Ode 6. The Irmos.

Of the Saint. The same Irmos.

’A final abyss of sins has surrounded me, but as you did the Prophet Jonas, Lord, Lord, bring me up from corruption’.

Kontakion. Tone 4. Today you have appeared

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.

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.

A bush on Sinai that clung to fire unburned prefigured you, a Mother ever-virgin, O Mary without bridegroom Mother of God.

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.

’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.’

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.