Ode III

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

Kontakion, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “As firstfruits...”—

Glory..., Now and ever..., Theotokion—

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “Of the Wisdom...”—

O thy love which passeth understanding, O most honored one, whereby, having united thyself in the Spirit, thou didst bind thyself to Paul in Christ!

Theotokion: Thou wast the correction of our first mother Eve, O Theotokos, having given birth unto the Author of life for the world.

The intention of the tyrant was unable to wound thee who wast wounded with the desire of the Spirit, O delight of mortals.

Having rejected all fleshly attachments, thou wast not softened by the conversations of thy mother, O most laudable athlete.

In the beauty of thy virginity thou didst shine forth, and thou wast adorned with the crown of martyrdom; as one all-glorious, O virgin, thou didst entrust thyself to the Apostle Paul, and didst transform the flame of the fire into dew; and by thy supplication, O thou who wast the first among women to suffer, thou didst quell the raging of the bull.

Transforming thy womanhood into manliness through the virtues and the love of Christ, by both thou becamest a dwelling place of God; for, having diminished the gloom of the passions by fasting, by martyrdom thou wast shown to be the boast of suffering. Wherefore, thou shinest forth with twofold radiance upon the world like a beacon, illumining all with rays of the Spirit, O most lauded protomartyr. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who with love honor thy holy memory. Twice

All we, the generations of men, bless thee as the Virgin who, alone among women, gavest birth without seed to God in the flesh; for the fire of the Godhead made its abode within thee, and thou gavest suck unto the Creator and Lord as a babe. Wherefore, as is meet, we, the race of angels and men, glorify thy most holy birthgiving; and together we cry out to thee: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions to those who hymn thy glory as is meet.

Stavrotheotokion—

The ewe-lamb, beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Deliverer upon the Cross, exclaimed, weeping, and, bitterly lamenting, cried out: “The world rejoiceth, receiving deliverance through Thee; but my womb is in pain, beholding the crucifixion which Thou endurest in the loving-kindness of Thy mercy! O longsuffering Lord, abyss and inexhaustible wellspring of mercy: have mercy, and grant remission of transgressions unto those who hymn Thy divine sufferings!”