Katavasia of the Meeting of our Lord

Tone 3

Ode 1. The Sun once shone with its rays upon dry land /

in the midst of the deep. /

For the water on both sides became firm as a wall /

while the people crossed the sea on foot, /

offering this song acceptable to God: //

Let us sing to the Lord; for gloriously is he glorified.

Ode 3. O Lord, the firm foundation of those that put their trust in Thee, /

do Thou confirm the Church, //

which Thou hast purchased with thy precious blood.

Ode 4. Thy virtue, O Christ, hath covered the heavens, /

for proceeding forth from the Ark of Thy sanctification, /

from Thine undefiled Mother, /

Thou hast appeared in the temple of Thy glory as an infant in arms, //

and the whole world hath been filled with Thy praise.

Ode 5. In a figure Isaiah saw God upon a throne,/

lifted up on high and borne in triumph by angels of glory; /

and he cried: ‘Woe is me! /

For I have seen beforehand God made flesh, //

Lord of the light that knows no evening and King of peace.’

Ode 6. The Elder, having seen with his eyes /

the salvation that was to come to the peoples, /

cried aloud unto Thee: //

‘O Christ that comest from God, Thou art my God.’

Ode 7. O Word of God who in the midst of the fire /

hast dropped dew upon the children /

as they discoursed on things divine, /

and Who hast taken up Thy dwelling in the pure Virgin: /

Thee do we praise as with piety we sing: //

O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.

Ode 8. Standing together in the unbearable fire, /

yet not harmed by the flame, /

the children, champions of godliness, sang a divine hymn: /

O all ye works of the Lord, //

bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.

Ode 9. In the shadow and the letter of the Law, /

let us, the faithful, discern a figure: /

every male child that opens the womb /

shall be sanctified to God. /

Therefore do we magnify the firstborn Word /

and Son of the Father without beginning, //

the firstborn Child of a Mother who hath not known a man.