Seated on the heights of divine knowledge, O apostle, thou didst receive the effulgence of the Spirit, which appeared to thee in the guise of a tongue of fire; and thou didst manifestly consume all the tinder of the impiety of ungodliness. Wherefore, we honor thee as an apostle and herald of God, celebrating thy holy festival today.

Now & ever…: Theotokion—

In godly manner didst thou adorn the Church, the Bride of Christ, with thy Gospel as with a diadem, O divinely blessed one, and now it splendidly celebrateth thy divine memory. Pray thou, O Apostle Matthew, that it be delivered from every evil circumstance and cruel misfortune.

Thou didst thunder forth sacred and saving teachings unto the whole world, O most wise Matthew, hast cleansed all creation of the madness of idolatry, and illumined the people with the splendors of the Gospel. and, having destroyed the pagan temples by means of grace, thou didst raise up churches to the glory of God.

The God-pleasing Matthew, the glorious recorder of the Gospel of Christ, hath related divine wonders unto us. Honoring him with love, let us chant unto him melodiously.

Glory…, the composition of Byzantius, in Tone II—

Having wisely cast off the yoke of thy publican’s office, thou didst follow Christ, O divinely wise Matthew; and following wondrously in His steps, thou didst obtain a share of His kingdom and glory through communion with Him, and wast an initiate of ineffable mysteries.

Abandoning the yoke of injustice and casting away the gold of usury, thou didst make haste to the yoke of righteousness and dost grasp inexhaustible wealth like an able merchant, trading transitory things for what is everlasting and corruptible things for what abideth. For, having acquired the divinely lustrous pearl of great price, thou didst wisely leave to Cæsar the things which keep men below; and having obediently followed after Christ, the King of all, thou didst enrich all creation with the divine words of the Gospel, O wise one. O all-excellent Matthew, beg thou now that salvation and great mercy be given to those who honor thee.

O Virgin Theotokos, lift up thy most holy hands, wherewith thou didst hold the Creator, in supplication to Him for us, that He deliver us from all the temptations of the devil and vouchsafe that we may receive His good things in the world to come, O most hymned one.

Save thy servants from misfortunes, O Virgin Theotokos, for after God it is to thee that we flee, as to an indestructible rampart and intercession.

Great Doxology. Troparia. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.