JANUARY

HAVING THIRTY ONE DAYS

On the 1st of the Month —The Circumcision of Our

Lord Jesus Christ
and commemoration of our Father among the
Saints Basil the Great.

AT VESPERS
After the Opening Psalm we recite the 1st section of Blessed is the
man. At Lord, I have cried we insert 6 Stichera and sing 3 of the Feast
and 3 of the Saint.

Idiomel Stichera of the Feast.

Tone 4.

The Saviour in coming down to aid the human race accepted

circumvolution in swaddling clothes; he did not abhor circumcision
of the flesh, when eight days old in respect of his Mother, without
beginning in respect of his Father. To him let us believers cry aloud:
You are our God; have mercy on us. (Twice)

The same Tone.

God, the supremely good, was not ashamed to be severed by

circumcision of the flesh, but gave us himself as a type and example
to all for salvation. For the Maker of the Law fulfils the requirements
of the Law and the sayings of the Prophets concerning him. You who
hold all things in the hollow of your hand and were wrapped in
swaddling clothes, Lord, glory to you!

Prosomia of the Saint.

Tone 4. Called from the highest.

Called by a name which means royal, when you had shepherded the
royal priesthood, the holy nation of Christ with true wisdom and
knowledge, Father, then the king of kings and Lord of all, the Son
eternally of one mind and without beginning with his Begetter,
adorned you, Basil, with a diadem of the kingdom; implore him to
save and enlighten our souls.

Dazzling in the robes of high priesthood, you proclaimed with joy

the Gospel of the kingdom, Basil, pouring out for the Church
teachings of orthodoxy; now enlightened by them we confess one
Godhead in a Father almighty, an only-begotten Word of God and a
divine Spirit, and we glorify it, inseparable in Three Persons; Implore
this one Godhead to save and enlighten our souls.

United and dwelling with the heavenly choirs, whose life you
rivalled, Father Basil, by the radiant sincerity of your way of life, as
you lived among those on earth like one without flesh while still in
the body, implore Christ our God to save those who delight in your
teaching, inspired by God, from dangers and the darkness of
ignorance, and to enlighten our souls.

Glory Tone 8. By Anatolios.

You became a lover of wisdom, Venerable Father, and, preferring a

life lived in companionship with God to all existing things, you
abandoned concern for death, as befitted your life; for having
destroyed for yourself the passions of the flesh by labours of self-
mastery and by care for the Law of God, having kept dignity of your
soul unenslaved by an abundance of virtue, you subdued all fleshly
thought by the spirit; and so, having hated the flesh and the world
and ruler of the world, as you stand before Christ, ask for our souls
his great mercy.

Both now The same Tone.

The Saviour in coming down to aid the human race accepted

circumvolution in swaddling clothes; he did not abhor circumcision
of the flesh, when eight days old in respect of his Mother, without
beginning in respect of his Father. To him let us believers cry aloud:
You are our God; have mercy on us.

Entrance, the prokeimenon of the day and the Readings.

The Reading is from Genesis.

[17:1-14]
The Lord appeared to Abram and said to him: I am your God. Be
well pleasing before me and be blameless. I will establish my
covenant between me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly;
and you will be the father of a multitude of nations. And your name
will not be called Abram, but you will be Abraham, because I have
established you as father of many nations. And I will increase you
greatly, and I will establish you for nations, and kings will come
forth from you. And I will set my covenant between me and you, and
between your seed after you for their generations for an eternal
covenant, and I will be their God. And Abraham fell upon his face
and worshipped the Lord. And God said to Abraham: You are to
keep my covenant and your seed after you to their generations. And
this is the covenant which you are to keep between me and between
your seed after you to their generations. Every male among you shall
be circumcised; and you shall circumcise the foreskin of your flesh,
and it shall be a sign of a covenant between me and you all. And
every male child among you shall be circumcised at eight days for
your generations. And an uncircumcised male, that is not
circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin on the eighth day, that soul
shall be destroyed from its race; because it has rejected my covenant.

The Reading is from Proverbs.

[8:22-30]

The Lord created me the beginning of his ways for his works. Before
the age he founded me, in the beginning before he made the earth.
And before he made the deeps and before the springs of waters came
forth. Before the mountains were established and before all the hills
he begets me. The Lord made countries and uninhabited places and
the high inhabited parts of the earth. When he was preparing the
heaven I was present with him, and when he marked out his throne
upon the winds. When he strengthened the clouds above and
secured the springs of the earth under heaven; when he gave his
commandment to the sea, and the waters will not transgress his
order; and when he was making the foundations of the earth, I was
by him arranging all things. I was that in which he delighted; and
daily I rejoiced in his presence at every moment.

The Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon.

Selection
The mouth of a just man distils wisdom; the lips of men know graces.
The mouth of the wise meditates wisdom; justice delivers them from
death. When a just man dies hope is not lost; for a just son is born for
life, and among his good things he will pluck the fruit of justice.
There is light at all times for the just, and they will find grace and
glory from the Lord. The tongue of the ise knows what is good, and
wisdom will take its rest in their hearts. The Lord loves holy hearts;
while all who are blameless in the way are acceptable to him. The
wisdom of the Lord will enlighten the face of the understanding; for
she anticipates those who desire her before they know it, and is
easily contemplated by those who love her. One who rises for her at
dawn will not toil, and one who keeps vigil because of her will be
without care. For she goes about seeking those who are worthy of
her, and shows itself favourably to those in the ways. Wickedness
will never prevail against wisdom. Because of this I too became a
lover of her beauty and became her friend, and I sought her out from
my youth, and I sought to take her as my bride; because the Master
of all things loved her. For she is an initiate of the knowledge of God
one who chooses his works. Her toils are virtues; she teaches sobriety
and prudence; justice and courage, than which nothing is more
useful in human life. If anyone longs for much experience, she knows
how to compare things of old and things that are to come. She knows
the twists of words and the explanations of riddles; she foresees signs
and wonders and the outcomes of seasons and times. And to all she
is a good counsellor. Because immortality is in her, and fame in the
fellowship of her words. Therefore I appealed to the Lord and
besought him and said from my whole heart: God of my Fathers and
Lord of mercy, who made all things by your word, and established
humanity by your wisdom to be master over the creatures that had
come into being by you, and to order the world in holiness and
justice; give me Wisdom who sits by your throne, and do not reject
me from among your children, for I am your servant and the son of
your maid servant. Send her out from your holy dwelling and from
the throne of your glory, that she may be present and teach me what
is pleasing before you. And let her guide me with knowledge and
guard me with her glory. For all the thoughts of mortals are
wretched and their ideas are unstable.

At the Liti. The idiomel of the Saint of the Monastery and the
following idiomel stichera.
 Tone 3. By Germanos.

You made Christ, the source of life, dwell in your soul through your
pure life, Basil, teacher of mysteries, and so you poured out rivers of
orthodox doctrines for the inhabited world; watered from which the
faithful people of the Church offers grace, as the fruit of lips that
confess, to him who has glorified your memory to age on age.

The same Tone.

Myrrh of the grace poured out upon you anointed you to minister
the Gospel of the kingdom of heaven, Basil revealer of God; for you
became a sweet fragrance of Christ and filled the inhabited world
with the scent of his knowledge; and so receiving the voices of your
servants with kindness, ask for us who honour you his great mercy.

By Vyzas. The same Tone.

Wrapped in the priestly robe, Basil, champion of the Trinity, you

took your stand before the judge's throne, braving danger for the
faith; and having displayed an athlete's determination you shamed
the fury of the Governor, who vaunted in the might of impiety; and
you preferred the excision of your inner parts to him who zealously
threatened such things; and becoming a Martyr by choice, you have
been bound with a garland of victory by Christ, who has great
mercy.

Glory. Tone 6.

Grace was poured out on your lips, Venerable Father, and you
became shepherd of Christ's Church, teaching the rational sheep to
believe in a consubstantial Trinity in one Godhead.

Both now. Of the Feast. Tone 8.

The Saviour in coming down to aid the human race accepted

circumvolution in swaddling clothes; he did not abhor circumcision
of the flesh, when eight days old in respect of his Mother, without
beginning in respect of his Father. To him let us believers cry aloud:
You are our God; have mercy on us.

Aposticha. Idiomel Stichera.

Tone 1. By Vyzas.
O godly and sacred bee of Christ’s Church, all-blessed Basil; for you
armed yourself with the sting of divine longing and wounded the
blasphemies of heresies hated by God; and you treasured up for the
souls of the faithful the sweetness of true religion; and now, as you
pass through the divine meadows of inviolate pasture, remember us
also as you stand before the consubstantial Trinity.

The same Tone.

Verse: My tongue will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart

understanding.

By Monk Basil.

You have received the imprint of the virtues of all the Saints, our
Father Basil: the meekness of Moses; the zeal of Elias; the confession
of Peter; the theology of John; like Paul you do not cease to cry out:
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is scandalised, and I am not
on fire? Therefore as you now dwell with them, intercede that our
souls may be saved.

2nd Tone.

Verse: The mouth of the just will meditate wisdom; and his tongue
speak judgement.

By Monk John.

When you had meditated on the nature of what exists and observed
the instability of all things, you found the only unmoved Being, the
Creator of all things who is above being; to him you attached
yourself and cast away the longing for things which are not.
Intercede that we too may find divine longing, Basil teacher of
mysteries.

Glory. Tone 6.

You received the grace of wonders from heaven and held up to

public scorn the error of idols by your doctrines, and so you are the
glory and support of High Priests, all-blest Basil, and the pattern of
the teaching of all the Fathers. As you have boldness towards Christ,
implore him that our souls may be saved.
 Both now. Tone 8.

God the supremely good was not ashamed to be severed by

circumcision of the flesh, but gave us himself as a type and example
for all for salvation. For the Maker of the Law fulfilled the
requirements of the Law and the sayings of the Prophets concerning
him. You who hold all things in the hollow of your hand and were
wrapped in swaddling clothes, Lord, glory to you!

Apolytikion of the Saint. Tone 1.

Your sound has gone out into all the earth, for it has received your
word, through which you taught in a manner fitting God; the nature
of what exists you made clear; you set in order the conduct of
mankind; O Royal Priesthood, venerable Father, intercede with
Christ God to grant us his great mercy.

Another, of the Feast.

Tone 1. Citizen of the desert.

Without change you took a human form, by nature being God, O

most compassionate Lord; and fulfilling the Law, you willingly
accepted circumcision in the flesh, that you might banish shadows,
and strip away the covering of our passions. Glory to your goodness;
glory to your compassion; glory to your ineffable condescension, O
Word!

And Dismissal.
 AT MATINS
After the 1st reading from the Psalter, Kathisma. Tone 5.

The Word without beginning.

Let us all praise Basil as a royal adornment of Christ’s Church, the

inexhaustible treasury of doctrines; for he through these has taught
us to reverence a holy Trinity, united by being, but distinct by
persons.

Glory. Tone 5. Your tomb, O Saviour.

Wise Basil, as you stand before the Trinity, implore that we, who sing
your praise and honour your memory, may on the day of judgement
receive grace, mercy and pardon of offences; that with mouth and
heart we may glorify the only lover of humankind.

Both now. Of the Feast. Same melody.

The Maker of the world and the Master of all things, who exists
above with the Father and the Spirit, is circumcised on earth as a
babe of eight days. Truly your works are divine and wondrous! For
you, Master, as fulfilment of the Law, are circumcised for our sake.

After the 2nd reading, Kathisma.

Tone 8. The Wisdom and Word.

Drawing out in a manner fitting God the mystical wealth of ineffable

wisdom, you have treasured up for all streams of orthodoxy, which
with divine inspiration delight hearts of the believers, but fittingly
drown the doctrines of the unbelievers. Therefore through both by
exertions of true religion you were revealed as an invincible
champion of the Trinity. High Priest Basil, intercede with Christ God
to grant forgiveness of offences to those who feast with love your
holy memory.

Glory. The same.

Both now. Of the Feast. Tone 4.

As you are the depth of love for humankind, Master, you put on the
form of the slave and were circumcised in the flesh, granting to all
humankind your great mercy.

After the Polyeleos, of the Saint.

Tone 8. The Wisdom and Word.

By the power of the divine words you destroyed the gloomy heresies,
sank all the insolence of Arius; for to mortals you preached the Spirit
as God, and by the stretching out of your hands you put enemies to
death, dispelled all the service of Sabellios; and abolished all the
ideas of Nestorios. High Priest Basil, intercede with Christ God to
grant forgiveness of offences to those who feast with love your holy
memory.

Glory. The same melody.

The grace of your godlike words and the mystical elevation of your
doctrines has become for a ladder of divine ascent, Father; for you
gained a spiritual trumpet and by it proclaimed the divine teachings.
Therefore you have made your dwelling in a place of green pasture
and obtained the reward of your struggles. High Priest Basil,
intercede with Christ God to grant forgiveness of offences to those
who feast with love your holy memory.

Both now. The same melody.

The Master and Maker of all things, taking flesh from your
immaculate womb, revealed you as protectress of humankind, All-
blameless Lady; therefore we all fly to you for refuge, asking pardon
of offences, and to be rescued from everlasting punishment and
every outrage of the dread ruler of the world; therefore we cry out to
you: intercede with your Son and God to grant forgiveness of
offences to those who worship your all-holy birth giving.

The Anavathmi, the 1st Antiphon of the Tone 4.

Prokeimenon. 4th Tone.

My mouth with speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart

understanding.
Verse: Hear this, all you Nations; give ear all you dwellers upon
earth.

Let everything that has breath.

Gospel according to John.

Psalm 50. Glory. At the prayers of the High Priest.

Both now. At the prayers of the Mother of God.

Then the Idiomel. Tone 6.

Grace was poured out on your lips, Venerable Father, and you
became shepherd of Christ’s Church, teaching the rational sheep to
believe in a consubstantial Trinity in one Godhead.

The Canons of the Feast and of the Saint.

The Canon of the Feast.
A Composition by Stephanos.
Ode 1. Tone 2. The Irmos.

’Come, you peoples, let us sing a song to Christ God, who parted the
sea and guided the people he had taken from the slavery of the
Egyptians; for he has been glorified’.

The eighth day, which bears the image of the age to come, is made
radiant and hallowed, O Christ, by your voluntary poverty; for on it
you were circumcised in the flesh according to the law.

Christ receives circumcision on the eighth day from his birth; and
today he reduces its shadow by making the light of the new grace
dawn.

Of the Saint. The same Irmos.

A composition of John of Damascus.

Yours is the voice that should have been with those who wish to
undertake your praises, Basil; but as you judge kindly, Father, grant
us grace ungrudgingly.
You disciplined the passionate surging of the tyrannous flesh by
your love of the philosophic life; and so you dwell in undefiled
palaces, Father Basil.

You walked the rough way of the virtues and so you attained the
smooth and undisturbed floor of heaven, and have been revealed,
Basil, as a model for all.

Effectively you circumcised the passions of both the soul and body
with the sword of the Spirit; while you offered yourself as a sacrifice
to the Master.

You became an initiate of ineffable mysteries, Father Basil, into which

you initiated the royal priesthood of Christ, making the light of the
Trinity blaze out for us.

Theotokion.

Who will be able worthily to tell forth your conception beyond

understanding? For you gave birth in the flesh to God, O All-holy,
who has appeared to us as Saviour of us all.

Katavasia.

’The Lord mighty in wars uncovered the foundations of the deep and
led his servants through dry ground, covering their opponents in the
deep; for he has been glorified’.

Another.

’Israel trod the storm-tossed surging of

The sea, as dry land once again revealed.
While the black waters utterly concealed
Egypt’s chief captains in a watery grave,
Through strength most mighty of the Master’s hand’.

Ode 3. The Irmos.

’Establish us in you, O Lord, who slew sin by a tree, and plant your
fear in the hearts of us who sing your praise’.
The Word, who is beyond being, became incarnate and was
circumcised to bring the Law to an end; but he has given us the first
fruits of divine grace and unsullied life.

Fulfiller of the Law, as being not hostile to God, Christ was revealed
as incarnate, and vouchsafed willingly to be circumcised on the
eighth day.

Of the Saint. The same Irmos.

When you had become filled with all learning, no only that which is
below and well-worn, but even more that which better, you were
revealed, Basil, as a light for the world.

Grounded in the fear of the Lord; for this is the beginning of wisdom;
you were given wings by the love of the better wisdom, O Basil.

Basil you wisely you took the path of practice and showed practice to
the path to more divine contemplation, and you were clearly
initiated into the knowledge of things that are.

Your commemoration, Father, coincided and shone out together with

the Christ’s nativity; the ineffable mystery of which you made
manifest by your teachings.

Theotokion.

Without seed you conceived in the womb, and you gave birth
ineffably to God, on whom, pure Ever-virgin, the Powers of heaven
dare not look.

Katavasia.

’The Lord who gives strength to our Kings, and exalts the horn of his
anointed ones, is born of a Virgin; but now is coming for Baptism;
and so let us, the faithful, cry aloud: None is holy as our God, and
none is righteous but you, O Lord’.

Another.

’All we who have been freed from ancient snares,

Ravening lions too, whose jaws are smashed,
Let us rejoice, and open wide our mouths,
Weaving from words a song now for the Word,
Whose pleasure is bestowing gifts on us’.

Kathisma. Tone 8. The Wisdom and Word.

Opening your mouth with God’s word, you uttered wisdom, Herald
of light, and sowed in the inhabited world thought inspired by God;
You truly confirmed the doctrines of the Fathers and appeared in the
manner of Paul a champion of the faith. Therefore you are a fellow
citizen of the Angels, and have been declared their companion, blest
Saint. Basil, revealer of heaven, intercede with Christ God to grant
forgiveness of offences to those who feast with love your holy
memory.

Glory. Tone 3. Of godly faith.

You watered the whole inhabited world by your teachings, as by

water, sowing doctrines in it; for Christ the source of life truly took
his rest in you, Basil; as you have gained boldness, O inspired by
God, implore him to grant us his great mercy.

Both now. Today the Virgin.

The Lord of all things undergoes circumcision, and as he is good

circumcises mortals’ faults; today he gives salvation to the world,
while in the highest the Creator’s high priest and bearer of light
rejoices, Basil the great initiate of Christ.

Ode 4. The Irmos.

’I heard the report of your dispensation, Lord, and I glorified you,

only lover of humankind’.

Circumcision has ceased since Christ was willingly circumcised,

saving the multitudes of the nations by grace.

The eighth day, on which the master Christ was circumcised, is an

image of the unending life of the age to come.

Of the Saint. The same Irmos.

As the Bride, the Church, is made lovely by the birth of Christ, so too
she is by your memory, O all-blessed.
Proud to be a child of God, Basil, devoutly you did not lower the
Godhead to be a creature.

Unhumbled you appeared allied to God, Basil, for by his command

you were humbled to all.

You have been given to the Church by God as a palisade and stout
wall, Basil all-blessed.

To those opposed to God you appeared as a cutting axe and a fire

consuming deception, Father Basil.

Theotokion.

We implore you, Immaculate, who conceived God without seed, to

intercede for ever for your servants.

Katavasia.

The one whom you called: A Voice crying in the wilderness, heard
your voice, Lord, when you thundered upon many waters, bearing
witness to your Son. Wholly filled with the Spirit that was present, he
cried out: You are Christ, Wisdom and Power of God.

Another.

’Cleansed by the torch of mystic contemplation,

Mortals’ renewal now a Prophet sings,
Making his voice, by Spirit struck, ring out,
Telling of Word ineffable made flesh,
By whom the strength of mighty ones was smashed’.

Ode 5. The Irmos.

’Giver of the light and maker of the ages, Lord, guide us by the light
of your commands; for we know no other God but you’.

From a Virgin Mother, Lord, you came forth beyond explanation,

and did not disdain to clothe yourself in mortals’ form, so as a babe
in accordance with the law you fulfilled the Law.

Of the Saint. The same Irmos.

Truly the Church holds a double feast today: of the Circumcision as a
babe of the Master who appeared on earth, and of the memory of a
wise and thrice-blessed servant.

Christ the light beyond understanding dwelt in you, venerable

Father, and revealed you as a torch of light for the world; and so we
sing the praise of your memory, Basil.

Not Moses the giver of the Law, nor Joseph before the Law was a
distributor of nourishment like you; for you, Basil, were revealed as
host at the banquet of God’s flesh.

The Genesis of the universe, dimly recounted to Moses on Sinai, you

interpreted to all unfolding it from divine treasuries, Basil all-
blessed.

Theotokion.

To you, who gave birth to Christ, the creator of the universe, we cry:
Hail, Pure One! Hail, who made the Light dawn for us! Hail, who
contained the God who cannot be contained.

Katavasia.

Jesus, the Prince of life, has come to abolish the condemnation of

Adam the first-formed; for though as God he has no need of
cleansing, for the fallen he is cleansed in Jordan; in which he slew the
enmity and grants the peace which passes all understanding.

Another.

’Washed by the cleansing of the Spirit from

The poison of the dark and filthy foe,
We set out on a new, unerring path
To gladness unattainable, that those
Alone whom God has reconciled attain’.

Ode 6. The Irmos.

’A final abyss of sins has surrounded me, but as you did the Prophet
Jonas, Lord, Lord, bring me up from corruption’.
The Law has come to an end since Christ became an infant, and
revealed as the fulfiller of the Law he accepted circumcision and
abolished the curse of the Law.

Sabbaths and Circumcision, the proud boast of the Hebrews, have

ceased now that Christ has been made manifest, and the spring of
grace has shone.

Of the Saint. The same Irmos.

Unstintingly you nourished souls of the poor that were wasted by

famine, and you filled the hearts of those who hungered, Basil, with
every godly joy.

With the bee’s love of toil, Basil, you gathered every flower of virtue;
and becoming skilled in them you are called blessed.

You hastened to break free of the world and to live your life with
God; and so Father Basil, in wisdom you have gained things that
abide for things that are transient and unstable.

Theotokion.

A bush on Sinai that clung to fire unburned prefigured you, a Mother

ever-virgin, O Mary without bridegroom Mother of God.

Katavasia.

The voice of the Word, the lampstand of the Light, the morning star,
the Forerunner of the Sun, cried out in the wilderness to all the
peoples: Repent and be cleansed; for see, Christ is near, who ransoms
the world from corruption.

Another.

’The Father’s joyful voice made manifest

The Dear One, that he from the womb had uttered,
In truth, he said, this is my offspring of
The selfsame nature. From the human race
He, bringing light, has sprung, my living Word,
By providence divine a mortal man.’

Kontakion. Tone 4. Today you have appeared

Today you have appeared to the inhabited world, and your light, O
Lord, has been signed upon us, who with knowledge sing your
praise: You have come, you have appeared, the unapproachable
Light.

The Ikos.

Bowl of temperance, mouth of wisdom and foundation of doctrines,

Basil the Great shines spiritually for all. Come then, let us stand in
the house of God, gazing fervently and delighting in his wonders;
and so made radiant by their light as by great brilliance, we may be
warmed by the purifying spirit of his way of life, imitating his faith,
his zeal and his humility; through which he was revealed as truly a
house of God; to whom we cry out, as we sing his praise: venerable
Father Basil, Revealer of heaven.

Synaxarion.
January, which has 31 days.
The day has 10 hours, the night 14.

On the 1st of the month we celebrate the Circumcision according to

the flesh of our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Verses.
When Christ was circumcised, Law was cut off;
The Law cut off, at once grace entered in.

On the same day, Commemoration of our Father among the Saints

Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia.

Verses.
Lives Basil, for his death was in the Lord.
Lives he with us, as speaking from his books.
Basil, you died on the first on the month that is named after Janus.

On the same day the holy Martyr Theodotos died by the sword.

Verses.
Says Theodotos I am not content
Unless my head is cut off for God’s sake.

On the same day, Saint Gregory, father of Saint Gregory the Divine,
died in peace.
 Verses.
Father you were enriched when at your death
Your eulogy was spoken by your son.

At their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us.

Ode 7. The Irmos.

’When the golden image was being worshipped in the plain of Deira,
your three Youths despised the godless decree; but cast into the
midst of the fire, they were refreshed by dew and sang: Blessed are
you, the God of our Fathers’.

The nativity of Christ is all radiant and bright, and traces out today
the mystery of the renewal of the age to come; because by the
regulation of the Law the Saviour is circumcised , not as God, but as
a mortal and the fulfilment of the Law.

Fulfilling the Law the Maker of the Law is today willingly

circumcised in the flesh, bringing about the circumcision of the
winter of sin, and granting grace to cry: Blessed are you the God of
our Fathers.

Of the Saint. The same Irmos.

The Son, the image of the Father, and the Spirit of the Son have
appeared; while you, O Basil, are an unsullied mirror of the Spirit
and a house for the whole Trinity; blest is your memory; and those
who glorify it are glorified in return.

Sinking your mind deep into the unfathomable depths of God, and
gathering the pearl of knowledge of great price, you enriched the
world with wisdom and taught it to cry: Blessed are you the God of
our Fathers.

O harmony of mind, sacred pair, soul as one though separated in two

bodies, united by godly love, Basil in Gregory and Gregory, now
intercede with Christ on behalf of your flock.

Father of orphans, defender of widows, wealth for paupers,

consolation of the weak, pilotage for those with wealth, staff of old
age, guidance of youth and rule of virtue for monks you have been
declared, O Basil.
Cleansing your mind of every miry defilement, Basil, you looked
deep into the things of the Spirit by the Spirit which you longed for;
therefore as you praised the Trinity, you cried with boldness: Blessed
are you, the God of our Fathers.

Theotokion.

Moses foresaw you on Mount Sinai as a bush that flamed, Pure

Virgin, who bore within you unconsumed the unendurable radiance
of the ineffable Being, united to the solidity of one flesh of the two
natures in it.

Katavasia.

’The whistling wind of dew and the descent of God’s Angel

preserved the devout youths unharmed as they walked in the fiery
furnace; therefore, refreshed with dew in the flame, they sang in
thanksgiving: O highly exalted, the Lord and God of our Fathers,
blessed are you’.

Another.

"He burned the heads of dragons in the stream,

Who once within the furnace stilled the flame,
Which leapt high in the air around the youths.
While with the Spirit’s dew he washes clean
The mist hard to restrain that comes from sin’.

Ode 8. The Irmos.

"God the Word, who sustains all things by his ineffable wisdom and
brought them out of nothing into being, bless him as Lord, all you
works of the Lord".

On the eighth day the Master is circumcised as a babe and receives

the name Jesus, because he is the Saviour of the world and Lord.

The all-glorious memory of the High Priest is fittingly linked with

the nativity of Christ; as we honour it with faith we hymn the Lord.

Of the Saint. The same Irmos.

Him who gave Basil to the world in his ineffable providence as a
light of true religion and trumpet of theology, bless him, as Lord, all
you works of the Lord.

Him, who with abundant activity made his dwelling in wise Basil,
and through him preached true theology, bless him, as Lord, all you
works of the Lord.

We, who unceasingly enjoy your godlike words, Basil, as we keep

festival in your memory, cry out: Bless the Lord, all you works of the
Lord.

You sent out into the world, Basil, the beams of your words, which
lighted it to honour one nature of the Trinity, as it cried: You his
works, bless the Lord.

Theotokion.

God the Word, who came forth from the Father before the ages and
beyond time, and who in these last days dawned from a Virgin, bless
him, as Lord, all you works of the Lord.

Katavasia.

’The furnace in Babylon, as it poured forth dew, revealed a

marvellous mystery: that the Jordan was about to receive in its
streams immaterial fire and contain the Creator as he was baptised in
the flesh; whom peoples bless and highly exalt to all the ages’.

Another.

’Creation knows that it has been set free;

Those once in darkness are now sons of light.
Alone the captain of the darkness groans.
The whole inheritance of nations that
Was once in misery, blesses the cause.’

Ode 9.
MEGALYNARIA
Sung in this Ode. Tone 2.

Magnify, O my soul, her who is greater in honour and more glorious

than the hosts on high. (Twice).
Magnify, O my soul, him was circumcised in the flesh according to
the Law.

Magnify, O my soul, him who received circumcision on the eighth

day.

Today the Master is circumcised in the flesh as babe, fulfilling the

Law.

Today the Master was circumcised in the flesh and was named Jesus.

Others for the Canon of the Saint.

Magnify, O my soul, Basil the Great, among the Hierarchs.

Magnify, O my soul, Basil, the Great, of Caesarea.

Magnify, O my soul, the shining beacon of the inhabited world.

Magnify, O my soul, one who has adorned the Church of Christ.

Glory.

Magnify, O my soul, the might of the three-personned and

undivided Godhead.

Both now.

Magnify, O my soul, her who rescued us from the curse.

The Irmos.

’From your virgin womb you ineffably gave a body to God who
dawned as the beacon before the sun, and who dwelt among us in
the body, O blessed, all-pure Mother of God, we magnify you’.

Passing beyond the bounds of all human nature, Christ is born of a

Virgin, and as the letter of the law lays down is circumcised in the
flesh and shown to be one who fulfils the Law.

Come, let us with holiness celebrate the festival of the glorious name
day of the Master, Christ; for in a manner fitting God he is called
Jesus today; with this let us also magnify the memory of the
Hierarch.
 Of the Saint. The same Irmos.

As a faithful sheep of Christ the Chief Shepherd you followed, Basil,

in his life-bearing steps; for you for you gave up your soul, all-
blessed Father, to the tyrant, nobly braving danger for the Church.

When he perceived the most sacred body of Christ’s Church adorned

by your high priesthood, wise Basil, the all-destructive tyrant fell,
struck by lightning; for he could endure the beam of the Spirit that
was in you.

You were counted worthy, Basil, of the throne of the Apostles, the
choir of Christ’s Champions, the tent of the Patriarchs, the delight of
the Just and the choir of the Prophets; for you became an initiate of
the Mother of God and a worshipper of the Trinity.

Theotokion.

The Lord, who alone covers his upper chambers with the waters,
reins back the sea and dries up the deeps, taking flesh from you, pure
Virgin, hastens from Bethlehem to Jordan, to be baptised in the flesh.

Katavasia.

’Every tongue is at a loss to praise you worthily; even a spirit above

the world reels to sing your praise, Mother of God; but as you are
good, accept our faith, for you know our love inspired by God; for
you are the protectress of Christians; we magnify you’.

Another.

’O how the wonders of your giving birth

Surpass the mind, pure Bride and blessed Mother.
Through whom we have obtained entire salvation,
Rightly we praise you as our benefactress,
Bringing as gift to you, a hymn of thanks’.

Exapostilarion.
By the sacred Spirit.

With love of true love of wisdom, Father, you circumcised the

covering of your soul and were revealed to the world as a sun by
your wonders, and flooded the minds of the faithful with light, O
Basil, worshipper of the Trinity and initiate of the Mother of God.

Of the Feast. The same melody.

The Creator of the ages, who fulfilled the law as a babe of eight days,
is circumcised in the flesh; and he is wrapped in swaddling clothes as
a mortal and he is nourished with milk, who holds all things by his
infinite strength as God, and ends them in an instant.

At Lauds we insert 4 Stichera, and we sing Prosomia.

Tone 5.

He who was born ineffably from the Father without division and
without change as Word and God from God, abiding in unaltered
Godhead, undergoes Circumcision in the flesh; and so, in accordance
with the Law he who is beyond the Law ransoms all from the curse
of the Law and grants the blessing from on high. Therefore as we
sing our praise we hymn his supremely loving condescension and
give glory with thanksgiving, as we implore him that our souls may
be given his great mercy.

When by adoption you had become a son of God, by the rebirth of

divine Baptism, you confessed that he who is in nature and truth and
before the ages the Son and Word of God is consubstantial with the
Father and like him without beginning, Venerable Father; and by the
splendour of your words you fenced the ungated mouths of heretics.
Therefore you have come to dwell in the palaces on high, where you
reign with Christ, who alone reigns by nature, and who distributes
richly to the world his great mercy.

You entered within a heavenly Temple as a sacred Hierarch,

wearing, like a holy robe, action and contemplation, the beginnings
of wisdom, and now, as you act as priest at the altar on high,
Venerable Father, and perform the immaterial liturgy, remember,
compassionate, all-blessed Basil, those who celebrate your sacred and
all honoured memory, as you intercede with Christ, who grants the
world his great mercy.

Wholly consecrated to God, and from childhood dedicated to him in

every way, irradiated by the rays of the wisdom beyond wisdom,
you made clear the knowledge of what exists; radiantly explaining
and wisely expounding the orderly arrangement of what exists,
setting out the principles of a more godlike knowledge. Therefore we
proclaim you to be a godlike Teacher, inspired by God, a light-
bearing Beacon of the Church, as we sing the praise of Christ, who
grants the world his great mercy.

Glory. Tone 6.

Grace was poured out on your lips, Venerable Father, and you
became shepherd of Christ’s Church, teaching the rational sheep to
believe in a consubstantial Trinity in one Godhead.

Both now. Of the Feast. Tone 8.

The Saviour in coming down to aid the human race accepted

circumvolution in swaddling clothes; he did not abhor circumcision
of the flesh, when eight days old in respect of his Mother, without
beginning in respect of his Father. To him let us believers cry aloud:
You are our God; have mercy on us.

Great Doxology and Dismissal.

AT THE LITURGY
Typika and from the Canon the 3rd Ode of the Feast and 6th Ode of
the Saint.

Entrance.

Come let us worship... Son of God, circumcised in the flesh, save us

who sing to you: Alleluia!

Communion.

Praise the Lord from the heavens [as on Sundays] and The just will
be held in everlasting memory.

Note that on this day the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great is celebrated
because of his sacred and revered commemoration.

[The details of the different typika vary a good deal for the Liturgy.
Some permit Antiphons instead of the Typika; some give as the
Entrance chant, Son of God, wonderful in the Saints; some order the
Apolytikion of the Saint of the Monastery as well as those of the
Feast and Saint, that of Dionysiou simply saying, and the usual; some
replace, We have seen the true light by the Apolytikion of the Feast
and only prescribe one Communion chant. In all cases In you, O full
of grace replaces It is truly meet.]