At Matins

Song of Ascents, the first antiphon of Tone IV.

Canon of the feast, the irmos whereof is chanted twice, the troparia repeated to make up 4 in number. And that of the holy hierarch, with 8 troparia.

Glory..., Now & ever...Alleluia... Thrice .

After the first chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning…”—

Let us all praise Basil as the royal adornment of the Church, an inexhaustible treasury of doctrines; for thereby he hath taught us to worship the Holy Trinity, which is united in essence but distinguished as to hypostasis.

Now & ever…: Theotokion, in the same melody—

On “God is the Lord…”, the troparion of the feast, twice; Glory…, that of the holy hierarch; Now & ever…, that of the feast, once.

Glory…: Another sessional hymn, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…”—

O all-wise Basil, as thou standest before the Trinity, pray that we who hymn thee and honor thy memory may receive grace, mercy and the washing away of our transgressions on the day of judgment, that with mouth and heart we may glorify Him Who alone loveth mankind.

Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in the same melody—

The Creator of all and Master of the world, though He is on high with the Father and the Spirit, is circumcised on earth as a babe eight days of age. Truly divine and wondrous are Thy works! For Thou, O Master, Who art the Fulfillment of the law, wast circumcised for our sake.

After the second chanting of the Psalter, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—

Thou didst divinely draw forth the mystic riches of ineffable wisdom, and upon all hast poured forth the waters of Orthodoxy which divinely gladden the hearts of the faithful and fittingly drown the commands of the infidels. Wherefore, in both thou hast been shown to be an invincible champion of the Trinity by the sweat of thy works of piety, O holy hierarch Basil. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who with love celebrate thy holy memory.

Glory…: Another sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Of the divine Faith…”—

To the whole world hast thou given to drink thy doctrines, the collected dogmas of piety, as though they were water; for the Wellspring of life truly resided within thee, O Basil. As thou hast acquired boldness, O divinely inspired one, beseech Him to grant us great mercy.

Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the feast, in Tone IV—

He Who is invisible in essence is now become visible in the flesh; the uncreated Word now taketh form, born of the pure Virgin. Wherefore, following the law for the sake of us men, He is circumcised as a babe eight days of age. Let us therefore worship Him as our Savior.

After the Polyeleos, this sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Of the Wisdom…”—

Polyeleos, and this magnification—

Glory…: Another sessional hymn, in the same melody—

We magnify Thee, O Basil, thou holy hierarch of Christ, who didst piously preserve the Church of Christ immaculate.

Selected Psalm verses—

A Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world. [Ps. 48: 2]

B My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. [Ps. 48: 4]

A Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. [Ps. 33: 12]

B I have proclaimed the good tidings of Thy righteousness in the great congregation. [Ps. 39: 10]

A Thy truth and Thy salvation have I declared. [Ps. 39: 11]

B I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I hymn Thee. [Ps. 21: 23]

A That I may hear the voice of Thy praise, and tell of all Thy wondrous works. [Ps. 25: 7]

B O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. [Ps. 25: 8]

A I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and with the ungodly will I not sit. [Ps. 25: 5]

B For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not acted impiously toward my God. [Ps. 17: 22]

A The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak of judgment. [Ps. 36: 30]

B His righteousness abideth unto ages of ages. [Ps. 110: 3]

A Thy priests shall be clothed with righteousness, and Thy righteous shall rejoice. [Ps. 131: 9]

B Blessed are those who dwell in Thy house; unto ages of ages shall they praise Thee. [Ps. 83: 5]

But if the church be dedicated to the Circumcision of the Lord, the following magnification is chanted—

We magnify Thee, O Christ, Bestower of life, and we honor the circumcision of Thine all-pure flesh, which Thou didst deign to endure in accordance with the law.

Selected Psalm verses—

A Judge them, O God, that do me injustice; war against those who war against me. [Ps. 34: 1]

B Take hold of weapon and shield, and arise unto my help. [Ps. 34: 2]

A The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us. [Ps. 4: 7]

B As with a shield of Thy good pleasure hast Thou crowned us. [Ps. 5: 13]

A Thou hast given a sign unto those who fear Thee, that they may flee from before the face of thy bow. [Ps. 59: 6]

B That we may know upon the earth Thy way, among the nations Thy salvation. [Ps. 66: 3]

A All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. [Ps. 97: 3]

B Let us worship at the place where His feet have stood. [Ps. 131: 7]

A Then shall all the trees of the forest rejoice. [Ps. 95: 12]

B God is our king before the ages, He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. [Ps. 73: 12]

A Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship the footstool of His feet; for it is holy. [Ps. 98: 5]

B Let God, our God, bless us; let God bless us. [Ps. 66: 7-8]

A Save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. [Ps. 27: 9]

B Shepherd them and bear them up unto eternity. [Ps. 27: 9]

Glory…, Now & ever…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, our God. Thrice

By the power of thy divine words thou didst cast down dark heresies: thou didst drown all the insolence of Eunomius, for thou didst preach that the Spirit is God, and thou didst slay the enemy with the work of thy hands; and thou didst drive away all the ministry of Sabellius and didst set at naught all the reasonings of Nestorius. O holy hierarch Basil, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who with love celebrate thy holy memory.

The grace of thy divine discourses and the mystic heights of thy dogmas have become for us a ladder of divine ascent; for having acquired the clarion of the Spirit, O father, thou didst thereby proclaim divine doctrines. Wherefore, thou hast made thine abode in a place of verdure, receiving the reward for thy struggles. O venerable hierarch Basil, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of transgressions unto those who with love celebrate thy holy memory.

The Master and Creator of all, Who received flesh from thine all-pure womb, hath shown thee to be an intercessor for men, O most immaculate one; wherefore, we all flee to thee, asking to be cleansed of our transgressions, O Mistress, and to be delivered from everlasting torments and all the oppression of the evil prince of this world. For this cause we cry unto thee: Entreat thy Son and God, that He grant remission of transgression unto those who with faith worship thy most holy birthgiving.

Prokimenon, in Tone IV—

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

Stichos: Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that inhabit the world.

Let every breath praise the Lord.

Gospel according to John §36 [10:9-16]

The Lord said to the Jews who came to Him: I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.

After Psalm 50, this sticheron, in Tone VI—

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.