Ode VI

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy loving-kindness: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

Kontakion, in Tone II —

Thou didst remain harmless as a dove, and didst vanquish the ancient prince of this world by thy simplicity and transcendent wisdom, banishing his foul servants to the abyss, and delivering Christians from them by thy prayer, O blessed one.

Theotokion: O, how we have been subject to vanity! O, how we have been reckoned with those who are bereft of hope! How we have become servants of corruption, and have forgotten thee, our Mistress! Forsake not us who are perishing and who call upon thee, the all-pure Theotokos.

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the abyss of evils, I pray, for to Thee have I cried, and Thou hast hearkened to me, O God of my salvation.

Kontakion, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Having been lifted up…” —

Atoning for the crime of Adam and emulating the obedience of Christ, thou didst make thyself an heir of paradise and a partaker of the tree of life through the cutting off of self-will, and didst put to shame the most wicked counsel of the serpent.

Theotokion: In true and lordly manner we glorify thee, O Theotokos, for thou didst ineffably give birth to God, Who united Himself to the flesh hypostatically, O all-holy Mother and Virgin.

As a precious vessel of divine gifts and a resplendent abode of the Holy Spirit, hath Christ, the Judge of the contest, made thee manifest, O Paul; Him do thou unceasingly entreat, that, through thy supplications, He save our souls.

Forsaking the crooked paths of the sin-loving world, thou didst run after Christ with obedient strides; and being an elder thou didst humble thyself as an infant; wherefore, thou hast entered into the kingdom of heaven in accordance with the Master’s word, for which cause we cry out to thee: Rejoice, O faithful servant of the Lord! Rejoice, beacon of the virtues! Rejoice, O Paul, our venerable father!

Ikos: Becoming a disciple of Anthony, the wise instructor of monks, thou hast become an instructor for all who wish to live in sanctity; and having been taught genuine simplicity by babes, thou art revealed to young and old as the image of transcendent wisdom; and emulating the angels in thy manner of life, thou hast received from God great power over the demons. Wherefore, hymning thy memory with love, we cry out: Rejoice, O faithful servant of the Lord! Rejoice, beacon of the virtues! Rejoice, O Paul, our venerable father!

Having mastered divine knowledge through godly study, O father, thou hast manifestly left thy discourses as secondary words of sacred knowledge, illumining our souls.

Truly blessed wast thou in thy purified soul, O divinely blessed Hierotheus, and thou didst love blessedness, thy one desire, and the beauties of the Savior.

Gazing upon the all-pure rays of divine splendor shining with noetic brilliance, O God-pleasing and blessed one, thou wast shown to share in their delight and radiance.

In that thou wast an unshakable pillar, O Hierotheus, thou wast not afraid of the threats of the enemy, but, hurled like a precious stone, didst destroy the fortress of falsehood, O father. Wherefore, with His life-giving and divine right hand the Master crowneth thee who hadst battled well. Him do thou entreat in behalf of us all.

Ikos: Submitting to Thy law, O Christ, Thy disciples, proclaiming the word of Thy divine coming to all the nations, ordained for all the Churches faithful pastors and preachers. Wherefore, Thou didst ordain also this pastor, whom Thou didst choose from infancy; and having enlightened him for Thee as one blameless, appointed him for this and assigned to him Thy flock, thou didst reveal him who prayeth for us all as a witness to Thy kingdom.