Triodion

are written with elegance, with one exception ^A: *To John the Theologian*, which a careless scribe had perhaps neglected to write out, and a later hand has added again. The letters which are to be seen with no small wonder from the reader are the *capitals* of the odes, depicted with skill not only in gold, but often in many-colored paints, while the capital letters of all the stanzas are covered only in gold, and follow the alphabetical order almost exactly. You will find the rest of the script on most polished, very clean parchment, not often continued, without any system of accents or breathings, and presenting interlinear variants marked with the same character, et cetera. It is easily discerned, however, that the codex was once stored in a damp place and was stained there, and suffering from age, has lost several leaves. For the bookbinder has glued together a parchment strip at the folds of several pages, and has again collected the quaternions, which entirely lack ancient numerical markings, while later ones have been added with little accuracy.

The front of the codex is missing in the first fascicle, which therefore consists of seven leaves: there are now fifteen quaternions in total of the old script, and one hundred and eleven leaves, of which the seventy-second, besides many others lost, is torn. Then follows quaternion XV, which is marked with the note 32, and two leaves besides, described from an archetype already in poor condition by someone in the fifteenth century, on coarser parchment, using different ink and different letters, which contains the remains of the political verses of Photius and Christopher, the first secretary. Thus the greatest part of the codex has perished, as the index placed at the end of the preface will show: nor indeed is the loss small which profane and sacred muses have suffered; for the codex contained a series of melodists who flourished from the sixth to the tenth century and beyond. For the rest, I believe these poems have been lost to the injury of time, and were never separated from the remaining parts, as an ancient hand noted in the same codex, by any possessor more modest than philological. But, to use a single example, what is more religious, what more chaste than the poems of my Sophronius, some of which have perished?

Nevertheless, the beauty of the codex is much marred by the shuffling of many verses and by errors; and so our codex has not escaped the fate that such beautiful volumes have undergone. But I have restored the verses, or rather entire stanzas, which possessed a foreign place, to their own seat, and here, so that the truth may be evident, I recount my restoration. In Ode 1, lines 40, 41, and 43, as they are in the edition, are found in the codices after line 54, with the space of one line left, which in truth is not missing, and 99, 100, and 101, [are found] after the following stanza. In Ode 5, the three little lines 57, 58, and 59 are written after the eighty-third line in the codex, and are confused with the eighty-fourth line; after two odd lines, the three little lines 78, 79, and 80, together with line 113, [being] likewise confused, had been transferred after line 112; lines 99, 100, and 101, in Ode 6, were ineptly associated with Lazarus after line 17; in Ode 19, line 100, although mutilated at the beginning, begins the remainder of the lost stanza with a capital letter and is joined with the preceding stanza. What finally shall I say of Ode 21? All the sets of three lines, which ought to follow two odd lines, were merged into two by the ignorance of the scribe and wandered up and down through the whole ode; yet after my restoration was made, the odd lines 66 and 67 were missing the usual three lines.

Besides the Anacreontics of Saint Sophronius, there are contained or mentioned in the same codex two Anacreontics of Elias Syncellus, an ode of Michael Syncellus, an ode of Ignatius the Deacon the grammarian on Paul, an ode of Arethas the archbishop, Anacreontics of Leo the Magister and John the grammarian and George the grammarian, a mutilated ode of a certain Acoluthus, and political verses of Photius and Christopher. Concerning these, read the preface of Pietro Matranga in Mai’s *Spicilegium Romanum*, vol. IV, pages xxx-xxxv. The political verses of Photius exist in vol. CII, page 578 et seq.

THE TRIODION OF THE SAME HOLY SOPHRONIUS

Ode. *The one in the furnace of fire.*

Consumed by pleasures, and with sight extinguished, renew me by the fire of your fear, O Christ; illumine me with the light of salvation, that I may glorify you among all.

Having conceived a hatred for the satiety of passions, take your stand in the dwelling place of virtues; and be sweetened rather by the delight of fasting, avoiding the bitterness of pleasures, my humble soul, and you shall live for ages.

Hardened in my soul, and darkened by the drunkenness of evils, I gaze in no way toward you, the only God; therefore have pity on me and illumine me, and open to me the gates of repentance.

She who made our earthly and corruptible substance heavenly, O Pure One, by your warm intercession may it be directed...

^A and offer prayers to your God and King, and the God and King of all.

*For I am he who is in the sea.*

Be sober, keep watch, sigh, and shed tears; through a complete fast, O soul, cast off the burden of sin. By fervent repentance, extinguish the fire; and through mourning, rend the mournful garment of the passions, receiving the divine robe in its stead.

Let us approach the peak of noble actions; all through fasting, leaving behind the groveling assaults of pleasures, and entering into the darkness of august contemplations, we shall behold only the lovely beauty of Christ, being deified mystically through divine ascensions.

Woe is me! What am I to do, what shall I bring about, I who commit sin and do not tremble before the Master, being senseless? For this reason I am condemned before the trial, O good judge of justice; turn me and save me, who have provoked you more than all men.

The barren earth, which brought forth the provider of all, who opens wide his hand and by his good pleasure fills every living creature with divine power; strengthen with the life-giving bread the hearts weakened by the abundance of our bitter trespasses.

*Him in the bush to Moses.*

Cast off the sleep of dangerous sloth, O soul, and fervently watch over the divine commandments; the bridegroom draws near: carry your lamp, and hasten to meet him.

Wounded dreadfully by the sword of pleasure, O Merciful One, heal me by the bandage of your compassionate condescension, O Word, that I may gratefully glorify you unto the ages.

From harmful passions, from envy and jealousy, and from all malice, abstain, O soul, fed by foods that provide supernatural and immaterial delights.

O Pure Mother of God, heal the wounds of my soul, and the passions of my heart, and the errors of my mind, as you are the only helper of sinners and the fortress of the besieged.

*Who among mortals heard such a thing?*

Who among mortals has ever fallen and provoked God in this way? Who has followed the impulses of malice, and appeared a hostel of sin, as I the wretch have done? But as God, who is desirous of mercy, have mercy on me. ^B

Powers of the godlike angels, implore the easily-reconciled God to save the soul that is swimming in the sea of worldly concerns, and is tossed by the storms of the passions, and is in danger from the assaults of the contrary spirits. ^C

Come, O soul, supported by the wings of the virtues through fasting, rise above groveling malice, and delight in the highest contemplations; delight in those things that provide good things, having become godlike through faith.

Who shall make audible your praises, O Pure One, you who brought forth in an incomprehensible manner the praiseworthy Master, and ^D

^A the Lord, whom the hierarchies of angels praise? Him, therefore, entreat for a people that has sinned, O Virgin who has not known wedlock.

The desert has blossomed.

Let us crucify our members through self-control; let us be sober unto prayers, as it is written, and let us walk in the footsteps of the One who suffered and put suffering to death. Having spat out bitter sin, let us hasten to please Christ, who in His will tasted gall, and who by His cross cast down the author of all evil.

Sin, having gained habit, draws me into complete ruin; but do you preserve me from it by your cross, O merciful and all-compassionate One. You who rule over all created things, O Lady, as you brought forth the Master, deliver me from the slavery of the deceitful and sole warrior.

A furnace in olden times.

A furnace of passions inflames my soul; but cool it with the dew of your mercy: at the will of whom sources of peace leaped from your untouched side, when you were crucified, O Benefactor, with great humility.

Raising us who were inclined toward wickedness by your lifting up upon the cross, O Christ; whence, as I fall into the pits of sin, lead me up and sustain me, O rock of salvation, that I may glorify your power.

By your lance, O Christ, purge the corruption of passions from my heart, and sanctify me completely—me whom the serpent wounded with venomous teeth; and grant that I may walk without hindrance along the divine paths.

We all venerate you, the radiant lamp and lantern, in whom the fire of the Godhead, having dwelt, enlightened those held fast by darkness and corruption, O undefiled one, blessing you, blessed for the fruit of your womb.

Of the eternal Father.

Shining more brightly than the sun, through fasting, the grace which is filled with light announces to all the rays of the cross, and the dawn of the venerable passion, and the saving day of the resurrection.

Let us desire chastity, let us flee impurity, let us gird our loins with temperance, so that we may appear pure before the Pure One, who alone requires purity from all, the Savior of our souls.

O Christ, fix my flesh with your fear; you who nailed the sin of Adam to the cross, loose the bond of my evils, shatter the arrows of the Wicked One with your lance, O Master, and deliver me from that calamity.

O Virgin, who brought forth Christ the Lord, entreat the most just Judge, who is alone easily reconciled, to deliver me, O maiden, from the judgment and the fire and the punishment which the enjoyment of sin has caused for me.

Who made wise beyond words.

You who showed your disciples to be luminaries in the far reaches of the earth by your preaching, O Word of God, illuminate our hearts

^A with the light of virtues, and purify them by fasting, granting to your servants the repentance of conversion, in order that they may glorify you, who alone exist, O supremely good One.

You have come from a Virgin.

At the tyrant's decree.

You who contained the uncontainable God in your womb.

The illumination of those in darkness.

^A

The illumination of my weakness, the chaste salvation of my darkened soul, O Maiden, save me who am perishing, and clothe me with the garment of immortality, now that I am perishing through my terrible transgressions.

*Him in the furnace of fire.* You who humbled yourself, and were lifted up on the cross, through your compassion raising up him who had fallen of old by the eating of the fruit of the tree; therefore, you alone worthy of all praise, we sing of you glorified through the ages.

Through the slumber of negligence, I have fallen into the heavy sleep of sin; but you, who slept on the cross for my sake, my Christ, rouse me who am stunned, that the night of my passions may not overtake me.

Blinded by pleasures, I carry my darkened soul around; and the deceitful enemy laughs, looking upon me: therefore, illuminate me and deliver me from this malice, O Christ, through the ages.

In negligence I have spent my life, and through the slumber of sin my soul has become heavy; but to your unsleeping intercession I flee: do not allow me to sleep in the death, O all-immaculate Virgin. ^B

*Who before the sun.* Purify my soul covered with leprosy by wicked thoughts through the sprinkling of your blood, O Word of God, and make me a partaker of your glory, you who for my sake, unworthy one, willingly endured crucifixion.

I was utterly bowed down by the burden of wicked deeds, O Savior; and sorrowing I cry to you, O lover of mankind, heal the incurable bruises of my soul with your own honorable bruising, that I may praise your divinity.

Feeding upon iniquity and drinking negligence, remaining in all things incorrigible, I rejoice in the abstinence of foods out of season; for the Lord did not say that such was to be the fast.

You who were the abrogation of the stern ancient sentence, and the restorer of the grandmother, and the cause of the reconciliation of the human race with God, and the bridge of union with the Creator, O Theotokos, you we magnify. ^C

*The mighty riders.* O only good one, source of mercy, Lamb of God who as God takes away the sins of the world, save me submerged in the waves of my sins, guiding me to the harbor of repentance.

Pure abstinence is the departure from sin, the estrangement from passions, love toward God, diligence in prayer, tears with compunction, and care for the needy, as Christ commanded in the Scriptures.

Heal my soul, wounded by the spear of sin and stung by many evils, O physician of our souls, as a benefactor, bestowing upon me the remedies of your august commandments, O lover of mankind.

O immaculate tabernacle, most holy Virgin, purify me who am terribly defiled by the impulses of the passions, with the fountain of your mercy, and give me, O Lady, showers of compunction to inundate the abyss of my sin.

*Deliverer of all.* Passing through the instability of life, in the cavillations of thieves ^D

^A I have fallen, and being wounded, I have been left half-dead; O Physician of the sick, give me Thy hand, through the prayers of all Thy saints.

The waves of grievous sin disturb my mind; ^B even as Thou didst save Peter, save me, O Jesus, as I sing: All ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.

By abstinence let us mortify the passions, by fasting let us wing our spirit toward heaven, and let us cry out with compunction of heart: We have sinned against Thee, O God; as Thou art compassionate, forgive us.

He who is the Most High made His tabernacle in thy womb, and showed thee to be broader than the heavens, and an invincible protection for those who cry out, O Virgin: All ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.

Eva indeed by the malady of disobedience...

Let us abstain from wrath, O faithful, let us delight in sincere love, let us break our bread for the poor, and being nourished by divine grace, let us quench through tears the tears of the judgment to come.

Groan, O wretched soul, be full of sorrow, show forth the ways of repentance; now the day is at the doors, the Judge sits in severity, distributing to each according to their deeds, as it is written.

I have not acquired good deeds, I have defiled the tunic which I received when I was clothed in a divine garment; I walk in the darkness of ignorance; with the light of Thy countenance, O Lord, illuminate me, for I am in despair.

Mary, Lady of all, deliver me, who am enslaved to all manner of sins, ^C O Virgin; for thou didst bring forth, beyond understanding, the Deliverer of our souls, clothed in human flesh.

*For I am the Lord your God.*

Groan, weep, O soul, turn back, repent; the hour is at hand, the Judge is at the doors; prepare thyself for the defense, and cry out: I have sinned against Thee, O compassionate One; O merciful and good One, do Thou have pity on me.

Abhor the destructive multitude of sin, O my soul, and delight instead in the multitude of constant fastings; let the saving commandments be thy food, which, through faith, provide the possession of eternal goods.

Angels, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, ^D Dominions, Thrones, Authorities, Cherubim, and Seraphim, entreat the Dispenser of good things and our God, that forgiveness of debts and freedom from the passions may be granted unto us.

Thou who alone didst bring forth the eternal Word, most pure One, incarnate of thee, and yet remaining what He was; thou who didst remain a virgin after childbearing, O unwedded One, intercede for all of us, that our life may be redeemed from corruption.

The God-seeing children in the furnace.

Thou who didst justify the publican who groaned, who didst have compassion upon the harlot who wept from the heart, save, O compassionate Savior, the souls of those who praise Thee.

Let us bring forth fruit in virtuous deeds through fasting;

and let us abstain from harmful thoughts, that we may attain to divine delights.

^A The choirs of angels supplicate Thee, the ranks of the apostles, and the hosts of martyrs, O Jesus, grant pardon to Thy people.

Let the faithful call blessed the mountain not cut by stone, the Virgin, the light-bearing lamp, the ladder easy of ascent, the field of God.

Manifest of old on the mountain to the Lawgiver.

Beautiful is the fast which fattens the heart; it divinely germinates a ripe ear of virtues, which we desire in these holy days, receiving sanctification from it.

^B Beholding me stained with many sins, wounded and condemned, O merciful One, have pity through Thy compassion, and save me because of the supplications of Thy saints.

Woe is me! Most miserable soul, how shalt thou be justified? What horror shall seize thee, when the Judge is seated, and the myriads of angels stand around? Hasten, therefore, and repent before the end.

O royal chariot, brilliant cloud, most fertile mountain, curdled milk, O Bride never knowing wedlock, I supplicate thee, O Virgin, that thou mayest heal the wounds of my heart.

May my heart be strengthened.

Thou didst extend Thy hands upon the Cross, taking away the sin of the hands of Adam, formerly stretched out toward the tree of knowledge, through the bowels of Thy mercy, O best Word of God.

^C Strengthen my mind, tossed by the envy of the serpent and the movements of lust, through Thy passion, O Lover of mankind, Thou who didst suffer and grant impassibility to the faithful.

The grace of the fast has shone forth, driving away the darkness of intemperance; behold the acceptable and saving day; let us show forth the fruits of repentance and we shall live.

O thou who raisest up those who fall, raise me up, O chaste One, as I slip into the precipices of pleasures and have fallen into the deep abysses of sin, and lead me to life.

Singing those hymns in the furnace.

Thou who didst deign to be reckoned with the lawless on account of the multitude of Thy mercy, blot out my sins in faith, that I may glorify Thee, O Christ, through the ages.

^D Tear asunder the hand-writing of my sins with Thy lance; and heal the pains of my heart, O Lord, struck by the dart of the malice of the wicked demons.

Wash my heart, blackened by the gore of sin, in the blood which flowed from Thy side, my Christ, that I may glorify Thee through all the ages.

Thou who without cultivation didst germinate the heavenly ear, O Virgin, satisfy my hungry, humble soul.

The life-giving, perennial fountain.

Having fasted, Elisha raised the dead

^A the child, as it is written. And we also, fasting, let us faithful ones make haste to mortify our carnal minds, that we may attain the life that is there.

Woe is me! O my soul, the judgment is fearful, and the judge’s sentence is terrible; make haste, repent, be reconciled to Christ who for your sake was hung upon the Cross, and who rescued the faithful from condemnation.

Open to me the gates of repentance, close the entrances of my passions, O Christ, who didst show the thief an easy entrance into Paradise by Thy crucifixion, that I may glorify Thy goodness. ^B

For I am cast into the depths of wickedness, and I am tossed by contrary thoughts, obeying demons, enslaved to pleasures; help me, O chaste Virgin-Mother, leading me to the way of salvation.

Be not angry in the rivers, O Lord, or let Thy wrath be in the rivers, or Thy indignation in the sea.

Extinguishing the drunkenness of the pleasures that are destruction to souls, let us be filled with the drink of compunction through fasting.

Abstain, O my soul, from intemperate food, feast on the contemplation of good things, that you may attain the table above.

Being burning coals from the supernatural fire, consume the forest of my passions, O divine apostles of the Savior.

Thou who didst lend flesh to Christ from thy own, mortify the passions of my flesh, O chaste Virgin Mother of Life.

Him in the flame the Hebrew children... ^C

Slain by many sins, I bring a dead soul into this life; therefore have mercy on me, by your saving prayers, O disciples of the Lord who rejoice in the vision of God.

Surrounded by a mist of sin, I have truly approached the hell of despair; therefore enlighten me, O initiates of the Sun of Glory, and you who are found to be rays gazing upon God.

Abstain from passions, and you shall be saved, O wretched soul; for the fasting that is merely an abstinence from food is unacceptable to those who seek rightly, unless it is also accompanied by the correction of faults.

The burning bush, Moses once saw thee, O Virgin Mother of God; therefore quench the furnaces of my passions, and snatch me from the fire of Gehenna, and save me. In the mountain of Sinai he saw thee.

Having become rivers, O apostles, and having obtained in a pure heart the water of the intellectual spring, the living water, dry up the floods of my sin by your prayers, and lead me to the way of salvation.

A surging wave of sin tosses my wretched soul; stretch out your right hand to me as you did to Peter, O good Pilot; let not the abyss of despair cover me; let me not become food for the soul-destroying whale, O Christ, most merciful.

The choir of apostles supplication invokes Thee, O Jesus, King of all; the ranks of angels entreat Thee; through the multitude of Thy mercies

^A grant to Thy whole people a redemption from evils, a correction of life, and the appropriation of Thy kingdom.

Virginity and childbirth have met together beyond nature in Thee, O ark of the holy sanctification, Mother and chaste Virgin: wherefore in faith I cry out to Thee, sanctify me wholly, free me wholly from every dissolution of the passions that torment me.

*The impious shall not see.*

O Lord, who wert willingly lifted up on the Cross, and didst willingly cast down the enemy: now correct me, who have been cast down into the abysses of pleasures, by Thy compassion.

Illumine my soul, darkened by base passions, O Jesus, who didst darken the sun, being stretched upon the cross, and didst illumine, O Sun, the fullness of the earth.

Deign to let me navigate the ocean of sobriety in peace, O Christ, calming the waves of my mind; and guide me into the harbor of the resurrection.

We venerate the chaste one with a pure mind: let us, adorned by divinely inspired deeds, piously hymn the beauty who proceeded from Jacob, as the Mother of our God.

*The holy children in the furnace.*

Nailed to the Cross through compassion, Thou didst open Paradise to the thief: now, healed of the injury I have received in my soul from the demon's malice, heal me, opening to me the gates of repentance by Thy love for mankind.

Let us attenuate the flesh by fasting, let us fatten the soul with prayers, let us feed the poor, purchasing an unfailing treasure in the heavens, and crying out: O ye works, praise and superexalt the Lord.

At Thy passion the creation was shaken, seeing Thee nailed to the cross, O most good Savior: wherefore I beseech Thee, always tossed by the onsets of the serpent, strengthen my mind, O compassionate One, upon the immutable rock of Thy commandments.

O closed gate of God, through which the Lord alone passed, guide me into divine paths, and open to me the gates of salvation, O full of the grace of God: for to thee I flee, O Virgin, the sole protection of the human race.

*The stone not hewn by hand from the mountain not composed of polished stones.*

The prophet foresaw Thee as a stone hewn from the mountain, O Savior, from the Virgin, rending the rocks at Thy crucifixion: wherefore deliver me, heavily burdened by the stone of insensibility, as Thou art all-compassionate ^D.

Refrain from malice, O my soul, nourished by divine love: open the gates to all good thoughts, closing the entrance to wickedness, through temperance and prayer.

Save me, the condemned one, O Lord Savior, who didst condemn my enmity by Thy cross: and let not the abyss show me subject to any wound of passions, and weakened by sins.

^A Spare me, O Christ, when Thou shalt come to judge the world with glory; disperse the cloud of my passions by the prayers of Thy Mother, and make me an heir of Thy heavenly kingdom.

The Hebrew Children in the Furnace

With showers of blood you quenched, O most praised ones, the flame of deceit; through your prayers to God, deliver us from the inextinguishable fire of the future for all ages.

Closing the mouths of lions and enduring the fire of tortures, O victorious athletes, you chose the better delight; pray fervently that we may obtain it for all ages.

^B Encompassed by all the light of the Spirit, O noble, victorious athletes, pray for those faithful who have departed this life, that they may find an end of exile, entrance into paradise, and participation in life.

I bring a hymn to thee, O Virgin; look not askance at me for being overcome by evils, but grant, O pure one, a swift amendment, reforming through fasting all my manner of acting and my character.

Victors over the tyrant and the flame through grace

Having endured the forms of torture by the weakness of the body, you have appeared as physicians of the sick, O victorious athletes; therefore I cry out: heal my ailing soul in the time of fasting through repentance.

Woe to me! How have all my days passed in negligence? And lo, the end approaches, so that I may receive infinite evil. O martyrs who have well completed your course, supplicate that a good end may be granted to me.

^C With drops of blood you quenched the fire of impiety, O divine victorious athletes, and for those who have departed from this life, entreat in truth the divine rest and the remission of deeds from the Lord.

Ezekiel foresaw thee as the closed gate, O pure one, opening the gates of repentance to all who are in despair; therefore I supplicate thee, point out to me the paths leading to the repose that is there.

You crossed the boundaries of nature, O Creator

Appear, O divine coals, burning up the forest of crooked impiety, and with the sword of endurance cutting down the ranks of demons, O victorious athletes, illuminators of our hearts.

Translate the intellectual darkness, O noble, victorious athletes; therefore illuminate my soul, darkened by ^D trespasses.

Presenting the labors of the body, the all-glorious victorious athletes, even now, O immaculate one, ask for the faithful departed for rest without labor and the enjoyment of paradise.

Appear, O immaculate Lady, a divine helper to thy useless servants, and in the time of temperance present our prayers to the Lord who reigns through the ages.

Let us send up a hymn, O people

Having as God compassion, receive me who repent, I who have squandered my life riotously; I cry to Thee: I have sinned; I have no need of accusers, declaring the shame of my deeds.

Rejecting the bread of angels, I have become like the beasts in satisfying malice and perversity; but receive me, who return as one of the hired servants, O heavenly Father.

Leaving aside the night of pleasures that comes from delicacies, let us all, O faithful, diligently approach the light of temperance, that we may be accounted worthy of the light-bearing feast.

Rejoice, O most holy temple, fleece divinely bedewed, fount of the immortal stream, guard thy flock, ^A O Lady, unassailable by all enemies.

*The children speaking of God in the furnace.*

Having consumed my paternal inheritance with harlots, I was cast out of the courtyards of grace: but receive me, O Father, through Thine immeasurable mercy.

Shining with the splendors of prayers in the most radiant fast, let us become luminous, that we may flee the darkness of sin.

The choir of spirits suppliantly entreats Thee: the Cherubim are present as suppliants, and the hosts of the saints; save our souls, O most merciful Christ.

Correct me who am darkened by the drunkenness of sin, thou who ^B hast gathered the uncultivated grape, O Theotokos Virgin, hope of our souls.

*Manifested on the mountain to the lawgiver.*

Receive me, Father, who have been estranged from Thy love and voluntarily subjected to the urges of pleasures, receiving me who return as the prodigal; for Thou alone art found most merciful.

I have appeared as a fig tree without fruit, miserably cultivating only malice, which provides me with fire; do Thou, therefore, O Lord, show me to be fruitful, bearing good deeds for Thee.

Abstain, my soul, from malice and sloth, master anger and willfulness and every sin; for Jesus, our most loving Savior, desires such a fast.

Thou who ineffably gavest birth to the Word of God, who cleanses the sins of the world by the Spirit, cease not ^C to supplicate Him for thy servants, O Theotokos, that we may be saved.

*For I am God.*

After the most good Father adopted me through the bath of baptism, He adorned me with the riches of all good things; but I voluntarily served fruitless thoughts, whence I became poor.

Be merciful, be merciful, be merciful, O Lord; judge my judgment for me, O righteous Judge, receive my small sigh through Thy great mercy, O Christ, and do not look upon me askance.

Putting off the intolerable garment of intemperance, let us put on the radiant stole of temperance, and becoming brilliant, let us hasten to the bright resurrection of the Savior.

Save me, save me, thou who gavest birth to the Savior; ^D look, O chaste one, upon my oppression, which the multitude of my immeasurable evils brings daily to my wretched soul out of despair.

^A Whom the angels dread. I lament and wail, contemplating the hour when I shall stand before the fearful throne, to undergo judgment for my many evils, which I have committed in ignorance and in knowledge. Moses, having found in fasting purification, beheld God, [who is] the only pure One. O my soul, be purified by fasting, that thou mayest draw near to the compassionate Christ. Let us love fasting, from which virtues are born; let us abhor luxury, by which desires are generated; and let us cry out: Father who art in heaven, save us, save us through the prayers of thy saints. O Judge whom thou didst bear, Virgin Mary, beseech him in the hour of judgment, O most pure one, to have mercy on me and save the condemned, thou who art the sole protection of the human race.

^B The light-bearing cloud. Having fallen into the seas of sin, into the depths of despair, into the turbulence of thoughts and the storms of passions, I cry out: O abyss of mercy, bring me aid, and with thy compassion sprinkle upon me the propitiation for my sins. Through fasting, let us purify the body; through temperance, the spirit; through tears, the soul, O faithful; and let us meet the pure One with purity, clearly, that we may behold his saving passions, which he who is impassible endured for our sake. Like the publican, I sigh; like the harlot, I weep; like the thief, I cry out: Remember me, O merciful One; like the blind man, I shout to thee: Son of David, open the eyes of my soul, blinded by the malice of the deceitful adversary. The unhewn mountain, the impenetrable gate, higher than the heavens and all creation, the beauty of Jacob, the golden urn, the fountain and Mother of the Creator, let us call the Virgin blessed, O ye peoples.

The firmament of those who trust in thee. Being crucified together with him who was crucified for us, let us mortify all the members of the flesh in fastings and prayers and supplications. Thou who didst pluck out the thorn of sin by thy crucifixion, O Lord, pluck out the thorny thoughts of my mind. Arming our minds with fasting, let us put to flight the hostile crowds of demons, being fortified by the power of the cross. ^C The Word, made flesh, came forth from thee, O immaculate one, raising up the fall of the first parents through the bowels of his mercy.

Into intolerable fire. O thou who didst triumph over the principalities and powers of darkness by the cross, O Light-giver, when thou shalt come with power to judge the whole world, do not triumph over my hidden things, O Word, that I may glorify thy great compassion. The chosen Judge, thou didst stand before the tribunals, condemning on thy cross the enemy, O long-suffering and righteous Judge; therefore, deliver from eternal condemnation those who, in fear, cry out: We exalt thee, O Christ, unto the end. ^D

Strengthened by the fire of fasting, the pious youths quenched the flame that had been raised of old with divine dew; truly, let us also, by fasting, quench the furnaces of all our passions, that we may escape the flame of Gehenna. ^A

From thee, the Wisdom of God, building for herself a house, took on flesh in ineffable condescension, O unwedded maiden: for thou alone among all generations hast been chosen, incorrupt, to be the dwelling of the incorrupt Word.

In the shadow and letter of the Law, let us behold the type. Moses, lifting up the serpent upon the wood, prefigured thee, O Christ, who wert willingly lifted up upon the cross, and hast scattered the venomous malice of the Wicked One, and hast drawn mortals unto thee, O Lover of mankind. ^B

Purify me with the fire of thy fear, kindling divine love in my soul, and fortifying me with thy cross, O Christ, I whose mind the ancient deceiver misled with guile, darkening it with pleasures.

Let us fast, brothers, from shameful thoughts and evil deeds; let us purify our heart, let us take wing with divine virtues, and let us turn aside from the impulses of groveling malice, so that, clothed in splendor, we may behold the great Pascha. ^C

From thee, O Virgin, the One who is rich by nature willed to take on our poverty; and he who is invisibly celebrated by the hosts on high became visible to us, while restoring the shattered image with his goodness.

Christ my strength, God and Lord.

Let us demonstrate fasting, tears, prayers, compassion, a contrite character, a right mind, and purity of life, O faithful, that we may enjoy his glory. ^D

As luminaries shining in the firmament of the holy Church, you have appeared clearly, O apostles; therefore, enlighten our hearts with the divine Spirit.

As divine coals kindled by immaterial fire, burn up the passionate material of our hearts, O wise apostles of our God.

O inextinguishable lampstand, all-luminous bridal chamber, superior to the Seraphim, chariot of the Cherubim, all-blameless one, deliver me from grievous sins and dangers.

From the flame to the holy ones.

Fasting showed Moses as one who saw God, and it took Elias up in a chariot of fire; make haste, O my soul, to be continent from harmful thoughts, so that thou mayest be delivered from groveling deceit.

I stumble and I progress toward worse things, and I always add new wounds to my scars: heal, O Christ, my stony hardness through the intercession of the apostles, O compassionate One.

O most divine luminaries of the world, disperse the clouds of our passions, and show us to be worshippers of the bright resurrection, as we hymn the Sun of glory.

Generations of generations call thee blessed, O godly-blessed one, even as thou didst prophesy; for thou alone hast given birth for mortals to the blessed Word, ineffably made flesh from thee.

^A It is impossible for humans to see God.

O God and Lord, abundant in mercy, wash away the wounds of my heart, applying to me the medicines of repentance; I have sinned against Thee; have mercy, save me, through the prayers of Thy apostles, as Thou art most merciful.

I have followed wild impulses, foolishly, and have gone entirely outside myself, feeding on the roughness of pleasures; and I, the prodigal, have fallen behind the saving food; O Christ, have mercy, save me.

O soul, not purging yourself of wickedness, and not distancing yourself from soul-destroying pleasures, why do you rejoice untimely by fasting? For the Lord, who alone wills our correction, did not choose this kind of fasting.

Enlighten me with divine light, O Virgin Theotokos, Mother of Light; and drive away the darkness of my soul, that I may call thee blessed, whom all the generations of men call blessed, as thou didst prophesy.

He who clothes Himself with light as with a garment.

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed, through Thy stripe cleansing the stripes of my soul, O Savior, who didst take upon Thyself human sufferings in the flesh.

Cleanse, O my Christ, my soul, which bears thorns and has become desert with all manner of passions, Thou who wast crowned with thorns for the sake of extreme goodness.

Deliver me from the wickedness of the warring enemy; convert me who have been led into error and have squandered all my life prodigally, O most merciful One.

Thou didst bring forth as an infant a Child, O immaculate One, my Creator, whom entreat that He may renew me, long-worn by much wickedness, O Lady.

To Thee, the Creator of all.

Thou didst stretch forth Thy palms on the Cross, O Christ, lamenting the intemperance of the first ancestor, and by the wood didst heal the curse of the wood; whence we hymn Thee in all things.

To Thee, the Author of salvation, O Word, I fall down; suppress quickly the evil volitions in my heart, Thou who didst voluntarily endure the Cross and sufferings.

Coveting a luxurious, perverse life, I, the prodigal, have become darkened; shine upon me a ray of conversion, O Word, Thou who didst darken the sun's splendor by Thy suffering.

^D Suppress all the wickedness of my painful heart, O Mary, Mother of God; break the arrows and the bows of the demons who war against my humble soul.

Isaiah, dance: the Virgin is with child.

Soften the stony hardness of my soul, O compassionate Christ, and grant me, O Good One, a fountain of divine compunction, Thou who didst pour into me life from Thy side, stemming the torrents of my sins.

I cast myself into the abyss of sins, abandoning the heights of the virtues; but draw me out, save me, Thou who didst ascend the Cross and draw the human race up to Thyself, O Lord.

Thou who art sweetness, O Lord, and the author of delight, as Creator,

Thou didst taste of gall, O Christ; for having drunk vinegar, Thou dost set right the fall that existed for the descendants of Adam; whence those saved by Thy sufferings sing Thy praise.

Most holy Lady, my hope and my refuge, heal the wounds of my soul; give peace to my mind, that I too may joyfully sing Thy greatness, O Theotokos, ever-Virgin. ^A

I came into the deep of the sea.

Having glorified the Master of all with your own members, now you are glorified without ceasing, being the glory of the faithful, O athletes, and great intercessors.

Thou wast placed in the lowest pit; therefore, O Word of God, to all who have died in faith, by the prayers of the holy athletes, grant the forgiveness of transgressions.

That we may hymn Thee with clarion voices, O Virgin, remember to accept these our voices and to demand propitiation for our debts, as Thou supplicatest Thy Son.

The three youths in Babylon.

Earnestly beseech Him who rests in the saints, that in these holy days He may sanctify the minds of all the pious.

O Most High, rich in mercy and good, grant forgiveness to thy servants who have already fallen asleep, numbering them with the choirs of the saints, as Thou art a lover of mankind.

Thou hast given birth, apart from laws of nature, to the Creator of nature, who became man, O immaculate one; beseech Him, therefore, to look kindly upon our iniquities, as He is a lover of mankind.

Redeemer of all.

You who exchanged corruptible things for heavenly ones, save me who am destroyed by carnal passions, through fasting and the harmony of prayers, O divine martyrs, by supplicating the God of all.

By the supplications of Thy martyrs, O Christ, send down Thy mercies upon all, and to those who have returned to Thee after their migration from this life, grant the release of debts and divine rest.

As Thou didst give birth to the sinless God, blot out our sins by Thy maternal intercessions, O Theotokos, and save those crying out: Bless the works, O Lord.

Eve, indeed, through the contagion of disobedience. ^D You who established your mind upon the spiritual rock, O victors, remained unbent against all the wiles of the enemy.

^A Therefore, turn me who am inclined toward soul-destroying passions, and strengthen me through your entreaties to the Divine.

Divine and truly radiant assembly of martyrs, beseech the all-good Master, that in this time of fasting He may grant to us all the forgiveness of sins and eternal rejoicing.

O You who alone are man-loving and good, deem your servants who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection worthy to share in the eternal light which knows no setting, and in the enjoyment of delights, that we may magnify You with longing.

A dwelling place of light, your all-holy Mother and Lady has become; whence I faithfully cry out to you, enlighten the pupils of my soul, and show the straight path to him who genuinely calls you blessed.

^B You cast the charioteer of Pharaoh into the sea. The light-bearing adoration of the Cross has appeared to all, sending forth the solar radiance of salvation, and illuminating all who are oppressed by the darkness of the passions: let us run together and purely kiss this Cross.

Purified by the grace of fasting, with a most pure mind, let us here lift up a voice of thanksgiving to the Pure One alone: You poured out your blood, O Word, for our redemption, and by your Cross You sanctify us.

Supplanted by the attacks of the serpent, I lie utterly fallen in an unseemly way: O Savior, who raised up the fall of the first-created by your passion and Cross, raise me up and lead me to the fulfillment of your will.

Standing by your Cross, O Lord, the unwedded Virgin, seeing the wounds in You, O Master, was herself wounded and said: Woe is me, my Son! I escaped the birth pangs at your birth, but now I am painfully oppressed.

^C Septuplo the furnace. Have mercy, O Lord, have compassion on him who possesses both a soul and mind wounded by poisonous passions; heal me with your Cross, and with the drops poured out from your side, that I may fervently sing: Priests, bless the Lord.

On the mountain long ago, Moses typified You, lifting up his hands and putting Amalek to flight, O all-venerable Cross, which we venerating today, put to flight the hostile ranks of the demons, and in fear we sing: Priests, bless the Lord.

Disturbed by passions, weakened by enemies, dragged by evil habit, have mercy, O compassionate One, and fortify me with your Cross, so that I may sing with an unwavering heart: Children, bless the Lord.

Groaning painfully, wailing with a mother's affection, and unable to bear the constriction of her inward parts, she gazed at the Cross of Him born of her womb, crying out: My Son, what is this vision? How do You, by nature impassible, suffer? Because, surely, You wish to set the human race free from passions.

^D Every ear shuddered. Jacob, when blessing his descendants long ago, very clearly prefigured the precious Cross; through which, O merciful One, us...

blessing, granting grace which imparts sanctification to those who worship it, and glorifying you as the Redeemer of all.

By the water of the fast, O faithful, having been cleansed in both soul and mind, let us embrace the life-bestowing and divine Tree; it is openly set before all, pouring forth divine forgiveness, and heavenly light, and life, and true exultation. ^A I know you, Lord, as a Judge who will come in the glory of your divinity, at that time to expose the hidden things of all; therefore I cry to you, O Good One: "I have sinned, forgive me; do not triumph over my many and grievous offenses."

Beholding the Lamb long ago nailed to the cross, the ewe-lamb, and the light of the sun darkened, wept and said: "Sun of glory, Jesus, you set while undergoing death; but make the light of the resurrection rise for those who long for you."

"For I am God, who long ago [forbore with] Israel."

In the midst of creation, the cross which you sustained, O Messiah, Word of God, on this mid-day of the fast, we faithfully worship, praying that we may also behold your resurrection. ^B By the rod of power prefigured in Moses, dividing the sea of passions, let us hasten to the land of promise, and let us be abundantly satisfied with the manna of the intellect.

Who would not lament for you, who would not mourn for you, O soul, desiring sinful things and not seeking good things with longing, but ever despising the just Judge who is long-suffering toward you?

You bring forth, O Virgin, Christ who became flesh without change; whom beseech fervently to deliver from carnal passions those who worship in the flesh that which he sustained upon the cross. ^C

"Who roofs his upper chambers with the waters."

You who, as God, shook the foundations of all the earth, having been lifted up on the Tree, you granted to all the faithful an unshakable support, O Lord, namely the saving breastplate of your cross; which worshiping, we superexalt you unto all ages.

Beholding that sign of the cross shining more brightly than the rays of the sun, come, let us now shine with the fast and kiss it, ^D and draw forth illuminating grace, which diminishes the darkness of those who superexalt Christ unto the ages.

You who are the fountain of living water leaping up into eternal life, O Word, you poured forth blood and water from your side upon the cross, O Master, checking the torrents of sin; whence I beseech you, dry up the wicked fountains of my desires.

You bring forth, O holy and purest Mother of God, God who rests in the saints as a spiritual sanctification: God, I say, who today sanctifies all the ends of the earth by the divine governance of the cross upon which he was fixed in the flesh, O Virgin.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel."

Blessed are you, O Lord, God of Israel, who by your cross loosed the ancient curse, and [have granted] that to us.

it as a stronghold and refuge and secure foundation; by which we shall now strike down our enemies.

Because I am bound by the chains of my numberless sins, and I am unwilling to recognize your saving paths, O Christ, turn me back by your cross, dissolving my obduracy through the ineffable mercy of your compassion. ^A Having perversely imitated the pride of the Pharisee, I have been cast down in a grave and terrible fall, and I lie as a trampled thing before my enemies; but have mercy and save me, O Christ, who for compassion humbled yourself, O most high King of glory. All generations call you blessed, O purest one; for Jesus alone, who was born from your womb, himself, as you know, O Maiden, did great things for you, O Virgin; therefore entreat him that he may save your city and your people.

Who are Lord of all and Creator. O Lord who are of all things the Creator and God, you were lifted up in the middle of the earth upon the cross, drawing to yourself the human race that had fallen by the most evil counsel of the Enemy; whence we faithfully glorify you, being strengthened by your passion. ^B Purifying our senses with the light of the fast, let us, O faithful, be most copiously illumined by the spiritual rays of the cross; and seeing it openly set forth today, let us adore it with pure lips and mouth and heart. ^C Let us adore the divine cross, the place where the feet of Christ stood, praying that our souls' feet may be strengthened upon the rock of Christ’s commandments and that its steps may be directed into the way of peace by divine grace. You came forth from a spotless Maiden, O Christ, having taken from her flesh endowed with mind and soul, and by your cross having destroyed the Enemy, you renewed as God the lost substance of mortals; therefore we offer you glory.

Blessed are they who keep the ancestral laws. As you were being crucified in the middle of the day, in the middle of the earth, you drew the ends of the world to the divine will, plucking them from the middle of the dragon's jaws, O compassionate one; wherefore, in the middle of the week of the divine fasts, we cry out as we adore your precious cross: Bless the Lord, all you works. ^D You banner of joy, unbreakable wall of the Church, boasting of martyrs, ornament of apostles, strength of high priests, strengthen my failing soul and deem me worthy to adore you, while with divine inspiration I sing to the Lord. I lament and weep and mourn when the incorrupt judgment comes to my mind, O long-suffering one, because I am condemned; wherefore spare me, and lighten the yoke imposed upon my soul, that I may joyfully cry out: Bless the Lord, all you works. The bush typified the mystery of your birth, which exceeds the mind, O blameless Maiden; for just as that bush remained

incombusta, ignem generans, Christ, namely the Savior who was lifted up on the cross; implore him that I may be freed from the fire, crying out to the Lord.

Every tongue is at a loss. ^A Elisha of old, making the axe swim upon the river by means of wood, prefigured you, O life-giving Cross, the wood through which Christ drew the nations up from the abyss of idolatrous madness, having been nailed to you with nails; wherefore, adoring you, we glorify his power.

The light of the sun, O Savior, was turned into darkness at your crucifixion, and the light of the moon was diminished, and all the elements were shaken with trembling; wherefore I cry to you: my reason, troubled by the darkness of the passions, O Word, change with your right hand, illuminate, and save me.

By your wound, heal the desires of my soul; by the stroke of your side, put an end to the painful wounds of the demons within me; with your nails, O Christ, fix fast the desire and craving of pleasure, granting me, without passion, to adore your venerable passion and your resurrection.

The beautiful Maiden gave birth to you, beautiful in form; and beholding you in your passion, neither possessing form nor beauty, O Savior, she sang a mournful lament, saying: I am struck with amazement at your humiliation, which exceeds the mind, my Son, through which you save the humbled nature of humanity.

On divine custody

Stretching forth his hands so as to foreshadow the cross, ^B Moses put Amalek to flight; shaping our hands like him, let us stretch them forth, that by fastings and observances we may put to flight the ranks of demons who spitefully war against us at every turn.

With the divine plow of the cross you furrowed the earth, O divine disciples, showing it to be fruitful and budding with piety; wherefore we praise you with supplicating voices, always glorifying Christ.

O Mother of the good God, make my soul good, which the Evil One has made bad by evil habit, fatally ensnaring me; that I may always celebrate you in hymns as the cause of my salvation, you whom so many hymns celebrate.

She is elect and holy

Possessing the strength of the mighty cross, the disciples of the Word freed those who were in slavery under the grave dominion of the Evil One, crying out: We superexalt you, O Christ.

Woe is me! What a fearsome tribunal is that before which you shall sit, O Word, and reveal to me the things I have done in secret, O Christ, ^D

^A exposing my lack of feeling! But spare me, being compassionate; spare me then.

Not departing from your Father’s bosom, you reclined in the bosom of the Virgin, to recall the race whose likeness you assumed out of mercy, O Christ; whence we hymn you.

*Shine, shine.*

Resplendent, shine, O Church of Christ, with the rays of the Cross that you bear forth for the adoration of all; but you, O entire multitude of demons, filled with darkness, flee away.

The divine Cross is the strength of abstinence, the helper of those who keep vigil, the comfort of those who fast, the bulwark of those being fought against; let us, the faithful, coming together with desire, adore it with great joy.

Divine foundations of the Church of Christ, preserve us all by the stability of piety, and consolidate us upon the unbreakable rock of him who chose you, O glorious apostles.

Having conceived joy by the voice of the archangel, take away now the sorrow of my heart, ^B the killer of my soul, and grant me, O most pure one, soul-gladdening mourning, that I may find there divine consolation.

*Holy children in the furnace.*

Seeing your passion, O impassible one, all creation suffered with you, O long-suffering one; the sun was extinguished, the rocks were rent, all the earth quaked with fear, crying out: Bless the Lord, O you works.

Rebuke the dread beasts of the reed, O my merciful Mother of God; they constrain me within, O Savior Christ, who bore the ignominious insult of the reed-blow, having determined to honor all those dishonored by the ancient transgression.

When I call to mind your fearsome tribunal, O most just Judge, I tremble and am beside myself, I shudder and lament, contemplating my works worthy of punishment; ^C wherefore, Savior, let not the multitude of my sins overcome your great compassion.

"I who gave birth to you without labor pains, sustain pains at your crucifixion, my inmost parts burning; for pierced and transfixed in your side with nails, O long-suffering one," the most pure Virgin cried out; whom as Theotokos we hymn with harmonious voices.

*Let every earthborn one exult in the Spirit.*

By the wood of the Cross you caused the flame of sin to languish, O Christ; and with hands transfixed, you delivered from the hand of the enemy him who had incontinently stretched out his hand toward the eating of the fruit—the participation in which alone you showed it is necessary to avoid, O Christ of great mercy.

Grant us, O Christ, who have faith in your passion—from which flows impassibility for all mortals—to look joyfully and with freedom from passion upon your precious Cross, which we faithfully adore; do not consider our sins, and make us true sons of your resurrection. ^D

^A You exalted us who had fallen into the abyss by your exaltation, you ended the war, and reconciled us to your Father, shedding your blood for us, O Benefactor; whence we glorify you as God, the Redeemer of our souls.

You who alone have given birth in substance to the Wisdom of God, make me wise, I beseech you, that I may escape the schemes, attacks, and deceits of the cunning artisan of malice, O Virgin Mother of God, unwedded, the powerful refuge of the faithful.

On the sea of life.

The host of holy athletes was joined to the multitudes of angels, and they beseech the all-good God that in this forty-day period we might be delivered from the multitude of our sins.

Having been given to death and having slept in the tomb, O Christ, you raised the dead and to those dead in faith you grant rest, O Savior, by the riches of your goodness, with all your saints.

God, the Word of God, desiring to deify man, is incarnate from you, O most chaste one, and is seen as a mortal; whom you constantly entreat that we may find mercy in the time of trial.

To the golden image.

O race of victors, who conducted yourselves with temperance, strengthen us to run the stadium of temperance without hindrance, since you have proclaimed Christ in the stadium with manliness and stand before the judgment seat, wearing crowns in the light with the angels of Christ.

By the supplications of your holy martyrs, O God, show your faithful servants who have fallen asleep to be citizens of paradise and of the spiritual light; deem them worthy to cry out to you unceasingly: Blessed is God.

We beseech you, the only good Virgin: make us who have become evil, good, and earnestly entreat Christ, who is by nature good, that we may complete the time of temperance by performing good works, celebrating Him with hymns.

In the fire of the flames.

O holy, elect, and truly powerful army of Christ God, multitude of martyrs, sanctify our minds and hearts in these holy days of the fast, through your holy supplications.

Your drops of blood and the tombs of your relics, O athletes, wondrously pour forth streams of forgiveness; wherefore, through your intercession, O co-heirs of Christ, water with the stream of mercy those who have departed.

^A O pure Theotokos, vouchsafe that we who behold and with our heart venerate the precious Cross of Christ may, by your intercessions to the Master, also behold His venerable passion, having been purified of our own passions. *For He has done great things for me.*

O you who are luminaries, unerring athletes of Christ, enlighten our thoughts and grant us strength to perform the radiant and pure will of God.

You are seen as blades cutting down the malevolent, O noble athletes of the Lord; but deliver us from the arrows of the evil one by your protection.

Grant rest in the bosom of the faithful Abraham, O Christ, to your servants who have departed from us in faith unto You, the Creator of all and all-good.

Mortify the motions of my flesh, you who gave birth to God in the flesh in a manner transcending the mind, and grant illumination to my intellect, O pure one, as you are all-good.

*He who of old [commanded] the waters by a nod.*

Having plowed our thoughts with the divine plowshare of godly fasting, let us bring forth a harvest of virtues, so that we may never hunger, but feast unto eternity, rejoicing in the inexhaustible feast.

Bearing long-standing passions within, which darken my wretched soul, I hasten with a contrite heart to Your invincible power, O timeless Word of the timeless Father, and I pray: have mercy, save me.

^B The best fasting transforms the heart, making it fat with God-pleasing thoughts, and, drying up the abyss of the passions, cleanses with rivers of compunction those who in faith offer praise to the Almighty.

O Maiden of many names, hail, holy Virgin, Mother of God Mary, boast of the faithful, release from the curse, heavenly ladder, incomprehensible miracle, unburnt bush, unplowed land.

*The Babylonian furnace.*

Drawn away by the harmful deceits of the serpent, O Savior, I am terribly enticed, adding daily grief to my grief; wherefore I cry to You, O Physician of the sick, convert me and save me.

Elisha, once clearly invigorated by the Spirit, raised the son of the Shunammite after fasting; but we, who are put to death by the pleasures of the passions, let us revive, O faithful, through the life-giving fast.

^C You saved the Ninevites of old, O merciful Lord, for they repented with weeping and fasting; have mercy also on us in Your compassion, for we lack the deeds by which to confess You.

O all-blameless one who remained incorrupt after childbirth, we beseech you, O pure one, deliver your servants from corruption, who faithfully sing in oneness of spirit: "Bless, O works of the Lord, the Lord."

*A new and divine miracle.*

The grace of the fast, having now filled the divine chalice of compunction, clearly invites all the faithful.

exclaiming: Come, enjoy, casting aside the drunkenness of the passions, that you may be deemed worthy of the future enjoyment.

The judgment is near: pay attention, soul, care for the conscience, and do well those things that will keep you uncondemned forever; for if we judge ourselves here, we shall certainly not be judged there without witnesses, where the guilty are condemned. ^A

Principalities, Powers, Thrones, Cherubim, Dominions, and Virtues, and Seraphim, Angels, Archangels, beseech God for us that we may pass the time of the fast doing what is pleasing to Him, that as servants who have pleased their masters we may obtain glory.

Receive, O Christ, Your Mother, who always beseeches You with the martyrs, with the prophets, with all the saints on behalf of servants who have provoked You to anger—Your Mother, I say, O propitiable One, the only Lord and Savior, before whom the ranks of spirits stand trembling. ^B

Attend, O earth and heaven. With continuous prayers, and abstinence, and contemplation, let us make our souls winged for divine love. After we have escaped the cold of intemperance, let us all be warmed by the light of abstinence in the divine Spirit. Having cast off the rot of sin with the salt of divine virtues, O soul, be joined to God. Christ rested in you, O only blessed one, and took His flesh from you. Whom the angels unceasingly... The most wicked one, lying in wait in secret every day, seeks to catch me and devour me; deliver me from his malice, O Savior, who saved Jonah from the whale. ^C

Purified by the fast, let us approach the mountain of virtues and let us attentively hear what God will speak in us; for He will speak peace, and illumination, and the healing of the soul’s contrivances.

Obscured daily by the darkness of sins, I am unable to perceive Your wonders, O Lord; wherefore open the eyes of my heart, O Jesus, giver of light.

With the drops of Your mercies, O Virgin ever undefiled, wash away the passionate pollutions of my heart, granting to me streams of tears for the purification of my soul. ^D

Thee, the unburnt bush... Holding in our minds the flame of the inextinguishable fire, with most fervent thoughts of repentance, let us now approach the fire that burns up the passions.

The word that once went forth, fired as with flame from a fasting mouth, zealously disturbs the elements; emulate it, O soul, and conduct yourself well.

Thinking of the dreadful tribunal, O my most wretched soul, always prepare your ways for the fulfillment of the will of the Redeemer.

My soul, darkened by the inundation of iniquity...

illuminate, O most pure one, you who gave birth to the Light, that with longing and faith I may ever magnify you. ^A

*Celestial arc.* Condemning enmity, you extended your hands upon the Cross, O just Judge; but now, save me who am condemned and lost through my transgressions, O Savior, whom I, having behaved so cruelly, have provoked. Having desired a beastly life of passions, I have strayed from your commandments, O Savior, most good; I have become a servant to foreign and impure citizens; but now, as I return, receive me, O merciful one. As you once opened the ears of the man who spoke with difficulty, open the ears of my soul which have been deafened by my own will, and deign that I may hear your saving word, O Jesus, the only lover of mankind. O portal of salvation, and bridge to God, advocate of sinners, most pure Lady, govern me, who am beset by the calamities and tossed by the waves of life, O Virgin. ^B

*Sevenfold the furnace.* Looking upon me with your unsleeping eye, have pity on me, who am overcome by the taste of desire and yielding to the sleep of pleasures in the bed of passions, you who reclined your head upon the Cross and voluntarily fell asleep, and diminished the night of sin, O Christ, the Light of justice. Adorned with rich gifts from baptism, I have loved poverty of virtues more than good things; and I, wretch that I am, have become a stranger to the virtues, having journeyed into a far country of wickedness; therefore, turn me back and embrace me, O Savior, shielding me with your Cross for all ages. Cast away the drunkenness of passions, and seek, O soul, through fasting, the wine that cleanses and gladdens the heart, makes pleasures wither, and reduces the furnaces of the flesh to ash; and hasten to be crucified with Christ, who was fixed upon the wood for your sake, and to live forever. ^C O most pure Mother of God, wipe away the wounds of my soul and the scars of my sin, cleansing them with the fountains flowing from the side of your offspring and purifying me with those same streams; for to you I cry, and to you I flee, and you I invoke, O full of grace.

*Heaven was astonished at this.* Beholding you extended upon the Cross, the sun withdrew its rays, and all the earth was shaken with trembling, O King of all, seeing you suffer willingly, who are by nature impassible; therefore I implore you, O Christ, heal the passions of my soul as a Physician. Having abandoned the paths of salvation, I have traversed those that lead to Hades, having terrible darkness surrounding me, with pleasures, and the pitfalls of passions, and the storm of thoughts; therefore I implore you, save me by your Cross, O Christ, for you alone are infinitely merciful. ^D Constrained by a tempest of thoughts and plunged into the sea of passions, and dreadfully tossed by the swell of pleasures, I have reached the sea of fasting, the gentle

and tranquil one; in which, guiding me by thy Cross, O compassionate One, bring me into the harbor of salvation. ^A

Thou didst conceive, O Virgin, without seed, Him who created all things, the Word of God, without the will of the flesh; and without corruption thou didst bring Him forth, without motherly pangs; wherefore we confess and magnify thee with tongue and heart as Theotokos.

I have heard, O Lord, of thy dispensation.

Having lived in continence, the illuminated apostles of Christ grant us, through their divine mediation, an easy season of continence.

Like a twelve-stringed instrument, the choir of the disciples, inspired by the divine, sounded forth a saving song, confounding the perverse chants.

With plentiful rains of the Spirit, ye watered the whole world, having driven away the drought of polytheism, O most blessed ones. ^B

Humble me and save me as I walk with an elated spirit, O most pure Virgin, who brought forth Him who raises up those who have fallen.

Him who is without beginning.

As coals of immaterial fire, consume my material passions, O apostles, now kindling in me the love of divine charity.

Let us honor the resonant trumpets of the Word, through which the unstable walls of the enemy have fallen, and the ramparts of divine knowledge have been established.

Crush the passionate illusions of my soul, ye who have crushed the temples and columns of the enemy, O apostles of the Lord, ye sanctified temples. ^C

Thou didst contain the Incontainable, and by the laws of nature didst carry Him who carries all things; thou didst give suck, O most pure One, to Him who nourishes creation, Christ the Life-giver.

Rightly confessing thee as Theotokos.

Having appeared as fountains of the saving stream, O apostles, irrigate my soul, which is liquefied by the thirst of sin.

Being like the salt of sweet teachings, dry up the putrefaction of my soul, and drive away the darkness of my ignorance.

Sunk in the sea of negligence, and now being submerged by the waves, save me by thy right hand as Thou didst Peter, O lover of mankind. ^D

Thou who brought forth joy, grant me sorrow, O Lady, whereby I may be able to find divine consolation in the day to come.

Illuminating by faith.

Thou who didst stretch out the heaven as a curtain, didst stretch forth Thy palms upon the Cross, O best Jesus; wherefore I beseech Thee, have pity on me who am prostrate by the injury of the enemy.

Thou didst willingly fall asleep upon the Cross, O lover of mankind, providing us a resurrection of salvation as we lay, O Lord, in the lowest depth of perdition; wherefore we glorify Thee with faith.

Vouchsafe that Thy servants, enlightened by the splendors of the fast, may see the day of Thy Passion, and, O Savior, celebrate with hymns Thy life-giving Resurrection and the power of Thy kingdom.

^A Seeing Thee hanging on the cross, the blameless Virgin wailed, her inwards wounded, and she said: "By the bowels of Thy compassion, O Lord, Thou didst submit to suffer, bestowing impassibility on all."

Miracles distinguished by dew.

Thou didst blunt the goads of the evil one, O Savior, being fastened with nails to the wood, and Thou wast crowned with a crown of thorns in mockery, rooting out the thorn of transgression; wherefore we celebrate Thee with hymns and sing: "Bless the Lord, all creation."

Thou didst stretch forth Thy palms on the cross, O Christ, gathering mankind to the knowledge of Thee; and Thou didst allow Thy side to be pierced by a lance, pouring forth for us a fountain of illumination for those who sing: "Bless the Lord, all creation."

By the streams of Thy compassion, O merciful One, cleanse my heart, stained by the bite of sin; and grant me to pour forth rivers of compunction, O Christ Jesus, that I may cry to Thee: "Bless the Lord, all creation."

We have recognized Thee, O Maiden, as the jar possessing the manna of the Godhead, as the ark and the table and the lampstand, the throne of God and the palace and the bridge leading to divine life, for those who sing: "Bless the Lord, all creation."

A type of Thy chaste birth.

The disciple of Elijah saw the Lord in the lightest breeze, after he had thinned his flesh by the increase of fasts and prayers; imitating him, O my soul, cast off the thickness of pleasures, that thou mayest see the Desired One.

When Moses formerly raised up the serpent on the wood, O Savior, he prefigured Thy lifting up on the cross, O supremely good One, by which Thou didst redeem from the venomous malice of the serpent all the nations that worship Thee. ^B

Lying in the tomb of sloth, I have the heavy stone of hardness, not understanding Thy ever-living word, O Savior, nor feeling Thy fear; have pity on me, save me by Thy mercy, O most merciful One.

Higher than all, O Lady, make him who glorifies Thee as the true Theotokos and sings hymns to thy childbearing, O incorrupt one, superior to the malice of the passions, thou who art full of divine grace, who art conceived beyond comprehension. ^C

The furnace He made to be bedewed with dew. ^D

The super-luminous assembly of Thy divine martyrs, O most merciful One, now walks in Thy unapproachable light; through their supplications grant to us all illumination and forgiveness of sins.

How beautiful is the time of fasting that Thou hast given us, O Lord, in which have pity on our souls as a good God, through the prayers of the holy athletes who loved Thy beautiful and venerable sufferings.

Guide Thy servants who have crossed the painful swelling of life to the harbor of life, O Master, that they may cry with all the elect: "Blessed art Thou, O God."

^A O Virgin, who brought forth the Giver of the law, beseech Him to take away the transgressions of all in this time of the divine fast now present, for those who resolve to observe it zealously.

*From the flame unto the holy dew.* The heavenly spirits marveled at the glorious deeds of the holy martyrs; through their prayers, O Master, show forth Thy mercies upon us in abundance, O Merciful One. O admirable athletes of the Lord, who trampled the fire with divine dew, deliver us from the avenging fire by your fervent intercessions to the Master. O all-good Savior, deem the orthodox who have departed from us worthy of the heavenly life and holy radiance, through the supplications of the holy martyrs. Through the supplications of Thy Mother, O Merciful One, and of Thy holy martyrs and apostles, enlighten our souls, that we may glorify Thee in the exultation of our soul unto the ages.

*It is impossible for men to see God.* As the light of the fast shining, grace exhorts the sensible to perform deeds of light; let us hasten to be enlightened by it, so that we may see the light-bearing passion of Him who dissolved the dark passions of Adam by His own passion. Clearly, as the sun rising, the martyrs illuminated the whole earth with the rays of piety and the light of miracles, and they dissipated the darkness of polytheism; at their supplications, O God, have mercy on us. Let Thy goodness, O Lord, reach those who have been removed from us by Thy terrible command; let Thy mercy encompass them and lead them to the tabernacles that are brightened by the light of Thy countenance. By the voice of an angel of counsel, thou gavest birth ineffably, O Mother of God, to the Angel of the Father; receive therefore the vows of Thy servants which we offer in the time of the fast, and offer them to God as incense.

*A song of triumph.* ^D Let us mortify our passions through abstinence, and let us vivify the spirit through divine works, so that we may behold the venerable passion of Christ with a most pure mind. Imitating the ways of the unmerciful rich man, O Christ full of mercy, I beseech Thee, place me with the poor Lazarus, delivering me from the flame and the unquenchable fire. I have fasted from all good deeds, O Lord, and I have enjoyed sins unto satiety; do not, therefore, let me remain hungry, but satisfy me with Thy saving and venerable food. Save me, O all-undefiled Lady, who am condemned and cast down by the condemnation of my own works, and have mercy on me, thou who brought forth the most merciful God.

*Before whom the angels tremble.* Being unhappy, I was rich in sterile thoughts, I defiled my soul with lawless pleasures, and darkness surrounds me.

^A of despair; make the light of repentance shine upon me, O Theotokos.

As you once enlightened the man blind from birth, enlighten my soul, O merciful One, which does not see your light, but is buried in the darkness of terrible forgetfulness and the cares of life.

After fasting, Elias opened the heaven and watered the thirsty earth with rain; let us fast, drenched in the streams of spiritual tears, that we may be shown mercy.

As a living vine, you blossomed for us the ripe cluster, from which, O Virgin, the wine of remission gushed forth for mortals, and dried up the drunkenness of sin.

The ever-flowing spring of the life-giver.

Slain by many transgressions of negligence, I am bound in a tomb, having the stone of despair placed upon me; which, O Christ, by your mercy take away, as you once raised Lazarus.

Let us flee the imitation of the rich man who was condemned to the unquenchable flame, and let us desire the endurance of Lazarus in his sufferings, that Abraham may receive us into his bosom as we depart from here.

Let us desire the fast that kills the passions; let us persistently devote ourselves to prayers, let us weep, let us mourn, and let us sigh fervently, that Jesus may comfort us and make us partakers of His kingdom.

The divine treasure of virginity, the only restoration of our first ancestors, the fountain that gushed forth an abyss of compassion, the beauty of Jacob, the Theotokos, let us who have been saved ^C through her, hymn.

For I am God who caused the manna to rain down.

You became poor of your own will, though by nature you are rich, O Christ; you hungered, having fasted, you who fill every living creature; therefore, O Word, satisfy me who hunger for your grace, and show me to be a partaker of the table there.

Fasting, having strengthened the children in Babylon of old, rendered them stronger than the fire; imitating them, O my soul, do not be sluggish; and you shall extinguish the fire of pleasures with the dew of the Spirit.

Show me, O Christ, to be a Lazarus poor in sins, and scatter the wealth which I have wrongly gathered of my numberless offenses, O merciful One, and give me a mind of repentance, as you are good.

Rejoice, we cry to you, you who have received the joy, O full of grace, Virgin Theotokos; entreat God, whom you bore, that those who hymn you forever may be delivered from dangers and corruption. ^D

From the flame to the holy dew.

Considering the multitudes of my transgressions, and struck by the goad of conscience, I, the wretch, suffer as if in a flame; have mercy on me, Word of God, by your mercy.

Neglecting the virtues of Lazarus, I imitated the ways of the unmerciful rich man, O compassionate Christ; convert me and have mercy, that I may glorify you for all ages.

Overcome by spiritual infirmities and at the point of death

through despair, I pray for your look, O Jesu, which gives life to those who call upon you. ^A

Most holy Virgin, save me from my infirmity; be my helper, O bearer of Him who wills mercy and whom we superexalt for all ages.

It is impossible for men to see God. Once, a bitter taste cast the first-formed man out of paradise, and subjected him to the snares of death; fast, O my soul, fly from such imitation, fly from the pleasure of delicacies, which is fertile in sorrows.

Conceiving in my mind your tribunal and the intolerable flames, O most just Judge, I condemn myself before the judgment; for I dread and tremble, having sinned against you in measureless ways as no one else on earth; therefore have pity on me. ^B

Let us wash away the darkness of the passions with luminous prayers, and bearing the branches of the virtues, let us hasten to meet Christ, who is expected now to mount the foal, and is prepared to suffer to save us.

From you, O Virgin full of God’s grace, to those held in the night of evils, there has dawned the leader of light and peace, Christ, who resolves the transgression of our unwatchfulness and clearly bestows redemption upon us.

My mind having been made barren. By the power of the cross, strengthen my mind which grows weak under wicked assaults, and direct it to your will, O Lord. ^C

Awaken me, O Christ, from the sleep of sloth that makes me slumber on the bed of pleasures, and show me to be a worshiper of your passions.

Having made our souls bright through fasting, let us, being pure, hasten to meet Christ as He arrives in the flesh to Jerusalem.

Slain by the malice of the enemy, I lie in the tomb of great neglect; but hasten, O Christ, to raise me up.

Not burned by the fire of the divinity, O most pure One, burn up the material impulses of my passions, so that I may always glorify you, O Maiden.

He who was in the bush to Moses. Roll away from my humble soul the very heavy stone of terrible sloth, O Christ, and raise me from the tomb of insensibility, O you who are the life of all. ^D

You come, O Christ, to Judea again, seeking the tree of life to destroy with a tree, desiring to make immortal those who were put to death by the eating of the tree.

You made known the death of your friend to your friends; for through the bowels of mercy, you, being foreknowing and God, were about to raise from the tomb/grave him who had been dead four days, for your own glorification.

In you, O pure Virgin, the ways of God have truly been viewed, who kept your purity, even after childbirth, clearly sealed for all ages.

^A Who among mortals has heard such a thing? Daniel, fortified by fasting, stopped the mouths of beasts; imitating him, O my soul, drive out with the help of the cross the serpent that roars like a lion, and that seeks to make every soul its food.

O Word of God, raise up my soul, which has been slain by my sins and imprisoned in the tomb of transgression, by your life-giving word, and deign to let me offer you the palms of the virtues as the victor over death.

He who possesses heaven as his throne and the earth as his footstool, the Word of God the Father, is carried upon a foal and enters the holy city, that he may perfect pleasant praise from the mouths of infants, as the king of all.

Among women you alone were made beautiful, O most admirable, pure Virgin, who gave birth to the most beautiful Word, who appeared more beautiful than all mortals; entreat him, therefore, O Virgin, to beautify the deformity of my heart.

Considering your divine emptying. ^B By the rays of your exhortation, illuminate those who dwell in the shadow of sins, O light-bearing apostles, who piously celebrate you.

Joining love with compassion, let us hasten, O faithful, to send up supplication to Christ, that he may raise us from the tomb of our hidden passions.

Let us hold carnal friendship in little account, we who have been slain in soul, and let us become friends of the Redeemer, that he may redeem us from the terrible judgment of hell. ^C

You foretold the falling-asleep of Lazarus, whom, raising him shortly after, you receive, O Christ, with the praise of infants carrying branches, the signs of your divine passion.

From you flowed the divine water of immortality and life, O most pure Mother of God; those who have tasted of it, O pure Virgin, shall be delivered from death-bearing thirst.

To you, the Creator of all. Pray to the most merciful One that he may take away the heavy stone from my heart, you who have appeared as stones of the corner-stone, O God-speaking apostles of the Lord. ^D

"Let us go," you declared to your friends; "my friend Lazarus has already fallen asleep"; raising him, I shall crush the death-dealing malice of death for all ages.

Becoming meek in heart and humble in mind through grace, let us welcome the meek Master who is coming to crush the vainglory of the wicked one.

The enlightened prophet sees you as a gate of light, O most pure one; for you gave birth ineffably to the Giver of light who became like us, whom we superexhalt for all ages.

Isaiah, dance. Libera me ab amicitia dolosa, Christe Magister, qui amicos tuos sapientes elegisti discipulos; qui-

coming calls forth your faithful friend, O Savior, Lazarus, who gives thanks and celebrates you.

^A By the completion of the fast, O Lord, fill our heart and mind with joy, O merciful One, through the supplications of your apostles who sincerely loved you, the Savior of our souls.

Stinking with the ulcers of malice, I inhabit the tomb of sloth, O Christ; whence I cry to you: Raise me, save me, so that I too, with branches of virtues, may go to meet you, crying out: Hosanna to God.

In two wills and natures you have brought forth for us, O Virgin, the only-begotten Son of the Father, who became man, that the supreme God might show us participants of the divine nature, O incorrupt One.

^B Arise for me, O Lord.

On the cross, O Lord, by falling asleep you transformed death into sleep, O Master; for you cried out, "Lazarus, the friend, has fallen asleep; but I shall go to awaken him now."

Fulfilling the predictions of your prophets announced to the city that kills the prophets, you approached, O merciful Lord, willing to be killed, saving me, who was killed, from corruption.

You who have subjected the unruly body to the Word through abstinence and prayer, monks and cenobites, go to meet Christ, who rides upon a foal and comes to suffer.

^C With drops of your mercy irrigate, O altogether blameless One, my thought liquefied by the fire of sin, and kindle the extinguished lamp of my heart, O gate of light.

Terra et omnia in ea. [The earth and all that is in it.]

Having the Resurrection and the Life as a friend, O women, why do you bitterly lament? He draws near and will make alive his faithful friend, by his own resurrection prefiguring the calling forth of all, the only benefactor.

Habitations of monks, open your doors like rational lambs, to go meet Christ the prince of pastors like branch-bearers; the Lord advances, willing to be slain as a lamb, that he may destroy the tyranny of the wolf.

^D As you were coming to Bethphage, the hostile Hades perceived the sound of your feet, and touched the feet of Lazarus, saying: "If Life is about to call you, do not delay, but go out; for I have recognized my own destruction in a short while."

The sacred voices of the prophets proclaim you symbolically, O Virgin, the gate from which the sun arose for those sitting in darkness and in the shadow, only giver of light.

Quia fecit mihi magna. [For He who is mighty has done great things for me.]

Behold, you were heralding, "We are ascending, O Jesus, to the city..."

^A of the holy, and by the hands of the bloodthirsty will I truly be delivered up to be killed by the cross in the flesh."

Wishing, O Word, to snatch your friend from death, you hasten to be put to death in the flesh for our sake, making mortals immortal, O only immortal One.

Let us wave the branches of temperance toward Christ, who is modest in the flesh on the foal, and let us say to Him as He comes ^B to His passion: Blessed are You who come, O Savior.

Tremendous is your birth, O Theotokos, Mother of Christ; wherefore we faithfully call you blessed through all generations, glorifying you, O pure One, unto the ages. Amen.

Sevenfold the furnace.

"Then you shall be known as my disciples," said the Savior, "when you shall have become fulfillers of my commandments, as I have said; voluntarily coming to the venerable passion, through which everyone shall obtain impassibility," crying, "Priests, bless."

Bearing within yourselves true humility, imitate me, the God who became humble, you were saying, O Christ, to your friends, as you were coming to the divine passion. "He, therefore, who wishes to become greater and first, let him be the servant of all by his resolve," crying: "O people, superexalt Christ unto all the ages."

Let us cleanse away the filth of the passions of body and soul, and let us hasten to follow the pure Christ, who is hastening toward the passion, providing impassibility to all mortals, to whom all creation sings, "O children, bless."

Without birth-pangs you gave birth to Him who delivered Eve from the pains that she had procured, having been stolen by the pleasure of eating, O Mother of God, Mistress; seeing Him coming voluntarily to the blessed passion, you mourn and cry, "O people, under Christ, etc."

Heaven was amazed at this.

Seeing his kinsman Joseph coming from his father, the brothers, with grievous envy, cast him into a pit and sell him far away, he who bore the image of the passion of the impassible Christ the King, whom a disciple is craftily preparing to sell. ^C

O Creator of times and days, you told the disciples you did not know the day of the consummation of the whole world, establishing for us the boundaries of moderation, O Word of God, through which being exalted, we truly humble the boastings of the deceiver by your power.

Let us crucify our members through true self-control, being crucified with Christ, and let us flee the grievous weight of pleasures, and let us become fulfillers of the divine commandments of the Savior, so that on the coming day of judgment we may be delivered from condemnation.

Which you once cursed, O Word, the fig tree exhibiting the sterility of sin.

In the deep of old He overwhelmed.

Coming together, let us all ascend with Christ today to the Mount of Olives, and there we shall hear what He speaks to those who love Him, teaching them ^D concerning His second coming.

In the oil of good works let us all prepare the

vital lamps; for the bridegroom arrives suddenly; let us not be caught unprepared, knocking at the door in vain, and not deemed worthy of compassion.

Your disciples go before you, watching you hasten to your voluntary passion, O Word of God; the faithless Judas makes ready to deliver you to the wicked; rescue all from his folly and hardness of heart. ^B

Beholding, O Virgin Lady, the Son and Word of the Father, whom you clothed with a body from your own pure blood, hastening to the passion which He deigned to endure, you are wounded in your compassion, glorifying His longsuffering.

Come, O people, let us sing. A perverse council has just been gathered, and it contemplates evil things to put you to death, the life of all, having taken Judas as a co-worker, O Christ.

The supper of the leper ^C of old has become a propitiatory offering, bestowing propitiation upon all; finding this, the harlot receives the absolution of ten thousand transgressions.

The wretched one who did not keep your laws perished through avarice, and Judas contemplates delivering you to murderers, receiving [in exchange] the noose.

How do you come to suffer for our sake, O supremely good One? How do you endure to appear before the tribunal of Pilate as if to be judged? Immeasurable is the wealth of your mercy.

Of you, O undefiled Virgin, the words sung by the [prophets] of God of old have been fulfilled; for you gave birth to the Word who ^D voluntarily endured passions in the flesh.

He once cast down into the depths. Let us now sing a triumphal hymn to the Redeemer with Davidic cymbals, giving thanks; for He has taken away death, granting redemption and life to the prisoners of the ages, as One who loves mankind.

Being seen among the dead with His soul, having accepted voluntary death in the flesh, O Christ, you set souls free, and raised them up, and illuminated them with light, O sole Giver of life, O venerable and expiatory Pascha.

The Lamb sacrificed for our sake, the saving Pascha, rising today from the dead, led Hades captive, taking away those whom it had swallowed as captives, [who were] crying out: Great is your power, O sole Liberator.

He who showed you to be a pure Virgin even after childbirth, rising from the dead after three days, gladdened the creation, O unwedded, all-holy Bride of God, He who is glorified as God; for gloriously has He been glorified.

The desert has blossomed like a lily, O Lord. Leading forth the prisoners in power, O Lord, by your descent under the earth, you slew the arrogant serpent lying in wait, by your death.

This is the day which the merciful Lord has made; let us exult in it with spirit and heart, let us rejoice and dance.

Delivered from the tyranny of the persecutor by the blood of the pure and immaculate victim, let us now celebrate a festival, crying out in praise.

Hail to you, the Lord shines forth from the tomb; to you

alone does it befit, O immaculate and full of grace, to have taken away the sorrow of Eve.

You have come forth from a Virgin.

The women, revealing your venerable resurrection to your friends, O Master, said to them with great joy: "We have seen the Lord," and we have received the first greeting of "Hail." The most holy choir of the women bearing myrrh rejoices with you, O entirely blameless one, beholding raised from the dead the Word whom you bore in a manner surpassing reason and speech.

The Leader of light.

O Queen of all, who gave birth to the King of all, seeing him come forth from the tomb as if from a bridal chamber, fair from your womb, rejoice and dance.

Surrounded by an abyss of transgressions.

You did not open the gates of virginity, O Master, and you did not break the seals of the tomb, rising after three days, you who accomplish all things by your will. ^C

Divine command.

To the women bearing myrrh who were weeping, you cried out, O Christ: "I have risen; cast aside your mourning, tell my friends to meet me and to intone the song of victory to my power."

He who kept you a virgin after childbirth, he who

worked by the divine will, was seen as a man, O full of grace, granting the resurrection to all as a benefactor and most glorious one.

In the furnace of fire.

^B Seeing her Son risen from the dead, the Virgin cried out, "You have been made beautiful, my life-giving Son, having deadened death by death; whence all creation glorifies you in harmony."

The Word, God from God.

Why do you seek the most precious ointment with ointments? Having taken away the stench of Hades, he breathed release to the captives, and rose in glory; "Be filled with joy," the angel appearing in the tomb cried out to the women.

C With the ointment-bearing women, with the wise apostles, seeing your Son and God risen from the dead, as he said, O all-blameless one, receive festive joy, beseeching him unceasingly that our souls may be saved.

Who of old [suspended] the waters.

Why, O women, do you seek the priceless ointment with ointments? The angel who appeared in the tomb cried out radiantly, "Depart, proclaim to the disciples, he has risen, and has perfumed the ends of the earth."

Seeing your Son, O Virgin, risen from the tomb beautiful in form, you rejoiced brilliantly with the disciples, O undefiled one; whence we cry out to you: "Cause of joy, hail, the finding, the manifestation of life."

"My people, for I am Lord of all, the living and the dead. As God I both lead down and lead up from the earth, and I save, crying..."

to those who call out: "Save us, O Savior, who saved Israel from slavery."

The impious, seeing the veil rent at thy crucifixion, O Redeemer, were rent asunder, as it is written; and, not being pricked to the heart, they offered thee vinegar to drink, mixed with gall.

Thou didst dissolve my sin, having been nailed to a tree, O Lord; and having fallen asleep in the tomb as one dead, thou didst raise up from their tombs those who were sleeping, that they might see the light of thy resurrection, O Savior and Giver of Life.

O Pascha, great and venerable, through which we have been delivered from corruption, and from the darkness of the passions, and from the slavery of the bitter Pharaoh; O Son of God and Word, grant us to enjoy thy kingdom.

Him who was born of thy chaste blood, O ever-Virgin, Christ, who was crucified in the flesh and buried, and who brought back to life those long entombed, grant to be propitious to us, by thy maternal boldness.

He who made all things from nothing.

O Sun of glory, O invisible King, seeing thee hanging [on the cross], the sun withdrew its light, and the earth was shaken, and the creation was agitated by the fear of thee. ^B

Today Christ appeared, beautiful as one coming forth from the bridal chamber, the Lord who proceeds from the tomb, and he bestows upon us the beauty of his divine resurrection.

The great and holy Pascha is Christ; for today you have been liberated from the bonds of sin by [him who issued] from the tomb, singing hymns to the destroyer of Hades.

Him who was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead on the third day, as he foretold, O Mother of God, entreat [him] to save thy servants, O Virgin.

Thou didst place thyself beside us.

Standing before the judgment seat of Pilate, O Judge, thou didst endure spittings and slaps, and descending into Hades, thou didst shatter its kingdom, raising up those whom it had once swallowed.

Pascha, the feast of feasts and a bright solemnity of all solemnities, [let us] the faithful [cry out] to the victor over Hades: "Thou hast worked wonders by bringing us to life; glory to thy power."

The choir of the disciples rejoices, seeing the Teacher who truly trampled down death by death and emptied the kingdoms of Hades and rose from the tomb, as he said. ^C

Thou alone among women hadst a wondrous birth, thou alone beholdest the one risen from the dead, O spotless Maiden, our only God, whom I beseech to save our souls.

The invisible One appeared upon the earth.

Having voluntarily fallen asleep on the cross, thou didst descend to those who were sleeping in death against their will, and as a lover of mankind, thou didst mightily raise them up with thee; O Lover of mankind.

"Seek not the living among the dead; with tears, do not seek the consolation of all," the angel shining with light said to the myrrh-bearing women.

The multitude of the disciples, having seen thee [come] from the dead, splendidly... ^D

^A shone, O Word, and is filled with joy, and claps its hands in the Spirit for the divine and saving Passover. Thou didst behold, O Maiden-Mother, the Word whom thou didst supernaturally clothe with a body from thy most holy blood, having come to life again from the dead after three days.

The deepest abyss of sins.

Sing and chant to God who has removed the enemy of all by his passion; and keep the feast, ye peoples, tribes, and tongues of the earth, and clap your hands: The Lord has risen. The enemy is wounded by thy spear, and the fiery sword takes to flight before those who piously proclaim thy resurrection and hymn thee, O Jesus, most good. For today we truly celebrate the resurrection of the Lord of creation through him: for he raised the world with himself, and being slain, he slew the enemy. O all-pure one, who alone didst mediate beyond understanding between the Creator and men, entreat thy Son to be propitious to thy servants who have fallen into sin, and to be their defender.

The three children in the furnace.

Clap your hands with psalms today, O nations; Christ has risen, having raised the dead with himself, crying out with a great voice: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers. Let us form a choir, exulting with sacred hymns, and in this paschal feast let us cry out: Glory to thee, O Christ, who hast wrought great things for our redemption.

Women, cease today from your contemplation, and herald to Zion the resurrection of him whom the Virgin brought forth, and who ^B has freed the children of Eve from painful pangs. O light-bearing cloud, for he who dwelt in thy womb is the great sun beyond words; Christ, O Virgin, rising from the tomb, has illuminated the whole earth with divine splendors.

Cast into the intolerable fire.

Crowned with thorns voluntarily, thou dost root out the thorn of error; and having been enclosed in the tomb, O eternal Son and Word of the eternal Father, thou dost awaken all who are in the tomb, holding an eternal Passover, O Word without beginning, of a Father without beginning.

"Go ye to all the nations," the Master cried to the apostles, "proclaiming my awesome resurrection from the tomb, and the true and total destruction of the netherworld, that I may rule over the living and the dead."

"Rejoice," thou criest to the women bearing ointments, taking hold of thy sacred feet, the step of which our first mother once feared, and thou showest them to be messengers to the apostles, saying: The Lord has risen and lives unto the ages.

Thou exultest with incomparable joy, seeing, O Virgin Mother, thy Son as the firstborn from thy womb. ^{C D}

^A rising with heavenly glory, and having first emptied the treasuries of Hades.

In the law, in shadow and in text

The divine angel cried out to the weeping women: Rejoice again, and hasten to announce to the apostles that the Lord is risen, and behold, He goes before you into Galilee, as He said before the passion, for He is the Lover of mankind.

Rejoice, O earth, rejoice, O heaven; exult with joy, ye mortals; the Lord is risen, death is swallowed up; those who were in bonds from of old have been liberated; celebrating the great Pascha, the bright and joyful one.

The lamentation, O pure One, has henceforth passed for thee into exultation; for behold thy Son and Lord of all and God, whom thou didst behold on the cross without beauty, has risen glorious in form, and has bestowed beauty upon every creature.

Rejoicing for thee

The Enemy is darkened by thy brilliance, O Christ; and those who formerly sat in darkness have seen the unapproachable light.

Having been snatched from the servitude of the mystical Pharaoh, let us celebrate today the holy Pascha of God in a holy manner.

Rejoice, O pure Mother, beholding the joy of all, which has dissolved the gloom of Hades and restored mortals.

Seeing the Church exulting

The gates of Hades were opened to Thee, O Savior, in fear; and the gatekeepers, seeing Thee clothed in the garment of vengeance, were astonished, shuddered, and fled from before Thy face.

With myrrh, the women seeking the divine Myrrh came at dawn to the monument; but finding the angel announcing Thy resurrection, O Savior, they were struck with amazement.

She who bore Thee, O Word, beholding Thee hanging on the wood, lamented, but seeing the dead raised by Thee who wast placed in the tomb, she rejoices; her, as Theotokos, we glorify.

Thou, my Lord, art the light illuminating the world.

Thou, O Lord, who with Thy hands didst fashion man, didst stretch forth Thy stainless hands upon the wood, having Thy side pierced.

As one dead, buried in the monument, O Lord, Thou didst bury the malice of it that killed the world, and didst raise up all.

O holy and venerable and saving Pascha; O ^{B C D}

divine joy, through thee we who are earthly have been made near to the angels. Thou didst conceive Christ and didst bear Him in thy womb, O altogether immaculate one, the destroyer of the infernal power and the Savior of man. I shall sacrifice to Thee with a song. Me who had been deceived and destroyed by the fruit of the tree through the counsel of the Enemy, Thou, having been lifted up on the tree, didst call back, and didst honor with incorruptibility one fallen into corruption. Wrapped in a linen shroud, Thou wast delivered to the tomb; and having broken the chains of Hades by divine power, Thou didst rise as God, O Giver of life, from the sepulcher. Thou ^B hast brought forth the Lord of all, O possessor of a name above all names, the Virgin, who hath made void the power of death and bestowed upon all men immortality and redemption. The Hebrew children in the furnace. The Rocks viewed the Stone of life fixed to the wood of the cross, and they themselves were split asunder for fear, and the sun hid his light, and the foundations of the earth were shaken to their depths. By the calling back to life of all who had fallen in death, Thou hast been proclaimed as King, while soldiers guarded Thee in the sepulcher, O Lover of mankind: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the temple of Thy glory. Thou didst snatch those bound from the pits of Hades, O Word, by the omnipotence of Thy Father, and Thou didst make them cry out: Blessed art Thou. Seeing the Lord of life awakened from the dead, O Virgin, thou rejoicest with the disciples, and thou criest out unceasingly: Blessed art Thou, O Lord. Daniel with outstretched hands. Thou didst stretch forth Thy hands upon the cross, and didst shake the foundations of the earth; and them who had endured the fall, O Master, by the tree Thou hast drawn to Thyself, joyfully crying out: Bless Him, all ye works. They placed Thee dead in the cave, Thou Only-begotten Word of God, putting to death death itself, while vivifying those whom the author of evil had slain by his poisonous bite; wherefore we cry to Thee: We bless Thee. The day of Pascha, the day of joy, has shone upon us, in which we have all attained redemption, we who were held in the servitude of the warring Enemy; wherefore we cry joyfully: Bless Him, all ye works. He who gives being to all things put on our flesh and has gone forth pure from thy immaculate motherly womb, breathing immortality into the dead who sing: Bless Him, all ye works. A stone cut from a mountain, not by human hand. Me who was wounded by the fruit of the tree and the counsel of Belial, Thou, Word, being wounded upon the tree, didst heal; and having become a curse for us, Thou hast freed me from the curse. Why do you seek the One who vivifies all things among the dead? Having broken the power of death, as He foretold, He has now arisen, the radiant divine angel said to the women bearing spices. O most blessed Pascha, through which all human nature has been translated from the earth to the blessedness of that place.

^A O holy and immaculate Pascha, you are the redemption of all the faithful.

Hail, O cause of our joy; hail, O annihilation of the curse; hail, O glory of the Orthodox; refuge of those who sing your praises, O all-pure Mother of God, through whom we have been freed from corruption.

*He threw horse and rider.*

You are all desire and all sweetness, O Jesus; yet hanging on the Cross, you tasted gall, clearly healing the most bitter sin that had attacked me, O Master.

Zion heard and was glad, as it is written, at your resurrection, O Word; for her daughters were the first to behold you and to receive from your mouth the "Hail," being released from the curse.

Come, strike the ten-stringed harp of David, saying: Let us gather and celebrate this feast with shouts of joy; for this is the day of the resurrection which the Lord has made.

Hail, O blessed one, full of grace; the Lord is with you, O Lady, Mother and Virgin, through whose intercession the Master who destroyed death and freed man from the curse is with you.

*For I am God, the man.*

By the Cross, O Jesus, you condemned sin and took captive the kingdom of Hades; being laid in the tomb and rising as God, you raised up with yourself the world that glorifies your power. ^B

All you nations, clap your hands, as in the Psalms: the immortal God has risen, having emptied the realms of death; He reigns over all the earth as King of all.

O saving Pascha, Pascha, the calling back of souls; this is a day of gladness and joy; let us rejoice mystically and glorify Christ, the God of all and our Savior.

Rejoice, O all-pure and chaste one, seeing the Word whom you embodied risen from the dead, and entreat him to save those who ever honor you from dangers and misfortunes.

*Who made the earth out of nothing.*

The lights, seeing you, O divine Sun, stretched out upon the Cross, withdrew their light in awe; the whole earth was shaken, the beauty of the temple was rent, the tombs were opened, and the dead arose from their graves. ^C

With a most pure linen cloth, O Word, Joseph covers you in fear in the tomb, you who ever clothe heaven with clouds, and he buries with you, O lover of mankind, the entire iniquity of the forefather.

Having rolled back the stone from the tomb, the divine angel cried to the women: Whom do you seek, coming with spices to anoint Him as a mortal? The Giver of Life has risen; be filled with divine gladness.

Seeing Christ rising from the tomb as from a bridal chamber, O all-pure one, most beautiful in your splendor...

you rejoiced with the disciples, saying: "The Lord has risen."

You foreshadowed your divine self-emptying. By the wood of the Cross, you slew the serpent as it were; and though reckoned among the dead, you who are free among the dead, you granted freedom to those who were bound there. The Lord has clearly reigned; let all the earth rejoice, for death no longer rules, nor does Hades dominion hold sway; for those whom it held captive, it has spewed forth.

Pious women towards God, why do you seek Christ in the sepulcher as dead? He has risen, having buried the stench of death, and he has made believers fragrant. O Immaculate One, beseech Christ who came forth from your womb, and who preserved the seals of your virginity inviolate, and who rose in glory, that he might bring peace to all things. ^A

He who is clothed with light as a garment. Those who through envy fastened you to the Cross, O most patient Savior, pierced your hands and feet, O executioners, and gave you gall and vinegar to drink. How is the Life laid in the monument? How is he who grants breath to all mortals known to be breathless, he who breathes life and redemption into the dead?

O blessed Pascha, by which we were brought up from the hollows of the earth, Pascha by which we were redeemed from servitude, and were translated to the land of promise! Hail, inviolate Virgin, blessed by all, for you have freed us from the curse; through you the world has risen from its fall, and with praises exalts the resurrection of the Vivifier of all. ^B

Raging with the waves. You who were crucified have opened for me, O my Jesus Christ, the paradise which disobedience had closed, and rising, you have caused all the faithful to rise with you. They placed you in the lowest pit as a voiceless corpse, O Giver of Life, who breathed resurrection into the dead, and who revived those living in Hades. To the women once wailing, the angel cried out: "Christ has risen; go, announce his resurrection to the apostles." The Master, rising from the tomb, greets you, Virgin, as the cause of our joy; pour out prayers to him on behalf of us all. ^C

You who are exalted above the God of our fathers. The Incomprehensible, having assumed the flesh of our mortality, willed to be crucified; and by dying, he destroyed death, desiring to make us who were subject to death immortal. Let us all celebrate the Pascha with festive songs, for Christ has risen from the tomb after three days, illuminating all who cry out: "Blessed are you, O Lord." "Woman, why do you pour out bitter tears now?" Christ was saying to the Virgin while standing near the tomb, as she sang: "Blessed are you, O Lord." You alone, before the other women, beheld you, O Christ, brilliantly rising from the tomb, O most holy Virgin, and you received the greeting from your mouth. ^D

To Him by whom all things were made.

Isaias, lead the dance.

The divided is divided.

Since You are the Lord and Creator of all, You willingly endured the Cross and insults, O Christ, so that You might take away the reproach of us all, and You descended into the tomb as the One who raises up those who were corrupted as mortals; glory to Your omnipotent power, O most merciful One.

^A Now the Lord has reigned, breaking the power of the cruel tyrant with might, and having clearly despoiled his empire and led out the prisoners from the age, they cry: Glory, O Master, to Your power.

This is truly the splendid day of Pascha which the Lord has made, as David cries in the Psalms; let us join our joyful songs to the songs of the heavenly hosts, and let us glorify the Lord.

O Virgin most dear to God, you rule over all, since you are the Mother of the Creator of all; as soon as you saw Him rising from the tomb, you were filled with divine joy, praising the greatness of your Son.

When the prophet foresaw. ^B Let the earth cry out with a loud voice: The Lord has risen from the dead, and has raised all creation with Himself, having emptied the bowels and treasuries of Hades and death by His divine strength, whom let us praise in faith and love.

O most holy Pascha, purifying all the world, O Word and Power of God, grant us who sincerely glorify You to be partakers of You on the day of judgment, resurrecting after three days from the dead.

With tears, the pious women of old brought spices and clearly saw the angel sitting by the sepulchre, crying to them: Do not weep anymore, for Christ the God has risen.

O Virgin, who without any man, gave birth to the Lord, and remained a virgin after birth by a fearful miracle; therefore, we all the faithful, with one voice, sincerely and firmly glorify you, the unblemished Mother of God. ^C

By the bond of love. By Your cross, O Lord, You granted peace to all; You descended into Hades and illuminated with Your light those bound there, and You raised them with You by Your resurrection on the third day.

O Master, Who of old fashioned man from the dust, You Yourself descended to the dust of death, and by breaking the unbreakable bonds, You drew out from this dust those who have been dead from the ages, who celebrate Your power and might, O Most High. ^D

Having been delivered from the deceptive ways of Egypt, let us today celebrate in faith the most radiant Pascha and give glory to Christ who rose on the third day and illuminated the whole earth.

We praise you, Mother of God, as the mountain not made with stones, the lampstand and table of God, the most holy ark, the golden vessel containing the manna, and the most high throne of the King.

The deepest abyss of sins. Of old, Isaac clearly prefigured Your passion; for as a lamb, O God of all, You were willingly sacrificed for the total redemption of the world.

Hades has been wounded in the side, O Master, by the wounding of Your side,

^A and set free the former captives, beholding You living among the inhabitants of the netherworld.

The women bring spices to You as to the dead; but seeing that You have risen, they rejoice together with the holy apostles, glorifying You, O Lord.

Most holy Virgin, who bore God the Holy of Holies; having seen Him, who had voluntarily died, raised up, you were filled with joy.

*The Youths in Babylon.*

When the sun saw You hanging on the Cross, O Sun, it was darkened; and the earth shook, and the rocks were rent; and the dead arose from their tombs, singing Your praises.

Conversing with those in Hades by Your soul, O our God, You raise up the dead by Your fearful resurrection, crying out: Blessed are You, O Lord God.

On this day of Pascha, let us the faithful clothe ourselves with virtues as with radiant garments, and clearly cry out: Blessed are You, O Lord God.

The chaste Virgin, having seen her Son and our God risen as victor over death from the tomb, cried out: Blessed are You, O Lord God.

*The observers of the laws of the Fathers are most to be praised.*

You suffered the Cross willingly, O most merciful one, and being placed lifeless in a new tomb, You breathe life into the dead, O Master, for You are life; and You raise up the world with Yourself, as it trembles and extols Your power: O works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

When You descended, O Lord, to the lowest pit, all human nature was lifted up, and has been redeemed from the dark prison, now celebrating Your great compassion and infinite power, and with fear singing: O praise the Lord.

Let us celebrate the divine and venerable Pascha, the saving Pascha, the blessed Pascha, rejoicing; and let us offer a hymn of gratitude to the Life-giver and Re-creator, our God, singing in unison a song of victory: O praise the Lord.

Rejoice, restoration of the fallen; rejoice, deliverance from the curse, O full of divine grace; rejoice, gate unpassed; rejoice, cloud of light; rejoice, you who bore the saving joy to the world; rejoice, unplowed land; rejoice, shelter of those who cry out: O praise the Lord.

*Of the Master’s hospitality that shall endure forever.*

You shattered the Enemy, O Word, while being lifted up on the wood; You descended into Hades and raised up all who were captives there, having put to death the strength of death, by Your authority.

You, having risen, had mercy on Sion, O Author of life, and were seen by the disciples over many days; and living among them, You commanded them to proclaim You to all nations as God and Savior of all.

^A O Pascha, bringing jubilation to all, O Word of God the Father, by whom we were all delivered from the curse; make us, who glorify You with longing and fear, partakers of Your glory in Your kingdom. You appeared as a Virgin among women, having brought forth God, at whom death and Hades were struck with terror; O pure one, always entreat Him to deliver us from all evils and dangers, we who confidently magnify you.

Through Your love for men dwelling on earth, You destroyed the malice that arose from the wood by the wood, O Jesus, Word, our innocent Pascha; You, against whom nothing stands, by Your death brought to life those whom the wood had killed. Come, let us all celebrate in joy; Christ has risen, having truly emptied the dark kingdom of Hades and instilled resurrection into the dead. Early in the morning, the myrrh-bearing women, having come to the grave, saw angels shining with splendor; hence, seized with fear, they were taught of the Savior’s resurrection. Hail, blessed, full of grace from God, sole splendor of the angels, help of Christians; hail, O you who by your childbirth closed the gates of death for us. ^B

O You who made the heavens from the beginning; You who stretched out the heavens, O Savior, willingly stretched out Your hands upon the wood; and being placed dead in the tomb, O Master, You brought the dead to life, and by Your holy resurrection raised all mortals with Yourself. As a most pure lamb You were willingly slaughtered, O Christ, willingly recalling man who had miserably perished through the counsel of the Enemy in disobedience, and by Your divine mercies making him a citizen of Paradise. ^C

This is a festive and joyful day in which every creature is filled with pious jubilation and rejoices in spirit, celebrating and crying out: O You who have risen from the dead, venerable Pascha, glory to You, O Lord. We, Your faithful, joyfully celebrate you, O all-holy Virgin, who brought forth the God of all, who brought joy to all from the tomb with glory, incorruptibility, and life, and who overthrew the power and empire of the destroyer.

Not leaving the Father’s bosom, You were willingly fastened to the wood of the cross, O merciful Jesus; You rendered void all the dominion of the destroyer, and made life to well forth for the world. ^D Breaking the bronze gates of Hades, and shattering the bonds of death, O Christ, You freed all the captives by Your power, and rose on the third day, O Word. Let us, clothed in the white garments of virtues, rejoice in this splendid feast; for it is a great and saving Pascha, the Pascha that is the recall and life of the world and redemption. O all-pure one, seeing today the unblemished Lamb of God, Whom you embodied—the Lamb and Lord—rising from the dead for the world, you were filled with joy.

^A O Lord, my God, at night I rise early. O Lord, my God, You Who by the Cross led captive the inhabitants of Hades, I praise Your Cross, I honor Your Resurrection, by which I was redeemed from corruption and enriched with immortality. ^A O Lord, my God, Who as one dead rose on the third day, You Who negotiated my salvation, free me, O Christ, from the desires of mortality, and by Your mercy bring to life my dead soul. O Lord, my God, You Who appeared to those bearing spices and, greeting them with the word "Rejoice," filled them with joy; deign to fill my guilty heart with the same divine delight. O Lord, my God, You Who did not break the seals of the virginity of her who bore You without knowing man, she who is the Child of God; by her holy intercessions, loose the bonds of my transgressions. ^B

Navigating upon the sea of the living. Of old, O Savior, Jonah prefigured Your burial, for he dwelt in the belly of the whale for three days unharmed, glorifying You from the lowest pit; for having been enclosed in the tomb, O Word, You rose again from the dead after three days. Let all creation dance on the day of Pascha; for on this day You rose from the tomb, O Almighty One, having loosed death and granted divine redemption to those who have slept from the ages, O Christ. The myrrh-bearing maidens arrived eagerly at the tomb at dawn, seeking to see Him Who gives life; and they beheld an angel crying out to them: "The Creator of all has risen; henceforth do not weep." ^C O Virgin, He Who was born without seed from your undefiled womb, Who was placed in the tomb voluntarily, did not see corruption, O immaculate one; but those who were decayed He brought to life, and by His own power raised them up with Himself.

Children cast into the burning furnace. The impious crowd of the Hebrews, having forgotten Your miracles, O Christ, crucified You, the Lawgiver, the God of our fathers who is supremely exalted. With a joyful heart let us dance on this festive day of Pascha and cry out: "O Most High." O wealthy tomb, you who received Him, the Giver of wealth, into yourself bodily, You Who enriched us who were poor and who miserably had fallen into death, O Word. The world calls you blessed, O Virgin, for you brought forth the blessed Word, Who makes blessed those mortals who trust in the Son, O immaculate Mother of God, O Maiden. ^D

Dwelling amidst the fire on Sinai. When the rocks beheld You, the Rock of Life, raised up on the rock on Mount Calvary, they were rent asunder, and the sun, hiding its rays, became darkened, crying out: "All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord." The assembly of the Apostles saw You rising from the tomb, beautiful as a bridegroom coming forth from the bridal chamber, and they proclaimed the Pascha as they celebrated it with the tribes of the nations, crying out: "All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord."

^A Why do you seek the Author of life among the dead as if He were a mortal? He has arisen, having emptied the realms of Hades, the holy angel sang to the women from the tomb.

The choir of the myrrh-bearers, O Mother of God, rejoices with you today at the resurrection of your Son, and every intellectual and visible creature truly cries out: "You who brought forth your offspring without experiencing the stain of corruption." Proclaim, O creation, the resurrection of Christ; all the world that is seen and unseen, clap your hands and cry out in harmony, for the Lord has arisen, having emptied the storehouses and the realms of death. ^B This is the day of resurrection, which the Almighty alone has made; on it let us dance, seeing the fallen nature of men having been made immortal and having put on its original beauty. O Word, rising from the tomb after three days, awaken my soul, which my transgressions have mortified; make it live and lead it into the paths of your commandments, so that I may, as is my duty, magnify your goodness. On this day of Pascha let us dance with joy and brightly cry out "Hail" to the Virgin; for she became for us the cause of salvation and immortality, having brought forth the God of all.

[In the furnace the children of Israel.]

By your cross, having taken away the curse, you were placed in the sepulchre, and as One most powerful, Christ, you overthrew the dark kingdom of Hades, and you arose, having raised up all creation with yourself; ^C wherefore we hymn you unto all ages. When you ascended the cross, the sun was darkened; but when you descended into Hades, your light shone upon the souls that were lying in the shadow of death, O Lover of mankind; wherefore we hymn you unto all ages. Liberate me, Christ, bound in the chains of sins, and shine upon me a divine illumination of repentance, O Savior, who freed mankind from eternal darkness by your resurrection, which we hymn unto all ages.

Bearing in your arms Christ who was incarnate of you, O Virgin, entreat Him to hold also me, now wandering through the difficult paths of this life and meeting daily with a thousand sins through my sloth.

[The type of your chaste childbirth.]

The sun saw you, O Word, the sun that cannot be obscured, being crucified between thieves, and it grew dark; the mountains and hills and the sea were shaken; Hades trembled, having released the prisoners whom it held, who sing your praise. You appeared as a great sun setting beneath the earth, but you arose as the sun that never sets, O Savior, from the dead and illuminated the world; we magnify you without ceasing. O Savior Jesus, who by your death destroyed death and raised up all who were held there, I cry to you: Make

me arise from the lowest pit of my sins. ^A

The myrrh-bearing women came at dawn to the tomb, and not finding You, they saw an angel sitting in white, who cried out: The Lord is risen; make haste to announce the resurrection to His disciples.

All creation shudders, O Lady, at the mystery beyond the mind of your childbirth; for you bring forth God, Emmanuel, who for our sake, O all-blameless one, became man—He who destroyed the dominion of death by His cross. At Whom the angels shudder.

All creation bewails Your passion, O supremely good One; the sun is eclipsed as You set upon the cross, and those who were once detained in darkness saw a great light, singing the praises of Your mercy, O compassionate One. ^B Hell trembled when it saw You come down to it with Your soul, O Christ, King of all, and it gave back all that were dead from the ages, who praise Your love for mankind.

You were seen being risen from the tomb, O Christ, to the devout women bringing aromata; and You turned their weeping into joy, being the consolation of all throughout the ages.

Seeing Him whom you bore, God, rising from the dead, you were filled with joy, O Virgin Mary; therefore entreat Him, O immaculate one, to wipe away every sorrow from our hearts. ^C

When the most grateful thief saw Him willingly set upon the wood, he cried out: Remember me, Jesus, when You come into Your kingdom; and he became an inhabitant of paradise, justified by true faith alone.

Seeing You among the dead, O Savior, hell was brought to nothing; and it restored the dead whom it had formerly swallowed, as they glorified Your power, O Christ, Your hidden strength, and Your great compassion, through which, O King of all, deign to save us also.

Women came bringing myrrh to the tomb, and seeing You, O Christ, risen from the dead, they were filled with great joy, and announced to Your apostles how You were risen from the tomb, having raised the whole world with Yourself. ^D

In the flesh You were willingly lifted up on the wood to undergo death, and seeing this, the sun was obscured, and the brightness of the temple was rent, O Almighty One; therefore we sing hymns to You, chanting: Let creation bless the Lord.

Those who once sat in the shadow of death saw an unapproachable light when You, O Lord, descended with Your soul among them; and they were loosed from eternal bonds, loudly singing Your praises, and saying: Let creation bless the Lord.

Going to the tomb at dawn, the women saw a radiant angel, who said: The Liberator has risen; why do you still seek the Living One among the dead? Filled with joy, cry out: Let creation bless the Lord.

Your Son, O immaculate one, having destroyed hell, has risen from the dead: pray to Him, O Virgin, that He may deliver from the stains of sin and from punishments us who sing in faith: Let every creature bless Him. ^A

I see an extraordinary and astonishing portent. Willingly hanging from the cross, O Savior, You healed us from the wound which the first parent had inflicted; and being placed in the sepulchre, You awakened with Yourself those sleeping there, who now celebrate Your mercy.

When the chorus of the apostles saw You raised up long ago, O Lord, they worshipped You prostrate with trembling and jubilation; You cried out to them: Behold, those things which I told you are fulfilled: do not therefore be sad, but announce it to the nations. ^B

Joseph the just, loving you, laid You down wrapped in a clean shroud in a new sepulchre; but You truly shattered the gates and bars of hell, and from there drew out the dead whom previously death had swallowed by force.

Those bearing aromatics rejoiced when they heard of Your resurrection; wherefore they cried out to the apostles: Run quickly, do not be sorrowful, but rejoice; for the Lord of all has risen from the dead.

When you had seen the Son rising from the sepulchre with incomparable beauty, O Virgin, as a bridegroom proceeding from the bridal chamber, you were filled with jubilation: pray that He, who delivers us who praise you, may rescue us from the corruption of sin and from punishments. ^C

This is the day which is called holy. Glory to Christ who killed the enemy and, descending to his seat, overturned his empire and recalled to life the mortals whom he had swallowed by force, and who now praise Him for every age.

Behold, the angel shining with splendor cried out to the women bearing aromatics, of the place in which He was laid who by His power overturned hell: do not therefore seek Him, who is life, among the dead.

Hell, warring against You, O Word, was defeated, as being too weak to resist You; and shortly, at Your command, they vomited forth the spoil they had devoured; therefore, freed, they unanimously celebrate Your power. ^D

Seeing, O Virgin, the Word risen from the dead, whom you had ineffably brought forth upon the cross, your soul was filled with joy, and you celebrate the age through the mercy of that same One.

Be illuminated, be illuminated.

You who are Lord of the hours and of the days, You, O Redeemer, on the day and the sixth hour, laden with insults, You willed to undergo the cross, O merciful One, so that You might redeem us all, and reconcile us to the Father, O Christ.

Groaning, hell resists You, O Savior, but quickly sends forth those whom it held as captives, celebrating Your, O Word, incomprehensible power and goodness.

Hastening early in the morning, the women came to anoint Your sacred body, and the angel said to them: The great Master of life has risen, be filled with heavenly joy.

^A O Virgin, having seen the light illuminating those sitting in the shadow of death, as you beheld Him rising from the dead like the sun, you were rejoicing in company with all the women bearing spices, glorifying the Lord with them. Shine forth the light upon us. The Hebrew people crucified You, the long-suffering Word, who by Your crucifixion are saving an infinite multitude of people and all the nations, O most merciful Christ our God. You did not break the seals of the stone in Your resurrection, just as in Your birth You did not open the seals of the Virgin who bore You, O Christ our God. When the women saw the bodiless one shining divinely in a strange form, they were struck with amazement, hearing the words: Do not weep, the Lord has risen. You have given birth, O Mother of God, as one undefiled, to the Holy Lord of the powers, who emptied the kingdoms of Hades and raised up with Himself the nature of man.

Let us sing a hymn in the furnace.

The fountain of life bubbling forth forever.

In the furnace of fire.

and who shattered the iron gates and bars of Hades, let us glorify the Lord who rose on the third day from the tomb. ^A

Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice, with men; Christ has risen, and appeared to his own disciples, with whom he assembled, and filled their hearts with gladness.

To the weeping women, the Giver of Life proclaimed joy as they touched his most sacred feet, the sound of which our first mother Eve had long ago feared inside paradise.

With sacred songs we praise you, Mother of God, who are clearly holier than all the ranks of heaven, and a divine bridge leading to the supernal choirs of mortals.

The Word Who is God from God.

O the folly of the Hebrews! How do they unjustly condemn to death on a tree Christ, who alone is righteous, and who breathes life into the dead who are in Hades, according to his divine power? Him, whose divine resurrection we honor, we praise.

Though the seals were set, you rose from the tomb, the resurrection of all, O Christ, and appeared to the disciples, teaching them the mysteries and crying out: Go into all the world, announcing my glory.

This is the most holy day of the resurrection, the consolation of our souls, a day of jubilation, and it invites ^B us to celebrate it by crying out: Glory to you, O Father, and to you, O Son, and to you, O Holy Spirit.

Light-bearing Virgin, with your divine light, illuminate our minds and hearts by your intercessions, scattering the mist of our passions and making us all partakers of this day which has no evening.

Attend, O my people, to the law.

You who fashioned man with your hand, O Almighty One, your hands were nailed to the cross that you might deliver us from the hand of the enemy.

After you had broken with your rod the dark prison of Hades, you drew to yourself those captives you had sought, and by your power you raised them up. ^C

Seeing you, O Christ, after three days raised from the tomb, the apostles worshipped you and proclaimed your resurrection throughout the world.

Groaning and shedding tears, the holy women reached the tomb, and there they learned that you, O Christ, had risen.

You conceived him who contains all things, O powerful Virgin, who shattered the gates of the depths and rose on the third day, as he had said.

As seen by Moses in the bush.

Exalted on the cross, you raised up the world, and once placed in the sepulcher, O Savior, you awakened those who were sleeping in the graves, who praise your great mercy.

By your descent to the dead, you brought death to Hades, and shattered its gates and ^D bars, and

^A you brought forth those who were fettered with strength, O Savior of all. You were seen by your disciples, appearing mercifully to them with many proofs for forty days, exhorting them to proclaim to all the world the God who is risen.

You are the life of all, you are the consolation of the dead and the living, O Word, and the joy and the light that shone forth from the Virgin, and you rose from the tomb for the salvation of all. Who among mortals has heard such a thing? The crucified one rose the third day, as you had foretold, from the dead, raising up the world with your resurrection; and you appeared first to the myrrh-bearing women, uttering the word "Rejoice," the joy of all who long for you from their heart, O merciful One.

Now corruption is vanished; for Christ, ^B the incorruptibility and the life, has risen from the dead, and gathers with his own apostles, teaching them the better and heavenly things, and saying to them: "Do not depart from Jerusalem."

Once the angel said to the women bearing myrrh: "Why do you seek the living among the dead? Today, as he foretold, he has risen, emptying the tombs, and breathing immortality into the dead, as one who loves mankind."

Seeing your Son and God risen from the dead, O Theotokos, you were filled with joy, being the cause of all our joy and gladness; therefore, every soul sings hymns and glorifies you with jubilation, O Ever-Virgin.

The desert has blossomed like a lily, O Lord.

Creation, seeing you ^C enduring suffering on the wood, O Master, was altered and agitated, and the dead rose from the tombs.

When you came into Hades, O life-giving Lord, as the all-consuming death saw you with your soul, it trembled, and released the captives it had swallowed.

All creation was filled with joy, O merciful Lord, at your rising from the dead; for in this, you raised up the world, having destroyed the kingdom of death.

A sword pierced your soul, O Pure and Immaculate One, when you saw Christ being crucified; but you were filled with joy when you saw him risen from the tomb.

The furnace of fire once in Babylon.

You die upon the cross, being the life of all, and as a dead man without breath you were placed in the tomb, O long-suffering One, and on the third day you rose again for the resurrection of the world; ^D wherefore with gladness we glorify your power.

Sion heard of the resurrection of the Lord and is now filled with joy; and her daughters rejoiced openly, and declared to the disciples, saying: "Do not sorrow, the Giver of Life has risen."

In the morning with haste the women came to the tomb, and bowing down to look inside, they saw an angel in white; and being seized with fear they heard him saying: "Do not be afraid; truly the Lord is risen."

You, the luminous cloud of the intelligible sun,

^A enlighten our hearts, O Spouse of God, dispersing all the darkness of our sloth and of our passions, O God-betrothed.

Of the Beginningless Begetter.

Having emptied the insatiable belly of Hades, He who is above all, O Almighty One, has now risen in glory, and was seen by the divine disciples; let us worship Him with the Father and the divine Spirit.

The Lord has risen, the holy angel who appeared in the tomb said to the women bearing spices: "Go and tell ^B this to the disciples who are mourning and weeping in Galilee, that they may see Him there."

Deliver us, O All-Immaculate One, from the tempests of temptations, tribulations, and passions, and from the darkness of the manifold snares of the Evil One; ceaselessly entreat Christ our God on behalf of us who ever bless you.

I will praise You, for You have heard me, O Lord.

You shattered the bars and the gates of Hades wondrously by Your own strength, O Lord, and turned Hades into a wasteland; therefore, we glorify Your great condescension and Your ^C holy resurrection.

Women came to anoint Your holy body in the tomb, but finding an angel sitting upon the tomb, O Christ, they were struck with fear; with them we hymn Your rising.

You brought forth beyond understanding the Holy One who surpasses the saints, O Theotokos, and through your mediation He grants to the faithful the sanctification, redemption, and forgiveness of sins who glorify His resurrection.

By the tyrannous decree.

You shattered the bars of Hades and in Your strength, O Christ, You raise the prisoners ^D who were bound, who glorify Your power and Your three-day rising from the tomb.

When the choir of holy apostles saw You long ago, O Christ, risen from the tomb in glory, filled with joy they cried out: "Bless the Lord."

Your mourning, O Immaculate and pure Virgin, was turned into joy when you saw your Son and Master, Christ, risen from the dead on the third day in glory, and illuminating the world.

He who before the sun.

the shadow of death, ^A singing hymns to Your three-day resurrection. Death no longer holds dominion over men, as it is written, since Christ the Immortal has risen, having emptied the insatiable kingdoms of Hades; therefore let the whole world rejoice and celebrate the festival.

The angel shining before the tomb said to the myrrh-bearing women: Why do you weep, seeking among the dead Him who has made Himself free? He has risen as He foretold; depart from here rejoicing, and announce it to the disciples. ^B You were seen, O Virgin, wider than the heavens, containing God, who was born of you in goodness and by His death bestowed immortality upon all; Him whom we piously glorify, we bless you as is due.

Of the Golden Image

Being God, O Merciful One, You deigned to become man and to be crucified voluntarily upon the wood for the salvation of those who always cry out: Let all creation produced from nothing praise the Lord. Joseph laid You down in the lowest pit, having wrapped You in linen cloths with myrrh and aloes; but You arose, saving those who faithfully cry out: Let all creation…

You were seen by the disciples, O Almighty, risen from the tomb, and said to them: Go into the world, proclaiming My economy, crying out: Let all creation… Sanctify our hearts, O all-holy Bride of God, who beheld the all-holy Word of God risen, and in joy crying out: Let all creation…

Every tongue is at a loss

The mere fixing of Your cross, O Savior, was enough to overturn the whole dwelling of death from its foundations; and all who were sitting in the shadow of death were truly released from their bonds, crying out: Glory to the power of Your dominion. ^C The earth was shaken, the rocks were split by fear, the hills and all the mountains were moved, and the sun was extinguished having seen You hanging on the cross, and the iron bars and gates of Hades were broken, O Christ, because by Your rising from the dead You raised the world with You.

The noble man of Arimathea, having seen You dead long ago upon the cross, O Master, took You down from the wood, and then wrapped You in a clean linen cloth, and with great fear and haste placed You in a new tomb; but You, as You promised, rose again, O Word, on the third day.

Ineffably, having brought forth the Word without natural laws, O all-blameless Lady, whom the lawless ones through their will crucified, and whom you saw placed in the tomb and rising from the dead, you were filled with joy; entreat Him on behalf of us who praise you.

The sea being divided again by the rod

Ascending on high, You took captive that which was held in Hades of old, as You are mighty, O Savior, and You raised it up with Yourself, rising from the tomb on the third day, O Lover of mankind, ^D as You are all-powerful.

^A Seen of old as dead and placed in a common tomb, Hades remained entirely dead, O Savior, and powerless; but all the dead were released from their bonds by Your life-bearing resurrection, rejoicing.

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?" said the light-bearing angel who appeared to the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb; "Go quickly, hasten to proclaim His resurrection to the apostles."

The Babylonian Furnace

Seeing the Lord crucified of old, the sun hid its light, the rocks were rent, the mountains shook, and the earth trembled, and those who had long been dead were released from their bonds.

^B When Hades, the all-devouring, saw You, O almighty Word, clearly arriving to him, he trembled and released all the dead, who hymn Your power and Your loving-kindness.

The Lord is risen; let us all shout and clap our hands faithfully, and let us form choruses, proclaiming His power and crying out: "O works, praise the Lord."

You contained the One who contains all things, O all-blameless One, and you gave birth to Him who, in His flesh, despoiled death by His three-day death; entreat Him to mortify the passions of my soul and to save me.

In the Burning Bush

O fairest among the sons of men, O Christ, how was the radiance of Your face veiled on the Cross? How did the earth sustain You hanging on a cross as it looked upon You? How did You permit Yourself to be slain by the impious? We hymn Your great and ineffable condescension, O Lord. ^C

By Your three-day burial, the Enemy was despoiled, the dead were released from the bonds of Hades, death was put to death, and the kingdoms of Hades were emptied because of You, O Giver of life; we glorify and magnify You in hymns.

O eternal Life, how did You desire to taste death for our sake, O Christ? How did You descend among the dead, O Resurrection of all, and empty the treasuries of Hades? Therefore, we thankfully hymn and magnify You unceasingly.

Deliver the city and the people who flee to You, O pure Theotokos, who gave birth to Christ, from every hostile anger and from the incursion and assault of the nations, so that we may duly honor and magnify you in hymns. ^D

As Rain upon the Grass

Let us shout with psalms, let us clap our hands with joy; the Giver of life has risen from the dead.

You ascended, having girded Yourself, O Christ, with power upon the Cross, and You rose from the dead, as You foretold.

The white-robed angel was seen by the women, crying: "The Resurrection of the faithful and Salvation has risen."

The women came to the tomb hastening to anoint You, and seeing that You had risen, they worshipped.

As ^A you bring forth the sun before the dawn, O Virgin, in your arms you caused the Light to rise upon us who were sitting in darkness.

Whom the angels praise.

The lawless people of the Hebrews nailed You to the wood, O Master, You who heal with divine power the injury caused to mortals by the tree; therefore we praise You forever with hymns of gratitude.

You, Who by nature are equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit, endured the cross; and having been numbered among the dead, You emptied the realms of Hades paradoxically, and rising, You caused all creation to rise with You.

O all-devouring Hades, where is your sting? O death, where is your victory? You have been slain by the One who rose from the dead, by the only Giver of life, whom we, the faithful, worship with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

That He might deify the human, God became man from you, O all-blameless and pure One; him you saw coming forth from the tomb most beautifully as the victor over Hades, and you were filled with joy.

He saw you on Mount Sinai.

As a lamb, You were led to the slaughter voluntarily, O Master Jesus, neither struggling nor crying out, as it is written; by Your death, O Word, You make immortal those who hymn Your pure passion and the terrifying resurrection from Hades.

You renewed us who were broken, O Jesus, King of all, by Your venerable and terrifying resurrection; and appearing to the disciples, You granted them Your peace, O lover of mankind; which grant also to us who hymn Your divine rising.

The venerable gathering of the myrrh-bearing women arrived in haste at Your holy tomb, O Master, to anoint You, O Christ; and they saw an angel sitting in white garments, speaking to them: "Why do you seek to see the living among the dead?"

You gave birth to the Lord, the Giver of light, being yourself the gate of light; and seeing Him shining forth from the tomb, you were filled with joy. But beseech Him, O Virgin, to grant me a sorrow that joy may soothe, and to bring me consolation on this earth.

The shadowed mountain, Habakkuk.

By an ineffable union, having been made like unto men, You, the only One beyond substance, endured the cross in the flesh and were reckoned among the dead, and on the third day rose, the Life of all.

O Jesus, my God, acting as the water of life, You walk, tired in the flesh, to the well; and You sit there, and to the Samaritan woman, You mystically pour out the stream of Your wisdom.

Cleansing those who draw near to You of their various diseases, O Word, by Your command, You willingly endured the cross; and having been laid in the tomb, You raised up the nature of men that had perished.

Unto you the wisdom of the unoriginate Father descended, as rain upon the fleece, O pure One; and being ^D incarnate without change,

you showed unto us, who acknowledge you as Mother after birth, the ways of life, a virgin. ^A

*For the Youths of the Hebrews in the furnace.* You, being lifted up upon the cross, raised up with yourself the whole nature of men, O Word; and having been placed in a tomb, you awakened those who were sleeping in the graves by your divine resurrection, O compassionate One.

Near Jericho and Salem, He who distributes the waters of salvation and who is the fountain of wisdom came to Jacob’s well, bestowing the water of salvation upon the Samaritan woman.

By your word, the blind recovered their sight, and those bound by paralysis were strengthened; and as the three-day deceased, you rose from the tomb—awaken my dead soul.

O Virgin, having become the salvation of the whole world, deliver me from the scandals of the world, from the infirmities of the body, and from the hell that lasts forever, that I may sing your glory. ^B

*For You, the unburnt bush.* Stretching forth your arms upon the cross, you blotted out, O compassionate Christ, the stain with which our first mother had contaminated us by nefariously stretching forth her hand toward the forbidden fruit of the tree.

You who, by a word, strengthened the paralytic upon his feet and raised up the lame, were crucified, O Jesus, and rose again, appearing to the disciples for many days.

The Samaritan woman saw you, having come before you to draw water, and having received from you the water of life, she was satisfied, O Christ God, singing your praises.

O most holy Virgin, you are a marvel impervious to our mind; for you gave birth to God made flesh, who by his divine resurrection saved us all. ^C

*As Isaiah saw.* Being bound and voluntarily nailed to the cross, O compassionate One, you release him who was once bound by iniquities; but being placed in a tomb, you awakened the dead who were sleeping in the graves, who sing of your awesome resurrection.

The Lord rose from the dead, as he said, on the third day; and gathering the apostles, he cried out: "Go into all the world and proclaim clearly the great wonders you have seen me do."

Heart and ear are astonished, O Savior, at your compassion, your dispensation, and your condescension; for walking in the flesh upon the earth, you provided to the Samaritan woman, who asked for water, the living water of divine knowledge.

Holy Theotokos, you who gave birth to the Holy of Holies, the Word who shone forth from the unoriginate Father, entreat him unceasingly to sanctify and enlighten the souls and hearts of those who believe in you and sing your praises. ^D

*For those cast into the intolerable fire.* Lifted up voluntarily upon the cross, you raised up with yourself the entire substance of men; and being Life, though counted among the dead, you vivified the dead who praise your dispensation and glorious resurrection, O Savior full of mercy.

O Giver of Life, the world exults with joy on this holy day of your resurrection, in which you have crushed all the power of Hades.

^A, dulled the sting of death, O Word, and brought forth immortality for mankind.

Seeing you weary, O Compassionate One, the Samaritan woman, seeking to drink the waters of immortality, receives a stream, and cries out, "Give me the living water, O Lord, that I may not thirst forever."

You were acknowledged as the house of God, most pure Virgin Theotokos, for you lent to Him, O Maiden, flesh endowed with a soul, from your own most pure blood, O All-Blameless One; therefore we honor you throughout all ages.

In the shadow and letter of the Law

The sun, seeing you suspended upon a tree, O Christ, is struck with awe; the elements are shaken, the whole earth quakes, the rocks are rent, and Hades below releases those it held captive from eternity, as they sing your praises.

You were placed in a tomb, O Christ, the Resurrection and the Life, yet you rose in glory; for many days you walked with your friends, and sent them forth into all the world to proclaim your wondrous dispensation.

Showing me the paths of life with great compassion, you walk and sit by the well, O Master Christ, and to the woman seeking fountains of immortality you grant them, as she celebrates your great condescension.

Christ, who is the Word of the Father, takes flesh from you, O holy Theotokos, and is crucified for our sake; by his three-day resurrection he enlightens the ends of the earth, and with him, we rightly magnify you.

The powers of the third order

Having bound the destructive power of the Enemy, by those bonds you endured for us, O Lover of mankind, you made peace, O Lord, on the cross for those who were divided, and tore down the middle wall of enmity; therefore we sing your praises.

As he had said before the passion, the Lord is risen, as God mightily despoiling the kingdoms of Hades, and raising up with himself all those who slept there from eternity, who magnify him.

The choir of the myrrh-bearing women, seeing the divine minister in a strange form and appearance, learned from him: "Christ is risen; go, proclaim this to the grieving and weeping disciples."

As a bridegroom of matchless beauty, he who was incarnate from your womb beyond understanding in his goodness, rose from the dead, O Pure One; therefore, seeing his three-day resurrection with the apostles, you gave glory to him.

O All-Powerful Savior of all

Having freely extended your immaculate palms upon the cross, O Long-Suffering One, you gathered all to yourself, and delivered us from the hand of the stranger; therefore with fear we glorify you.

As you were placed in the tomb by your own will, those who slept in the graves were raised up with you by your resurrection from the dead, crying out with fear, "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord."

Seeing you working miracles and wonders, and [enlightening] the blind

with your word, the Hebrew people judge you to death, you who deal in life for all, O most merciful Lord.

Having conversed for forty days with your venerable and holy apostles, you made known to them what you had ordained for the salvation of the world, which celebrates you with praises.

O how stupendous is your birth, O most holy Virgin, through which we have all been snatched from dreadful condemnation, crying out: Hail, the salvation of all, and the resurrection of the whole world.

Eve had destroyed us by her disobedience.

You were voluntarily nailed to the cross, and the sun, seeing you, out of amazement hid its light; the earth was moved to its foundations, and the rocks and the veil of the temple were rent, O Master.

Joseph, having anointed you, wrapped you in a shroud and laid you in a new tomb; but as you are the life of all, you rose on the third day, having ^B abandoned the places of the underworld by your divine power, O almighty one.

On the third day you were seen rising [and appearing] to the apostles, and you cried out: Go, my friends and disciples, go and announce to every nation what you have seen, and make known the miracles of my power which surpass the mind.

When you saw, O most chaste one, rising from the tomb with glory him who breathes life into the dead, you were filled with joy and cried out: I glorify you, Son, and your incomprehensible mercy.

"For I am God the Word."

Moses, adumbrating your crucifixion, O only God and almighty King, raised up the serpent; but you, having been crucified for us, liberated us humans, and took away the rejoicing from the malignant enemy. ^C

Weeping and carrying spices, they hastened and came at early dawn to the monument, as the Evangelist narrates, and seeing a youth coruscating in form and vesture, they were stunned with fear.

The Jewish people judge you to death, O Word, who heals diseases, sets up the paralytic with a word, and raises the dead; but you rose as a powerful God in strength, overturning the kingdom of the abyss.

He who is God over all gods was seen to have put on flesh from your blood, O immaculate one, and being numbered among the dead, he who is life rose again by his own power: seeing which, you were filled with joy, magnifying him with praises. ^D

In the flames of fire they stand before you.

Having blotted out the handwriting of Adam with the cross which you endured, and having voluntarily made yourself a curse, you caused a blessing to spring forth for us, O Christ; therefore we bless you for all ages.

The holy disciples saw you rising, O Lord, and were filled with celestial joy; to them you cried: Knowing that I am the God through whom all live, go and announce me as King of the universe.

We praise your crucifixion, O merciful Jesus, your glorious burial, and your stupendous resur-

- ^A rection, through which we have been released from the indissoluble bonds of hell, O Christ God, whom we celebrate with faith.

Seeing Him who took flesh from you, O immaculate Lady, Jesus rising from the dead, you cried out: "What is this beauty of yours, my Son, through which the pristine beauty has returned to the ancient Adam?"

*For He hath done great things for me.*

When you were lifted up on the wood of the cross, the stars hid their light, the earth was shaken, and the souls in hell were freed from their bonds, O Savior.

Having shattered the gates and bars of death, O Word, you arose in glory, mightily drawing out from there those who were held captive, who now glorify you as God.

^B The earth rejoices, and heaven celebrates the resurrection of the Creator of all things, through which He saved us from bonds and corruption as we glorify Him.

With the rays of your light, dispel the darkness of my ignorance, O Mother of God, so that with the voices of faith I may perpetually hymn your wonders.

*Not in wisdom and power.*

You ascended, O Word, onto the cross, leading me back to life; you had your side pierced, opening for me fountains of immortality as I hymn your goodness.

That you might awaken those sleeping in the graves, O Immortal One, you were reckoned among the dead; yet remaining untouched by corruption, you arose on the third day as the Almighty.

Seeing the dead one who provides life to the dead, the myrrh-bearing women hastened with perfumes to anoint Him, and they were weeping; but when they learned He had risen, they rejoiced.

He who is invisible by His own nature was seen incarnate from you, O all-blameless Lady, and willingly endured both cross and death.

*Him who was crucified in His flesh.*

You willingly underwent crucifixion, O Word, and having been reckoned among the dead, you arose on the third day, making immortal the mortals who acknowledge your power.

Why seek among the dead the Author of life and God? He has risen as He said, said the angel shining with glory to the women carrying perfumes.

^C You appeared to the disciples, having risen, and for many days you conversed with them, sending them forth as apostles to the ends of the earth, O Word.

You who gave birth to the Lord God who rules over life and death, O Virgin, teach us, weak as we are, to flee the snares of the crafty enemy.

The Holy One whom you bore, the Son, showed Himself to be God.

You were exalted in the flesh upon the wood, you were placed in the lowest pit, and you arose in glory, raising up with yourself the whole world; therefore, with one voice, O Benefactor, we hymn you.

To those pouring out tears like myrrh, the angel said to the women: "Why do you seek the Living One in the sepul-

-^Achre? He has arisen, having loosed the bonds of Hades as a lover of mankind."

The divine apostles, seeing Christ arisen, were filled with divine joy, eating with him for many days, and being taught the things of salvation and the higher mysteries.

As the gate of light, O Maiden, having seen emerging from the abysses of Hades the Sun who illuminates the ends of the world with his own light, you were filled with divine joy, O all-immaculate one.

Through love, O Merciful One, of your image. When you were willingly lifted up upon the wood, the earth, and the hills, and the mountains trembled, seeing you, the longsuffering One, suffering.

Hades, dreading your descent, quickly released those captives it held, who were singing praises to your ineffable power.

The mindless assembly of the Jews, seeing you, O patient One, healing the blind, slew you, the Life and the Resurrection.

Having seen your Son arisen from the tomb, O Virgin, you rejoiced together with his apostles, O immaculate One, with whom we glorify you.

All you works of the Lord.

The good thief, seeing you fixed to the cross, cried out: "Remember me, O Lord," being struck with awe at your great power and your incomprehensible and fearsome economy.

You appeared, O Christ, to the women, saying to them: "Rejoice," compassionately, as a lover of mankind; for you manifestly dissolved the grief of Eve, and brought joy to mortals by your resurrection.

As you bestowed sight, O Giver of light, Jesus, upon one who was blind from birth—the source from which light comes—so deign to open the eyes of my heart, that I may have understanding of your commandments.

Save me from the flames of Gehenna and from eternal condemnation, O pure Virgin; calm the raging waves of my thoughts, and lead me to the tranquil harbors of life.

A stone cut from the mountain without human hand.

By extending your arms upon the wood, O Lord, you wiped away the disaster which the hand of our first mother, once extended to the tree of the fruit, had brought upon our souls; therefore, we glorify your incomprehensible economy by which you ordered all things for our redemption.

By your descent into the netherworld, you shattered the gates and bars of death; you made its dominion desolate by your power, and rising on the third day, you illumined the whole world.

Appearing to your holy apostles after your resurrection, you said, O Savior: "Go throughout all the world and faithfully proclaim the ineffable and wondrous miracles which you have beheld wrought by me."

You beheld Christ risen from the dead with the women bearing myrrh, and having turned their mourning into joy, you gave glory to him, wherefore with a loud voice we magnify you, O Mother of God.

All things have passed away.

The holy children in the furnace.

Every son of earth.

^A that he may ardently illuminate our hearts, who celebrate you, O most chaste Mother of God.

Let us sing a hymn of victory to the Lord who performed marvelous wonders in the Red Sea, as if to celebrate his glory.

Through your venerable cross, O Lord, we were all cleansed from the stain of the tree; wherefore we praise your goodness.

He who willed to be crucified has risen, Christ our God, overturning completely the infernal empire; let us glorify him.

The myrrh-bearing women, seeing the angel shining with an unusual aspect, learned from him of the Lord’s resurrection, being filled with joy.

You were, O immaculate Virgin, the dawn of the Sun of justice through whom we were rescued from the darkness of ignorance.

To the Creator, whom the angels adore trembling, speak a hymn, O nations, and exalt him throughout all ages.

The sun, having seen God in the flesh crucified, was darkened, and the earth was shaken, and the rocks were split.

After three days Christ rose from the dead and caused all those sleeping in the shadow of death to rise with him.

You appeared to your apostles after the resurrection, and you filled them, O merciful one, with ineffable joy.

Let us unceasingly celebrate the Trinity, namely the Father from whom are all things, the Word co-eternal with him, and ^C the Spirit of God not made.

O chaste Mother of God, free us from eternal punishment and condemnation, we who celebrate you.

We praise you, Mary, blessed among all women and dear to God.

With arms extended on the cross, you mercifully restored me, wounded by the many snares of the deceiver.

By breaking the gates and bars of hell, you rose on the third day from the dead; O you, the resurrection of all, have mercy on us.

From your death you truly caused life to spring forth for the dead, and on the third day you rose with glory as the disciples watched.

Make your Son and God of all, O immaculate Virgin, propitious to us who confidently praise you.

*For I am God made flesh.*

As once Moses raised up the serpent, so you, O merciful one, were raised up on the wood or cross, striking down the poisonous malice of the ^D soul-destroying Enemy, and saving us.

Glory to you, Jesus, worthy of our praises; for having been placed in the tomb willingly as one dead, you rose as God, and by your resurrection you raised up the whole world, O omnipotent one.

Behold, the author of life has risen from the dead, the angel shining with light once cried out to the women: Do not then

wait, but announce his resurrection to the disciples. ^A

O Holy Lord, who was born of the pure Virgin, and was crucified and buried voluntarily, and risen from the dead, by her intercessions send down your mercies upon all. Priests, sing a hymn to the Creator of all and Savior of our souls; people, exalt him unto all ages. We praise your three-day resurrection, O Christ, and we always glorify in faith your most radiant ascension. Him who was crucified for us and placed dead in the tomb, and by his resurrection illuminated the world, Christ, let us exalt. O Christ, the Sun that never sets, who were buried and rose from the dead, enlighten the minds of us all to glorify you unceasingly. Make intercession to the Word incarnate from you, Theotokos Virgin, that he might have mercy on us who are humbled. We magnify, O Christ, your All-Pure one. As a lamb, you were led to the slaughter, Master Christ our God, and by your wounds which you voluntarily endured, you wounded the entire evil multitude of demons. ^B The bars of Hades were broken at your presence, O Christ, and the dead from the ages rose, hymning you as the victor and master of all. Your holy resurrection, O Christ, is life for us; which to undergo you desired, bringing us eternal joy, which now in faith we all celebrate in anticipation. Light from light, All-Pure Virgin, you did give birth, and you diminished the darkness of godlessness; wherefore we all with voices of faith sing hymns to you, having perceived your divine emptying. Our nature, previously condemned by sin, O King of all, through your assumption has been shown mercy, singing with fear your resurrection and divine ascension. The ranks of the bodiless are amazed, observing you, O Christ, wearing an earthly body, and ascending upon a cloud, and going up to the heavens. Seeing your garments stained with blood, O Christ, King of all, the powers of the angels were struck with awe at your return, and with fear and joy they worshipped. ^C Let us clap our hands; the Lord, having risen from the dead, has ascended to the heavens, with the angels subject to him as their Creator and our God. Dance, O Isaiah. Every creature openly keeps a solemn feast at your ascension, O Word and God, in which you have presented to your Father the nature you took from us beyond understanding, O Immutable One. ^D As God, you shattered the gates of Hades, O Savior, and the bars, and rising from the dead, you ascend to the heavens tomorrow, with the ranks of the angels crying out with astonishment: Open the gates.

As the holy disciples marveled at Thy ascension, angels appeared to them and shouted: He whom you see going up into the heavens, this one shall come again with glory to judge all.

That peace, O Christ, which Thou gavest to the disciples in former times as Thou didst ascend into heaven, send it down upon us in abundance, keeping us all in great love, so that we may with one voice exalt Thee, our Savior.

Thou hast truly become the light-bearing chariot of the sun that illumines the mind, most pure and chaste Virgin, through whom those sitting in the shadow of death have seen the light of knowledge, praising Thee in gratitude.

*The ungodly shall not see the glory.*

Leaving the earth and returning to heaven, where Thou sittest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, Thou didst not forget Thy disciples; as they praised Thee, Thou didst bless them, O Lover of mankind.

When the legions of angels saw Thee, O Jesus, ascending into heaven with our nature, they marveled ^B and gave praise to Thy great condescension toward mankind, O Lord.

The nature Thou didst take from us, O Lord, Thou didst exalt and place upon the throne of the Father; with that same nature, O Almighty, Thou shalt come to judge the world.

Let us piously celebrate the beautiful daughter of Jacob in chastity and devotion to divine works, as the Mother of our God.

*Savior of all.*

Carried on the shoulders of the Cherubim in glory, Thou wast taken up while Thy disciples watched Thee, O Lord, and cried out unceasingly: O all ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

Blessing His disciples, Christ was raised to the heights to send them the Paraclete; and as they sang, they cried out ^C with one voice: O all ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord.

Breaking down the wall of enmity, Thou didst reconcile mortals with the Father, O eternal Word; and by ascending into heaven, Thou hast exalted the nature Thou didst assume above the angels and powers.

Let us praise the Mother of God, the common joy of the faithful, the ready help of men, the bridge through which all arrive at their Creator and at salvation.

*Eva had lost us by her disobedience.*

A cloud, like a throne, received Thee from the Mount of Olives, as Thy pious disciples watched and cried out with trembling: Do not leave us orphans, whom in Thine ineffable compassion Thou hast loved.

Thou didst descend among us without a body, but Thou returnest bearing the nature ^D Thou didst assume; the gates of heaven open reverently before Thee, and the heavenly hosts look on and are amazed at Thy mercy toward us.

Why do you stand watching Him as He ascends in such a wondrous way? the angels once said to the holy apostles. In the manner that you see Him go, He shall come again to earth to judge all, He who ascends with glory.

The most pure Virgin, being with the divine disciples and seeing Him whom she bore rising from the earth, cried out: Returning to the Father, coeternal with Him, You have filled all things with Your glory; to You be glory and honor. ^A Entreat the Lord for us.

Having filled what is on earth with Your glory, You were taken up with ineffable majesty, and You brought to the Father the flesh which You assumed from us out of compassion; and the powers of heaven praised You, O only Friend of man.

"Be lifted up, O ye heavenly gates, and receive the God-bearing flesh," the intellectual powers cried out to those who asked, "Who is this?" And offer praise incessantly to Him as the Creator of all.

Beholding the fearful ascent, the disciples of the Word cried out: Send Your all-holy Spirit to us, and do not leave Your servants orphans, acknowledging You as truly both God and man, O sinless One.

You deified the essence of mortals, having been born ineffably of a Virgin, O Word consubstantial with the Father; and You were taken up in glory, granting peace to Your disciples and rich mercy to the world. ^B

The Children of the Hebrews in the furnace.

You endured suffering and death, and as You said, You rose on the third day; and You ascended to the heavens, while Your disciples sang: Lord, O God, blessed are You.

Send to us, O merciful One, as You promised, Your all-holy Spirit, cried the wise disciples, who instructs all who believe in You in true doctrine and wisdom.

"Clap your hands, all you nations, shout to God with joy." For see, Christ has been taken up and sits in glory at the right hand of the Father, a partaker of the same throne forever.

Not having emptied the Father’s bosom, the Word reclined in your bosom, O Virgin, liberating us from the madness of desires, while we sing: Lord, O God, blessed are You. ^C

The furnace seven times hotter.

He who took on a form not His own in a way beyond mind, as it is written, and by His sufferings clearly granted freedom from passions to all believers, now rises from the earth to appear before the face of the Father, being glorified by Thrones, Angels, and Dominions for all ages.

Angels in white garments stood by the apostles, who were perplexed at the new sight of Your ascension, saying: "Why do you stand gazing so, amazed, into the height? This Jesus will come again in the manner that you see Him, to judge the world."

Having filled all things, O Lord, as God inseparable, You ascended to the heavens with flesh, with the angelic powers bowing down before You, and the disciples joyfully singing and in fear chanting: Priests, bless Him. ^D

O all-pure Mother of God, blot out the wounds of my soul and the scars of my sin with the fountains that well up from the side of your Son

for to you I cry out, and to you I flee, and I call upon you as my only protection. ^A

All hearing is struck with amazement. Open the gates, O intellectual Powers of the heavens; for lo, our King, who has taken on our nature, is here, and He will enter to His Father, being God and man, having wrought terrible and miraculous things.

Psalm ^B sing, all you who are intellectual; offer up songs in honor of God, who performs such wondrous deeds, and who ascended into the heavens and sent down the holy Spirit to the apostles, sanctifying us all who give glory to His divinity.

By your burial, those who dwelt in hell have been set free; by your resurrection, mankind has risen, and your ascension, O only immutable and omnipotent One, from whom salvation and all good things have come to us, has illuminated heaven and earth.

Greeting you with Gabriel and all the angels, we say: Rejoice, most brilliant palace of the King; rejoice, O Virgin, who have joined earth to heaven, through whom salvation has come to us who acknowledge your immaculate motherhood.

The trophy of victory is in your right hand. ^C The angels, who were ignorant of this extraordinary descent of yours upon the earth, in your ascent inquire, saying: Who is this King of powers?

After you had willingly suffered crucifixion, O Christ, you rose on the third day, and again you ascended into heaven while your disciples watched, marveling at your incomprehensible power.

To whose will nothing resists, the incomprehensible God commanded a cloud for His ascent, and from the Mount of Olives He now ascended to the heights of heaven, with the cloud serving as a chariot.

You have truly been made higher, O Virgin, than the celestial orders of angels, you from whom the Word of the Father took flesh; pray earnestly, O immaculate one, that He may deliver us from all evil works.

Him whom they praised in the furnace. ^D Him who ascended in glory to the Father, the source of light, and sent the holy Spirit to the apostles, praise and exalt above all.

Sing and make melody with joy, you who inhabit the earth; for today He who has united us mortals with the inhabitants of heaven for all eternity has been taken up in glory.

"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?" the angels said to the disciples; "as you see Christ ascending, so shall He come again in glory."

You are, O Virgin, that earth which without cultivation brought forth the heavenly grain, by which all things are nourished by divine power; satisfy my humble and needy soul.

An image of your pure childbirth. O most merciful God, the torments of the cross, the death

endured for our sake, and your resurrection, as it befell God, restoring you to your eternal Father, O Word, therefore we adore your incomprehensible divinity.

^A Moses cries out in the Spirit: "Angelic powers, be strengthened, as the supreme King rises from the earth in the flesh to the supernal realms, and makes the fallen nature of men sit upon the throne of the Father." "Open the gates," David cried out in the Spirit: "The only-begotten Son of God has reigned over all nations, and in the flesh He returns to the Father, whom He did not leave when He descended."

"For I am He who commands the sea." Having mingled with the disciples for forty days, O Savior, after your divine resurrection from the tomb, and having promised to send upon them the Holy Spirit, you were taken up with voices, being borne in glory in a fearful manner upon the shoulders ^B of the Cherubim. "Open the gates, learn the paradoxes," the intellectual powers cried to those higher than themselves, "The King of all, bearing a human body, has ascended to us for our repose, having deified men through great compassion and infinite mercy."

Having hidden His incorporeal nature in darkness, God who walks upon the wings of the wind, having been incarnate from the Virgin, the luminous cloud, ascended through the cloud from earth to the heights, the disciples seeing His glorious ascent.

O unplowed land, you who brought forth the Nourisher of all, who opens His hand and by His own good pleasure fills every living thing with divine power; strengthen with the life-giving bread the hearts of us who are faint from the satiety of our difficult transgressions.

An image of gold. ^C Having assumed the nature of Adam, and having deified this, O Word, you led it up to your original-light Father, all the order of the incorporeal beings being amazed and crying out: "Let all creation praise the Lord."

Elias, prefiguring your fearful ascension, O Life-giver, was shown in the divine Spirit as a charioteer, and was carried up from the earth to the height, singing to you the Creator: "Let all creation praise the Lord and highly exalt Him."

Praise God, shout, you nations, clap your hands, sing with one accord, in glory Christ has ascended, the King; whence He came to us to save those who cry out: "Let all creation praise the Lord."

Rightly honoring you, O Pure One, we proclaim you the Theotokos; for you gave birth to the one of the Trinity incarnate; whom, with the Father and the Spirit, we praise: "Let all creation praise the Lord."

All tongues are insufficient. "Who is this that now ascends in glory upon the cloud?" said the higher ranks to those crying out: "Open the gates; God alone, having joined the things on earth ^D

^A to the heavens, let us, with fear, offer unto Him magnificence and glory.

The nature that was pushed out of Eden is seen in the highest places, seated miraculously upon the throne of your Father, O Christ, and receiving on all sides the adorations of Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Powers, and Principalities; glory to our God who has thus been well-pleased; to Him alone, glory.

"Wait," you said, O Word, to the disciples sorrowing at your ascension: "sit and wait in faith until the divine Paraclete comes to you from the highest places, the inexhaustible fountain of all charisms; He, than whom there is none better, will teach you all things." The firmament of those who trust in You.

You, Lord, as a merciful One, have exalted the nature of men, once condemned and stained by transgressions, above the angels.

You ascended to heaven with glory, while the bodiless ones, O Lord, praised You as their Creator and God.

After you ascended into heaven, O most merciful One, You sent to your disciples the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, who would teach them, having ascended into the heavens, O most good One.

The Word came to us, having taken flesh from you, O immaculate One, moved by his mercy, that He might restore us who had fallen by the sin of our first parents. Cast into the intolerable fire. ^B

When all things that You had foreordained for our salvation were accomplished, You were taken up, O Lord, in glory, while your disciples watched and with trembling cried out to You, saying: "All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord."

"Ye men of Galilee," the angels said, "why gaze you thus toward the Lord as He ascends into the heavens? He whom you see shall come again to judge all creation, being established as the judge of all."

"O You who ascend to heaven with glory, carried upon a cloud, send forth to us according to your promise the upright Spirit, the divine Spirit, the Spirit undivided from You," cried the divine apostles, "that we may praise You throughout all ages."

Having built a dwelling-place for Himself from you, O Virgin unwedded, the Wisdom of God was made flesh by an ineffable condescension; for you alone of all generations have been chosen, a spotless vessel for the dwelling of the Word who is without spot.

A new and God-befitting wonder.

He who ascends into the heavens with glory amidst the songs of gladness, as the prophet long ago foretold, He is the Lord and God of all; chant, O nations, chant unto Him in faith, and with trembling glorify Him who has wrought ^C things unsearchable and ineffable.

He said to the sorrowing disciples: "I do not depart from you forever, even if I go to the Father who sent Me; go, make disciples of the whole world, that they may know that I am truly God, who have done what you have heard and seen."

Having given peace to all, O Christ, a cloud of light received You, and, while all the disciples were watching, You were raised up from the earth; and having ascended, You sat beyond every Principality and Power; therefore we hymn your most-hymned dominion. ^D

^A It shows you as a vessel of light, O Immaculate One—God, who was ineffably incarnate of you. For having exalted the substance of Adam upon the Cross, and having become the first-born from the dead, You remain God in the highest, glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

*He who sits in glory.* He who is inaccessible in nature became accessible to me, for by bearing me, He illuminated my whole nature, and by His own ascension, He raised it above every Principality and Power.

Elias of old, carried in a chariot through the air, prefigured, O Word of God, Your ascension; for as if carried in a chariot, O Savior, You reached the bosom of the Father upon a cloud.

^B As the disciples gazed at the awesome sight of the ascent and were struck with wonder, the divine angels addressed them: "You men of Galilee, just as you see Him ascending, so shall He come again, the same, to judge all."

You reshape human nature, which had been broken and bowed down by corruption, O Blotless One, having given body to God and having given birth above nature, O Bride of God; to Him we cry out: Glory to You, O Christ.

*Let us praise the holy children in the furnace.* He who walks upon the wings of the winds, carried on a cloud, now returns to the heavens where He was before, and sends the Paraclete to the disciples who hymn and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.

Having endured the Cross and burial by Your own will, You rose again, O Almighty One; and for forty days, You appeared to the disciples who loved You, making them rejoice. Then, having given them Your blessing, You ascended with glory to Your Father.

^C Having truly taught the theologians things beyond words, O Word, You ascended, sending to Your disciples, as You promised, the Spirit co-enthroned with You and the Creator of all; while they cry to Him: "O works, bless the Lord, praise and supremely exalt Him unto the ages."

O closed gate of God, through which the Most High alone passed, guide me along the paths of the Lord and open to me the gates of salvation, O Full of Grace; for I take refuge in you, O Virgin, the only protection of the human race.

*The stone not cut by human hands.* "Until you are clothed with power from on high," You said to the disciples, "sit gathered together; for I am already returning to heaven, and I will send to you the Paraclete who sits on the same throne as the Father."

^D Let us all come together mystically to the height of contemplation, and with the eyes of the mind let us behold the Word, the Eternal One, who has ascended and sits at the right hand of the Father.

Rising in the morning like the sun from the tomb, O Master, You illuminated the whole world with Your rays, making the apostles shine with the light of truth and driving away the gloom.

Spare me, O Christ, when You come to judge the world

^A with glory, dispel the gloom of my soul through the prayers of her who gave birth to You; and make me an heir of Your heavenly kingdom.

I rise at dawn toward You, for You are merciful. Having broken the power of death by divine authority, You arose on the third day, O my Christ, and ascended into heaven with glory, while Your disciples sang hymns to You as God and lover of mankind.

"Do not leave us orphans, O merciful One; but as You promised, send Your holy Spirit," Your disciples cried out, O Savior, when they saw You ascending from the earth, O lover of mankind.

Behold, the Holy Spirit is now about to descend upon the earth in the form of fiery tongues, so that He may clearly demonstrate that the earthen disciples of the Word are fiery, proclaiming Him as the lover of mankind.

Having clothed Yourself, O Word, in human nature from her who knew no man, through exceeding mercy, You have given this as a firm shelter and an eternal wall to us who confess You as God and lover of mankind.

Blessed are those who show zeal for the ancestral laws.

Having united through Your goodness, O Word, things that were separated—which sin had sundered—and having slain by the death You underwent in the flesh the enemy, You returned with glory to the Father, whom You never left, while the disciples cried out: "O works of the Lord, bless the Lord."

Having taken pity on those whom You loved, but whom ^C the cruel enemy had ruined, You ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives, while the disciples watched and marveled that a cloud received You with Your body, like a throne of the Cherubim; therefore, we praise You as Savior along with them.

"I will not leave you orphans, O children and heirs of my kingdom, but when I have ascended to heaven, I will send from on high the Paraclete, who will teach you things that surpass your minds and understanding, and who will make those who are earthen, fiery by participation," You cried out to Your disciples, O merciful One; therefore, with them we praise You unto ages.

Beyond the custom of nature, O Virgin, you give birth to the Lawgiver, who removes the shadowy nature of the law and bestows the light of grace; therefore, deliver me, O pure one, who am now grievously shackled under the law of sin, that I may sing: "O works of the Lord, bless the Lord."

No tongue suffices.

Having taken pity on the needy and lost creature, as the only one who is truly compassionate and merciful, You assumed human nature, and having bound the strong one through Your Passion, You ascended on high to the Father, O Christ, filling all things with Your glory.

"Why are you broken in spirit, why are you struck with wonder?" the angels standing with them on the mountain cried out to the apostles. "This Jesus, whom you see ascending, shall come again in great glory to judge the world and distribute to each according to his works."

O You who gave peace to Your holy disciples, ^D blessing everyone with Your Spirit, O merciful Word of God, save us from the strikes of the enemy,