The Katavasia of the Annunciation

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 wonders.

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 in thy divine glory //

vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.

Ode 4: He who sitteth in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, /

Jesus the true God, /

is come in a swift cloud /

and with His sinless hands he hath saved those who cry: //

Glory to Thy power, O Christ.

Ode 5: The whole world was amazed at thy divine glory: /

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

hast held in thy womb the God of all /

and hast given birth to an eternal Son, //

who rewards with salvation all who sing thy praises.

Ode 6: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial, /

the prophet Jonah cried out in the belly of the whale: /

‘Deliver me from corruption, //

O Jesus, King and Lord of hosts.’

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, /

with joy cry out: //

Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.