Ode IX

Exapostilarion of the hierarch: Spec. Mel.: “By the Spirit in the sanctuary…”—

Irmos: Thee do we magnify, O blessed and most pure Theotokos, who through thy virginal womb ineffably didst make God incarnate, the Luminary Who shone forth before the sun and hath come to us in the flesh.

Then the second choir likewise chanteth the refrain and irmos. The following three refrains are chanted before the troparia of the canon of the circumcision—

On the Praises, 6 stichera, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “Rejoice…”—

Magnify, O my soul, Him Who receiveth circumcision on the eighth day! Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…: Exapostilarion of the feast—

And these refrains of the hierarch are chanted before the troparia of his canon—

He Who as the Word was ineffably begotten of the Father without separation or corruption endureth circumcision in the flesh, yet as God begotten by God He remaineth immutably divine; wherefore, He Who is above the law, following the law doth deliver all from the curse of the law, and granteth them blessing from on high. For this cause, praising His all-good condescension, we hymn and glorify Him in thanksgiving, entreating Him to grant our souls great mercy. Twice

Today the Master is circumcised in the flesh as a babe, fulfilling the law. Once

Then both choirs, descending, chant the first refrain of the feast, and the irmos of Canon I of Theophany. They then chant the refrain of the Theotokos [sung instead of Now & ever…] and the irmos of Canon II of Theophany.

Having become a child of God through grace, by the regeneration of divine baptism, O venerable one, in essence and truth thou didst confess the preëternal Son and Word of God, as consubstantial and equally without beginning with the Father; and with the brilliance of thy words thou didst shut the gaping mouths of the heretics. Wherefore, thou hast made thine abode in the kingdom on high, reigning together with Christ, Who ruleth alone and naturally, and doth richly grant great mercy unto the world.

Today the Master hath been circumcised in the flesh and been called Jesus. Once

Through activity and vision thou didst enter within the temple of heaven as a sacred priest, vested in the principles of wisdom as with holy raiment. And now, serving as priest at the altar of heaven, O venerable one, and standing before God, performing the immaterial service, mercifully remember those who celebrate thy sacred and most honored memory, O most blessed Basil, entreating Christ, Who granteth the world great mercy.

Transcending the bounds of all human nature, Christ was supernaturally born of the Virgin; and as the writing of the law commandeth, He is circumcised in the flesh and shown to be the Fulfiller of the law.

Wholly consecrated to God and dedicated to Him from childhood in every way, shining forth with the rays of wisdom all-divine thou hast made clear the understanding of those things which exist, speaking plainly and holding forth in wisdom, revealing the order of nature, that all may recognize the work of God. Wherefore, we proclaim thee to be a divinely eloquent and godly teacher and a radiant beacon of the Church, who prayeth to Christ, Who granteth the world great mercy.

Come, and in holiness let us celebrate the glorious names of Christ the Master; for in godly manner He hath been named Jesus today. And with them let us also magnify the memory of the holy hierarch.

Made steadfast by the fear of God, thou didst understand the beginning of wisdom, O Basil. Thou didst surpass fear by the wisdom and uprightness of thy life, O father, and, united to God by love, thou becamest His alone. Wherefore, having learned His divine justifications and judgments, thou didst teach morals to men, and didst adorn the minds of the faithful, making the council splendid by thy spiritual laws. For this cause, entreat Christ, that He grant great mercy to our souls.

Magnify, O my soul, Basil who is great among hierarchs! Twice

Glory…, in Tone VI—

Magnify, O my soul, the all-radiant beacon of the whole world! Twice

Grace was poured forth in thy lips, O venerable father, and thou wast a shepherd of the Church of Christ, teaching the reason-endowed sheep to believe in the consubstantial Trinity, in the one Godhead.

Magnify, O my soul, the great Basil of Cæsaria! Twice

Now & ever…, of the feast, in Tone VIII—

Instead of Glory…—

Descending unto the human race, the Savior deigned to be wrapped in swaddling-bands, and He did not refuse to be circumcised in the flesh as an eight-day old infant born of His Mother, but without beginning according to His Father. To Him, O ye faithful, let us cry: Thou art our God! Have mercy upon us!

Magnify, O my soul, him who hath adorned the Church of Christ!

Instead of Now & ever…—

Magnify, O my soul, the all-pure Virgin Theotokos, who is more honorable than the armies of heaven!

O Basil, like a sheep faithful to Christ, the Chief Shepherd, thou didst follow His life-bearing steps; for thou didst expose thy soul to the tyrant, O most blessed father, valiantly braving danger for the sake of the Church.

Beholding the most sacred unity of the Church of Christ, which was adorned by thine episcopate, O wise one, the tyrannical destroyer of all fell as though struck by a bolt of thunder; for he was unable to endure the radiance of the Spirit which was within thee, O Basil.

O Basil, thou wast vouchsafed an apostolic see, a place in the choir of the athletes of Christ, the tabernacle of the patriarchs, the delight of the righteous and the joy of the prophets; for thou wast a servant of the Theotokos and an initiate of the mysteries of the Trinity.

The Lord Who alone covereth the chambers with waters, Who restraineth the sea and drieth up the depths, and Who received flesh of thee, O pure one, doth hasten from Bethlehem to the Jordan, to be baptized in the flesh.

With the desire of love of wisdom thou didst cut away that which covered thy soul, O father, and in thy miracles wast shown to the world to be like the sun; and thou hast illumined the thoughts of the faithful, O divinely wise Basil, initiate of the mysteries of the Trinity and servant of the Theotokos. Twice

The Creator of the ages, Who hath fulfilled the law, is circumcised in the flesh as a babe eight days of age; He is wrapped in swaddling-bands as a man; He is fed with milk Who, as God, sustaineth all things by His infinite might and holdeth all things in His hand.

Great Doxology. Troparia. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.