Ode IX

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “By the Spirit in the holy place…”—

Irmos: It is not possible for men to behold God, upon Whom the ranks of angels dare not gaze; but through thee, O most pure one, hath the Word appeared incarnate unto men; and magnifying Him with the armies of heaven, we call thee blessed.

Beholding the ranks of angels, patriarchs, the venerable, prophets, martyrs, apostles and all the righteous, O divinely inspired one, thou didst rejoice; and as thou joinest with them, be thou mindful and help thou on earth us who in a pure manner call thee blessed.

Theotokion: O divinely joyous one, abode of the Light, true confirmation of hieromartyrs and boast of all the venerable: From misfortunes, evil circumstances and the invasion of enemies save us who hymn thee.

Thou wast like a light, like the dawning, like the great sun, like the sky star-spangled with the splendors of miracles and holy wounds, O Stephen, truly adorning the thoughts of all who praise thee, O much-suffering martyr.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Having first destroyed the princes of darkness with the steadfast feats of asceticism, O father, thou didst later suffer mightily, subjecting them to utter destruction, O Stephen, beauty of the martyrs and boast of the venerable.

Thine all-glorious memory today doth illumine the multitudes of the earthborn with the all-radiant beams of the gifts of the Spirit, O divinely blessed Stephen. Illumine and sanctify us who now joyfully celebrate it.

With the pangs of asceticism didst thou utterly slay the serpent, the author of evil, laying hold of the wreath of martyrdom in the end, O all-praised Stephen, rendering worship to the precious images, in that it manifestly passeth on to the Prototype, O most blessed one.

Thou wast the all-immaculate Bride of the ineffable Son, and His most pure habitation, O Theotokos; for thou gavest birth to God the Word, the preëternal Light Who dwelt within thee. Hymning, therefore, thy birthgiving, we magnify thee as is meet, O all-immaculate Maiden.