Canon to the Holy Spirit
Ode 1
Irmos: Delivered from bitter bondage, Israel traversed the impassable as though it were dry land; and beholding the enemy drowned, they sang unto God as their Benefactor a song of victory for the wonder wrought by His high arm, for He hath been glorified.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Divine Holy Spirit, Who distributest gifts unto all men and doest all things by Thy will, inspire me with Thy luminous gift, that I may glorify Thee Who art one with the Father and the Son.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Comforter, Who hast given the heavenly Powers the grace of Thy sanctifying breath, cleanse my mind from filth, in Thy goodness, and show it to be filled with Thy holiness.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Holy Spirit of God, Who art believed to be the Source of life and the stream of natural goodness, revive my deadened mind by Thy working, and raise it up to sing of Thy Divinity.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: Having become the temple of God, O Virgin, by the descent of the Spirit and His co-operating power, O Full of Grace, Thou didst bear in the flesh the Word Who is without beginning, Who granteth the power of birth.
Ode 3
Irmos: Unto the Son Who was begotten of the Father without change before the ages, and in these latter days was incarnate without seed of the Virgin, unto Christ God let us cry aloud: “Thou Who hast raised up our horn, Holy art Thou, O Lord!”
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Since by nature He possesseth a comparable power of volition, as God, the Holy Spirit doth preserve the heavenly Powers, and doth teach them to cry out unceasingly: “Holy art Thou, O Lord!”
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
With unceasing songs we glorify with one accord the grace of the Spirit, which shone upon the divinely-speaking Apostles in the rushing wind, crying out with the bodiless hosts: “Holy art Thou, O Lord!”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We worship the one power, one Godhead, and one force, the one principle and kingdom of the Holy Trinity, singing and crying out in the thrice-holy voice: “Holy art Thou, O Lord!”
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: O light-bearing chariot and bright dwelling-place, O All-pure one, Who art higher than the Cherubim, for Thou didst carry God in Thine arms; wherefore, we all cry out to Thee, O Pure one: “Rejoice, O All-blessed one!”
Ode 4
Irmos: A rod from the root of Jesse, and a flower from it, O Christ, Thou hast budded forth from the Virgin; from the overshadowed mountain, thick with wood, Thou hast come, incarnate of her that knew not wedlock, O Word of God, immaterial and God. Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Bestowing great gifts upon us, the All-holy Spirit came upon the Apostles, as God, as Good, as filling all things, as deifying, as sanctifying, as the Creator of all, sovereign and self-ruling.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Sitting on the Father’s throne, O Christ, Thou didst send down the Comforter to Thy disciples, as Thou didst promise, O Saviour, Who cometh as God: sending Him Who is without hindrance, as the Creator of all, Who proceedeth from the Father.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The All-holy Spirit of old taught the tongues of the Prophets to speak of things to come; and now He declareth the mighty works of God through the tongues of the wise Apostles in the voice of the rushing wind, being present with them in essence.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: We call Thee the gate of the spiritual Light, O Mother of God, through which Christ entered unto us; He appeared beautiful in the brilliance of His Divinity, covered in the garment of the flesh, invisible as God, but now visible for our sake.
Ode 5
Irmos: Since Thou art the God of peace and Father of mercies, Thou hast sent unto us the Angel of Thy Great Counsel, Who granteth peace. Wherefore, having been guided to the light of the knowledge of God, and watching early from the night, we glorify Thee, O Lover of mankind.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Spirit of wisdom and fear of God, of truth, counsel, and understanding, Who grantest peace! Dwell in us, that having been sanctified by Thy indwelling, and watching early from the night, we may glorify Thee, O Lover of mankind.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Thou Who upholdest all things and art Lord of all, Whose preservation of the creation keepeth it from falling, grant us sanctification and illumination, that having been filled with Thy light-giving, and watching early from the night, we may glorify Thee, O Lover of mankind.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
He Who of old wrote the Law for Moses, now clearly setteth forth the decrees of the New Covenant and the law of grace, having written them in the hearts of the Apostles, when the Divine Comforter came, as the Lover of mankind.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: The curse of Eve, the mother of all, didst Thou annul by Thy birthgiving, O Virgin, having shone forth Christ, the blessing for the world. Wherefore, rejoicing, we bless Thee, truly confessing Thee as the Mother of God with mouth and mind.
Ode 6
Irmos: The sea-monster cast forth Jonas as a babe from its womb, just as it had received him; and the Word, having dwelt in the Virgin and taken flesh, passed through her, keeping her incorrupt; for He Who suffered no decay kept her who gave Him birth unharmed.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Fulfilling the promise to Thy disciples, O Christ, Thou didst send them the Spirit, Who granteth the working of great wonders and bestoweth tongues of fire, that the tongues of the nations may be filled with the knowledge of Thee.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Come to us, O Holy Spirit, making us partakers of Thy holiness, and of the light that knoweth no evening, and of the divine life, and of Thy most fragrant distribution; for Thou art the river of the Godhead, proceeding from the Father through the Son.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Save, O Comforter, those who sing with faith of Thy divine coming, and cleanse us from every defilement, as Thou art compassionate, and show us to be worthy of Thy brilliance, and make us pure mirrors of Thy divine light.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: The whole choir of the prophets, divinely instructed in secret, foretold the mystery of the unspeakable and divine incarnation of God the Word from Thee, O Virgin Mother; for Thou hast revealed the ancient and true Counsel of God.
Sedalen, Tone 8
The All-holy Spirit, having now descended upon the Apostles in the form of fire, filled the gatherings of the nations with awe: for through the tongues of fire, each heard them speak in his own dialect, O Lover of mankind. Wherefore, this wonder was indeed seen as madness by the unbelievers, but as salvation by the faithful. Therefore, we glorify Thy might, O Christ God, asking that rich forgiveness of transgressions be sent down upon Thy servants.
Ode 7
Irmos: The youths brought up in piety, holding the impious decree in no account, feared not the threat of the fire, but standing in the midst of the flame, they sang: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!”
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Now the promise of Christ’s pledge is fulfilled: for the coming of the Spirit showed to the disciples the division of tongues, which shone upon them from the One, pre-eminently Divine Trinity.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Of old, the agreement of the nations was divided in confusion; but now they are gathered into one harmony by the self-working of the honorable and Divine Spirit, Who is One of the pre-eminent Trinity.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As the wind of the Holy Spirit was borne from on high, the Apostles of Christ spoke of the mighty works of God in a wondrous manner, singing in accord: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!”
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: The three youths in the furnace prefigured the image of Thy birthgiving: for as they remained unharmed by the fire, so didst Thou remain pure, having received in Thy womb the unendurable Fire, the blessed God of our fathers.
Ode 8
Irmos: The dew-bearing furnace portrayed the image of a supernatural wonder: for it did not burn the youths whom it had received, just as the fire of the Divinity did not burn the Virgin’s womb when He entered it. Wherefore, let us sing: “Let all creation bless the Lord, and exalt Him unto all ages!”
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Holy Spirit, Who proceedest from God, grant holiness to all who believe in Thee; for Thou art holy and the Giver of holiness to men. Wherefore, let us sing: “Let all creation bless the Lord, and exalt Him unto all ages!”
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
As the Benefactor, Thou grantest the gift of goodness to those who sing of Thee, O Comforter: for Thou art the Giver of good things and the abyss of goodness. Wherefore, let us sing: “Let all creation bless the Lord, and exalt Him unto all ages!”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit is the Lord Who giveth life, self-moving, self-ruled, distributing the gifts of His grace as He willeth, sovereign, self-commanding, and without beginning. Wherefore, let us sing: “Let all creation bless the Lord, and exalt Him unto all ages!”
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: Who doth not marvel at the abundance of Thy compassion, O Word without beginning? For for our sake, Thou didst become poor, though Thou art rich, and didst dwell in the womb of the Holy Virgin. Wherefore, let us sing: “Let all creation bless the Lord, and exalt Him unto all ages!”
Ode 9
Irmos: Rejoice, O praise of virgins; rejoice, O Pure Mother, whom all creation magnifieth with divine songs!
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Lo! Thou hast sent down unto us another Comforter, Who is consubstantial with Thee, O Word, and shareth Thy Father’s throne.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Save from temptations, O Comforter, those who think on Thee as God, and glorify Thy pre-eternal existence.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Come to us, O Comforter, filling with Thy consolation those who bless Thee in Thy unspeakable glory.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: O Bride of God, all-undefiled one, by Thy prayers deliver from temptations those who worthily glorify and honor Thee.