Ode IX

Exapostilarion—

Irmos: Eve, through weakness, abode under the curse of disobedience; but thou, O Virgin Theotokos, hast put forth blessing for the world through the Offspring of thy child-bearing. Wherefore, we all magnify thee.

Glory..., in Tone VI—

At the Praises, four stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Thou didst give a sign...”—

Theotokion: Christ the Cornerstone is a foundation for the faithful and a stumbling-block and rock of offense for the unbelieving. On that Rock establish thou my thought, O Mistress, and save me, for thou hast maternal boldness before Him.

Established by grace upon the steadfast rock of faith, struggling in quietude, having completed the course of fasting and received your reward from Christ, pray ye now, O all-blessed ones, that He establish His faithful in faith and virtue.

Now and ever..., of the feast, idiomelon, in Tone VI—

A model of how to please Thee, O Lord, didst Thou give to us: Thy faithful servants Sergius and Herman, who by vigilant watchfulness of mind put to shame the warring demons, nobly repelling their assaults of passion; and being not slaves to sin, they were manifest as well-pleasing unto Thee, O Jesus almighty, Thou Savior of our souls!

Or the Theotokion “O Theotokos, thou art the true vine...”

As vanquishers of noetic foes, standing now before the throne of the King of the hosts of heaven, O Sergius and Herman, entreat His goodness, that He grant victory and triumph unto all Orthodox Christians over their adversaries.

Having acquired the fervor of divine love in the performance of the Lord’s commandments and the activity of unceasing prayer, and having tasted of the sweetness thereof through spiritual sensibility, the holy fathers cried out to Christ: None other delight shall separate us from Thy love, O Jesus most sweet, Thou Savior of our souls!

In the mansions of heaven, O venerable ones, entreat the Master of all to preserve in peace your monastery and all cities and lands where Christians dwell, and to save all of us who piously honor you.

As an inexhaustible wellspring and an ever-flowing stream of spiritual gifts hath the shrine of the venerable fathers in this divine temple been given unto us by Thee, O Jesus, Who lovest mankind, Savior of all the world, compassionate Benefactor, Healer of our bodies and souls.

Today the Theotokos doth issue forth like a flower from barren Anna, instilling all the ends of the world with divine fragrance, filling all creation with joy. Hymning her, we praise her as is meet, as the one who is more exalted than all mortals. Twice

Rejoice, O wilderness, which before wast barren and uninhabited, but dost now flourish like a lily and art filled with a multitude of monks! Exult, ye mountains of Valaam and all ye groves of trees, praising with us Sergius and Herman, the most laudable fathers, on this the day of their joyous festivity.

Glory…, Now & ever…:

With thankful hearts and lips we praise thee, O almighty Lord, Who art wondrous in Thy saints and through them dost work great and glorious things, for Thou hast shown Thyself forth as wondrous in our venerable fathers, through whom Thou assistest the faithful in need, grantest health to the infirm through their intercession, freest the demonized from evil spirits, and savest the perishing from drowning. Wherefore, celebrating now their memory, we worship Thy dominion, and, rendering glorification, we cry out: O unoriginate Father, equally without beginning Son and Holy Spirit, equal in honor: O Holy Trinity, glory be to Thee!

Be thou renewed, O Adam! Be thou magnified, O Eve! Join ye chorus with the apostles and the righteous! For Mary the Theotokos, the common joy of angels and men, hath shone forth today from the righteous Joachim and Anna.

This is the day of the Lord! Rejoice, O ye people! For, lo! the bridal-chamber of the Light and the book of the Word of life hath issued forth from the womb, and the portal which faceth toward the east, having been born, awaiteth the entry of the great High Priest. She alone leadeth the one Christ into the world, for the salvation of our souls.