Ode IX

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel: “Hearken, ye women...”—

Irmos: Rejoice, O Isaiah! The Virgin hath conceived in her womb and borne a Son, Immanuel, both God and man. Orient is His name; and, magnifying Him, we call the Virgin blessed.

Katavasia: A strange and most glorious mystery do I behold: the cave is heaven; the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim; the manger, the place wherein lay Christ God, Whom naught can contain, Whom praising, we magnify.

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

From earliest infancy thy sacred life was revealed to Christ, shining with the light of the virtues, O blessed one; and thy death was precious in the sight of God, O father Alypius, instructor of monastics.

Theotokion: Enlightenment do thou grant me, who languish in the darkness of the passions, who am wretched and sinful; and deliver me from my wicked deeds and from the flame which lieth before me, O all-pure Mistress, thou intercessor for those who hymn thee.

Exapostilarion—

Irmos: Thy birthgiving, O Ever-virgin, which was revealed to the law-giver on the mountain in the fire and the bush, for the salvation of us, the faithful, do we magnify with unceasing hymnody.

Like an all-radiant beacon, thou dost illumine the whole earth, driving away the wicked passions, dispelling the darkness of sin, and enlightening those who hymn thee with the divine splendors of healings.

Theotokion: O thou who art more honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim, disdain not the entreaties of thy servants; but protect us with thy precious veil. Save thou our faithful hierarchs and people, who piously honor in this city the memory of this innocent pastor, the wondrous Innocent.

Contending most diligently like an athlete, O wise father, thou didst unflaggingly make thy stand upon thy pillar for fifty-three years, beset by winter, frost and the heat of day.

Thy holy commemoration sanctifieth by the Holy Spirit us who keep it in sacred manner and hymn thee thereon with faith, O wise father, as the helper and intercessor of our souls.

By the power of Christ thou didst pass through struggles beyond the power of man, O venerable one; for thou didst stand for fifty-three years upon thy pillar, beset from every quarter, O wise Alypius. And now thou hast found the goal of all good things, O blessed one.

Thou art mine intercessor and steadfast refuge, O pure one; thou art my helper and protection; and, falling down before thee, I cry: Deliver me from mine ailments, in that thou art the greatest of all; and from everlasting fire rescue me, who place my hope in thee, O Virgin.

Like Paul wast thou an apostle to the heathen. Wherefore, thou hast now been caught up to the heights of the vision of God, where thou prayest that God increase that which thou hast planted and watered, O wise husbandman.

Taking up the helmet of salvation and girding thyself with the sword of the Spirit, thou didst go forth to thy task, O wondrous pastor, and didst erect a rampart of piety amid the darkness of paganism. Wherefore, entreat God most good, that He strengthen that which He hath wrought among us through thy hand.

O thou who art innocent in name and life, accept these hymns of praise offered unto thee with love, overshadowing with thy supplications thy flock, which hath been illumined with the rays of thy virtues, and making haste in thy gracious assistance in time of need.

Glory to Thee, the God Who hath shown forth unto us the light of salvation in the life and words of Thy favorite! Glory to Thee, the Benefactor Who hath shone forth the radiance of truth in this champion of piety and truth! Glory to Thee, the wondrous Bestower of compassion, Who hath made wondrous Thy mercies upon him who walked in the light of Thy countenance, the holy hierarch and wonderworker Innocent!

In thy birthgiving thou didst shine forth light upon the world, O all-pure Theotokos. Wherefore, illumining our minds with knowledge of thy Son, wound thou our hearts with love for the divine commandments, strengthening us in faith and the doing of good by thy supplications.