Canon of the Feast

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “Thou hast visited us…”—

Irmos: From the ancient snares have we all been set loose, and the teeth of the lions have been broken in their mouths. Let us then rejoice with great joy and open wide our mouths, weaving with words a sweet hymn to the Word, Who delighteth to bestow gifts upon us.

Katavasia: The Lord, Who giveth might unto our kings and exalteth the horn of His anointed ones, is born of the Virgin and cometh to baptism. O ye faithful, let us cry aloud unto Him: There is none as holy as our God!

Kontakion of the feast, in Tone IV—

Having adorned thy soul in godly manner with abstinence, pangs and prayer, thou becamest a companion of the martyrs, O blessed one, and didst truly receive gifts of miracles, to heal the afflictions of those who honor thee with faith. Wherefore, driving out multitudes of the demons, thou bestowest healings upon men through grace, O God-bearer Theodosius. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who with faith celebrate thy memory. Twice

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

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “Rejoice…”—

Theotokion: At thy birthgiving, the ranks of the angels were stricken with awe, and the hearts of men were filled with fear; wherefore, we honor thee with faith, O Theotokos.

He who once assumed the guise of a malignant serpent and planted death in the garden of creation, is now cast into darkness by Christ’s coming in the flesh; and by assailing the Master, the Dawn which hath shone forth upon us, he crusheth his own loathsome head.

Glory…, Now & ever…: Exapostilarion of Theophany—

Irmos: The desert, the barren Church of the nations, blossomed like a lily at Thine advent, O Lord; and therein hath my heart been established.

Katavasia: He whom Thou didst call a Voice crying in the wilderness hath heard Thy voice, O Lord; for Thou didst thunder forth over many waters, bearing witness unto Thy Son. And having been wholly filled with the descending Spirit, he cried out: “Thou art Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God!”

Kontakion, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “To thee, the champion leader…”—

Glory…, Now & ever…: sessional hymn of Theophany, in the same tone—

Having made of thyself a house of exalted virtues, O Theodosius, thou wast vouchsafed to dwell in the divine house of the Theotokos, and to visit it; for thou didst love to gaze upon its godly splendor. And now thou beholdest the magnificence of the true tabernacle and the ineffable beauty which the Most High hath wrought, O venerable one, wherein He causeth those to dwell who most earnestly cry out to Him. Him do thou entreat, that He send down great mercy upon our souls.

Theotokion: In thy womb didst thou conceive the Lord without seed, and thou gavest birth unto Him who, incarnate, saveth the world by thine intercessions. Wherefore we cry unto thee: Rejoice, O Ever-virgin Mistress!

The Master draweth to Himself the divinely crafted nature of man, which had been overthrown by the tyranny of greed; and He restoreth mortal men, granting them a new birth, and accomplishing thereby a mighty work; for He is come to cleanse our nature.

Irmos: Purified by the fire of a mystical vision, the prophet praiseth the restoration of mortal men; and, filled with the inspiration of the Spirit, he lifteth up his voice to reveal the incarnation of the ineffable Word, Who hath broken the dominion of the mighty.

Katavasia: Jesus, the Author of life, cometh to lift the condemnation of Adam the first-created, and though as God He requireth no cleansing, He cleanseth the fallen one in the Jordan. And having slain enmity therein, He granteth peace which passeth all understanding.

Cleansing thyself with the pangs of asceticism, thou wast an emulator of thy Master, O most blessed one; for thou didst heal the affliction of her who touched the hem of thy garment, and didst nourish those who suffered starvation in the wilderness, pouring forth gifts from thine inexhaustible treasury, as the namesake of the gifts of God. And thou didst preach the Orthodox Faith, O venerable one, setting at naught the savagery of the tyrant, and praying to Christ Who bestoweth great mercy upon the world.

Theotokion: Lo! O most pure Theotokos, thou didst have Christ God in thy womb, in manner past recounting, as Isaiah foretold; and thou gavest birth unto Him supernaturally, O Theotokos.

The Lord Who covered the chambers with the waters hath clad His body in the streams of the Jordan; and therein hath my heart been established.

Irmos: Thou didst come forth from the Virgin, neither a mediator nor an angel, but Thyself incarnate, O Lord, and hast saved me, the whole man; wherefore, I cry to thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Katavasia: The voice of the Word, the candlestick of the Light, the morning star of the Sun, the Forerunner, crieth out to all the people in the wilderness: Repent, and be ye cleansed beforehand! For, lo! the Christ is at hand, delivering the world from corruption!

Having enkindled the flame of unwavering, burning and ardent love for God, from heaven thou didst receive effulgence, the divine will commanding thee to erect a most holy temple of virtue, where thy much-suffering body doth lie, most excellently honored by thy pure regulations, O most blessed one. Entreat Christ, that He send down great mercy upon our souls.

Theotokion: Vouchsafe unto me thy loving-kindness, O thou who gavest birth unto the most merciful Word, Who hath delivered men from corruption by His own blood.

The divine light which shone forth in the Jordan hath shown thee to those on earth as a divinely bestowed scion of blessing and goodwill, O Theodosius.

Irmos: Washed clean of the poison of the dark and vile enemy by the cleansing of the Spirit, we have set out upon a new path which leadeth to joy inaccessible, which only they attain whom God hath reconciled with Himself.

Katavasia: The dew-laden, whistling wind and the descent of the Angel of God preserved unharmed the pious youths who communed together in the fiery furnace. Wherefore, bedewed in the flame, they raised a hymn in thanksgiving: O all-hymned Lord and God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

O father Theodosius, thou didst truly pass with rejoicing and gladness of soul to the wondrous tabernacle, even unto the house of God, and desiring to hear the voice of those who keep festival, and their beautiful and sweet hymnody, and to share in their ineffable spiritual delight and consolation therein, O blessed one, thou didst mortify thy flesh. This thou didst receive, adorned with divine righteousness, and thou entreatest Christ, that He grant our souls great mercy.

Theotokion: Thou alone hast manifested an all-pure conception and an incorrupt birthgiving, while remaining a Virgin, O pure one; for thou didst conceive the God Who is above all things, yet Who became man for the salvation and deliverance of the faithful.

Thou didst forsake the world and the things of the world, O venerable Theodosius, emulating the Master’s nakedness in the Jordan.

Irmos: Thou art a Mediator between God and man, O Christ God; for by Thee, O Master, are we led up out of the night of ignorance to Thy Father, the Source of light.

Katavasia: The Babylonian furnace which poured forth dew showed forth a most glorious mystery: how the Jordan was to receive the immaterial Fire in its streams and embrace the Creator baptized in the flesh. Him do the peoples bless and exalt supremely for all ages.

Glory…, in Tone II—

Theotokion: Without seed didst thou conceive Him Who is not separated from the Father, and Who as man and God made His abode within thy womb; and thou gavest birth unto Him. Wherefore, we know thee to be the salvation of us all.

Taking the Cross of the Savior upon thy shoulder, thou didst hasten to His tomb, like a deer unto springs of saving water, O most blessed Theodosius.

Irmos: With a most blessed voice the Father made manifest His Beloved Whom He had begotten from the womb. Verily, He saith, this, the splendid Son, of the same nature as Myself, hath come forth from the human race. He is My living Word, Who by My providence is become a man.

Katavasia: Every tongue is at a loss how to praise thee as is meet, and even an intelligence from above the world is in doubt how to hymn thee, O Theotokos; yet, as thou art good, accept our faith, for thou knowest our longing inspired by God; for thou art the intercessor of Christians, and we magnify thee.

The ladder of the virtues hath been mystically shown forth in an image on earth. Him let us praise as the adornment of ascetics; for, having truly fasted like the great Anthony and shown infinite humility, he tended his people piously and caused them to dwell in the holy fold, where the choir of angels abideth. And we cry out to him: Forget not even now thy flock, O most blessed Theodosius, but save us by thy supplications to the Lord, we pray!

Theotokion: O all-pure Mother of God, thou art seen to be like the daybreak amid the night of life, resplendent with beams of virginity, revealing unto us the dawning of the noetic Sun of righteousness.

Thou hast appeared today to the whole world, and Thy light, O Lord, hath been signed upon us who hymn Thee with understanding. Thou hast come, Thou hast appeared, the Light unapproachable.

Irmos: Whirled about in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy loving-kindness: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

Now & ever…, in the same tone—

Ikos: Upon Galilee of the nations, upon the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphthali, as the prophet said, a great Light hath shone, even Christ. A radiant darkness hath dawned upon those who sat in darkness, shining forth from Bethlehem. The Lord born of Mary, the Sun of righteousness, shineth forth with splendor upon the whole world. Come, therefore, all ye naked children of Adam, and let us clothe ourselves in Him, that we may be warmed; for He Who covereth the naked and enlighteneth those in darkness, hath come. He hath appeared, the Light unapproachable!

Irmos: He Who cooled the lofty flame that encircled the pious youths in the furnace, hath burnt the heads of the dragons in the waters; and with the dew of the Spirit He washeth away all the unbearable gloom of sin.

Today Christ hath come to the Jordan to be baptized; today John toucheth the head of the Master. The hosts of heaven are stricken with awe, beholding this most glorious mystery. The sea saw and fled; Jordan, seeing it, turned back. And we who have been illumined cry aloud: Glory to God Who hath manifested Himself, Who is seen on earth and hath enlightened the world!

Jordan ministereth to Thee with its streams, and John stretcheth out his corruptible hand unto Thee Who hast appeared in the flesh for baptism, O Invisible One; but the former turned back in fright, while the latter with trembling straightway touched Thee, the Incorruptible One. Verily, Thou art the Lamb of God, the ever-living Wellspring Who hath sanctified the streams, the sea and men. For the Trinity hath shone forth: from on high the Father calleth Thee His Son, and the Holy Spirit descendeth.

Irmos: The command of the iniquitous tyrant, opposed to God, raised up a lofty flame; but Christ, Who is blessed and all-glorious, spread a spiritual dew upon the pious youths.

O most radiant Word, Who hast been sent forth by the Father, Thou comest to repel utterly the night of evil darkness and to uproot the sins of men, and by Thy baptism to draw forth children of light from the streams of the Jordan, O Good One.

Irmos: Creation is seen to be fire, and those who before were in darkness to be children of the light. The prince of darkness alone groaneth. Let the inheritance of all the nations which before was accursed now fervently bless Him Who hath brought these things to pass!

When he saw in very truth the Word Who had been foretold, the herald bore witness of Him to creation, and cried, plainly saying: “This is He Who was before me, yet cometh after. Though like us in form, He hath shone forth with divine power to take away our hateful sin!”

Irmos: Once, in Babylon, the fiery furnace divided its activity at the command of God, consuming the Chaldæans, but bedewing the faithful, who chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

That He might bring His own back to the life-giving pastures of paradise, the Word of God layeth siege to the lairs of the dragons, and destroying their manifold snares, he assaileth him who hath bruised all mankind, and, imprisoning him, delivereth creation.

Irmos: O most pure Bride, O blessed Mother! The wonders of thy birthgiving pass all understanding. Having received most perfect salvation through thee, we praise our Benefactor as is meet and right, offering a hymn of thanksgiving unto Him as a gift.

Thou didst crush the heads of the dragons in the waters, and by the Spirit hast made me a man wholly new, O Word of God. Wherefore, I cry out to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Irmos: God the Lord, the Son of the unoriginate Father, hath revealed Himself to us incarnate of the Virgin, to enlighten those in darkness and to gather the dispersed. Wherefore, we magnify the all-hymned Theotokos.

Emulating Christ, Who bowed His head before the Forerunner, in thy submission and excellent humility, O father Theodosius, thou didst ascend the unshakable tower of virtue.

Serving the Virgin Mother of Christ God, thou didst receive the invincible grace of the Spirit, O father Theodosius, and hast cast down the invisible foe.

The glorious cave of the magi, which received thee, O Theodosius, showed thee to be a bearer of gifts unto Christ Who was baptized for our sake, offering Him faith, hope and love.

Strengthened by the sufferings of Christ the Master, O father Theodosius, thou didst endure torment with a loving conscience, struggling against the dark prince of this world.

Beholding him whom He had formed of dust bound by inescapable bonds in the darkness of sin, the Creator raised him up and laid him on His shoulders; and now, in the midst of abundant waters, He cleanseth him of the ancient shame of Adam’s inclination toward sin.

With piety let us eagerly hasten to the most pure wellsprings of the stream of salvation: and, gazing upon the Word Who is come forth from the incorrupt Virgin, let us drink the pure water which quencheth our holy thirst, gently healing the infirmity of the world.

He Who renewed us in the waters having set fire to thy mind, which was subdued by asceticism, O most blessed Theodosius, thou didst wisely make thy body steadfast by spiritual ascents.

Ever setting the doctrine of death as a rule of thy life, and yearning to depart unto Him Who manifested Himself in the flesh for our sake, thou didst fashion a coffin for thyself, O Theodosius.

Thy glorious disciple Basil, O Theodosius, emulating the voluntary death of Christ, maketh ready a new grave, rejoicing.

The prophet, mysteriously swallowed up for the space of three nights in the belly of the sea monster, emerged again, making manifest beforehand to all our regeneration in the last times, and our deliverance from the dragon that slayeth mankind.

When the shining vaults of heaven were opened, he who knew the Scriptures beheld the Spirit, Who proceedeth from the Father and abideth in the all-pure Word, descending in ineffable manner in the form of a dove; and he commanded the multitudes to hasten to the Master.

In Thy resurrection Thou hast given us incorruption, O Christ; wherefore, the glorious Basil, Thy favored one, is shown in death to be like one who is yet alive.

God is baptized, Who cleanseth the world and became a man like me for my sake. Him didst thou proclaim to be dual in nature, O blessed Theodosius.

The torrents of thy tears poured forth the sweetness of gladness in Christ God, Who transformed the tears of the myrrh-bearing women into joy, O Theodosius.

Planted in the courts of thy Lord, thou didst flourish most beauteously in thy venerable virtues, and didst increase in number thy children in the desert, watering them with the torrents of thy tears, O godly chief shepherd of the flock of God. Wherefore, we cry out: Rejoice, O father Theodosius!

Ikos: Thou wast a man by nature, O father, yet wast shown to be a fellow citizen with the angels; for, living on earth like one of the incorporeal ones, O wise one, thou didst put aside every carnal thought. Wherefore, thou hearest from us: Rejoice, scion of a pious father; rejoice, offshoot of a devout mother! Rejoice, most comely citizen of the desert; rejoice, most radiant beacon for all the world! Rejoice, for from thy youth thou didst follow after Christ; rejoice, for thou didst cause carnal pleasures to wither away! Rejoice, mediator for the salvation of monastics; rejoice, model of consolation for the despondent! Rejoice, thou who didst deliver many from deception; rejoice, thou who bestowest torrents of miracles! Rejoice, thou who didst show care for the poor; rejoice, our intercessor and deliverer! Rejoice, O father Theodosius!

The fierce Assyrian flame that prefigured Thee hast Thou quenched, transforming it into dew. And now, O Christ, Thou hast clothed Thyself in water as in flame, and Thou burnest up the baneful malice concealed in its depths, which calleth men to fall with faltering step.

When the Jordan was parted of old, the people of Israel passed clean over on dry ground, prefiguring Thee, O most powerful Lord, Who now bearest up creation in the waters without touching it, leading it to a better and imperishable path.

We know that in the beginning Thou didst, in Thy mercy, bring the waters of the flood upon the earth to destroy every living substance that Thou hadst made. And now, O Christ, Who workest wonders strange and most great, Thou hast drowned sin in the waters of Thy compassion, unto the salvation of mortal men.

Blessed and most glorious art Thou, O Lord, Word divine, supremely exalted God, Who in Thy baptism united the stream which burneth up sin and the flame which bedeweth the human race.

Thou didst burn thyself as incense before Him Who made the Jordan a furnace, O venerable one; and accepting a heavenly flame as a true indication of God’s approbation, thou didst erect a temple for the salvation of men’s souls.

By thy tactics the children of Moses came to submission when grace manifested itself, O venerable one; for, having laid low the invisible foe, thy people have inherited the city of heaven, O all-lauded one.

Thou didst make of thyself a habitation for Him Who buried sin in the streams of the Jordan, O God-pleasing Theodosius, while also erecting a temple wherein to offer up unceasing hymnody; and thou didst make it a rule that praises be chanted in many languages.

Emulating the boldness of the youths, thou didst quench the tyrant’s threat of fire, wisely interceding for the Church of Christ, O father Theodosius, for which the Crucified willingly manifested Himself in the flesh.

Sprinkled with dew in the midst of the fire, the three godly children plainly prefigured how the transcendent Nature, which is resplendent with most radiant rays of threefold holiness, doth, through human nature, mercifully consume all pernicious falsehood with the fire of dew.

Let the whole of earthly creation be clothed in white, for this day it is raised up from its fall to heaven; and, washed and most splendidly cleansed in the flowing waters by the Word, by Whom all things are preserved, it hath escaped its former sins.

Once, in Babylon, the furnace prefigured the streams of the Jordan, which consumeth the adversary by divine baptism, yet bedeweth the faithful who chant: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Having eluded the carnal passions before thy departure, O Theodosius, drawing forth water from the bosom of the earth thou appearest to the youth who crieth: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

It was the most divine command of Christ, Who was baptized in the streams of the Jordan, that the blessing of thy hands should bring forth deep-lying water for a land parched by the burning sun; for a kernel of wheat was seedlessly nurtured to become an abundant crop.

Having entered the noetic darkness of the Light most divine, O Theodosius, and had thy heart inscribed by the finger of God like the tablets of the law, thou didst transmit the book of life, the teachings of piety, to thy disciples, O most blessed one.

When the woman who emulated the steadfast faith of the woman with an issue of blood touched thy hairshirt, O father, her affliction fled like darkness before the light which was in thee; for thou wast a chosen vessel of Christ Who hath manifested Himself.

Triadicon: Beholding Thee, God begotten of God, Christ Who hast ineffably appeared in the body, we have also come to know Thy Father and Thy Holy Spirit, crying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

That which was revealed to Moses in the bush we see here fulfilled in wondrous manner; for as it bore fire, yet was not consumed, so hath the Virgin been preserved, who gave birth unto the Benefactor Who bringeth us light, and the streams of the Jordan suffered no harm when they received Him.

O King Who is without beginning, through the communion of the Spirit dost Thou anoint and make perfect the nature of man, and cleansing it in the pure streams of baptism, putting the arrogant might of darkness to shame, Thou now dost raise it up to eternal life.

Thou didst proclaim the four Councils, equal in number to the Gospels of Christ, O divinely wise Theodosius, willingly accepting the blood of martyrdom in thy zeal; and thou wast shown to be a martyr for piety though thou didst not shed thy blood.

The judgment of the unjust ruler didst thou rightly refuse to accept; and he was deposed for banishing thee, deprived of his iniquitous soul for his blasphemous words, and given over to death, as an enemy of life, O venerable one.

Mindful of thy teachings, O Theodosius, we proclaim Christ to be dual in essence, knowing there to be two volitions, natural, active and autonomous, in God Who was baptized in the flesh.

O namesake of the good gift which cometh from the Father of lights, thou wast a physician of souls and bodies, abundant food and drink for those languishing in starvation and thirst, vesture for the naked and correction for the fallen.

Never cease to watch over thy flock, O venerable father, mindful of thy promise that, having thee as a mediator before Christ, we have been bound firmly to an immovable anchor of hope.

Triadicon: O ye faithful, in Orthodox manner with hymns let us glorify the threefold unity, the Trinity one in essence, the indivisible, all-divine nature of thrice radiant Light, the one incorrupt and never-waning Radiance which hath shone Its light upon us.

We have been purified splendidly by Thy cleansing, O Christ, and now, with festive joy, we have been enriched by the commemoration of the honored Theodosius. Wherefore, the ranks of monastics are made glad. Twice

The Savior, Who is grace and truth, hath revealed Himself in the streams of the Jordan, and hath enlightened those who sleep in darkness and shadow; for He is come and hath appeared, the Light unapproachable.

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