the Canon to St Ambrose of Milan

The canon to the saint, the acrostic whereof is: “I praise Ambrose most great,“ in Tone IV.

Ode I, Irmos: Through the deep of the Red Sea, * marched dry-shod Israel of old, * and by Moses’ outstretched hands, * raised in the form of a cross, * the power of Amalek was routed in the wilderness.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

O venerable one, radiant with divine splendours, by thy prayers illumine those who piously honour thy radiant, light-bearing and holy repose.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

The Word of God gave thee the discourse of wisdom adorned with true knowledge, O hierarch Ambrose, dispelling the irrational and malicious thought of the heretics.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Having cleansed the vision of thy mind of the darkness of the passions, O thou that art most noetically rich, thou didst render it receptive to the pure effulgence of the most holy Spirit, O all-blessed one.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having by thine all-wise and sacred dogmas, as a pastor fended off the destruction of those who were of like mind with Arius, O all-wise one, with faith thou didst shepherd thy rational sheep in the meadows of Orthodoxy.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

By the Father’s will and through the divine Spirit of God, thou didst, seedlessly conceive and give birth in the flesh unto the Son Who, for our sake, was begotten of the Father without mother and was born of thee without father.

Ode III, Irmos: Not in wisdom, nor in power do we glory, * but we glory in Thee O Christ, * the Hypostatic Wisdom of the Father, * for there is none more holy than Thee, O Lover of mankind.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Having received of God an abundance of grace and power, O father Ambrose, by thy tangible touch thou didst heal the divers passions of those who had recourse to thee.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

O venerable one, having learned all the knowledge of the Scriptures, in that thou wast a godly hierarch, thou didst manifestly make plain to the ignorant things difficult to understand, O father Ambrose.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

With the sentence of God thou didst instantly strike dead the vile woman who
audaciously and senselessly strove to draw nigh unto thee, who shone forth with spiritual wisdom.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Thou alone hast renewed the human race, having given birth unto the Creator and Lord of our nature. Wherefore, we glorify thee, O divinely joyous one.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom …”: Zealously emulating Elijah the Prophet, and likewise John the Baptist, thou didst manfully denounce the iniquitous emperor, O hierarch; in a godly manner adorning thy see, and enriching the world with a multitude of miracles. Wherefore, learned in the divine Scriptures, thou didst establish the faithful therein, and convert the unbelieving. O hierarch Ambrose, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who, with love, celebrate thy holy memory.

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

Theotokion, Tone VIII: Having fallen with wicked thoughts, * I have sunk into the abyss of sin, * and, groaning, I cry to thee with all my heart, O all-pure one: * Show forth upon me the wonder of thy rich mercy, * the unfathomable depth of thy tender compassion * and the immeasurable wealth of thy compassions, * and grant me repentance and forgiveness of transgressions, * that I may cry unto thee with love: * Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto me, ** for thee do I, thy servant, have as my hope.

Stavrotheotokion (replaces the Theotokion of Wednesdays and Fridays): Upon beholding the Lamb, Shepherd and Redeemer * upon the Cross, * the ewe-lamb exclaimed weeping, bitterly lamenting, and crying aloud: * “The world rejoiceth, having received deliverance through Thee, * but my womb doth burn, beholding Thy crucifixion, * which Thou hast endured in Thy merciful loving-kindness. * O long-suffering Lord, * Thou abyss and inexhaustible well-spring of mercy, * take pity, and grant forgiveness of sins ** unto those who hymn Thy divine sufferings with faith!”

Ode IV, Irmos: For the sake of love for Thine image, * O compassionate One, * Thou didst ascend the cross * and the nations melted away. * For Thou, O Lover of mankind, * art my strength and my praise.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Having been anointed with the chrism of the priesthood, thou wast shown forth as a hierarch, ordaining priests and granting the cleansing of salvation unto all.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Thou didst protect thy flock from all the harm of the adversaries, O blessed one, and didst blind the delusion of Arius with the radiance of thy words.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Invested with the power of the Spirit, thou didst dispel the evil spirits of malice, who could not endure thy rebuke, O all-blessed one.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

He that wrought all things by His will is Himself wrought of thy pure blood, saving those who acknowledge thee to be the pure Mother of God.

Ode V, Irmos: Thou, O Lord, who camest into the world, * art my light, * a holy light turning from the darkness of ignorance * those who sing Thy praises in faith.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Having attained a mind resplendent with immaterial light, O blessed Ambrose, thou hast emitted rays of healing and miracles.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Thou didst raise thyself up as a sacred dwelling place of the Spirit, O divinely inspired Ambrose, destroying the temples of idolatry.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Emperors were put to shame by thee, shining with the effulgence of the greatest of virtues, and their restrictions did not cause thy tongue to falter.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

He that wrought all things in wisdom through His will, desiring to renew mankind, O Virgin, made His abode within thy womb.

Ode VI, Irmos: The church crieth out unto Thee O Lord, * ‘I will sacrifice unto Thee with a voice of praise * having been cleansed of the blood of the demons’ * by the blood that for mercy’s sake flowed from Thy side.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Amazed, Rome faithfully praiseth thine honoured deeds; for, like a radiant star, O hierarch, thou dost shed the rays of thy wonders everywhere.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Having risen at dawn for Christ, thou hast been richly illumined with splendours and filled with divine light; enlightening those who ever faithfully honour thee.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having sanctified body and soul, O father, thou didst render thy heart, which ever attendeth unto sweet desire, receptive to the gifts of grace.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Heal thou the wounds of my soul, O Virgin, by thy divine overshadowing, and enlighten my mind, which hath been darkened by slothfulness and by the malice of the adverse foe.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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

Kontakion, Tone III, Spec. Mel. “Of the divine faith …”: Shining with divine dogmas, thou didst darken the deception of Arius, * O Ambrose, pastor and teacher of the mysteries. * And working wonders through th power of the Spirit, * thou didst manifestly heal divers passions, O venerable father. ** Entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

Ode VII, Irmos: In the Persian furnace the youths and descendants of Abraham, * burning with a love of piety * rather than by a flame of fire, * cried aloud saying: * Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Like lightning, the divine proclamations of thy dogmas have flashed throughout all the earth, O all-wise father; shining forth as light with the revelations of miracles, and enlightening hearts that were in darkness.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Following the command of the Saviour, O father, thou didst, like a blessed servant, diligently increase manifold the talent given thee, and hast been deemed worthy of the Master’s joy.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having deepened thy theological mind, like a river thou didst put forth streams of sacred dogmas, giving drink unto the fullness of the faithful, O father Ambrose, teacher of the mysteries.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Behold, O Virgin, thou didst conceive within thy womb the Word Who is co-unoriginate with the Father, and hast given birth in the flesh unto Him Who granteth restoration unto all who from Adam have fallen, O all-immaculate one.

Ode VIII, Irmos: Having spread his hands, Daniel closed the lions jaws * in their den; * while the zealously pious youths, * girded with virtue, * quenched the power of the fire and cried aloud: * Bless ye the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Having mortified thy members and slain the wisdom of the flesh, thou didst impart life unto thy soul and poured forth a fountain of miracles upon those who had been slain by the passions, O venerable one, granting life unto those who cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Thou wast informed of thine approaching repose in the body by the Spirit of God, O wise one; for thou didst say so prophetically unto those who were with thee, and didst pass over to the heavens crying out with joy: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having rid thy body, mind and heart of the turbulence of the passions, O Ambrose, thou didst receive a fiery ray of light from on high, crying out like the divine disciples: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Thou hast been revealed to be more exalted than the heavens, O most pure one, having given birth unto the God of heaven, Who hath united those of earth with those of the heavens, and Who granteth knowledge of Himself unto all who cry aloud: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Ode IX, Irmos: A cornerstone not cut by hand O Virgin, * was cut from thee the unhewn mountain: * even Christ, Who hath joined together the disparate natures; * therefore rejoicing we magnify thee, * O Theotokos.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

In ecstasy thou didst behold the everlasting honours which are being laid up for the saints, O father; and having passed over to them, rejoicing, thou hast received the reward of thy labours, O glorious one.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

Like a ripe cluster of grapes wast thou gathered into the vats of heaven, pouring forth the wine of immortality and gifts of healing upon those who piously have recourse to thee, as is meet, O divinely wise Ambrose.

Hierarch of Christ, Ambrose, pray to God for us!

With a mighty voice we bless thee, O father, the golden candlestick of the divine Spirit, which putteth forth the light of pious teachings and the radiance of healings, enlightening the faithful.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

The Church, O all-blessed one, having acquired thee as a daystar, doth escape all the deception of darkness, and, illumined with the splendours of thy sacred dogmas, she doth bless thee.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

With joy we utter unto thee the salutation of the archangel, O Virgin: Rejoice, thou abolition of the curse! Rejoice, deliverance from all evils, O thou who, in a manner beyond understanding, hath deified mortals by thy birthgiving!

Troparion, Tone IV: The truth of things revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, * icon of meekness, and teacher of temperance; * wherefore, thou hast attained the heights through humility and riches through poverty; * O hierarch Ambrose our father, ** entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.

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