Katavasia
of the Cross
Tone
8
Ode 1. Inscribing
the invincible weapon of the Cross upon the waters, /
Moses
marked a straight line before him with his staff and divided the
opening
a path for
Then
he marked a second line across the waters and united them in one, /
overwhelming
the chariots of Pharaoh. /
Therefore
let us sing to Christ our God, //
for
He hath been glorified.
Ode
3. The rod of Aaron is an image of this mystery,
/
for
when it budded it showed who should be priest.
/
So
in the Church, that once was barren, /
the
wood of the Cross hath now put forth flower, //
filling
her with strength and steadfastness.
Ode
4. O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy
dispensation: /
I
have considered Thy works, //
and
I have glorified Thy Godhead.
Ode
5. O thrice-blessed Tree, /
on
which Christ the king and Lord was stretched!
/
Through
thee the beguiler fell, who tempted mankind with the tree. /
He
was caught in the trap set by God, /
who
was crucified upon thee in the flesh, //
granting
peace unto our souls.
Ode
6. Jonah stretched out his hands in the form of
a cross /
within
the belly of the sea monster, /
plainly
prefiguring the redeeming Passion. /
Cast
out from thence after three days, /
he
foreshadowed the marvelous Resurrection of Christ our God, /
who
was crucified in the flesh //
and
enlightened the world by His Rising on the third day.
Ode
7. The senseless decree of the wicked tyrant, /
breathing
forth threats and blasphemy hateful to God, /
confused
the people. /
Yet
neither the fury of the wild beast nor the roaring of the fire /
could
frighten the three Children: /
but
standing together in the flame, /
fanned by the wind that brought refreshment as the dew, they sang: /
‘Blessed
art Thou and praised above all, //
O
our God and the God of our fathers.’
Ode
8. O ye Children, equal in number to the
Trinity, /
bless
ye God the Father and creator; /
sing
ye the praises of the Word who descended and changed the fire to dew;/
and
exalt ye above all for ever the most Holy Spirit, //
who
giveth life unto all.
Ode
9. O Theotokos, thou art a mystical
who
untilled hast brought forth Christ. /
He
hath planted upon the earth the life-giving Tree of the Cross: /
therefore
at its exaltation on this day, //
we
worship Him and thee do we magnify.
[the
following is done only on the feast itself]
Today
the death that came to man through eating of the tree, /
is
made of no effect through the Cross. /
For
the curse of our Mother Eve that fell on all mankind /
is
destroyed by the fruit of the pure Mother of God, //
whom
all the powers of heaven magnify.