Ode IX

Irmos: God the Lord, the Son of the unoriginate Father, hath revealed Himself to us incarnate of the Virgin, to enlighten those in darkness and to gather the dispersed. Wherefore, we magnify the all-hymned Theotokos.

And these stichera, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast given a sign…”—

Of the Prophet

Theotokion: In manner past understanding thou was a bridal-chamber of the incarnation of the Word, O Virgin Theotokos, arrayed and adorned in the glory of the virtues; wherefore, we magnify thee as the most immaculate Theotokos.

Illumined with rays of grace, thou wast a prefigurement of Christ, O divinely revealed Jonah; wherefore, piously delighting in thy most wise teachings, we all praise thee as a prophet, O right wondrous one.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Theotokion—

With divine songs we most piously hymn thee, O blessed one, as him who manifested a prefigurement of the burial and resurrection of Christ, and who in manner past understanding becamest a sign which we enjoy through thy mediations, O thou who pleased God.

Of the Venerable One

Having from childhood magnificently absorbed the Orthodox understanding of the Son Who shone forth from the Father before time began, and the equally worshiped spirit Who ineffably proceedeth from the Father, as a priest thou didst clearly explain this, O venerable one.

The Creator caused thee to dwell in the mansions of heaven, in that thou wast an honored ministry of His Mysteries, O God-bearing father Jonah; and now thou lookest down upon us, thy children who ever praise thee, O most blessed one.

Illumined by the radiance of the three-Sunned Godhead, O Jonah who art most rich, as a prophet of God thou didst manifestly receive the gift of prophecy with a pure heart, didst foretell things to come and spewn forth by the beast without having suffered corruption, thou didst depict beforehand the resurrection of the Word on the third day.

Foreseeing the Master’s salvific overshadowing of the nations, O blessed and wise one, thou fleest from the face of the King of all, concealing the divine preaching of the saved; and thou wast cast to the sea monster, which in nowise destroyed thee, and wast vomited up upon dry land at the behest of God.

Depicting the resurrection of Christ on the third day, thou didst issue forth from the sea monster on the third day, O blessed Jonah; and for three days thou didst cry out, committing Nineveh to utter destruction; but seeing that what thou didst preach did not come to pass because of that city’s repentance, thou becamest despondent, marvelling at God’s love for mankind.

Having given birth to the most just Judge, O pure and most immaculate Mistress, entreat Him, that at the dread judgment which is to come He not condemn me who have lived prodigally, am condemned and at a loss, but that in His mercy and great goodness He join me unto the elect who will stand at His right hand.

Stavrotheotokion—

Beholding Christ dying and slaying the deceiver, weeping, the most pure Mistress hymned Him as Master, Who had issued forth from her womb; and marvelling at His long-suffering, she cried: “O most beloved Child, forget not thy servants, and touch not my consolation, O Thou Who lovest mankind.”