The Irmoi of the Entry of the Theotokos

First Canon

Ode 1: I shall open my mouth, /

and the Spirit will inspire it, /

and I shall utter the words of my song to the Queen and Mother: /

I shall be seen radiantly keeping feast //

and joyfully praising her entry.

Ode 3: O Mother of God, thou living and plentiful fount, /

give strength to those united in spiritual fellowship, /

who sing hymns of praise to thee: /

and on the day of thy venerable entry //

vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.

Ode 4: Perceiving the unsearchable purpose of God /

concerning Thine incarnation from a Virgin, O Most High, /

the prophet Habakkuk cried: //

Glory to Thy power, O Lord.

Ode 5: The whole world was amazed at thy venerable entry: /

for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, /

thyself a Temple most pure, /

hast gone within the Temple of God, //

bestowing peace upon all who sing thy praises.

Ode 6: As we celebrate this sacred and solemn feast of the Mother of God, /

let us come, clapping our hands, O people of the Lord, //

and give glory to God who was born of her.

Ode 7: The holy children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire, /

refusing to worship created things in place of the Creator, /

and they sang in joy: //

‘Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O Lord God of our Fathers.’

Ode 8: Hearken, O pure Virgin Maid: /

let Gabriel tell thee the counsel of the Most High that is ancient and true. /

Make ready to receive God: /

for through thee the Incomprehensible comes to dwell with mortal men. /

Therefore I cry rejoicing: //

O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.

Ode 9: Let no profane hand touch the living Ark of God, /

but let the lips of the faithful, chanting unceasingly /

the words of the angel to the Theotokos, /

cry out with joy: //

Truly art thou high above all, O pure Virgin.