Ode IX

Exapostilarion, Spec. Mel.: “By the Spirit in the sanctuary…” —

Irmos: Lament Me not, O Mother, beholding in the tomb the Son Whom thou didst conceive in thy womb without seed; for I shall arise and be glorified, and as God everlasting shall I exalt with glory those who magnify thee with faith and love.

O blessed one, thou hast appeared to the world flashing like lightning, drawing those who from of old have been sitting in the darkness and shadow of ignorance toward the never-waning light of the incarnate only-begotten Son, Whose witness and true servant thou wast, and Whom we magnify.

Theotokion: In that thou didst receive the Word in thy womb without knowing man, O all-pure Virgin, thou didst remain incorrupt, giving birth for us to Emmanuel, Who is both God and man. Acknowledging Him as possessing two natures, we magnify thee.

Receiving the breath of the tempest borne down from the heavens, and enriched by the Spirit’s tongue of fire, thou dost burn up the ungodly wisdom of the world like thorns, shining with the luminous rays of the proclamation of Christ, and dispelling the darkness, O divinely blessed one.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion —

O divinely eloquent Apostle James, accept the hymn of supplication which we offer to thee, celebrating thine all-honored and all-radiant memory. Deliver thy servants from their sins, O eminent apostle of Christ, praying earnestly, that we may magnify thee as is meet.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same tone —

We acknowledge thee not as the son of Alphæus, but as the disciple of the Word, O James, glory of the apostles; for thou hast manifestly received divine effulgence and the grace of miracles, to drive away the infirmities of those who celebrate thy most sacred memory with faith. Twice

As thou hast compassion and great mercy, O all-immaculate Virgin Theotokos, look upon my lowliness, and dispel the storm of the passions and the assaults of grief; and deliver me from the fire of Gehenna by thy supplications, O pure one.

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “As one valiant among the martyrs…” —

With the rod of grace thou didst draw men from the depths of vanity, O right wondrous one, obedient, O James, to the behest of thy Teacher, Who enlightened thine understanding in all things and showed thee forth, O most blessed one, as an apostle and honored divine herald of His unapproachable divinity. Twice

The effulgence of the Spirit descended upon thee in the guise of fire, and made thee a divine receptacle, O blessed one, who quickly drivest away the darkness of ungodliness and dost illumine the world with the radiance of thy most wise words, O thou who givest utterance to mysteries, adornment of the apostles, O blessed witness of Christ.

Illumining those who sit in the darkness of ignorance with the lightning-flashes of thy preaching, O glorious one, thou didst show them to be children of God the Master because of their faith; and thou didst emulate His sufferings and death, and hast become an heir to His glory, in that thou art wise and divinely eloquent, a disciple most true.

Glory…, in Tone II —

Forsaking earthly things, thou didst follow after Christ; and, sealed with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, thou wast sent by Him to nations which were perishing, to convert men to the light of the knowledge of God, O Apostle James. And, finishing the struggles of thy divine suffering and divers torments, thou didst commit thy soul to Christ. Him do thou entreat, O most blessed one, that He grant us great mercy.

All of my hope do I set on thee, O Mother of God; keep me under thy protection.

Great Doxology. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.