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 II —
“As Jonah from the belly of the whale and Daniel from the lions’ den hast Thou led me up out of the depths of sin, O Savior of the world,” the venerable Thais exclaimed, pouring forth tears of gratitude.
Theotokion: The raging storm of temptations and the threefold waves of misfortune do thou still, O pure Virgin Theotokos, with the mere utterance of thine intercession before Him Who commandest the winds and the seas.
When the never-waning radiance of Christ our God was manifest in the soul of Pelagia, the prince of darkness was driven away, and the grace of the Spirit and faith in Him made their abode therein.
Irmos: I will sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise, O Lord, the Church crieth unto Thee, cleansed of the blood of demons by the blood which, for mercy’s sake, flowed from Thy side.
Kontakion, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “Seeking the highest…” —
“O Thou Who didst appear to Saul who was persecuting Thee, Who justified the humble-minded publican, and forgave the penitent harlot her sins, wash away my countless offenses,” Thais fervently prayed.
Theotokion: Of old, all the divine prophets desired to behold thine ineffable glory; yet in latter times thou didst appear to us who love thee more than all.
She who before had been trapped by the serpent hath been shown to be a snare for him, restraining his power and trampling his wickedness down by the power of God.
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 VI —
“O God Who hast created me, have mercy on me!” the blessed Thais cried out, ever facing the East, fulfilling the command of the venerable Paphnutius; for he said to her: “It is not meet for thee to utter the name of Christ with thine impure lips, nor to lift up thy defiled hands.”
Theotokion: The Son of the Mother, Who was first begotten of the Father without mother, and was born in godly manner without a father, hath given me regeneration. Wherefore, fashioning an image of her who gave birth and of Him Who was born, I venerate it.
Loving Christ God, thy Bridegroom, thou didst adorn thyself with the virtues, O Pelagia, and arrayed in thy divine labors, thou hast been counted worthy to dwell in His bridal-chamber.
Let us praise the blessed Thais, the right fruitful scion of a corrupt root, the sweet stream which arose from a salty source, the image of repentance and model of patience, once a vessel of sin, but now the chosen vessel of grace; and let us cry aloud to her: Entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved, O venerable one!
Laying waste to thy body with fasting, with vigilant supplications thou didst entreat the Creator concerning thy deeds, that thou mightest receive complete remission; and this thou hast manifestly acquired, O mother, having shown us the path of repentance.
Ikos: Hearkening to Christ the Master, Who proclaimeth: “Because thou art neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth,” let us fear such indifference, O brethren; and thus let us acquire, as much as possible, a heart enflamed; for once He showed forth a tormentor to be the apostle to the gentiles, and a harlot to be a model of chastity, who forthwith burned up her sins with fiery repentance. Wherefore, let us cry out to her: Entreat Christ God, O venerable Thais, that our souls may be saved!
Ikos: Come with me, as many as in this life have defiled yourselves in sins, and let us strive to emulate the penitence, tears and struggles of our venerable mother Pelagia, that we may quickly receive forgiveness from God as did the blessed one who, while yet alive, washed away the defilement of sin and received from God complete forgiveness, showing forth the path of repentance.
Let the mountains rain down sweetness and joy, for the multitude of heretics, which poureth forth the bitter poison of the removal of the holy icons, hath been driven out.
Let heaven and earth celebrate together the greatness of the daughter of God; for she is magnified, rejecting those who would diminish it.
The Son Who ineffably shone forth from the Father hath been born in two natures of a woman, and beholding Him we do not refuse to depict His countenance; but, tracing it piously, we honor it in faith. Wherefore, the Church, holding to the true Faith, doth venerate the icon of the incarnation of Christ.
Ikos: The all-compassionate God, Who ever desireth to rouse us to the perfect memory of His incarnation, gave this suggestion to men: that they depict His precious form with the pigments of icons; that, beholding this in visible objects, we may believe what we have heard said, clearly understanding the activity, the name, the features and the sufferings of holy men and Christ, the Bestower of crowns, Who awardeth wreaths to the holy athletes and martyrs. And the Church, most diligently holding fast to the true faith for their sake, doth venerate the icon of the incarnation of Christ.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.