Ode I

Irmos: The Lord, mighty in battles, uncovered the bed of the deep and led His people across dry land, overwhelming the adversary in the sea, for He hath been glorified.

Canon I of the Feast, the acrostic whereof is: “Baptism is the cleansing of mortals’ sins”, the composition of Cosmas the Monk, in Tone II—

Theotokion: O pure one, thou most hallowed temple of virginity, who bore God the Word within thy womb: by thy supplications save those who have recourse to thee and call upon thee, repelling the assault of misfortunes, O most immaculate one.

Irmos: Israel traversed the stormy depths of the sea, which had straightway become as dry land; but the dark waters covered all the chief captains of Egypt together in a watery grave, through the mighty power of the right hand of the Master.

The Lord, the King of the ages, restoreth corrupted Adam with the streams of the Jordan and crusheth the heads of the serpents who make their nest therein, for He hath been glorified.

Irmos: Let us chant unto the Lord Who by His divine command dried up the impassable and turbulent sea, and guided the people of Israel across it on foot, for gloriously hath He been glorified!

The Lord Who became incarnate of the Virgin, clothing material flesh in the immaterial fire of the Godhead, doth wrap Himself in the water of the Jordan, for He hath been glorified.

Katavasiae: The irmos of the first canon of the feast, chanted by the right-hand choir; and that of the second canon of the feast, chanted by the left-hand choir.

He Who washeth away the defilement of men, cleanseth Himself for them in the Jordan, desiring to make Himself like unto them, yet remaining as He was before, the Lord Who enlighteneth those in darkness, for He hath been glorified.

Canon II of the Feast (originally written in iambic verse), in Tone II, the composition of John of Damascus—

When the light of the radiant Dawn shone forth upon mortal men, coming forth from the wilderness to the waters of the Jordan, Thou, O King of the Sun, didst bow Thy neck before him, that Thou mightest ransom our forefather from the minions of darkness and cleanse creation of all defilement.

O Word Who art without beginning, Thou hast buried man with Thyself in the stream, and Thou dost lead him forth new again, who had been corrupted by deception; and the mighty voice of the Father testifieth to Thee ineffably, saying: This is My beloved Son, the Child Who is equal to Me by nature.

Canon of the Forerunner, the acrostic whereof is: “O Baptist of Christ, accept my praise”, the composition of Theophanes, in Tone II—

Anticipating me in thy supplications, O Forerunner, save me who am drowning amid the tempest of the passions; for thou thyself wast the honored and most pure receptacle of dispassion, appointed from infancy by the Lord from on high.

With salutation the angel of God stood before the honorable Zachariah, thy priestly father, and he announced thee, the peer of the angels, who wouldst become the Forerunner and friend of the Lord, O most blessed one.

Thou wast filled with the most Holy Spirit, even when thou wast borne within thy mother’s womb, O most honored prophet, and with thy beautiful leaps thou didst announce the Fruit of the Virgin and worship Him.

Let us praise the godly and divinely wise Forerunner of the Lord, who cut through the strange path of life which before was closed to all men, and baptized Christ in the Jordan’s streams.