Ode I

Canon of the forefeast, with 8 troparia, including its Irmos, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn the nativity of the divine Virgin Maiden”, the composition of Joseph, in Tone IV—

Like cassia doth the memory of the venerable Cassiana fill our souls with sweet fragrance, and like myrrh and stacte do her excellent hymns perfume the Church of Christ, moving all to chant: Gloriously hath He been glorified!

Theotokion: The most comely wedding chamber, the most exalted throne of God, whereon the Transcendent One seated Himself in the flesh, issueth forth from a barren woman; and He raiseth up those who sit in the darkness of perdition to the knowledge of the Light, by His goodness.

Rejoicing today, let us with gladness hymn the divine nativity of the Mother of God; for she hath given birth to the Joy of the universe which destroyeth the grief of our first mother.

Irmos: I will open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear, keeping splendid festival; and, rejoicing, I will hymn her wonders.

In chastity the venerable one avoided a royal marriage, preferring to betroth herself to Christ, the King of kings, to instruct maidens in the ways of God, and to teach them to chant unto Him: Gloriously hath He been glorified.

Theotokion: By the will of the Father, through the divine Spirit, didst thou conceive the Son of God without seed and give birth in the flesh unto Him Who hath existence from the Father without mother and was born of thee without a father for our sake.

From a barren woman doth the all-pure and most immaculate Mistress issue forth barren of sin, whom the law prefigured and the proclamations of the divine heralds of God announced.

Irmos: Having traversed the depths of the Red Sea with dryshod feet, Israel of old vanquished the might of Amalek in the wilderness by Moses’ arms stretched out in the form of the Cross.

Knowing that tears of repentance and sighs of compunction are of more worth than costly ointment and precious gems, Cassiana praised the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Christ, crying: Gloriously hath He been glorified.

Theotokion: The most comely wedding chamber, the most exalted throne of God, whereon the Transcendent One seated Himself in the flesh, issueth forth from a barren woman; and He raiseth up those who sit in the darkness of perdition to the knowledge of the Light, by His goodness.

The temple and palace of the King didst thou become, wherein, fashioning a habitation for Himself, the Transcendent One maketh of the faithful a dwelling-place of the Holy Trinity.

Irmos: I will open my mouth, and with the Spirit will it be filled; and I shall utter discourse unto the Queen and Mother, and shall appear, keeping splendid festival; and, rejoicing, I will hymn her wonders.

Theotokion: Unto thee, O all-pure Mistress who gavest birth to the Author of our salvation, do I flee with tears. Be thou protection for me amid all sorrows and evil circumstances.

Canon of the martyr, with 4 troparia, the composition of Theophanes, in the same tone—

Irmos: Having traversed the water as though it were dry land, and escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israelite cried aloud: Let us chant unto our Deliverer and God!

Theotokion: Elderly and past the age of begetting children, the pious Joachim and Anna yet begat the Mother of Him Who saved the children of Israel from the tyrant in the Red Sea; and like them they cried: Gloriously hath He been glorified.

O all-glorious one, entreat now the Lord and Benefactor, that those who honor thy memory today be saved from all manner of dangers, tribulations and sorrows; and help them.

Irmos: The children of those who were saved have concealed beneath the earth Him Who of old covered the pursuing tyrant with the waves of the sea; but let us chant unto the Lord like the maidens: Gloriously hath He been glorified.

Christ hath truly shown thee forth as a most radiant star in the firmament of the Church, O all-praised martyr, illumining the whole world with the splendors of thy sufferings.

Having roiled the sea of impiety as a steed of the Lord, O martyr, in the abyss of thy precious and holy blood thou didst drown all the power of the adversary like Pharaoh.

Canon of the forefeast, the acrostic whereof is: “I hymn the nativity of the divine Virgin Maiden”, the composition of Joseph, in Tone IV—

Rejoicing today, let us with gladness hymn the divine nativity of the Mother of God; for she hath given birth to the Joy of the universe which destroyeth the grief of our first mother.

From a barren woman doth the all-pure and most immaculate Mistress issue forth barren of sin, whom the law prefigured and the proclamations of the divine heralds of God announced.

The temple and palace of the King didst thou become, wherein, fashioning a habitation for Himself, the Transcendent One maketh of the faithful a dwelling-place of the Holy Trinity.

Canon of the venerable martyr, the acrostic whereof is: “Through the supplications of Macarius, O Savior, have mercy upon us”, in Tone VIII—

Beset by many perils, I flee unto thee, O venerable martyr Macarius, seeking consolation of soul. By thine intercession with Christ the Master, do thou help me.

Throughout thy whole life thou didst show thyself to be an angel in the flesh, O Macarius, leading the Orthodox people to salvation, and a great luminary of the Church of Christ. Wherefore, assembling, we the faithful honor thy memory as is meet.