At Great Vespers

After the Introductory Psalm, we chant “Blessed is the man…”, the first antiphon.

A Reading from Proverbs

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 8 stichera: 4 in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: “Having set aside all…”—

Now & ever…: Dogmatic theotokion, in the same tone—

A Reading from Proverbs

Possessed of divine anointing, thou wast shown to be a God-bearer wholly sanctified, O holy hierarch Basil, and one invested with the Holy Spirit; and continually entering the Holy of holies with radiance, illumined with divine splendors, thou didst partake of the grace of the Holy Mysteries. Wherefore, as a true hierarch, pray thou with boldness for our souls. Twice

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in Tone VIII—

A Reading from the Wisdom of Solomon

Thy way of life was rendered luminous by beams of the virtues, and thereby thou didst instruct thy flock, driving the darkness away from it; wherefore, thou wast shown to be a brilliant sun, O all-blessed Basil, who hast made thine abode where shineth the never-setting Sun, and hast been revealed today as a child of the grace of the Holy Spirit. For this cause, O ever-memorable one, forget not those who cherish thine honored memory and bless thee with love.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Doxasticon from the Pentecostarion, or this Theotokion, in the same tone & melody—

Adorned with faith through thy yearning for God, O all-glorious one, thy mind revealed thee to be a divinely wise instructor, for thou didst mortify carnal desires, by grace didst transform what is corrupt into that which is incorruptible, and didst join the incorporeal beings, O father Basil, thou radiant lamp and advocate for the souls of those who honor thy holy memory with love.

And 4 stichera in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “When from the Tree…”—

Revealed as a good shepherd of the Church of Christ, O blessed Basil, thou madest thine abode in Zakholmia; and when thou didst move from thence to Ostrog, thou didst lay waste to thy body by fasting, vigils and prayers, O God-bearer, being well-pleasing unto God, Who hath glorified thy holy relics, which cure the diseases of all who celebrate thy most glorious memory with faith and love. Wherefore, we entreat thee: By thy supplications deliver us also from all woes and evil circumstances. Twice

Thou wast truly shown to be a namesake of victory for the faithful people, defending them against perils, O father Basil; for, ever invoked, thou goest swiftly before those who flee beneath thy shelter, day and night saving the faithful from the evil wiles of the wicked one.

In latter days thou wast shown to be the bulwark of the Serbian land, O father Basil. Wherefore, come, O ye people, let us kiss the holy and wonderworking relics of our God-bearing father, which loose the bonds of sin, driving away evil spirits and freeing his faithful servants, for whom he prayeth to Christ God, that He deliver and save our souls.

Thou hast been a great helper and a fervent mediator before God for those who find themselves amid tribulations and misfortunes, O blessed Basil, sacred preacher of Christ to those who earth, who cry out with us to thee: By thy supplications save us from all evils, O father Basil.

Glory…, in Tone VIII—

With thy valiant deeds didst thou enlighten the hearts of the faithful, O father Basil; for who hath heard of thy boundless humility and doth not marvel at thy patience? Thou wast kind to the poor, giving help to those in need, and teaching the fear of God unto all; and hast now been crowned with an never-fading wreath, O father, praying in behalf of our souls.

In His love for mankind, the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt among men; for He Who received flesh from the pure Virgin and came forth from her having received human nature, is the only Son of God, two in nature but not hypostasis. Therefore, proclaiming Him to be truly perfect God and perfect man, we confess Christ our God. Him do thou beseech, O Mother unwedded, that our souls find mercy!

Entrance. Prokimenon of the day. Three readings:

The memory of the just is praised, and the blessing of the Lord is upon his head. Blessed is the man who hath found wisdom, and the mortal who knoweth prudence. For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver. And she is more valuable than precious stones: no precious thing is equal to her in value. For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth righteousness proceedeth, and she carrieth law and mercy upon her tongue. Hearken to me, O children, for I will speak solemn truths. Blessed is the man who shall keep my ways; for my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and in them is prepared favor from the Lord. Ye, O men, do I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men. I, wisdom, have built up; upon counsel, knowledge and understanding have I called. Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine. I love those that love me; they that seek me shall find grace. O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge. Hearken unto me again; for I will speak solemn truths. For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse. They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge. For I will instruct you in truth, that your hope may be in the Lord, and ye may be filled with the Spirit.

The mouth of the righteous droppeth wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish. The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse. False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto Him. Wherever pride entereth, there will also disgrace: but the mouth of the humble doth meditate wisdom. The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the overthrow of the rebellious shall spoil them. Possessions shall not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. When a just man dieth, he leaveth regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy and causeth joy. Righteousness traceth out blameless paths: but ungodliness encountereth unjust dealing. The righteousness of upright men delivereth them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction. At the death of a just man his hope doth not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perisheth. A righteous man escapeth from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place. In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare for citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous. In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospereth, but at the destruction of the wicked there is exultation. At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted, but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown. A man void of understanding sneereth at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.

When the righteous man is praised, the people will rejoice; for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with men; for his soul pleased the Lord. Wherefore, O ye people, love wisdom, and ye shall live; desire it, and ye shall be instructed, for the beginning thereof is love and the keeping of the law. Honor wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore. I will tell you, and will not hide mysteries from you. For it is He that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise, the Author of all understanding and workmanship. For wisdom, which accomplisheth all things, hath taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit, holy, the brightness of the everlasting Light and the image of the goodness of God. She maketh them friends of God, and prophets, and is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it. She delivered from pain those that attended upon her, and guided them in the right paths, and gave him knowledge of holy things; she kept him safe from those who lay in wait; in a sore conflict she gave him the victory: that all might know that godliness is stronger than all. But vice shall not prevail against wisdom, neither shall evil ever overcome wisdom, nor the wicked circumvent the judgment which accuseth them. For the ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not aright: “Let us oppress the righteous man, and let us not spare his holiness, nor feel shame before the gray hairs of the elderly. Let our strength be the law of judgment: therefore, let us lie in wait for the righteous, because he is not pleasing to us, and is contrary to our doings; he upbraideth us with our offending the law and denounceth our offenses against our teaching. He professeth to have the knowledge of God, and calleth himself the child of the Lord. He hath become for us a reproof against our thoughts, and is grievous unto us even to behold: for his life is not like other men’s, his ways are of another fashion. We are esteemed of him as counterfeits. He abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness; he pronounceth the end of the just to be blessed. Let us see, therefore, if his words be true, and let us prove what shall happen in the end of him. Let us examine him with despitefulness and torture, that we may know his meekness and prove his innocence. Let us condemn him with a shameful death: for by his own saying he shall be respected.” Such things did they imagine, and were deceived: for their own wickedness hath blinded them, and as for the mysteries of God, they knew them not, neither did they understand that Thou art the one God, Who hast power of life and death, Who savest in time of tribulation and deliverest from every evil. Thou art compassionate and merciful, granting grace to Thy saints, but resisting the proud with Thine upraised arm.

At Litia, these stichera—

In Tone II: The shrine of thy relics emitteth rays of light, O father Basil, imparting healing unto those who have recourse unto it, and freeing them from their ailments. Wherefore, be glad and exult, O Church of Ostrog and the lands surrounding it! For the splendid memorial of the blessed Basil hath shone forth, who ever prayeth for our souls.

O father Basil, after thy return from Mount Athos thou wast revealed to thy flock as a shepherd and teacher, guiding them to the true Faith; and, rejoicing, it glorifieth thy holy memory, which even after thy death showeth forth the radiance of thy life. And gazing upon it we cry out to thee with hymns of resonance divine: O God-bearing father, from the assaults of the enemy save our brethren who serve in Zakholmia and Skenderia!

In Tone IV: O father Basil, the shrine of thy relics proclaimeth the power of the grace of the most Holy Spirit, Who through relics showeth mercy to the faithful, protecting Ostrog, wherein He bestoweth the sweet fragrance of healing, showing thee to be like the apostles in the miracles whereby thou illuminest those afar off as though they were nigh, and dost all-gloriously deliver them from misfortunes. Wherefore, O divinely blessed one, free thou from grievous evils and barbarians all who bless and call upon thee with love.

Thou didst hasten to praise thy Lord and Master, O father Basil, who in latter days, to those who bear the Cross of Christ, wast revealed as a pastor and teacher full of the grace of God; wherefore, delighting now in good things, thou hast acquired boldness before God, to Whom do thou make entreaty in behalf of the souls of those who glorify thee.

Thine all-glorious manner of life hath unto the whole world shown thee to be wondrous, O God-bearing father: thou wast the adornment of the venerable, and, like the sun shedding its rays upon the earth, thou didst illumine the hearts of the faithful who celebrate thy holy memory, O most blessed Basil.

Glory…, in Tone VI—

Assembling, O ye who love the feasts of the Church, with songs and praises let us hymn the adornment of hierarchs, the beauty of the fathers, the well-spring of miracles and helper of the faithful; and let us say: Rejoice, preserver of Zakholmia and Skenderia, unassailable tower and primate of Montenegro and Primoria! Rejoice, most radiant beacon who enlightenest the ends of the Serbian land with miracles! Rejoice, divine joy of the sorrowful and fervent intercessor for the oppressed! And now, O father Basil, pray thou for those who ever honor thy gladsome memory, protecting thy faithful Orthodox flock.

Rejoice, fulfillment of the law! Rejoice, temple of the Holy Trinity, O all-pure Bride! Rejoice, divine chariot of the King of all! Rejoice, thou who didst bear in thine arms the immaterial Fire, as with tongs, O new garden of paradise, unblemished dove, throne of the Most High, divine bower which the Holy Spirit overshadowed, O holy Maiden!

On “Lord, I have cried…”, 6 stichera: 3 of the martyrs, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…”—

O all-praised martyrs of Christ, when once the mindlessness of the Greeks held sway and drew all into the pit of iniquity, ye did not leave the straight path and did not join yourselves to ungodliness, but suffered with valor of character and, slain by the sword, have inherited life.

Celebrating with gladness their sacred memory, with faith let us honor and with hymns let us bless Theognes, Rufus and Antipater, Theostichus and Artemas, Magnus and Theodotus, the glorious Thaumasius and the godly Philemon, who shone forth splendidly in their sufferings and have enlightened those in darkness.

O beautiful flowers of the martyrs, ye sacred legion, company assembled by God, excellent congregation, divinely chosen assembly, holy choir, blessed council, who struggled for the Trinity: entreat the Trinity, beseech the Trinity for us, that we may receive remission of sins.

And 3 stichera of the venerable one, in the same tone & melody—

O blessed and venerable Memnon, having first purified thy soul by ascetic labor, thou becamest the pure and beautiful abode of the Spirit; wherefore, thou dost expel evil spirits and ever healest the infirmities of those who have recourse to thee. Pray thou to Christ in behalf of us who praise thee.

O glorious and venerable Memnon, having gained control over the passions of thy soul, thou didst train a legion of monks, zealously anointing them for labors of asceticism, and thou didst present them before the Word Who seeth all things; and having lived a blessed life and been unsullied by defilements, with them be thou ever mindful of us who praise thee.

O venerable Memnon who art most rich, of old thou didst cause a spring of water to pour forth, unto the praise of the Lord and for the preservation of souls. Thou hast saved ships from the depths of the sea, by thy supplications hast preserved men from a plague of locusts, and dost ever work countless miracles. Pray thou to Christ in behalf of us who praise thee.

The preëternal God, receiving flesh from thy blood, showed thee to be an intercessor for men, O pure one. Wherefore, deliver thy servants from every misfortune and evil circumstance and from the snares of the wicked enemy, and vouchsafe that all who glorify and do thee homage may partake of the effulgence of the elect.

Stavrotheotokion—

Beholding Thee nailed to the Cross and accepting suffering of Thine own will, O Master Jesus, Thy Virgin Mother cried aloud: “Woe is me, O my sweet Child! How is it that thou dost unjustly endure wounds, O Physician Who hast healed the infirmity of men and hast delivered all from corruption in Thy loving-kindness?”