Ode V

Irmos: O Christ my Savior, enlightenment of those who lie in darkness and salvation of the despairing: rising early unto Thee, O King of the world, may I be enlightened by Thy radiance, for I know none other God than Thee.

Adorned with gray hairs of radiant beauty, thou didst reckon thyself to be a witless disciple, being an elder in wisdom, but a child in simplicity. Wherefore, astounding all by thine obedience, O Paul, thou hast illumined the world as a beacon of virtue.

Theotokion: Rejoice, O light and dwelling place of the Light! Rejoice, star that hast shone forth from Jacob! With the unwaning rays of thy mercy, O Theotokos, ever illumine thy servant.

Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never-waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? But turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.

Thou didst will to tread the narrow path and didst dry up the sources of the passions by the cutting off of thy will, shining forth in purity of heart like the sun, O right glorious Paul.

Theotokion: Without knowing man, O Virgin Maiden, through thy virginal blood thou didst conceive the Word Who is infinite in the essence of His divinity and became a man for the sake of us men, taking form in manner transcending recounting, law and nature.

Though thou didst reach the evening of thy life, yet, illumined with the unwaning light of the Spirit, thou didst without hesitation find the way of truth; and washing away thy spiritual blindness in the desert as in the Pool of Siloam thou didst with pure eyes gaze upon Christ, the Sun of righteousness.

In that thou dwellest together with the assembly of the angels, O father, with them thou didst stand at the divine dormition of her who gave birth to the Bestower of life for us, the all-holy and pure Mother of God, O divinely eloquent one.

Having as an elder supernaturally understood the visions of the Word, O most blessed one, thou didst confess Him to all who with faith accepted His effulgence and thy visionary theology, that they who love most valiantly might understand them.

Luminous with beams most rich, with supernatural effulgence and the assurance of divine revelations, in purity thou didst undergo many transitory trials, and through vision didst learn divine things most wise.