Ode III

Irmos: Thy Church rejoiceth in Thee, O Christ, crying aloud: Thou art my strength, O Lord, my refuge and my consolation!

Glory..., Now and ever...: Theotokion—

Sessional hymn, in Tone III: Spec. Mel: “Awed by the beauty of thy virginity...”—

Enkindled with divine fire, O Basil most wise, thy mind utterly consumed the tinder of ungodliness, in that thou wast a most excellent pastor.

Theotokion: Thou gavest birth unto the mighty God Who delivereth men from the violence of the enemy, O all-pure and most hymned Virgin.

With the light of the Spirit, O glorious one, didst thou draw those who are in the darkness of cruel passions toward the enlightenment of holy baptism.

Thy steps were directed toward God, O Basil, and by grace didst thou turn all from the path of deception to the knowledge of God.

Sanctified by the myrrh of anointing, ye were shown to be pastors to the divinely wise people; and sacrificed like pure lambs, ye offered yourselves to the Word, the Chief Shepherd, Who was slaughtered like a lamb, O most lauded martyrs and luminaries of the whole world. Wherefore, with love we all celebrate your godly memory.

Like a vine which hath not been cultivated didst thou produce the most comely Cluster of grapes which poureth forth upon us the wine which maketh glad the souls and bodies of all. Wherefore, ever blessing thee as the cause of good things, with the angel we cry to thee: Rejoice, O thou Who art full of grace!

Stavrotheotokion—

Thy pure Mother who kneweth not wedlock, beholding Thee hanging dead upon the Cross, O Christ, said, weeping maternally: “How hath the iniquitous and thankless assembly of the Jews, which enjoyed Thy manifold and great gifts, rewarded Thee, O my Son? I hymn Thy divine condescension!”