Song of Ascents, the first Antiphon of Tone IV.
Canon to the Theotokos (the Paraklisis), with 6 troparia, including its Irmos; and that of the Forerunner, with 8 troparia, in Tone VI—
Glory..., Now and ever...: Theotokion—
After the first chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Go thou quickly before...”—
As a divine treasure hidden in the earth hath Christ disclosed thy head unto us, O prophet and Forerunner; wherefore, assembling on the feast of the discovery thereof, with divinely eloquent songs we all hymn the Savior Who saved our life through thine intercession. Twice
At “God is the Lord...,” the troparion, twice; Glory..., Now and ever..., the Resurrectional Theotokion, in the tone of the troparion of the saint.
Glory..., Now and ever...: Theotokion—
After the second chanting of the Psalter, this Sessional hymn, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel: “Having been lifted up....”—
We hymn thee, O Bride of God, Mother of Christ God, glorifying thine unapproachable Offspring, by Whom we have been delivered from the deception of the devil and from all misfortune, O Mistress Theotokos; and we faithfully cry out: Have mercy on thy flock, O thou who alone art all-hymned!
Glory..., Now and ever...: Theotokion—
After the Polyeleos, this Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel: “That which was mystically commanded....”—
Freed from the impassable bosom of the earth like gold from a mine, thy sacred head hath most gloriously enriched all the thoughts of the faithful with knowledge divine, crying out: Repent! as is its wont. And bowing down before it, O Forerunner, we faithfully glorify Christ with loud voices. Twice
Never can we, thy servants, cease thankfully to hymn thy mercies with all our soul, O Mistress, crying out and saying: O all-holy Virgin, go thou before us and deliver us from enemies, visible and invisible, and from all threats; for thou art our help!
Polyeleos, and this Magnification—
We magnify thee, O John, thou baptizer of the Savior, and we all honor the severing of thy precious head.
Selected Psalm verses—
A Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. [111: 1]
B In His commandments shall he greatly delight. [111: 1]
A His seed shall be mighty upon the earth. [111: 2]
B And his righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [111: 3]
A In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be. [111: 6]
B The righteous man shall flourish like a palm tree, and like a cedar in Lebanon shall he be multiplied. [91: 13]
A The righteous man shall be glad in the Lord, and shall hope in Him. [63: 11]
B Lo, my lips I shall not restrain, O Lord. [39: 10]
A Thou hast understood My righteousness and My truth.
B And my tongue shall treat of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day long. [Ps. 34: 28]
A A light hath dawned forth for the righteous man, and gladness for the upright of heart. [Ps. 96: 11]
B The generation of the upright shall be blessed. [Ps. 111: 2]
A With glory and honor hast Thou crowned him. [Ps. 8: 6]
B For Thou shalt bless the righteous, O Lord. [Ps. 5: 13]
A As with a shield of Thy good pleasure hast Thou crowned us. [Ps. 5: 13]
B Whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us. [Lk. 1: 78]
A To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. [Lk 1: 79]
B To guide our feet into the way of peace. [Lk. 1: 79]
Glory…, Now & Ever…
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Thrice
Like a pearl was the head of the Baptist concealed in the damp earth, and, adorned like a divinely radiant lamp, it illumineth the whole world, working wonders. For like the dawn hath the Forerunner put forth the sun most splendidly, preaching to us again with unwaning light, crying out: Behold, the Lamb of God! Twice
We ever give thee thanks and magnify and bow down before thee, O pure Theotokos, hymning thy birthgiving and crying out unceasingly, O thou who art full of grace: Save us, O most merciful Virgin, in that thou art good, and at the hour of trial rescue us from the dread interrogation of the demons, that we, thy servants, not be put to shame.
Prokimenon, in Tone IV—
There will I make to spring forth a horn for David, I have prepared a lamp for my Christ.
Stichos: Remember, O Lord, David and all his meekness.
“Let every breath praise the Lord!”
Gospel according to Luke, §31 (7: 17-30
At that time, the rumor of Jesus went forth throughout all Judæa, and throughout all the region round about. And the disciples of John showed him of all these things. And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying: “Art thou He Who should come? or look we for another?” When the men were come unto Him, they said: “John Baptist hath sent us unto Thee, saying: Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” And in that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many who were blind He gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them: “Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” And when the messengers of John were departed, He began to speak unto the people concerning John: “What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written: Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you: Among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” And all the people who heard Him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—
The precious head of the Baptist of Christ, which of old preached repentance to all the faithful, denounced the impurity of the iniquitous Herod, and lay upon a charger, hath appeared out of the hidden places of the earth and lieth before those who have recourse unto it with faith, who touch it with fear and bow down before it with spiritual love. Granting remission of transgression, with forgiveness it bestoweth that which is needful and great mercy.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.