Ode III

Irmos: O Thou Who alone hast known the weakness of human nature, having in Thy mercy formed Thyself therein: Gird me about with power from on high, that I may chant to Thee: Holy is the living temple of Thine ineffable glory, O Thou Who lovest mankind!

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

Entering upon thine archpastoral ministry, O holy hierarch, thou didst preach the word of God with great power and eloquence.

Theotokion: Adam, the first to come under the dominion of death, hath now been delivered by thy birthgiving, O only Bride of God; for in manner transcending nature thou gavest birth to the truly hypostatic Life united to the flesh hypostatically, O pure one.

He Who, as God, alone knew all things before they came into being, seeing now your offerings to Him, hath filled you abundantly with the wisdom of discourse, divine knowledge and steadfast thought, for ye are His warriors, O blessed ones.

Irmos: The bow of the mighty hath been broken by Thy might, O Christ, and the strengthless have girded themselves with power.

Sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Of the divine Faith…”—

Remembering the wondrous mercies of the Lord, thou didst call upon thy flock to repent and be reconciled with Him, O saint of God.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

O martyred athletes, favorites of Christ, desiring to suffer lawfully, with love for the Creator and divinely wise understanding ye spurned corruptible and transitory glory, this world and the prince thereof.

Care didst thou show for those bereft of parents and family, O wondrous Jonah, tending to the needs both of their souls and bodies.

Theotokion: Ye Orthodox faithful, bow down in homage before the precious icons of the Mother of God, for God showeth His power through them.

Standing before the Lord in the all-pure thoughts of your mind, and filled thence with splendor, and manifestly delighting in ineffable blessedness, deliver from dangers those who honor you, O athletes.

Though afflicted by tribulations, yet didst thou steadfastly keep the Orthodox Faith in a foreign land, where, tending Christ’s flock, thou wast a father to orphans, O holy father Jonah; and even now, ever remaining with thy flock, thou prayest without ceasing for those who honor thee.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

Come, ye who love the martyrs, and let us honor the holy athletes Sergius and Bacchus, the noetic pearls of the Lord, for they manfully trampled the falsehood of the enemy underfoot and destroyed all the might of the idols; wherefore, having received crowns of victory from heaven, as is meet, they join chorus with the angels. With them let us all cry out: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who with love honor your holy memory. Twice

In the fervor of faith I cry out to thee with unworthy mouth and a heart defiled, O Theotokos: Save me who am sinking beneath the burden of my sins! Take pity on one who is dying in despair, that, saved, I may cry to thee with compunction: Rejoice, O Virgin, thou help of Christians!

Having fallen into greatly tangled perils from enemies visible and invisible, and been beset by the tempest of my countless offenses, O pure one, I flee to the haven of thy goodness as to my fervent help and protection; wherefore, O all-pure one, earnestly entreat Him Who became incarnate of thee without seed, in behalf of all thy servants who unceasingly praise thee, ever beseeching Him, O all-pure Theotokos, to grant remission of offenses unto those who fittingly hymn thy glory.

Stavrotheotokion —

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