Canon of the Forefeast, in Tone I—

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

Irmos: Delivered from bitter bondage, Israel traversed the impassable as though it were dry land, and, seeing the enemy drowning, they chanted a hymn to God, as to their Benefactor, Who worketh wonders with His upraised arm, for He hath been glorified.

Kontakion of the Forefeast, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: “Seeking the highest…”—

Sessional hymn of the martyrs, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…”—

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

Theotokion: O Theotokos, from all want do thou save this flock which thou hast acquired, making entreaty to our God and Savior.

Christ cometh to baptism! Christ arriveth at the Jordan! Christ now burieth our sins in the water, in that He is good! With gladness let us chant unto Him, for He hath been glorified.

Glory…, Now & ever…: another exapostilarion, in the same melody—

Irmos: Let us chant a hymn of victory unto the Lord, Who engulfed all the power of Pharaoh in the sea: for He hath been glorified.

Kontakion of the Forefeast, in Tone IV—

Glory…: Another sessional hymn, of the venerable one, in Tone V: Spec. Mel.: “The Word Who with the Father and the Spirit is equally without beginning…”—

“Wherefore dost thou fail to comprehend the dispensation which I bring to pass for the salvation of all, O Baptist? Think no more upon the things of the past, but ponder that which is profitable. Believe on God Who hath come down, and, having once refused, obey Me now; for in My loving-kindness I Who am God have come to cleanse Adam of the fall.”

Theotokion: He Who became incarnate of thy womb, O Theotokos, remained what He was before, and bestowed upon us who were created from dust that which we were in the beginning, delivering us from our transgressions.

Let the clouds, rejoicing, let great gladness fall! Jesus Christ cometh forth to drown the torrents of men’s sin in the waters of the Jordan, granting enlightenment unto all.

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.

Now & ever…: sessional hymn of the Forefeast, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: “Thy tomb, O Savior…”—

“O Jesus Who takest our sins upon Thy shoulders, Thou hast come to the streams of the Jordan, and I am filled with fear at Thine awesome coming. How then dost Thou command me to baptize Thee? Thou hast come Thyself to cleanse me: how then dost Thou, Who art the purification of all, ask baptism of me?”

Theotokion: Thou wast ineffably born of the Virgin, O Thou Who lovest mankind, and hast revealed Thyself as was Thy good pleasure, and hast restored the world, O Lord.

Behold, the Light is revealed! Behold, purification is shown forth! Lo! the Savior standeth forth to shine rays of His divine splendor upon those in darkness! Let us joyfully embrace Him with pure thoughts.

Irmos: Let no mortal boast in his wisdom or riches, but rather in his faith in the Lord, crying out to Christ God in Orthodox manner, and ever chanting: On the rock of Thy commandments establish me, O Master!

“I am the unapproachable Word, though I have clothed My nature in the guise of a servant and have come to the Jordan. Refuse Me not, but come hither and be not afraid. Draw nigh unto Me, setting thy right hand upon My head, crying: Blessed art Thou Who hast appeared! O our God, glory to Thee!”

Theotokion: The Word Who became incarnate of thee, O most pure one, desiring to wash away the defilement of the flesh, amazed the water’s flow with the manner of His cleansing.

Come, ye faithful, and glorifying together let us celebrate on the Forefeast the memorial of the athletes, Christ in spiritual hymns.

Irmos: My heart hath been established in the Lord; my horn hath been exalted in my God; my mouth hath been enlarged over the enemy; and I have found gladness in Thy salvation.

“O how far beyond understanding is Thine infinite self-abasement for the sake of me who am fallen, O Word of God! I have recognized Thee Who in thy loving-kindness clothed Thyself in Adam and restorest the descendants of Adam; and, obedient to Thy command, with faith I cry unto Thee: Blessed art Thou Who hast appeared! O our God, glory to Thee!”

Theotokion: O pure Mother, blessed and holy Virgin, from every evil circumstance save those who hymn thee.

The passion-bearers of Christ and steadfast champions of the Faith, having armed themselves with might against ungodliness, vanquished the enemy,

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.

Glory…, in the same melody—

Theotokion: Thine Offspring hath delivered Adam from corruption, having become like man except for corruption; for thy conceiving transcended man. Wherefore, O Maiden, deliver me from corruption and evils.

The ungodly and impious tyrant, a stranger to the Faith of Christ who raged against the passion-bearers, is destroyed by their faith.

Irmos: Habbakuk, of old, heard wondrous report of Thee, O Christ, and cried out in fear: God shall come out of Thæman, and the Holy One out of a mountain overshadowed and densely wooded, to save His anointed! Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

Serving the Master with trembling, John rejoiceth in soul and crieth out with gladness: “Rejoice with me, all ye generations of our first father! For our Hope hath arrived! Christ hath come to the Jordan to wash away all the sin of Adam, in that He is compassionate!”

Theotokion: O most holy Virgin who art full of joy, and who, in manner past description, gavest birth to the Word in time: Entreat Him, that He save our souls.

I who am senseless and wholly impure come forth to crown thy memory with hymns, setting my hope on thee. Grant me the discourse of wisdom and understanding by thine entreaties.

Irmos: I heard report of Thee and was afraid; I understood Thy works and was filled with awe, O Lord.

Now & ever…, in the same melody—

Theotokion: The Head of the pious, Who without seed was truly born of thy womb, O most pure one, hath now crushed the heads of the serpents who made their lair in the streams.

Having taken thy whole mind up to the divine heights, and come to know the abyss of good things and the goodness of delight, thou didst endure all that befell thee.

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!

O ye people, let us chant unto Him Who was born of the Virgin and hath been baptized in the River Jordan, and let us cry out to Him: O King of all creation, grant that, without condemnation, with a clear conscience, and with faith, we may attain unto thy holy resurrection from the dead on the third day.

Theotokion: Cease thou never in thy supplications to our God, to Whom thou didst ineffably give birth, O Theotokos, that He deliver from misfortunes us who hymn thee, O pure Ever-virgin.

Desiring great glory, thou gavest wings to thy mind, to soar aloft to God Most High, and through abstinence and pangs didst lighten thy body, which had drawn thee down toward the earth.

Irmos: Shine forth Thy never-waning light, O Christ, into the hearts of those who hymn Thee with faith, granting us the peace which passeth understanding. Wherefore, hastening from the night of ignorance to the day by Thy light, we glorify Thee, Who lovest mankind.

Theotokion: That we might be filled with glory, the Lord of glory hath come to inglorious humanity; and, washed like a man, thy Son hath glorified men.

Christ, Who hath been seated with the Father and the Spirit from before time began, and Who became incarnate of the Virgin in latter times, cometh to baptism, granting immortality unto all through the divine font, as He knoweth.

Irmos: Rising at dawn unto Thy glory and laudation, O Word, we unceasingly praise the image of Thy Cross, which Thou hast given us as a weapon to help us.

Theotokion: Save thy flock from every evil circumstance, O most holy and pure one, for thou alone art the intercessor of our race, O most hymned and blessed Theotokos.

Desiring, in the loving-kindness of His mercy, to bury our sins with water in the Jordan’s streams, Christ God cometh forth and by baptism restoreth us who have become corrupt.

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: The nature of water cleanseth me of sin through the wisdom of thy supernatural Offspring, O Virgin Bride of God; for the cleansing of God, the Creator of life, cleanseth me who have defiled myself with many offenses.

Covering the shameful nakedness of our first father Adam, Thou hast voluntarily stripped Thyself naked, O Christ, and Thou coverest Thyself in the streams of the Jordan, O Thou Who alone art greatly merciful, and Who coverest Thy chambers with waters.

Irmos: I am wholly held fast by boundless passions, and have fallen into the sea monster of evils; yet lead me up from corruption, O God, as thou didst Jonah of old, and grant me dispassion by faith, that I may sacrifice to Thee with a voice of praise and in the spirit of salvation.

Theotokion: The one compassionate and preëternal Word, Who was born of the Virgin in the latter days and hath saved the human race, do ye hymn, O priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely forever!

Let us praise Theopemptus and the all-glorious Theonas, the proponents of piety and faith, the divine athletes.

Irmos: Jonah cried out from the belly of hades: Lead up my life from corruption! And we cry out to Thee: O almighty Savior, have mercy on us!

Theotokion: Desiring in His extreme love to restore mortals, O pure one, thy Son hasteneth to the Jordan as a man; for there He breaketh Him Who brought ruin upon all, renewing the world by thy supplications.

Having shown yourselves to be a rule, a model and an example, O great martyrs of Christ, for the saints ye became guides to martyrdom.

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!

Theotokion: Having conceived in thy womb the unapproachable Word and given birth to Him for us without seed, pray thou earnestly, that our souls may be saved.

Eagerly desiring their life of virtue, the martyrs who stood together with them at the tribunal cried aloud: “All of us are Christians!”

Irmos: The youths, who once were manifestly shown forth as holy for their piety, passed through the unbearable flame of the furnace as though it were a bridal chamber; and, chanting with one accord, they sang: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Theotokion: In thee hath might been imparted to our fallen first father, who lacked the strength to go further; for through the baptism of thy Son all malice hath now been drowned. Wherefore, we proclaim thee the cause of purification.

Thou didst not spare thy flesh many wounds, nor the agony of being dragged irresistibly to the pangs of abstinence, wherein the tempter was expelled.

Irmos: Thou didst bedew the burning furnace, O Savior and didst save the children who chanted, saying: Blessed art Thou forever, O Lord God of our fathers!

Thou didst choose the narrow path which leadeth to the divine life of incorruption, spurning the wide path, of which there is truly naught worse for the mind to contemplate.

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.

Thou didst escape the burning flower of youth through the privations and pangs of asceticism, and with the outpourings of thy tears didst extinguish the burning of thine eyes.

Irmos: Of old, the fiery furnace, moist with dew, showed forth the image of a supernatural wonder; for the fire consumed not the youths, revealing the seedless, divine nativity of Christ from the Virgin. Wherefore, chanting, let us sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

O Christ, Who in Thy compassion and infinite mercy takest away the multitude of all our transgressions, Thou comest as a man to be baptized in the waters of the Jordan, clothing me in the raiment of the ancient glory of which I was cruelly stripped bare.

Irmos: The only unoriginate King of glory, whom the hosts of heaven bless, and before Whom the ranks of angels tremble, do ye hymn, O ye priests, and exalt supremely, O ye people!

Theopemptus, who hath been shown to be a holy hierarch for those here below, together with the steadfast Theonas, his fellow athlete, is wounded, crying out with joy to the torturers who were unable to bear their opposition: “I honor Thee Who alone hast buried the transgressions of mortals in the streams of the Jordan!”

Irmos: God, Who descended into the fiery furnace for the Hebrew children and transformed the flame into dew, hymn ye as Lord, O ye works, and exalt Him ­supremely for all ages!

Thou hast transcended the pain of enduring ascetic feats, and dost delight in the sublime mansions in the heavens and hast been filled with greater radiance, for thou didst manfully tread the difficult path, transcending things present. Thou didst make thyself like unto the angels, and now sharest in their glory.

Irmos: Ineffable is the mystery of the Virgin! For she hath been shown forth as heaven, the throne of the cherubim, and the light-bearing bridal chamber of Christ God Almighty. Her do we piously magnify as the Theotokos.

The great Rain cometh forth to the river’s streams, desiring to be baptized in the flesh; and to Him the godly Forerunner said in fear: “How can I baptize Thee Who art wholly without defilement? How can I stretch forth my hand to the head of Thee before Whom all things tremble?”

Irmos: O ye faithful, with hymns let us magnify the Theotokos, who became a mother in manner transcending nature, is a Virgin by nature, and alone is blessed among women!

Draw ye forth the water of life! For, lo! the River of peace truly cometh to dry up the rolling waters of unbelief and to pour forth enlightenment upon those who sing to Him: 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.

Be glad, O human nature, thou desert which before was arid with thirst! The Torrent of delight hath now appeared, freeing all from the burning heat of sin with the waters of the Jordan. To Him do we chant with faith: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

The voice of one crying forth in prophecy thundered forth upon barren minds, saying: “Prepare ye straight ways for Christ Who cometh, that He may through baptism purify us who have grown old, releasing us from our primal condemnation!”

Ye watered the whole world with divine discourses, O great martyrs of Christ, and set falsehood at naught.

Riches which cannot be taken away did the athletes truly find, and they spat upon wealth, glory and the fame of mortals.

Having put on the armor of Christ, therein the passion-bearers repelled all the savagery of the tyrants.

Excelling in the beauty of thy body, thou wast spoken for by many, who did not obtain their desire. Wherefore, having laid waste to thy body, thou didst partake of divine beauty.

Like Job, thou didst endure bodily affliction and didst not protest the sentence imposed upon thee; and, transcending nature and time, thou hast received a divine habitation.

Thou didst withdraw from thy kinfolk, parents and estates, seeking Christ alone, the inexhaustible riches which cannot be taken away, and with Him thou hast been shown to be a partaker of glory on high.

As King of peace, Thou hast broken down the middle-wall of enmity, appearing to those on earth in fleshly form; wherefore, beholding Thine arrival, John marvelled in fear when he was commanded to place his hand upon Thee.

Hastening, Christ cometh now to crush the heads of the serpents in the waters, and crieth out to the trembling baptist: “Stretch forth thy hand, and touch my head, and shake off thine awe, doing that which thou art commanded!”

The prophet once uttered the grace of baptism in the divine Spirit, striking the streams of the Jordan with his mantle; and they have parted, making for us a path to the divine regeneration of Christ Who hath appeared therein.

The wise athletes, the warriors of the Faith, having valiantly vanquished the torments of the all-iniquitous enemy, have together received crowns.

Neither inducements, nor lies, nor earthly glory were able to bring an end to your contest of faith, O athletes; wherefore, rejoice ye!

Standing before the throne of the glory of the Lord, with the angels make unceasing supplication, that He grant cleansing of transgressions to those who hymn you with faith.

Thou wast a temple of the Word Who dwelleth among the pure spirits, O wise one; for thou didst illumine the beauty of thy soul with the manifold pangs of abstinence, O all-glorious one.

With many pangs, thou didst mortify the flesh which was robed in purple by natural grace, making the shining image of thy soul yet brighter in radiance through the light of the virtues.

Having set the matter of thy body afire with the desire of thy soul for Christ, thou dost now truly rejoice immaterially with the immaterial angels, gazing upon God.

Showing forth the loving-kindness of His compassions, the immutable Christ cometh to a servant in the guise of a servant, asking baptism, and rescuing mankind from slavery; and marvelling at His coming, the Forerunner stood in awe, held fast by fear.

How can the river’s streams receive Thee, the unbearable Fire Who art now come? How can the angels of heaven look upon Thy nakedness? How can the hand of John stretch forth to touch Thee, O Word of God Who art wholly without beginning, and Who created him on earth?

Fleeing, the sea is parted, disclosing for the new people a divine path which He Who all-gloriously poured forth water from the rock, having come in the flesh, hath made in the midst of the river. Let us glorify as God Him Who hath built up anew our ruination.

Contending in the arena, the martyrs set at naught the falsehood of idolatry and rooted out all ungodliness from the earth by their martyrdom.

O glorious martyrs, the enemy and persecutor of the Faith set his minions to slay thee cruelly with swords, like lambs.

When the choir of the saints beheld the tormenters armed with swords, they manfully cried aloud: “We are soldiers of Christ, O tyrant!”

Illumined with the radiance of the Spirit, thou didst reject all the delight of the flesh as a thing of the night; for thou wast crowned with the desire for good things.

Today thy splendid memorial hath shone forth from afar, enlightening the darkness of men’s souls, O adornment of struggling monastics.

Thou didst preserve the purity of thy virginity, honoring the incorrupt bridal-chamber; for thou wast afire with desire for Christ, thine awesome Bridegroom.

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 say not 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!”

Christ hath revealed Himself as our salvation, granting us enlightenment. Let heaven rejoice, and let the clouds truly drop down righteousness upon those who cry: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

The fleece which Gideon foresaw, the full cup of water drawn forth therefrom, manifestly foretold Thy baptism, O Christ, which Thou, having undergone it, givest to those who chant: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Elisha, in healing the barren and brackish waters, prefigured the fruitfulness of the precious font which would mystically come upon those who chant: O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!

Together ye accepted martyrdom, slain by the sword with your wives and children, crying out to Christ: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

The saints rejoiced, beholding themselves slain by the sword, and with faith they cried aloud: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

The savagery of the ungodly hath been extirpated from the earth, the false gods have fallen headlong and been broken asunder by the confession of the martyrs, who have received crowns.

The adversary, plotting wickedly, strove to weaken the strength of thy soul by infirmities; but he who tried the patience of Job was driven away by thy wisdom and pangs, wounded by thy patience, O wise one.

Rich in beauty, thy soul hath now escaped the threefold billows of life for the right tranquil haven in the divine habitations, O wise one, where a place of rest hath been prepared for thee because of thy great endurance of sufferings.

Thou didst wisely teach, saying: “One must never change one’s place of residence in the cœnobitic life, for endurance winneth great rewards.” And thou wast truly not slow to employ words and actions to benefit monastics.

With a loud voice let us send up praise to the Master. He hath arrived! He hath appeared! He Who clotheth the sky with clouds cometh up to the waters and doth strip Himself naked. And He is baptized, cleansing us who chant: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Come ye, and let us noetically go to the Jordan; and let us behold therein a great sight: for Jesus our enlightenment cometh and boweth His head beneath the hand of a servant, who crieth out with trembling: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Burning in the waters of the Jordan, the glowing Ember which Isaiah foresaw, hath consumed all the tinder of sin and hath granted restoration to the ruined. Wherefore, chanting, let us sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

The wise athletes, confessing the only compassionate King of glory, received crowns of honor, crying out with goodly boldness: Ye people, exalt Him supremely forever!

The athletes of Christ steadfastly opposed the tormenters, suffering valiantly, and they vanquished the falsehood of idolatry, crying out with goodly boldness: Ye people, exalt Him supremely forever!

Triumphing over the threats and tortures of the tyrants, like adamant, the valiant warriors joyously cried out: Hymn the Lord, ye priests! Ye people, exalt Him supremely forever!

While living on earth, thou didst truly desire to attain unto the land of the blessed, where the ranks of the angels, the venerable, the fasters and virgins, dwelling eternally, hymn Christ for all ages.

As one surpassing many in natural comeliness, thou didst care for thy soul, wisely preserving thy spiritual beauty; wherefore, having caused the beauty of thy body to wither, thou didst set thy soul afire with abstinence.

Having acquired a mind vigilant for God through spiritual fervor, thou didst set the wiles of the lying deviser of evils utterly at naught, O glorious one; and now, having fallen asleep, thou livest forever.

An awesome and all-glorious mystery do I behold! Jesus cometh of His own will to the River Jordan, crying out to John: “Grant Me the loan of thy right hand, My friend, that it may perform awesome works for the preservation of My people.”

Let the desert of the Jordan put forth flowers! O ye who lie in darkness, a great Light hath revealed Itself to you! Beholding It, leap up! Coming from Galilee, Christ desireth to be baptized in the flesh by a servant!

Be glad now and dance, O Jordan! Leap up, O John! Rejoice, all the world! Lo! Christ hath appeared: He strippeth Himself naked and is baptized, clothing mankind in the raiment of incorruption!

The passion-bearers of Christ, having trampled all the rites of idolatry underfoot by their faith and piously reached the godly conclusion of their contest, have been made steadfast through faith.

Having spurned all earthly things through faith and together suffered zealously, the passion-bearers of Christ received healing from God.

The passion-bearers, having manfully armed themselves with faith, cast down the hordes of the enemy by the Cross of the Lord, and have received crowns.

Resplendent in the beauties of virginity, O glorious one, thou didst adorn thyself with the crown of the ascetic life; wherefore, thine awesome Bridegroom, by the love of Whom thou wast wounded, hath crowned thee with a twofold crown.

Thy trust in things to come, which thou didst have in thy heart, did not disappoint thee, O most honored one; for thou hast now received from the Savior the reward of thy pangs, for having passed through every form of ascetic endeavor.

Thou didst clothe thyself in the might and confirmation of Christ, O honored one, and didst bring down to the ground the pridefulness of him who uttered falsehood against the Most High. Wherefore, Jesus, the Bestower of victory, hath adorned thee with the crown of victory.

When the Jordan beheld thee naked, with trembling it said to him who was born of the barren woman: “O John, thou durst not baptize the Lord, Who purifieth all creation with fire and the Spirit, though He hath come to sanctify mortals and the nature of water!”

He Who in the flesh shone forth from the Virgin in Bethlehem now hasteneth to the Jordan, to wash away the defilement of mortals, leading to the light those who are in darkness, through divine baptism.