Canon I

Exapostilarion: Spec. Mel.: “Hearken, ye women…” —

Irmos: Neither in wisdom, nor in power, nor yet in riches do we boast, but in Thee, O Christ, the hypostatic Wisdom of the Father; for none is holy save Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

Kontakion, in Tone III: Spec. Mel.: “Today the Virgin…” —

Sessional hymn, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “Pondering what was mystically commanded…” —

On the Praises, 4 stichera, in Tone VIII: Spec. Mel.: “O all-glorious wonder…” —

Theotokion: O thou who gavest birth unto God incarnate without having known wedlock, make me steadfast who am beset by the assaults of the passions; for I have none other helper than thee, O all-pure one.

The birthgiving of the Master is accomplished through the Virgin, while that of His beloved servant is through an elderly and barren mother; ­wherefore, — Wonder of wonders! — he goeth on before unto splendor.

Irmos: O Lord Who dost establish the thunder and formest the wind: make me steadfast, that I may hymn Thee in truth and do Thy will; for none is as holy as Thee, O our God.

O all-glorious wonder! From a mother advanced in age doth John, the proclaimer of God the Word hasten to issue forth today, and by his nativity he most clearly showeth the bound tongue to speak. O Thine ineffable dispensation, O Master, whereby, O Christ, save Thou our souls, in that Thou alone art merciful.

Theotokion: O all-holy Theotokos, thou didst lift the grief of our first parents, giving birth to the Creator of life and Deliverer for us. Him do thou earnestly entreat, that thy flock be saved.

The elderly and barren woman kisseth the Virgin Mother, truly recognizing her birthgiving, for the bond of her barrenness hath been loosed by the will of God.

Irmos: Seated in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus most divine hath come on a light cloud, and with His incorrupt arm hath saved those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!

O all-glorious wonder! The prophet who is the greatest among those born of women annulleth the sentence of his mother’s barrenness, coming with the spirit and power of Elijah to make straight the way of the Lord. O Thine ineffable loving-kindness, O Master, whereby, O Christ, save Thou our souls, in that Thou alone art merciful.

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Elizabeth, who before was barren, prefigured Thy Church of the nations, O Christ, and, giving birth most gloriously, she showeth forth as most fertile that which once was seen to be barren.

Irmos: I have heard of Thy glorious dispensation, O Christ God, how Thou wast born of the Virgin, that Thou mightest save from deception those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!

O all-glorious wonder! He Who preached to men the condescension of Christ with his voice doth indicate Him Who transcendeth all, and with power divine looseth the barrenness of her who gave him birth and the tongue of Zechariah. O Thy great wonders, O Master! Thereby, O Christ, do Thou save those who honor Thy great Forerunner.

Theotokion: The womb of the holy Theotokos, in whom it was Thy good pleasure to make Thine abode as in a fragrant dwelling, O all-divine Word of the Father, neither became corrupt nor suffered pain; for she gave birth to Emmanuel: God and man.

Making straight the ways of the Lord and preparing His path, O prophet and herald of Christ, thou didst show men the fruits of repentance and didst teach them the way of life.

Irmos: “Now I shall arise, now I shall be glorified, now I shall be exalted, elevating fallen human nature, which I received from the Virgin, to the noetic light of My divinity!” said God through the prophet.

O all-glorious wonder! the prophet and Forerunner is shown to be the greatest born of women, and the most sublime prophet and herald of the coming of Christ, leaping up in his mother’s womb. O Thine exceeding great gifts, O Thou Who lovest mankind! Thereby, O Christ, save Thou our souls, in that Thou art almighty.

Theotokion: Of old, the lawgiver saw thee as the bush unconsumed by the fire, and Daniel envisioned thee as a holy mountain, O Mistress who alone art Mother and Virgin.

Dancing today, Elizabeth holdeth thee in her elderly arms, O Forerunner, and crieth out, uttering the praise: None is as holy as Thou, O Lord our God!

Irmos: Shine forth upon me the light of Thy precepts, O Lord, for my spirit riseth early unto Thee and hymneth Thee: for Thou art our God, and I flee to Thee, O King of peace.

Glory…, the composition of Anatolius, in Tone VI —

Theotokion: He Who is begotten of the Father is born of thee and is ever with thee: the eternal and inseparable Word, the only-begotten Son, Who, in the latter days, is incarnate of the Virgin and the Holy Spirit.

When he was born, the Forerunner, the voice of the Word, splendidly released the voice of Zechariah, and he hath laid bare in the sight of all the barrenness of the law, crying out: “Repent, ye who are on earth, for, lo! Jesus cometh and hath appeared, desiring to deliver all from the primal curse, illumining them with baptism!” Truly this is an all-glorious wonder!

Irmos: I have come unto the depths of the sea, and the tempest of my many sins hath engulfed me; but, as God, lead up my life from the abyss, O greatly Merciful One.

The Forerunner, the star of stars, John who longeth for God, is born on earth today from a barren womb, and he revealeth the radiance of Christ, the Dayspring from on high, for the straight passage of the faithful.

Theotokion: We hymn thee, O Mistress, Mother of the Creator of all, as the impassable gate, the bush unconsumed, and the unquarried mountain from whom was cut the Stone Who is the One Who was incarnate of thee.

Glory…, in Tone IV: Spec. Mel.: “Joseph marvelled…” —

Irmos: The tempest of evil thoughts, having overtaken me, doth drag me down into the abyss of my countless sins; but, going before me, O good Helmsman, govern me and save me, as Thou didst the Prophet Jonah.

O Theotokos, thou art the true vine which hast budded forth for us the Fruit of life. Thee do we beseech, O Mistress: With the holy apostles pray thou that our souls find mercy.

Theotokion: Thy womb, O pure Theotokos, was shown to be the dwelling-place of the unapproachable Godhead, and thereon the heavenly ranks cannot gaze without fear.

Like the radiant sun hath the son of Zechariah shone forth upon us through the womb of Elizabeth, and hath loosed the muteness of his father, crying out to all men with great boldness: “Make straight the way of the Lord! For He freeth and saveth those who have recourse unto Him.” Entreat Him Whom thou didst preach, O John, that our souls be saved.

Irmos: The three youths in Babylon, having put to mockery the tyrant’s command, cried out amid the flames: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Theotokion: O most immaculate Theotokos, who gavest birth to the Abyss of mercy: Drowning the abyss of my passions in the depths of thy compassions, grant me a torrent of tears from the depths of my soul.

By thy divine birthgiving, O pure one, thou hast renewed mortal nature which hath become corrupt through human passions, and hast raised up all from death to the life of incorruption. Wherefore, as is meet, we all call thee blessed, O all-glorious Virgin, as thou didst foretell.

Irmos: The children of Abraham in the Persian furnace, afire with love of piety more than with the flame, cried out: Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy glory, O Lord!

Theotokion: O blessed Virgin, pray for us who beseech thee; for on thee do we set our hope, and to thee to we cry out: O Mistress, disdain not thy servants!

A mystery precedeth ineffable mysteries, proclaiming release from pain by a new disposition of nature, its correction and deification, O Christ.

Irmos: O Almighty Deliverer of all, descending into the midst of the flame Thou didst bedew the pious youths and didst teach them to chant: Bless and hymn the Lord, all ye works!

Theotokion: O Virgin Theotokos, cease thou never to pray in behalf of all unto Him Who, without seed, made His abode within thy womb, Who, in His ineffable and utter humility, was born and abased Himself for our sake.

Isaiah prophesied that when the Son would become flesh, the Father would say: “Behold, I send before Thy face an earthly angel, the peer of the angels, who crieth out: Glory to Thy power, O Christ!”

Irmos: O Master Who hast created all things in Thy wisdom, Thou hast established the earth as a weight upon the deep, planting its foundation upon the boundless waters. Wherefore, we all cry out, chanting: Bless the Lord unceasingly, O ye works of the Lord!

Theotokion: Thy people, O Virgin, have thee as a mighty consolation, a hope unashamed, an unassailable rampart and divine intercession, and, saved, they glorify and cry out to thee earnestly: Bless the Lord unceasingly, all ye works of the Lord!

I have been born to serve the Master as a servant; for, lo! for this reason have I come, to announce His coming, that the barren and elderly woman who put forth fruit may affirm beforehand the birthgiving of the Virgin.

Irmos: The ineffable hidden mystery of God is revealed in thee, O all-pure Virgin; for God hath become incarnate of thee in His loving-kindness. Wherefore, we magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Theotokion: O thou who hast dominion over all creatures, grant the trophy of victory to thy people and set the feet of Orthodox hierarchs upon all heresies and schisms, that we may magnify thee as the Theotokos.

Repentance was made accessible through thy nativity, O Forerunner and herald; for thou alone didst preach, crying aloud: “Repent ye! The kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Irmos: For He Who is mighty hath magnified me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him, throughout all generations.

Theotokion: He Who was begotten in the bosom of the Father without passion and corruption, having made His abode within thee, in His loving-kindness hath led us to the Father and the divine Spirit.

Virginity is established and chastity is triumphant; the desert rejoiceth, and the world doth celebrate thy nativity, O Forerunner!

Now & ever…: Theotokion —

Elizabeth rejoiceth and Zechariah speaketh once again. Both, therefore, become young in their old age and are made luminous through John the voice of the Word.

The earth hath given rise to the true herald, the voice who preacheth to all, with the tongue of the Spirit, the Son of the Virgin, righteousness from heaven which bendeth down to us in bodily substance.

The Lord hath appointed thee the true luminary of Christ, enlightening all, clothing only those who are His enemies in shame, as in a garment, and forthrightly proclaiming the Word and Son of God.

In godly manner all creation rejoiceth in thy nativity; for thou wast shown to be an earthly angel and a heavenly man, O Forerunner, proclaiming the God of heaven Who became incarnate for us.

O Sun of righteousness, Thou hast prepared a star, Thy baptizer John, who today is born according to Thy promise and releaseth the voice of his father.

Utter thou no words of protest, O priestly elder; for Gabriel, the foremost among the archangels, relateth unto thee the mysteries of God, recounting His descent unto us.

Be not unbelieving, O elder; for God doth promise that thou shalt beget a son in thine old age, in whose birth many shall rejoice, for he shall come with the power of Elijah.

O prophet, herald and Forerunner, offspring of the barren woman, preacher of repentance, lamb of the wilderness, lamp-stand of the Light: pray thou for all who honor thee with faith.

While yet in thy mother’s womb, as a prophet thou didst recognize the Word of God, and, deified by light unapproachable, thou didst utter theology in that dark chamber, employing her tongue.

As the voice of one crying unceasingly, O Baptist, cease thou never to entreat the Deliverer of the world, that He loose the spiritual barrenness of those who hymn thy nativity.

Today John is born: the citizen of the desert, the preacher of repentance, the true witness of grace, the Forerunner of the Word, the star which shineth before the Light.

Today, the axe which hath been forged bodeth hewing for barren souls, planteth the fruits of the virtues, and cometh forth steadily in thy nativity, O Forerunner.

Jordan hath rejoiced most gloriously and leapeth up, learning that John is born of the barren one’s womb; and the sea danceth with leaping waters.

Coming forth, the candlestand of the Light preached the coming of the Savior, the Lamb of God, Who hath shone forth light upon the earth, offered spiritually for all nature.

Today she who before was barren giveth birth unto the Forerunner of Christ, and he is the fulfillment of all prophecy; for, laying his hand in the Jordan upon Him Whom the prophets foretold, he hath been shown to be the prophet, herald and Forerunner of the Word of God.

Ikos: Let us now praise the Forerunner of the Lord, to whom Elizabeth gave birth for the priest through her barren womb, though not seedlessly; for Christ alone passed through an inviolate dwelling without seed. The barren woman gave birth unto John, but did not beget him without the aid of her husband; but the pure virgin gave birth to Jesus through the overshadowing of the Father and the Spirit of God. The prophet, herald and Forerunner was revealed through the barren woman to the Seedless One.

Before, all of human nature was in darkness, O Forerunner; but thou wast shown to be the dawn, crying out: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Thy nativity through the barren woman hath healed all afflicted nature, O Forerunner, teaching it to chant: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Thou wast born of a barren woman, O Forerunner, for, since the law is barren, grace hath truly come, chanting unto Christ: Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers!

Falling mute for a time, Zechariah explained his silence by writing; and, provided again with speech through thy nativity, O Forerunner, he most gloriously announceth the grace of the Spirit.

The most honored Elizabeth, that barren and childless woman, is like unto the Church: that which before was enshrouded with the reek of burnt offerings now boasteth in beauty and birthgiving.

Today the spiritual axe, whereby all the uprisings of the passions are hewn down, is honed at the nativity of the Forerunner; and the fruits of repentance mystically flourish.

We honor thee, O John, as the mediator between the old and the new testaments, the one who maketh straight the paths of Christ Who cleanseth the threshing-floor of transgression with the winnowing-fan of the Spirit.

We all hymn the glorious John who issued forth from the barren woman, the Forerunner and preacher of repentance, who hastened before the Sun, Christ our God, like a star.

Moses the lawgiver was a servant, but Jesus is the God of the new covenant; and now the Forerunner hymneth both, as mediator between them, saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord!

A turtle-dove hath issued forth from the womb of the barren one! Like a divinely planted grove hath she offered the Forerunner of Christ unto the Church, and chanteth: All ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord!

O God-bearing people, holy nation, liken yourselves unto the turtle-dove of Christ and, abiding in chastity, chant ye with mellifluous voices: All ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord!

Triadicon: Illumined with the threefold Light, let us worship the one uncreated Godhead, crying out in Orthodox manner with ceaseless voices: All ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord!

Before thy birth, before thine own swaddling-clothes, O Forerunner, thou didst recognize Christ, the Bestower of life, Whom thou didst worship, and thou didst indicate Him by leaping, naming Him thy Lord, borrowing thy mother’s tongue to sing unto Christ our God.

The ends of the earth celebrate the forefeast today; the angels and the souls of the righteous rejoice; the quick and the dead are gladdened by the birth of John, receiving through him the preaching of the Savior and Lord of all.

Today the Jordan, likening itself to John, hath leapt up most gloriously in its fluid torrents, hearkening to him whose life is like unto that of the angels, who was born of a barren and elderly woman, who maketh straight the ways and paths of the Lord and hath baptized the world.

Today Zechariah noted on a slate the name of the prophet and Forerunner which was designated by God; and in his silence he declared: “Let him be called John who is born to me in mine old age!” This marvellous appellation befitteth one who was begotten according to God’s promise.

Lo! the voice of the Forerunner falleth upon barren and empty hearts, crying: “Prepare ye now the way of Christ,” for He shall come in glory, and, submitting ourselves, we magnify Him!

As of old, O Forerunner, thou didst through the Holy Spirit manifestly preach the Son, Who is the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sins of the world, ask thou remission of offenses for thy flock.

Triadicon: Chanting in Orthodox manner, O ye faithful, let us glorify the threefold Unity, the consubstantial Trinity, Who illumineth us divinely and filleth our souls with the splendors of the never-waning light.

Behold, in thee, O priest, hath God wrought a great and all-glorious sign; for thou begettest a son, the Forerunner, in thine old age and the mortality of thy members.

Let barren women hearken and chant unto God! For, lo! Elizabeth crieth out: “I give birth unto the son of mine old age and in the mortality of my members!”

Be glad and rejoice now in God, O Zechariah! For, lo! Elizabeth nourisheth the son of her old age at her breast and in the mortality of her members giveth birth to the Forerunner.

Glory to Him Who hath given fruit to the barren woman in her old age and hath bestowed upon the aged prophet a son, the divine Forerunner, who prepareth for Him a perfect people.

Today the joyous birth of the Forerunner removeth the grief of his father’s muteness and the barrenness of her who bore him. And he declareth the present joy and gladness. Wherefore, all creation doth celebrate it with splendor. Twice

Glory…, Now & ever…, in the same melody —

The prophets preached, the apostles taught, and with godly wisdom the martyrs openly confessed thy Son to be the God of all, O all-pure one. With them we glorify thee, delivered by thee from the ancient sentence.

Great Doxology. Troparion. Litanies. Dismissal. First Hour.