Irmos: O children, equal in number to the Trinity, bless ye God, the Father and Creator; hymn ye the Word, Who came down and transformed the fire into dew; and the all-holy Spirit, Who imparteth life unto all, exalt ye supremely forever!
Then we chant the irmos of Canon I: “O Theotokos, thou art a mystical garden…” The second choir likewise chanteth the refrain and the irmos. The refrain is chanted before each of the 6 troparia of Canon I.
O hosts of heaven, chant ye to the exalted Tree which was drenched in the blood of God the Word incarnate, celebrating the restoration of those on earth. Ye people, worship the Cross of Christ, whereby the resurrection of the world is accomplished forever!
O ye mortal stewards of grace, in sacred manner raise on high with your hands the Cross whereon Christ God stood and the spear which pierced the body of God the Word, that all the nations may see the salvation which is of God, glorifying Him forever!
O faithful Christian kings, forechosen by divine decree, be ye glad! And having received from God the precious Cross, rejoice in it, the weapon of victory, for thereby tribes of warriors seeking courage are scattered abroad forever.
We do not sing the Magnificat before Ode IX, but chant instead the refrain of the feast—
Magnify, O my soul, the all-honored Cross of the Lord!
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.