Ode III

Irmos: The desert, the barren Church of the Gentiles, bloomed like a lily at Thine Advent, O Lord, and therein hath my heart been established.

Glory..., Now & ever..., Theotokion —

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

Desiring to be crowned with wreaths of martyrdom, O glorious one, with grace divine didst thou withstand the bitter pangs of wounds and lacerations.

Theotokion: Incarnate, of His own desire, of thy most pure blood, O Mistress, the Lord saveth mankind and hath assembled multitudes of martyrs.

The tower of thy heart did not quake at the most grievous prospect of torture, for it was firmly founded upon the immovable rock of the Spirit.

Suspended upon a tree, covered on all sides with close-set wounds, thou didst direct the gaze of thine eyes unto Him Who can save, O right glorious one.

Pleasing the King of the ages, thou didst spurn every counsel of the iniquitous emperor, and didst not sacrifice unto graven images, O glorious one. Hence, suffering mightily didst thou bring thyself as a sacrifice unto the Word, Who had Himself been sacrificed. Wherefore, thou dost pour forth streams of miracles, healing the faithful who approach thee. O passion-bearer Artemius, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who with love honor thy holy memory. Twice

O cloud of the noetic Sun, golden beacon of divine light, O Mistress unsullied, undefiled, all-immaculate: With a ray of dispassion illumine thou my soul which hath been darkened by the blindness of the passions, I pray thee; wash thou my polluted heart with streams of compunction, repentance and tears, and cleanse me of the mire of my deeds, that I may cry out to thee with love: O ever-Virgin Theotokos, entreat Christ God, that He grant me remission of transgressions, for I, thy servant, have thee as my hope.

Or this Stavrotheotokion —

The Ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, cried out, weeping, and, bitterly lamenting, exclaimed: “The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee; but my womb doth burn, beholding Thy crucifixion, which Thou dost endure 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 with faith hymn Thy divine sufferings!