Ode VI

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy loving-kindness: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

Kontakion, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “Seeking the highest…”—

Having sensibly accepted the instruction of thy friends, O glorious one, rejoicing, thou didst hasten to the struggle and didst receive the crown of victory.

Theotokion: Thou gavest birth without knowing man, O Virgin, and remainest a virgin forever, showing forth the signs of thy Son and God, the true Divinity.

Irmos Celebrating this divine and most honored festival of the Mother of God, come, ye divinely wise, let us clap our hands and glorify God Who was born of her.

Kontakion, in Tone VI

Suffering as though in another’s body, O martyr James, thou didst endure dismemberment and didst send up hymnody to the Master.

As a victorious martyr, O all-wise one, thou didst manifestly array thyself in the robe of salvation and the vesture of gladness, which had been dyed in thy blood.

Having traversed the sea of martyrdom, thou didst receive a sacred crown of victory, and now thou joinest chorus with ranks of martyrs as is meet, O glorious James.

Persuaded by thy good spouse, O James who wast patient of soul, and fearing rather the dread tribunal, thou didst spit upon the Persians’ command and the fear of them, and didst show thyself to be an honorable martyr whose body was pruned like a vine.

Ikos: Let us all sigh from the depths of our souls, pouring forth tears as we envisage the martyr cruelly dismembered by those who were like unto barking dogs, who, gathering together, tore off the limbs of the wondrous martyr, who was valiant in his witness. What then shall I say? If ye desire, wait a little while, and I will tell all with zeal, how one day death came to James, whose body was pruned like a vine.

Let despondency depart from us, O brethren, and let the showers of adverse thoughts be dispelled by the Spirit of God; for lo! the Mother of God herself doth dwell among us openly, venerated in her wonder-working icon, and shining brighter than the sun in the miracles that proceed therefrom. Wherefore, we cry out from the depths of our hearts: O most holy Mistress, ever abide with us in thy grace!

When temptation doth assail us, when we fall into sorrow and pain, when patience doth fail within us and our spirit is troubled, let us make haste to the image of the most holy Virgin and, pouring forth tears, cry out to her from our hearts: Stretching forth to us thy hands which held God, do thou lead us up from the abyss of evil!

O thou who didst bear the everlasting Joy of the world, thou art the joy of joys who hast driven away the grief of sin and dost grant our troubled souls divine relief. Cease not thy supplications for the Christian world, for, after God, it is through thee that each is saved and led forth from the depths of offense.

Lo! the hordes of evil demons that besiege Christians stand afar off, watching, not daring to approach, fearing the glory of the icon of the Theotokos, which burneth the vile demons, but doth mightily aid the faithful, protecting them from all enemies.

Come, ye faithful, let us radiantly celebrate the wondrous appearance of the most precious image of the Mother of God, and drawing grace therefrom, let us cry out with compunction: Rejoice, O Theotokos, blessed Mary, Mother of God!

Ikos: Through thee, O Theotokos, was the preëternal Word made flesh; through thee have men beheld the Sun of righteousness, upon Whom the angels dare not gaze: for in thine arms was borne Him Whom the cherubim bear aloft, and by thy most pure hands was held the Almighty Creator of all. O daughter of mortal Adam, thou wast called the one who gave birth to God. Wherefore, as she who alone hast maternal boldness before Him, pause not in thy prayers for the whole world, lifting up thy God-pleasing hands to thy Son, and inclining His love for mankind towards thy servants who cry out to thee with thankful mouths: Rejoice, O Theotokos, blessed Mary, Mother of God!