Ode IX

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “As the disciples watched…” —

Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God hath appeared in the flesh, and that thy womb became more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of men and angels magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Thou wast counted worthy to be a beholder of the holy angels, and wast their fellow athlete and inheritor of glory. And with them thou didst hasten to gaze upon the body of the one truly Life-giving Theotokos, the most pure one, whom we magnify as is meet.

Theotokion: The honored Church, which Christ thy Son hath truly acquired by His precious blood, in that He is good, O joyous one, He hath shone forth as having valiantly conquered heresies. And He hath saved us from the tribulations and evil circumstances which befall us, O Mistress.

As a lawful hierarch, as an invincible athlete, thou wast an heir of the divine kingdom in the heavens, O father, and didst mingle the blood of thy martyrdom with the oil of the priesthood. Wherefore, thou hast been counted worthy of a twofold crown, as is meet, O Dionysius, initiate of the sacred mysteries.

Theotokion —

As thou hast boldness before Christ, as an initiate of the divinely bestowed sacred mysteries which are taught in secret, O wise hierarch Dionysius, ever pray that those who piously hymn thee may be delivered from temptations, O student of ineffable visions.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, or this Stavrotheotokion: Spec. Mel.: The martyrs…” —

Having mounted to the heavens, ascending by thy virtues, O thou who art pleasing to God, thou didst recognize the ranks of the angels and the place of all those on high; and from Paul thou didst learn of the effulgence of the threefold Sun.

The all-wicked and malicious enemy, who of old hated me in the godly and blessed life in paradise and drove me from Eden, is slain by thy birthgiving, O Theotokos.

On the Aposticha, Glory…, the composition of Germanus, in Tone VIII —

Exalted among hierarchs and martyrs, O venerable one, thou wast shown to be a faithful shepherd; and thou didst drain the cup of Christ. Wherefore, having pleased him as both, pray for us all, O thou who dwellest now in light with the heavenly ministers.

The unblemished Heifer, beholding her Calf nailed to the Tree of His own will, cried out, lamenting bitterly: “Woe is me, O my Child most beloved! How hath the thankless synagogue of the Jews rewarded Thee, Who desirest to leave me childless, O Most Beloved?”