Irmos: I will open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear, keeping splendid festival; and, rejoicing, I will hymn her Entry.
Canon of the forefeast, the acrostic whereof is the Greek alphabet, through Ode VII (Ode VIII with its own stichoi. Ode IX is the composition of Joseph), in Tone IV—
The most holy and immaculate one cometh forth to make her abode within the Holy of holies, that she may become the sanctified temple of our All-holy God; and virgin maidens precede her.
The preëternal counsel of our preëternal God arriveth at fulfillment when thou, O most immaculate Mistress, dost come forth to dwell in the Holy of holies, as the abode of the Word.
Thy godly parents lead thee, who art to become the Mother of God, into the Holy of holies, to make thy habitation, thereby fulfilling the promise they made when they offered up entreaty, O all-pure one.
O Mistress, strengthen thou the weakness of my heart and make it steadfast, for it hath been shaken by the passions, that with faith and love I may call thee blessed, who art the ever-blessed and most immaculate one.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.