Canon of the feast, the composition of Stephen, in Tone II—

Irmos: Come, ye people, let us chant a hymn to Christ God, Who divided the sea and guided the people whom He had led forth from the bondage of Egypt, for He hath been glorified.

Katavasia: The irmoi of both canons of the feast of the Theophany.

Kontakion of the feast, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Today the Virgin…”—

Sessional hymn of the hierarch, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—

Theotokion: Who can fittingly describe thy conceiving, which is beyond words? For thou hast given birth in the flesh to God Who hath shown Himself to be our Savior and Lord, O most pure one.

The eighth day, which is a foretype of that which is to come, is by Thy voluntary abasement enlightened and sanctified, O Christ; for thereon Thou wast circumcised in the flesh in accordance with the law.

Irmos: Same as that of the preceding canon.

Kontakion of the hierarch, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast appeared today…”—

Glory…, Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast appeared today…”—

Theotokion: Without seed thou didst conceive in thy womb, and didst ineffably give birth to God incarnate, upon Whom the hosts of heaven dare not gaze, O pure Ever-virgin.

Christ receiveth circumcision on the eighth day after His nativity, and the shadow of that day withdraweth, the light of the new grace shining forth.

Irmos: Establish us in thee, O Lord Who hast slain sin by the Tree, and plant the fear of Thee in the hearts of us who hymn Thee.

Theotokion: We beseech thee, O pure one who didst conceive God without seed: Pray thou ever for thy servants.

Canon of the holy hierarch, with 8 troparia, the composition of John of Damascus, in the same tone—

Irmos: Same as that of the preceding canon.

Theotokion: To thee, who gavest birth to Christ, the Creator of all, do we cry: Rejoice, O pure one! Rejoice, O thou who hast shone forth upon us the Light! Rejoice, O thou who didst contain the uncontainable God!

It hath been fitting that thy voice come unto those desiring to sing thy praises, O father Basil. Accepting their entreaty, grant us grace in abundance.

Irmos: I have heard report of Thy dispensation, O Lord, and have glorified Thee Who alone lovest mankind.

Theotokion: Save thy servants from misfortunes, O Theotokos, for after God it is to thee that we flee as to an impregnable rampart and intercession.

Thou didst tread the difficult path of the virtues, and didst attain unto the smooth and pleasant entry to heaven, O Basil, and hast shown thyself to be a model for all.

Irmos: Same as that of the preceding canon.

Theotokion: On Mount Sinai Moses foresaw as a bush which burned with fire thee who received, without being consumed, the unbearable Effulgence of the ineffable Essence, Who united Himself to the coarseness of the flesh, He being One of the holy Hypostases.

By thy desire for the love of wisdom thou didst suppress the uprising of the passions which tormenteth the flesh; wherefore, thou dwellest in the incorrupt mansions of heaven, O father Basil.

Irmos: O Lord, Bestower of light and Creator of the ages: guide us in the light of Thy commandments, for we know none other God than Thee.

Theotokion: O ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, the timeless Word of God, Who issued forth from the Father before time began, and shone forth from the Virgin in latter times.

With the sword of the Spirit thou didst right profitably cut down the passions of both soul and body, O Basil; and thou didst bring thyself to the Master as a sacrifice.

Irmos: Same as that of the preceding canon.

As an initiate of the ineffable mysteries, O sacred father Basil, thou didst manifestly instruct the Church of Christ in His mysteries and hast shone upon us the light of the Trinity.

Irmos: The great abyss of sin encompasseth me, and, emulating the prophet, I cry to thee: Lead me up from corruption, O Lord!

The transcendent Word Who became incarnate hath been circumcised, that the law might cease; and He hath given us the beginning of divine grace and life incorruptible.

Irmos: Same as that of the preceding canon.

As the Fulfiller of the law, and not as One opposed to God, Christ showed Himself to be incarnate, and hath deigned of His own will to be circumcised on the eighth day.

Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura, Thy three youths spurned the ungodly command, and, cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed, they sang: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

Thy memorial hath arrived and shone forth at the same time as the nativity of Christ, the ineffable mystery whereof thou didst manifestly reveal by thy teachings.

Irmos: Same as that of the preceding canon.

Made steadfast in the fear of God, in that it is the beginning of wisdom, thou didst soar aloft in the highest love of wisdom, O Basil.

Irmos: God the Word, Who in His ineffable wisdom created all things and brought them out of oblivion into existence, do ye bless as Lord, O ye works, and exalt supremely for all ages!

Full of all instruction, O Basil, thou wast shown to be a light unto the world, not only that which is below and is trodden upon by our feet, but that which is more sublime.

Irmos: Same as that of the preceding canon.

O all-wise Basil, thou hast shown activity to be the entry into vision most divine, and by activity thou didst enter therein; and thou hast manifestly taught the understanding of all that existeth.

The Lord of all endureth circumcision and, in that He is good, He cutteth away the transgressions of men, and today granteth salvation to the world. And Basil, the high priest of the Creator, the radiant and divine initiate of the mysteries of Christ, rejoiceth on high.

Having learned the wisdom of the Word and set aside the writings of the law, thou didst proclaim to all the word of grace, and by thy words thou didst erase the tablets of men’s souls, and thereon didst inscribe divine doctrines. Wherefore, passing through the darkness, a cloud protecting thy body, thou didst shine forth in the Spirit, O holy hierarch Basil. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who with faith honor thy holy memory. Twice

As Thou art an abyss of love for mankind, O Master, Thou didst assume the appearance of a servant and wast circumcised in the flesh, granting Thy great mercy unto all men.

Circumcision hath ceased since Christ was circumcised of His own will, saving a multitude of the nations by grace.

The eighth day, whereon the Master was circumcised in the flesh, is an image of the everlasting life of the age to come.

As the Church of Christ is adorned like a bride by His nativity, so is it also adorned by thy memorial, O most blessed one.

Doing battle for God, thou wast shown to be invincible, O Basil, making all subject to His precepts.

Thou hast been given to the Church by God as a firm rampart and bulwark, O most blessed Basil.

O father Basil, thou hast been shown to be a scythe cutting down the adversary, and a fire consuming falsehood.

Having issued forth ineffably from the Virgin Mother, O Lord, thou didst not decline to clothe Thyself in human guise as a babe, and in accordance with the law didst fulfill the law.

Israel, in that she loveth the shadow of the law, hath become like the night, giving rise to Christ, Who hath appeared, shining forth therefrom, as the Light of the world.

Today the Church doth truly introduce a twofold feast: that of the Master Who hath appeared on earth as a babe, and the memorial of His wise and thrice-blessed servant.

Christ, the Light unapproachable, resting in thee, O venerable one, hath shown thee to be a radiant lamp unto the world; wherefore, we hymn thy memory, O Basil.

The Genesis described by Moses on Sinai amid great darkness hast thou described for all, giving utterance from the storehouses of divine wisdom, O all-blessed Basil.

Neither Moses the law-giver, nor Joseph, the chief of pharaoh’s granaries, who lived before the law, were like unto thee; for thou, O Basil, didst show thyself to break the Flesh of God.

The law hath come to an end since Christ, Who is the Fulfiller of the law, hath become a babe, receiving circumcision. He hath annulled the curse of the law.

The keeping of the sabbath, circumcision and the arrogance of the Jews ceased at the behest of Christ Who hath appeared, and the springtime of grace hath shone forth.

Thou didst abundantly feed the souls of the poor tormented by starvation, O Basil, and didst fill the hearts of the hungry with all divine gladness.

Thou didst richly feed the hungry with heavenly food; for thy discourse is angelic bread, O Basil, and thou becamest an excellent issuer of the grain thereof.

Like a bee thou didst industriously gather honey from the flowers of all the virtues, O Basil, and as a wise man thou art blessed therein.

Thou didst yearn to depart this world and to live with God; wherefore, forsaking things inconstant and corrupt, O most blessed Basil, as a wise man thou hast acquired things which are abiding.

Thou hast been shown to be the unshakable foundation of the Church, bestowing upon all men a dominion which cannot be taken away, and sealing them with thy precepts, O venerable Basil who revealest heavenly things!

Ikos: Basil the Great, the cup of chastity, the mouth of wisdom, the foundation of doctrines, shineth forth noetically upon all. Come ye, therefore, and let us stand in the house of God, gazing upon him with fervor, adorning ourselves with his miracles, having been illumined with the splendor of his life, and been cooled by his pure spirit, emulating his faith, ardor and humility, whereby he became a habitation of the essence of God; and, crying aloud unto him, let us chant: O venerable Basil who revealest heavenly things!

Radiant and most splendid is the nativity of Christ, which today hath depicted the mystery of the restoration which is to come! For the Savior is circumcised in lawful manner, not as God, but as man, the Fulfillment of the law.

Fulfilling the law, the Creator of the law today is of His own will circumcised in the flesh, cutting off the winter of sin, granting all to cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

The Son is the image of the Father, and the Spirit is the image of the Son; and thou, O Basil, art the pure reflection of the Spirit and the abode of the whole Trinity. Blessed is thy memory, and those who glorify it are themselves glorified!

Having plunged thy mind into the unfathomable depths of God and gathered precious pearls of understanding, thou didst fill the world with wisdom, and didst teach it to cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

O the single inspiration of mind of the sacred twain! For, united in divine desire, Basil was in Gregory, and Gregory in Basil, like a single soul, inseparable, in two bodies. Entreat Christ now in behalf of your flock.

The father of orphans and defender of widows, the riches of the poor, the consolation of the sick, the guidance of the wealthy, the staff of old age and instruction of youth, and the rule of virtue for monastics wast thou shown to be, O Basil.

Having purified thy mind of all filthy defilement, O Basil, thou didst examine spiritual things with the Spirit Whom thou didst desire; wherefore, hymning the Trinity, with boldness thou hast cried out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!

On the eighth day Jesus the Master was circumcised as a babe; and He receiveth His name, in that He is the Savior and Lord of the world.

To the nativity of Christ we join the eighth day, the most glorious memorial of the holy hierarch; and honoring it with faith, let us hymn the Lord and exalt Him supremely forever.

O ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord Who, in His ineffable providence, hath given Basil to the world as a light of piety and clarion of theology!

O ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord Who, in His rich activity, made His abode within the wise Basil, and through Him piously gave utterance to theology.

Delighting in thy divine discourses, O Basil, and revelling unceasingly in thy memory, we cry aloud: Bless the Lord, ye works of the Lord!

O Basil, thou hast emitted thy discourses upon the world like brilliant rays which by light instruct all to worship the single Essence of the Trinity, crying: Bless the Lord, ye works of the Lord!

At Ode IX we do not sing the Magnificat, but chant instead the refrains of the feast—

Magnify, O my soul, the Lord Who hath been circumcised in the flesh in accordance with the law!