Ode I. Irmos: The staff of Moses, once working a miracle, striking the sea in the form of a cross and dividing it, drowned the mounted tyrant Pharaoh, and saved Israel who fled on foot chanting a hymn unto God.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Accept these hymns of praise from my defiled lips, O all-immaculate one, as before thy Son, my God and Lord, accepted the widow’s two mites, and grant me remission of my transgressions, that I may magnify thee as is meet.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
The hymnody of the angels befitteth thee, the Mother of God; for in strange manner thou gavest birth unto their Creator. But accept from us, O Mistress, these humble prayers, that we may chant unto the Lord: Gloriously hast Thou glorified Thyself in our weakness!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The waters grew firm, and the waves became solid in the midst of the sea, bearing thine icon, O Mother of God. Wherefore, make firm my quaking heart upon the rock of the commandments of Christ.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou wast a helper and protector for the Monastery of Iveron, O Virgin, sinking the forces of Amira and their ships in the sea. Drown thou also in the depths of the lovingkindness of thy Son all the passions of my soul and my countless transgressions.
Ode III. Irmos: O Christ Who in the beginning established the heavens in wisdom and founded the earth firmly upon the waters: make me steadfast upon the rock of Thy commandments, for none is holy, save Thee Who alone lovest mankind.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Establish thou my heart in hope on thee, O Mother of God; take thou all pride and vainglory from my darkened mind, that I may cry out: None is as holy as the Lord, and none is as righteous as our God!
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Thou, O Mother of God, dost gird the weak about with strength and feedest the hungry. Visit thou also mine infirmity, and nurture me, who hunger and thirst, on the Bread of Life Who came down from heaven to earth through thy virginal womb.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Raise me up from the ground, wretch that I am, and lift me up out of the mire of sin, though I am poor; grant prayer unto me who now make entreaty, that magnifying thine assistance, I may hymn thee.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Show forth my barren mind as fruitful, O good Virgin who wast born of a barren woman; for through the appearance of thine icon thou grantest an abundance of all good things.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sedalion, Tone IV: Today the splendid festival of our helper hath dawned! Let creation leap up, and let the assemblies of men join chorus! for the holy Theotokos calleth us together to behold her fire-bearing icon which illumineth the faithful with rays of mercy. Wherefore, rejoicing, we cry aloud: O Lady; from famine, fire, the sword and tribulations save us who honour the appearance of thine icon.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The foregoing hymn is repeated.
Ode IV. Irmos: Thou art my strength, O Lord! Thou art my power! Thou art my God, Thou art my joy, Who, without leaving the bosom of the Father, hast visited our lowliness. Wherefore, with the prophet Habakkuk I cry unto Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Thou Who lovest mankind!
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, O Mother of God, and the earth hath been filled with thy praise; but thou hast departed for the salvation of men, and hast come to save thine inheritance.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Thy virtue hath covered the heavens, O Mother of God, and the earth hath been filled with thy praise; but thou hast departed for the salvation of men, and hast come to save thine inheritance.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Hearing report of thine arrival, the monks of Athos were afraid and, considering thy works, were filled with awe. And when my soul is troubled, be thou mindful of thy mercy, O Mistress, that I may cry out: Glory to thine aid, O Mother of God!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou art my might and power, O Theotokos. Through thee do I find rest in the day of my sorrow, and through thee do I pass from the land of wandering into the inheritance of heaven; and I rejoice in the Lord, my God and Saviour.
Ode V. Irmos: Wherefore hast Thou turned Thy face from me, O Light never- waning? And why hath a strange darkness covered me, wretch that I am? Yet turn me, and guide my steps to the light of Thy commandments, I pray.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
O pure one, look upon the people of thy flock who wake at dawn out of the night, and who surround thy divinely praised icon, entreating remission of their sins, emendation of life and a share in divine glory. Yea, thrust us not away from thy face, O Mother of the never-waning Light.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
All in thy flock, joining chorus together with all their soul and mind, honour thine icon with psalms, spiritual songs and divine hymnody, asking forgiveness and salvation of soul. And as thou art our healing, O Mistress, Bride of God, grant them unto us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thy temple, O Virgin, hath been shown to be another garden of paradise, having the icon of thy beauty in its midst like the tree of life; and all, venerating it fervently with reverence and love, cry out: O Mistress, grant us peace! Pay thou our purchase price, for we know none other consolation than thee!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Having acquired thee as a river of sweetness ever gushing forth a torrent of plentitude, the manna of heaven, and abundance and grace, O Maiden, they that dwell in thy monastery hymn thy birthgiving.
Ode VI. Irmos: Cleanse me, O Saviour, for many are my transgressions; and lead me up from the depths of evil, I pray; for to Thee have I cried: hearken unto me, O God of my salvation!
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Engulfed by the tempest of the sea of life, in sorrow of heart I cry out to thee, O Mistress, and to thee do I flee, as to a calm haven. Lead up my life from corruption!
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
The uttermost abyss of sins hath encompassed me, and my spirit perisheth; but extend thou thine outstretched arm, O Mistress, and render me unharmed who approach thine icon, as thou didst Gabriel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Turn me not utterly away from thy countenance, O Mother of the never-waning Light; neither let me drown in the abyss of mine iniquities, that my life may escape corruption, and I may sacrifice with a voice of praise and confession.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Carrying a bodily temple completely defiled, I dare to offer my humble prayers to thee, the Most Pure Temple of the Eternal Word, in thine honourable temple, before thy holy icon. But thou, as the Merciful One, cleanse me in thy compassion.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone VIII: Even though thy holy icon was cast into the sea by the widow who was unable to save it from the foe, O Theotokos, yet hath it been shown to be the preserver of Mount Athos and the gatekeeper of the Monastery of Iveron, frightening away the enemy and delivering from all misfortunes and dangers them that honour thee in our homeland.
Ikos: Beholding the icon of the Mother of God which appeared in the pillar of fire, the company of fasters of Iveron cried out: O Master, count us worthy to receive the icon of Thy Mother, for the consolation of our earthly sojourn! And do thou, O Gabriel, dare to tread forth upon the sea and take the treasure re- vealed to us in thine arms, that it may be for us an ever-vigilant guardian, a protection and joy for all Christians.
Ode VII. Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fire stood in awe of the condescension of God; wherefore, the youths, dancing with joyous step in the furnace, as in a meadow, chanted: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
I have sinned, I have committed iniquities, I have acted unrighteously before Thee, O Lord Jesus! Yet as thou art good, O Theotokos my Mistress, quench the fire of His just wrath with thy fervent mediation, that we may chant unto Him: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
With the streams of thy compassions, O Mother of God, bedew us who are burning up in the furnace of temptations and misfortunes, that our enemies may be put to shame, and that all may understand that thou alone, O Mistress, art glorified throughout the whole universe.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We hymn thee, O Mother of God, as the throne of the King of glory, more honourable than the cherubim, the animate temple wherein the Lord madeth His abode, the firmament of the heavens wherein shone Christ, the Sun of righteousness; and we exalt thee supremely for all ages.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thou art the gladness of them that dwell in the wilds and the consolation and boast of the Imperial City, O Virgin Mary, who art all-hymned and exalted supremely forever.
Ode VIII. Irmos: Madly did the Chaldean tyrant heat the furnace sevenfold for the pious ones; but seeing them saved by a greater power, he cried out to the Creator and Deliverer: Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
The hosts of the angels hymn thee, the human race exalteth thee, and all creation blesseth thee, O all-pure Virgin Theotokos. Accept from me, who am unworthy, the praise I offer thee.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Sing, ye monks of Athos! Bless, O Iberian lands! O land of Russia, exalt supremely the good Mistress who gusheth forth rivers of miracles through her wonder-working icon! We praise, bless and bow down before thee, O Theotokos, hymning and exalting thee supremely for all ages!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
It is not only Holy Athos which is enlightened by the likeness of the Iveron icon; but the reigning city of Moscow was also adorned therewith, receiving miraculous help therefrom and acquiring a well-spring of consolation therein.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The land of Novgorod, and other cities and towns were likewise sanctified by copies of thine icon, and have been enlightened by miracles, O Mistress, crying out: Hymn ye the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Ode IX. Irmos: Heaven was stricken with awe, and the ends of the earth were amazed, that God appeared to men in the flesh, and that thy womb becameth more spacious than the heavens. Wherefore, the ranks of angels and men magnify thee who art the Theotokos.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
The mystery of the profundity of thy birthgiving striketh the intelligence of the angels with awe, O Virgin, and thine all-pure icon driveth the demons away; for, unable to bear the sight of its power, they flee and vanish. And we lovingly bow down and venerate it, and magnify thee, the Theotokos.
Most Holy Mother of God, save us.
Come, ye all, let us adore, fall down and exalt the Mother of God, who hath looked upon us, the humble, filling the hungry with good things and hath made a covenant of mercy with us by the appearance of her wondrous icon.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Virgin Theotokos, hope of Christians, extend unto our generation thy mercies which thou didst bestow upon our fathers. Protect and save us from all evil.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O most merciful helper of Christians, the tongue of neither angel nor man is able to hymn thee worthily, in that thou art more honourable than all creation and more glorious than earthly things. O Mistress, mercifully accept this entreaty offered thee by us. Ever save us, for in thee have we placed our trust.
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Troparion of the Icon, Tone I: The audacity of those who hate the image of the Lord * and the might of the impious * came godlessly to Nicaea, * and emissaries inhumanly interrogated the widow * who piously venerated the icon of the Mother of God; * but at night, she and her son cast the icon into the sea, crying aloud: * “Glory to thee, O pure one, * for the trackless sea hath given thee its breast! * Glory to thy straight journey, ** O thou who alone art incorrupt!”