Chapter 94

Tone Ii Eight Tones

(Refrain as before, and the appointed Hymns*) Canticle V. {Founded on Isaiah xxvu 9-20.)

Theme-Song (Irmds). Thou who, by the brightness of thy coming,

hast illumined, and by thy Cross hast enlightened the uttermost parts

of the universe O Christ : Enlighten with the light of thy wisdom

divine the hearts of true believers who hymn thy praises.

{Refrain as before, and the appointed Hymns*)

Canticle VI. {Founded on Jonah it. 2-7.)

Theme-Song (Irmds). The nethermost pit hath compassed us about. There is none that delivereth ; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Save thy people, O God, for thou art the strength of the weak and their restoration.

{Refrain as before, and the appointed Hymns.) Canticle VII. {Founded on Daniel Hi 26-36.)

Theme-Song {Irmds). Upon thee, as a supersensual furnace, do we faithful fix our eyes, O Birth-giver of God ; for as he, the greatlyexalted, saved the Three Children, so also did he, the God of our fathers, worthy of praise and exceeding glorious, wholly renew the world through thy womb.

{Refrain as before, and the appointed Hymns.) Canticle VIII. {Founded on Daniel Hi. 57-72 (Apocrypha)^

We praise, bless and adore the Lord, singing praises and exalting him unto ages of ages.

Theme-Song (Irmds). In the furnace, as in a smelting-forge, did the Hebrew Children shine with the beauty of godliness more pure than gold, saying : O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him and magnify him unto all the ages.

(Refrain as before, and the appointed Hymns.) Canticle IX. (Founded on Exodus Hi. 2-4.)

Theme-Song (Irmds). The bush that burned with fire yet was not

consumed, showed forth the type of thy pure birth-giving. Quench now,

also, we beseech thee, the fiery furnace of the fierce temptations which

assail us, that we may perpetually magnify thee, O Birth-giver of God.

(Refrain as before, and the appointed Hymns.)

TONE II.

Verses and Hymns (Stikhiri) for ; Lord, I have cried unto thee.

O come, let us worship him who was begotten of the Father before the ages, the Word of God incarnate of the Virgin Mary ; for when he had endured the cross he was delivered over to the tomb, for his own good will it was so to do ; and when he rose again from the dead he saved me, the man who had gone astray.

TONE IV. Hymns for : Lord, I have cried unto thee.

Unceasingly do we adore thy life-giving Cross, O Christ our God, and glorify thy Resurrection on the third day; for thereby, O Almighty One, thou didst renew the nature of man, which had become corrupt, and didst point out to us the way to heaven : For thou only art good and lovest mankind.

Thou hast done away with the penalty of the tree of disobedience, O Saviour, in that thou, of thine own good will, wast nailed to the tree of the Cross; and when thou hadst descended into Hell, thou didst break the bonds of death, in that thou wert God: For which cause we worship thy Resurrection from the dead, joyfully crying unto thee : O Lord Almighty, glory to thee.

Thou hast destroyed the gates of Hell, O Lord, and by thy death hast annihilated the kingdom of Death, and hast freed the human race from corruption, giving life and incorruption and great mercy unto the world.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Dogtndtik). The Prophet David who, through thee, was the forefather of God, did prophesy in melody concerning thee, to him who wrought mighty things for thee : Upon thy right hand did stand the Queen. For God, who was graciously pleased without father to become incarnate of thee, hath manifested thee as the Mother and Ambassador of life, that he might restore again his image, which had become corrupted by passions ; and that Christ, who is great and rich in mercy, when he had found the sheep which was gone astray wandering on the mountains, and had laid it on his shoulders, might bring it to his Father, and according to his will unite it to the heavenly powers, and save the world, O Birth-giver of God.

Hymn (Tropdr). When the Women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angels the glad tidings of the Resurrection, and had cast away the condemnation of their forefathers, they spake exultinglyto the Apostles : Death is no more ; Christ-God is risen, granting unto the world great mercy.

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (BogorSditchen). The mystery which was hidden from everlasting and was unknown of the Angels, through thee, O Birth-giver of God, was revealed to those who dwell upon earth, in that God having become incarnate in unblended union, of his own good will accepted the Cross for our sakes ; whereby he raised again the first created and hath saved our souls.

Collect-Hymn (Konddk). My Saviour and Redeemer from the grave, in that he was God, rose from earth-born bonds, and shattered the gates of Hell ; and in that he was the Lord, he rose again on the third day.

Hymn (Tropdr). The Angelic Powers were in thy sepulchre, and the guards became as dead men, and Mary stood by the tomb seeking thy most pure body. Thou didst despoil Hell, yet wert not tempted thereby ; thou who art the bestower of life didst come to meet the Woman. Glory to thee, O Lord, who didst rise again from the dead.

Hymn to the Birth-giver of God (Bogordditchen). Thou who didst call thy Mother blessed, of thine own good will didst come unto thy passion, shining radiantly upon the cross, desiring to seek out Adam, and saying unto the Angels : Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece of silver which was lost. O our God, who with wisdom hast ordered all things, glory to thee.

Collect-Hymn (Konddk). When Christ-God, the Life-giver of all things, had by his life-bestowing palm raised up from the vaults of gloom those who were dead, he adjudged Resurrection unto the race of men. For he is the Saviour of all, and the Resurrection, and the Life, and the God of all.

THE CANON.

Theme-Songs (frmosi). I. When Israel passed on foot over the deep, as it had been dry land, and beheld their pursuer Pharaoh engulfed in the sea, they cried aloud : Unto God let us sing a song of victory.

He/rain. Glory to thy holy Resurrection, O Lord.

(Then the appointed Hymns, composed after the model of those shown in Tone I.)

III. There is none holy like unto thee, O Lord my God, who hast exalted the horn of thy faithful, O Good One, and hast established us upon the rock of thy confession. R. and Hs.

IV. Christ is my strength, my God, and my Lord, the august Church doth sing in God-befitting wise, crying aloud and out of a pure mind keeping festival unto the Lord. R. and Hs,

V. With thy light divine, O Good One, illumine thou, I beseech thee, the souls of those who wake early unto thee with love ; that they may know thee, O Word of God, as the true God, who callest forth from the gloom of sin. R. and Hs.

VI. Forasmuch as I behold the sea of life surging high with the tempest of temptations, I have fled to thy tranquil haven, and cry aloud unto thee : Lead thou my life forth from corruption, O Most Merciful One. R. and Hs.

VII. An Angel made the fiery furnace to drop dew for the Holy Children, but the command of God, consuming the Chaldaeans with fire, prevailed upon the tormentor to cry aloud : Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers. R, and Hs,

VIII. Out of the flames thou didst shed forth dew upon the Godly Ones, and with water didst kindle the sacrifice of the Righteous One. For thou doest all things which thou wiliest, O Christ. Thee will we exalt unto all the ages. R. and Hs.