Ode I

Irmos: Traversing the deep on foot, as though it were dry land, and seeing the tyrant Pharaoh drowned, Israel cried aloud: Let us chant unto God a hymn of victory!

Katavasia “I shall open my mouth...”

Theotokion: As servants we cry to thee, O Mother of God: Rescue us from the most oppressive quaking of the earth and from corruption, mercifully showing forth thy wonted mercies upon this city and people.

Canon for the earthquake, the acrostic whereof is: “O Christ, quickly put an end to the quaking of the earth!” the composition of Joseph, in Tone VI

Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dryshod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

Theotokion: He Who, as God, was before time begotten without mother hath come among us, receiving flesh and uniting Himself thereto through thee without father, O all-hymned Theotokos, which transcendeth comprehension and recounting.

As Thy wrath is dreadful, Thou hast delivered us therefrom, O Lord, not having buried in the ground all that we have raised up. Wherefore, we ever glorify Thee with thanksgiving.

Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a wonder, striking the sea in the form of the Cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot, chanting a hymn unto God.

Theotokion: O all-pure one, finding thee to be an all-undefiled dwelling, the Word of God, made His abode in thy womb; and having anointed with His divinity that which He took from thee, He issued forth One comprising both, and hath been called the Myrrh which was poured forth, for Christ is both God and man.

O Master, Thou dost shake the whole earth like a dry leaf, making the faithful steadfast in the fear of Thee; and we ever rejoice at our utter correction, O Lord.

Deliver us all from the earthquake which doth weigh down greatly upon us, O Lord, and let not Thine inheritance perish utterly which hath angered Thy long-suffering by many evils.

Canon I to the Greatmartyr Demetrius, the acrostic whereof is: “I give utterance concerning the right victorious Demetrius!” the composition of Theophanes, in Tone IV —

Crowned with a divine wreath of martyrdom, thou makest merry in the presence of God, shining with splendors therefrom and filled with radiance, O right wondrous greatmartyr .

The Master hath received thee who art a witness to the truth, who struggled with endurance even to the shedding of thy blood, and steadfastly showed forth opposition to the tyrants, O blessed one.

The author of evil didst thou lay low, O Demetrius, slaying him with the spear of thy martyrdom, strengthened therefor with divine grace and power which passeth understanding, O blessed one.

Canon II to the Greatmartyr, the acrostic whereof is: “I honor the grace of the myrrh of Demetrius,” the composition of George of Skilitsa, in Tone VIII —

O Demetrius, thou freely flowing wellspring of fragrant and precious myrrh, who washest my heart clean of the filth of the passions: Having shown me to be the fragrance of Christ through the exercise of the virtues, fill my mind with grace, that I may hymn thy divine graces.

Rivers of living water flow from the midst of the faithful, saith the word of God. Wherefore, the ever-flowing springs of thy myrrh are poured forth, whose streams gladden the city of God, which doth glorify thy martyric boldness.

Of old, the staff of Moses, striking the rock in the desert land, released gushing streams of water; and, pierced by a spear, thy body, O Demetrius, hath revealed a wellspring of myrrh, refreshing the new Israel.

O Demetrius, who hast received a recompense for the wounds of thy martyrdom such as eyes have not seen, nor ear heard, thou now pourest forth a sea of myrrh, the rewards of purity, upon the ends of the earth, washing away the passions of our souls.