Ode III

Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…” —

Recognizing the true Lord on the Cross as the Son of God Who was suffering for us, thou didst believe on Him with all thy soul.

Theotokion: Heal thou my soul, which is afflicted by assaults of the passions, O all-pure Mother of God, and guide it to salvation.

Thy soul, like irrigated land which received noetic seed, O wise one, put forth the grain of divine piety.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Sailing across the passion-plagued abyss of torments, propelled by the sail of the Cross, O glorious one, thou didst attain unto the calm havens in gladness.

Thou didst behold the Deliverer crucified, and, illumined by His rays, didst escape the darkness of deepest ignorance, and didst unite thyself to divine understanding, believing that He is the invisible God. Wherefore, having suffered, thou hast joined the choirs of the martyrs, rejoicing, O blessed Longinus. With them ever entreat Christ God, O glorious one, that He grant remission of offenses unto those who honor thy holy memory with love.

Having fallen into greatly tangled perils from enemies visible and invisible, and been beset by the tempest of my countless offenses, O pure one, I flee to the haven of thy goodness as to my fervent help and protection; wherefore, O all-pure one, earnestly entreat Him Who became incarnate of thee without seed, in behalf of all thy servants who unceasingly praise thee, ever beseeching Him, O all-pure Theotokos, to grant remission of offenses unto those who fittingly hymn thy glory.

Stavrotheotokion —

The Ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, exclaimed, weeping, and bitterly lamenting, cried out: “The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee, but my womb doth burn, beholding Thy crucifixion, which Thou endurest in the loving-kindness of Thy mercy. O long-suffering Lord, Abyss and inexhaustible Wellspring of mercy, take pity and grant remission of offenses unto those who hymn Thy divine sufferings with faith.