Canon of the Forefeast

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

Irmos: O Theotokos, thou living and abundant fountain: in thy divine glory establish those who hymn thee and spiritually form themselves into a choir; and vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.

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

The choir of the prophets rejoiceth, proclaiming the baptism of Christ which poureth forth life. Isaiah saith: “Draw forth the purifying water!” And the ancestor of God writeth: “Why doth the sea flee from before the face of God Who of His own will saveth the human race?”

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

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone VI: Spec. Mel.: “The angelic hosts…”—

Theotokion: All my hope do I place in thee, O most immaculate one, and, rejoicing, I stretch forth my soul and mind toward thee.

Be glad, O human nature, thou arid desert; for, lo! Christ, the restoration of all, the Water of life, hath appeared, watering thee with grace newly sprung forth!

Irmos: Thou art the confirmation of those who have recourse to Thee, O Lord; Thou art the light of the benighted; and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

Kontakion of the martyr, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “As firstfruits…”—

Glory…: Sessional hymn of the martyr, in the same melody—

The Master, Who hath heaven for His throne, hath come to earth, incarnate of the Virgin; and, standing forth in the Jordan, He asketh of John the cleansing of all. O all ye lands of the earth, let us chant to Him: Blessed art Thou Who hast appeared! O our God, glory be to Thee!

Theotokion: There is none as blameless as thee, O Mistress, and none more pure than thee, O most immaculate one; for in thy womb thou didst contain the Creator of all, Who alone is greatly merciful.

Thou comest forth to the waters to seek me out who have gone astray in mind, O Christ; and entering them, Thou drownest my transgressions and leadest me up from the abyss of all evil, in that Thou art compassionate.

Irmos: None is as holy as the Lord, and none is as righteous as our God, Whom all creation doth hymn, singing: None is righteous save Thee, O Lord!

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

Now & ever…: Sessional hymn of the Forefeast, in the same tone: Spec. Mel.: “Of the shepherds’ pipes…”—

Christ arriveth at the streams of the Jordan; He Who washeth sins away asketh baptism. Let all the earth leap up, and let the heavens be glad! Rejoice, O Church of the nations, having been wedded to the King, and cry out with faith: Blessed art Thou Who hast appeared! O our God, glory be to Thee!

Theotokion: On thee have I set mine every hope of salvation and the direction of my life, O joyous Virgin Mary.

Having perforce to behold Thee naked, O Word, the sun hideth its rays; for Thou comest to clothe in the garment of salvation, through honored baptism, me who have been stripped naked through the deception of the serpent.

Irmos: Perceiving the inscrutable counsel of God—the Incarnation of Thee, the Most High, from the Virgin—the Prophet Habbakuk cried aloud: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Let the mountains cause the sweetness of gladness to fall! Clap your hands now mystically, ye nations! Let the desert burst into bloom! Leap up, O Jordan! Come thou, O Baptist, and, rejoicing, minister to the mystery of the Deliverer! O ye people, let us chant: Blessed art Thou Who hast appeared! O our God, glory be to Thee!

Theotokion: O Mary Theotokos, Bride of God, deliver me from cruel transgressions and misfortunes, and by thy supplications guide me toward the calm haven of salvation.

Rejoice now, O blessed and God-pleasing Malachi, beholding the fulfillment and accomplishment of thy prophecies!

Irmos: I have heard, O Lord, the mystery of Thy dispensation; I have understood Thy works, and have glorified Thy divinity.

O Light Who hast shone forth from the Light before time began, Who hast appeared to those who sit in the night: cleanse away the darkness of sin and shine forth the light! Exult, O Adam, and be glad, O Eve! Christ our deliverance is come! Cry out, O David: Blessed art Thou Who hast appeared! O our God, glory be to Thee!

Theotokion: By thy Life-bearing birthgiving thou didst destroy the might of death, O most holy Virgin Maiden, and hast poured forth life indestructible.

The noetic Sun of righteousness hath shone forth, Who hath healing on His wings, as Thou didst foretell, O divinely inspired one.

Irmos: O Word, with divine vision the prophet perceived Thee Who wast to become incarnate of the Theotokos alone, the mountain overshadowed; and with fear he glorified Thy power.

Glory…, in the same tone & melody—

Theotokion: He Who transcendently became incarnate of thy womb, O all-pure Virgin, hath illumined the world with the radiance of divine knowledge.

Mindful of the inconstancy of transitory things, and pondering the constancy of those things which are abiding, O blessed and glorious martyr, thou didst fearlessly enter the arena of suffering.

Irmos: All things are filled with awe at thy divine glory; for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, didst contain within thy womb Him Who is God over all, and gavest birth to the timeless Son, granting peace unto all who hymn thee.

A star hath shone forth from Jacob upon the world, and, taking the flaming sin of men, He burieth it in the waters of the Jordan, shining forth with the radiance of divinity and granting the enlightenment of divine knowledge to the nations. Blessed art Thou Who hast appeared! O our God, glory be to Thee!

Theotokion: He Who with the Father is without beginning and consubstantial hath ineffably been born, incarnate as the only-begotten Child of the Virgin, and hath preserved as virgin her who gave Him birth; for He is truly God, even though He hath assumed human nature.

Thou didst put away fleeting vainglory, O thou who art most rich, and didst cleave unto those things which are everlasting; and, fleeing from men, O divinely wise one, thou camest to dwell with the angels.

Irmos: O Lord Who by divine knowledge brought the ends of the earth into the light out of the night of ignorance, enlighten me with the dawning of Thy love for mankind.

Now & ever…, in the same melody—

Theotokion: Raise up my mind which hath been done to death by the threefold waves of the passions, O thou who gavest birth to Christ, eternal Life, Who bestoweth healings upon all.

Putting aside earthly knowledge, O martyr, thou didst find a heavenly life; for, unable to endure the sight of the arrogance of falsehood, thou didst withdraw into the wilderness.

Irmos: Same as that of the preceding canon.

As the fulfillment of the law in the flesh, in that He is full of loving-kindness Christ hath come to the Jordan to produce the first-fruits of salvation; and He boweth His head before the Baptist, who crieth out with faith: “O ye people, let us cry aloud: Blessed art Thou Who hast appeared! O our God, glory be to Thee!”

Theotokion: O compassionate Word of God, Who didst clothe Thyself in me through the pure Virgin, without confusion Thou didst wholly unite Thyself hypostatically with all of me. Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Enriched by the gift of prophecy, O prophet, thou didst manifestly proclaim salvation to the world and the advent of Christ, by Whose radiance the world hath been illumined.

Irmos: Celebrating this divine and most honored festival of the Mother of God, come, ye divinely wise, let us clap our hands and glorify God Who was born of her.

Theotokion: O blessed Theotokos, most pure one who gavest birth to God without seed, with the outpouring of healings thou dost cleanse the infected wounds caused by the thorns of sins.

The drops of thy sweat have watered the whole earth, O all-glorious Gordius, and thou hast gladdened all the world with thy precious blood. By thy supplications, O divinely wise one, save all who hymn and bless thee with faith, crying out a worthy hymn to thee, O most lauded one, as a great athlete.

Irmos: I pour forth my prayer unto the Lord, and to Him do I declare my grief; for my soul is full of evil and my life hath drawn nigh unto hell, and like Jonah I pray: Lead me up from corruption, O God!

Theotokion: Acknowledging thee as the Mother of Life and Bearer of God, O Virgin Mother, we all bless thee with Orthodox faith, blessing and supremely exalting thine Offspring for all ages, O pure one.

Enriched by the grace of prophecy, by the Spirit thou wast divinely taught the knowledge of things to come, O divinely inspired Malachi who art most rich, and thou didst foretell to all the advent of Christ and the divine summoning of the nations. Wherefore, we celebrate thine honored memory, we sing to thee with love and bless thee with faith, crying out to thee, O glorious one: Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins to those who honor thy holy memory with love.

Irmos: As Thou didst deliver the prophet from the uttermost abyss, O Christ God, in that Thou lovest mankind deliver me from my sins, and direct my life, I beseech Thee.

Theotokion: Conceiving the incarnate Word, Who before was incorporeal, O Virgin, thou didst abolish the ancient curse of Eve, giving birth to the Blessing of the world.

Afire with the love of Jesus, O wise martyr, of thine own will thou didst zealously give thyself over to death and didst stand in the midst of the tribunal, crying out to the tyrants: “Behold, I am come!” Wherefore, having denounced falsehood with boldness, thou wast beheaded by the sword, O glorious one, and hast passed over to life everlasting. O most lauded one, entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who honor thy holy memory with love.

Irmos: The divinely wise youths worshipped not a creation rather than the Creator, but, manfully trampling the threat of the fire underfoot, they rejoice, chanting: Blessed art Thou, the all-hymned God of our fathers!

Theotokion: Ripe life do I embrace, unharmed by the tree of knowledge; for thou, O most immaculate one, hast budded forth Christ, the Tree of life, Who showeth to all how to enter into life. Wherefore, O most pure one, we the faithful declare thee the Theotokos.

Stricken with awe were heaven and the angelic armies, beholding Thee as a servant, O Christ, coming to Thy servant and asking baptism.

Irmos: In the furnace the Hebrew children boldly trod the flame underfoot and transformed the fire into dew, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Theotokion: Saved from the ancient curse by thy divine birthgiving, O Virgin, and hymning it as is meet, we cry out with unceasing voices: Rejoice, O Theotokos, our hope!

Leap up, O John! For The Lord Who delivereth all cometh to bow down humbly beneath thy hand, that through divine baptism He might raise me, the lowly one.

Irmos: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers, Who bedewed the children in the furnace and preserved her who gave Thee birth a Virgin after birthgiving!

Bowing down the heavens, Thou didst descend into the Virgin, O Thou Who lovest mankind, and bowest Thy head before John, asking baptism. Glory to Thy surpassing loving-kindness!

Irmos: The birthgiving of the Theotokos saved the pious children in the furnace—then in figure, but now in deed—and it moveth all the world to chant to Thee: Hymn ye the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Loosing the countless bonds of mine offenses, O Word, Thou dost hasten to come to the waters of the Jordan to be baptized. O Master, glory to Thy surpassing loving-kindness!

Irmos: Becoming vanquishers of the tyrant and the flame by Thy grace, taking exceeding care to keep Thy commandments, the children cried out: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

As a prophet of the goodness of the Godhead, O blessed one, thou didst proclaim to all the nations the deliverance which hath taken place.

Irmos: Trampling down the fire and flame in the furnace, the divinely eloquent youths did chant: Bless the Lord, O ye works of the Lord!

Having learned through the Spirit of the supernatural incarnation of the Word, O blessed Malachi, thou didst proclaim the ineffable mystery.

Irmos: Let every mortal leap for joy, enlightened by the Spirit; and let the nature of the incorporeal intelligences keep festival, honoring the sacred feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry aloud: Rejoice, O most blessed Theotokos, pure Ever-virgin!

Having heard the words of Christ, rejoicing, thou didst leave the corrupt army and didst enlist in the army of the King of heaven, O most blessed and crowned martyr Gordius.

Irmos: Every ear trembleth to hear of the ineffable condescension of God, for the Most High willingly came down even to the flesh, becoming man through the Virgin’s womb. Wherefore we, the faithful, magnify the all-pure Theotokos.

The mountains of the tyrants and the hills of the idols were broken, O martyr, by the patient suffering of thee who approached them with boldness, O crown-bearer.

Irmos: Thy birthgiving, O Ever-virgin, which was revealed to the law-giver on the mountain in the fire and the bush, for the salvation of us, the faithful, do we magnify with unceasing hymnody.

Thou wast strengthened by the divine power of the Cross, that thou mightest cry aloud against the ungodly council: “For those who seek me not, I am found! And trusting now, I appear to those who ask not!”

Thou didst provoke the wrath of the tyrant wholly against thee, O divinely wise one, and he marvelled at the intention and the uprising of thy soul.

Taking pity on human nature, which had fallen far away from God, the Word of God manifested Himself as a man, and through God-given baptism doth divinely unite it to Himself, and restoreth it to its original dignity.

O most compassionate Bestower of life, thou comest to bring life, through the streams of the Jordan, to us who have become mortal through disobedience. Wherefore, we now faithfully glorify Thine appearance and ineffable mercy.

Every soul doth marvel, pondering Thine awesome dispensation, O Word: how, desiring to restore all, Thou Who art clothed with light comest to enter the river’s streams naked.

Illumined by the divine Spirit, thou didst proclaim the awesome day of the advent of Christ, O divinely wise Malachi.

He Who removeth and washeth away the defilement of men’s souls with grace, as with the fullers’ earth, hath thus glorified thee, O divinely wise one.

Entering the arena as fearlessly and valiantly as a lion, O blessed one, thou didst regard the mindless as stones devoid of souls.

Instructed by the teachings of the divinely inspired Scriptures, O martyr Gordius, thou didst find them all to conduce to salvation.

Perceiving thy firm opposition, O divinely wise one, the tyrant was broken by thy steadfastness, as a wave is broken by a rock.

O ye who from of old have sat in the darkness, beholding the Light which is come, be ye filled with joy! Lo! the Lord hath appeared, clothed in the streams of the Jordan.

How is it that the Forerunner beheld Thee coming and asking for divine baptism, O Savior? How is it that the waters of the Jordan receive thee, Who art the Water of remission?

In gladness let the clouds drop forth noetic joy. Lo! the Lord hath come to be baptized, removing the dark clouds from our hearts.

Thy wise mind illumined by the very effulgence of God, thou didst set thyself apart from things here below and wast vouchsafed knowledge of things to come; for thou didst foretell the calling of the gentiles and the ending of the force of the law.

Truly the Lord, Whom we sought in joy, hath come into the temple which He Himself wisely made of the blessed Virgin, as He said, shining forth from God, O glorious Malachi.

Shedding his blood, O Master, Gordius maketh himself a sacred sacrifice and offereth himself to Thee as a pleasing oblation, emulating thy voluntary suffering.

He who is senseless in mind promised corruptible glory to thee who wast rich in incorruptible glory and had laid up a wealth of immortality, O Gordius.

Directing thy hope toward God, thou didst pass through the inconstancy of life, and, beheaded by the sword, thou didst pass over to the broad expanse of heaven.

In the streams of the Jordan the Lord crieth out to John today: “Fear not to baptize Me, for I have come to save Adam the first-created!”

Ikos: “I do not require thee to transgress the bounds of what is meet, O Baptist; I am not saying unto thee: Tell Me what thou tellest the iniquitous, and what thou teachest sinners. Only baptize Me in silence, awaiting those things which come through baptism; for it is for this cause that thou hast received a dignity which even the angels do not possess; for I have made thee greater than all the prophets. Thus, not one of them beheld Me plainly, but only in images, shadows and reflections; but thou beheldest Me standing before thee. For I am come to save Adam the first-created!”

Having mercy on me, who am broken by transgressions and lie in the darkness of disobedience, O Lord, thou hast taken pity on me in Thy goodness, and comest to be baptized in the waters of the Jordan, O Master.

“What is this awesome sight?” the ranks of the angels cried out. “He Who created the lakes and rivers by His command hath come to clothe Himself in the rivers of the Jordan; for thereby He restoreth Adam!”

Ineffable are the heights and unfathomable is the abyss of Thy dispensation, O Master, transcending every attainment of the mind. How is it that Thou cleansest mortals with water and the most Holy Spirit?

O glorious Prophet Malachi, thou didst foretell the most honored advent of Him Who hath dominion over all things, crying: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

O Compassionate One, accept Thou the glorious Prophet Malachi, who prayeth for those who piously chant and cry aloud: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God, forever!

Having attained the glory of martyrdom, O crowned one, thou joinest chorus with the angels, crying out to Christ: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Possessed of the boldness of piety, thou didst rebuke the wicked, chanting aloud: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Pray thou now, that they be delivered from transgressions who honor thy precious memory with faith and chant aloud: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

The voice of the Father beareth witness from on high to Thee, the consubstantial Son, Who entereth the waters and thereby sendest forth Thy blessing, O blessed Christ; and the Holy Spirit proclaimeth Thee to all as God incarnate.

Exult, O creation, beholding the holy epiphany of God! Chant, ye angels! Rejoice, O sea! Ye lands and wellsprings, leap up! Ye rivers, mystically clap your hands in hymnody! Christ hath stood forth, illumining you with blessings!

Let us sing in praise unto the Lord Who hath appeared in the waters, thereby mending our broken state and crushing the heads of the invisible foe; and let us cry aloud: Hymn the Lord, ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O wonder of wonders! How is it that our God, Who is above all creation, taketh on form and is made new through the Theotokos? How is it that of His own will the only Benefactor restoreth and reneweth us through water and the Spirit in a wondrous restoration?

Having made thyself a stranger to every material manifestation, O sacred one, thou didst show thyself to be an undefiled mirror of divine radiance, chanting: Bless the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Thou wast a beholder of ineffable glory, O blessed one, and a proclaimer of the mysteries of heaven, chanting unceasingly: Bless the Lord, all ye works, and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

The grace which followed thee, shining forth invisibly, O martyr, filled thee with valor, who criest: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

Running thy course quickly, O athlete, thou didst reach the kingdom, thy desired end, crying out: Bless the Lord, ye works of the Lord!

The glory and the immortal laudation of Thy martyrs abideth for endless ages! O all ye works, let us bless the Lord!

Behold, the Lamb Who taketh away the transgressions of mankind hath come and stood before His servant, asking baptism; and He standeth forth like a servant, seeking to set us free, who have been enslaved by the deceiver and have destroyed our primal beauty.

God Who became incarnate in His goodness hath manifestly appeared! He Who hath truly clothed the heavens in clouds cometh forth to be clothed in the waters of the Jordan! Wherefore, with joy we now celebrate the honored Forefeast of His epiphany.

Leap up with joy and prepare thyself to embrace the Water which floweth to life everlasting, O Jordan! Ye rivers, join chorus, beholding now the Torrent of nourishment entering the streams of the Jordan and drying up the outpourings of evil.

The day of salvation hath now dawned upon us who ever sleep in the night of evils! For Christ the Lord, Who is understood to be the Sun of righteousness, hath stood forth to bow His head before His servant and to be baptized in the flesh of His own will.

O most immaculate one, the cherubim and all the heavenly beings are in awe of thy precious birthgiving, which passeth comprehension, to Him Who became like unto us in His ineffable compassion and hath been baptized in the flesh. His divine epiphany do we all now celebrate, rejoicing.

The divinely radiant and honored feast of the prophet hath dawned, illumining with the splendors of prophecy those who come with faith and chant hymns; and it poureth forth healings upon all souls, and manifestly enlighteneth the divinely wise.

By Thy life-creating and mighty right hand, O greatly merciful one, preserve Thy Church through the entreaties of Thy favored one, Who foretold to us that Thou wouldst become man, thereby shining forth salvation and deliverance upon our souls.

Entreat the Master to be merciful to those who honor thee with faith and celebrate thy radiant and honored festival, O Gordius, adornment of the martyrs.

Delighting now in incorruptible sustenance, in the vision of God and never-waning light, O Gordius, thou receivest the fruits of thy struggles in the eternal mansions.

Disdaining fleeting glory which is corrupt and fit to be trampled underfoot, O divinely wise martyr, thou dost truly delight now in everlasting glory and joy, standing before the throne of the Master.

Leaving Bethlehem, the all-glorious wonder, let us hasten with fervor of soul to the Jordan, and there let us behold an awesome mystery; for my Christ, having stripped Himself naked, standeth forth divinely, clothing me in the raiment of the heavenly kingdom.

Glory…, Now & ever…: The foregoing is repeated.