Dear brothers and sisters, having discussed book club with parishioners today, and the idea of it moving to Lazarus and Liz’s flat, I suggested that as parishioners are reading “On Christian Doctrine and Practice”, by St Basil the Great, it would be good to pray the canon to the great Cappadocian father at the beginning of each meeting.
So… I have formatted and published the canon, below.
Anyone wishing to buy a copy of the book might want to make the most of Blackwell’s on-line sale!
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Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us. Amen.
O Heavenly King… Holy God etc.
Our Father…
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us. Amen.
O come, let us worship…
Psalm 50
Creed.
The Canon to St Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappodocia
Ode I, 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.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
It hath been fitting that thy voice come unto those desiring to sing thy praises, O father Basil. Accepting their entreaty, grant us grace in abundance.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Thou didst tread the difficult path of the virtues, and didst attain unto the smooth and pleasant entry to heaven, O Basil, and hast shown thyself to be a model for all.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
By thy desire for the love of wisdom thou didst suppress the uprising of the passions which tormenteth the flesh; wherefore, thou dwellest in the incorrupt mansions of heaven, O father Basil.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
With the sword of the Spirit thou didst right profitably cut down the passions of both soul and body, O Basil; and thou didst bring thyself to the Master as a sacrifice.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As an initiate of the ineffable mysteries, O sacred father Basil, thou didst manifestly instruct the Church of Christ in His mysteries and hast shone upon us the light of the Trinity.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Who can fittingly describe thy conceiving, which is beyond words? For thou hast given birth in the flesh to God Who hath shown Himself to be our Saviour and Lord, O most pure one.
Ode III, 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.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Thy memorial hath arrived and shone forth at the same time as the nativity of Christ, the ineffable mystery whereof thou didst manifestly reveal by thy teachings.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Made steadfast in the fear of God, in that it is the beginning of wisdom, thou didst soar aloft in the highest love of wisdom, O Basil.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Full of all instruction, O Basil, thou wast shown to be a light unto the world, not only that which is below and is trodden upon by our feet, but that which is more sublime.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O all-wise Basil, thou hast shown activity to be the entry into vision most divine, and by activity thou didst enter therein; and thou hast manifestly taught the understanding of all that existeth.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Without seed thou didst conceive in thy womb, and didst ineffably give birth to God incarnate, upon Whom the hosts of heaven dare not gaze, O pure Ever-virgin.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the Wisdom…”: Having learned the wisdom of the Word and set aside the writings of the law, thou didst proclaim to all the word of grace, and by thy words thou didst erase the tablets of men’s souls, and thereon didst inscribe divine doctrines. Wherefore, passing through the darkness, a cloud protecting thy body, thou didst shine forth in the Spirit, O holy hierarch Basil. Entreat Christ God, that He grant remission of sins unto those who with faith honor thy holy memory.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Repeat the Sessional Hymn
Ode IV, Irmos: I have heard report of Thy dispensation, O Lord, and have glorified Thee Who alone lovest mankind.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
As the Church of Christ is adorned like a bride by His nativity, so is it also adorned by thy memorial, O most blessed one.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Doing battle for God, thou wast shown to be invincible, O Basil, making all subject to His precepts.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Thou hast been given to the Church by God as a firm rampart and bulwark, O most blessed Basil.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O father Basil, thou hast been shown to be a scythe cutting down the adversary, and a fire consuming falsehood.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We beseech thee, O pure one who didst conceive God without seed: Pray thou ever for thy servants.
Ode V, 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.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Today the Church doth truly introduce a twofold feast: that of the Master Who hath appeared on earth as a babe, and the memorial of His wise and thrice-blessed servant.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Christ, the Light unapproachable, resting in thee, O venerable one, hath shown thee to be a radiant lamp unto the world; wherefore, we hymn thy memory, O Basil.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
The Genesis described by Moses on Sinai amid great darkness hast thou described for all, giving utterance from the storehouses of divine wisdom, O all-blessed Basil.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Neither Moses the law-giver, nor Joseph, the chief of pharaoh’s granaries, who lived before the law, were like unto thee; for thou, O Basil, didst show thyself to break the Flesh of God.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
To thee, who gavest birth to Christ, the Creator of all, do we cry: Rejoice, O pure one! Rejoice, O thou who hast shone forth upon us the Light! Rejoice, O thou who didst contain the uncontainable God!
Ode VI, Irmos: The great abyss of sin encompasseth me, and, emulating the prophet, I cry to thee: Lead me up from corruption, O Lord!
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Thou didst abundantly feed the souls of the poor tormented by starvation, O Basil, and didst fill the hearts of the hungry with all divine gladness.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Thou didst richly feed the hungry with heavenly food; for thy discourse is angelic bread, O Basil, and thou becamest an excellent issuer of the grain thereof.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Like a bee thou didst industriously gather honey from the flowers of all the virtues, O Basil, and as a wise man thou art blessed therein.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst yearn to depart this world and to live with God; wherefore, forsaking things inconstant and corrupt, O most blessed Basil, as a wise man thou hast acquired things which are abiding.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Save thy servants from misfortunes, O Theotokos, for after God it is to thee that we flee as to an impregnable rampart and intercession.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Thou hast appeared today…”: Thou hast been shown to be the unshakable foundation of the Church, bestowing upon all men a dominion which cannot be taken away, and sealing them with thy precepts, O venerable Basil who revealest heavenly things!
Ikos: Basil the Great, the cup of chastity, the mouth of wisdom, the foundation of doctrines, shineth forth noetically upon all. Come ye, therefore, and let us stand in the house of God, gazing upon him with fervour, adorning ourselves with his miracles, having been illumined with the splendour of his life, and been cooled by his pure spirit, emulating his faith, ardour and humility, whereby he became a habitation of the essence of God; and, crying aloud unto him, let us chant: O venerable Basil who revealest heavenly things!
Ode VII, Irmos: When the golden image was worshipped on the plain of Dura, Thy three youths spurned the ungodly command, and, cast into the midst of the fire, bedewed, they sang: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
The Son is the image of the Father, and the Spirit is the image of the Son; and thou, O Basil, art the pure reflection of the Spirit and the abode of the whole Trinity. Blessed is thy memory, and those who glorify it are themselves glorified!
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Having plunged thy mind into the unfathomable depths of God and gathered precious pearls of understanding, thou didst fill the world with wisdom, and didst teach it to cry: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
O the single inspiration of mind of the sacred twain! For, united in divine desire, Basil was in Gregory, and Gregory in Basil, like a single soul, inseparable, in two bodies. Entreat Christ now in behalf of your flock.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
The father of orphans and defender of widows, the riches of the poor, the consolation of the sick, the guidance of the wealthy, the staff of old age and instruction of youth, and the rule of virtue for monastics wast thou shown to be, O Basil.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having purified thy mind of all filthy defilement, O Basil, thou didst examine spiritual things with the Spirit Whom thou didst desire; wherefore, hymning the Trinity, with boldness thou hast cried out: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
On Mount Sinai Moses foresaw as a bush which burned with fire thee who received, without being consumed, the unbearable Effulgence of the ineffable Essence, Who united Himself to the coarseness of the flesh, He being One of the holy Hypostases.
Ode VIII, Irmos: God the Word, Who in His ineffable wisdom created all things and brought them out of oblivion into existence, do ye bless as Lord, O ye works, and exalt supremely for all ages!
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
O ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord Who, in His ineffable providence, hath given Basil to the world as a light of piety and clarion of theology!
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
O ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord Who, in His rich activity, made His abode within the wise Basil, and through Him piously gave utterance to theology.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Delighting in thy divine discourses, O Basil, and revelling unceasingly in thy memory, we cry aloud: Bless the Lord, ye works of the Lord!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Basil, thou hast emitted thy discourses upon the world like brilliant rays which by light instruct all to worship the single Essence of the Trinity, crying: Bless the Lord, ye works of the Lord!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, the timeless Word of God, Who issued forth from the Father before time began, and shone forth from the Virgin in latter times.
Ode IX, Irmos: Thee do we magnify, O blessed and most pure Theotokos, who through thy virginal womb ineffably didst make God incarnate, the Luminary Who shone forth before the sun and hath come to us in the flesh.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
O Basil, like a sheep faithful to Christ, the Chief Shepherd, thou didst follow His life-bearing steps; for thou didst expose thy soul to the tyrant, O most blessed father, valiantly braving danger for the sake of the Church.
Hierarch of Christ, Basil, pray to God for us.
Beholding the most sacred unity of the Church of Christ, which was adorned by thine episcopate, O wise one, the tyrannical destroyer of all fell as though struck by a bolt of thunder; for he was unable to endure the radiance of the Spirit which was within thee, O Basil.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Basil, thou wast vouchsafed an apostolic see, a place in the choir of the athletes of Christ, the tabernacle of the patriarchs, the delight of the righteous and the joy of the prophets; for thou wast a servant of the Theotokos and an initiate of the mysteries of the Trinity.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Lord Who alone covereth the chambers with waters, Who restraineth the sea and drieth up the depths, and Who received flesh of thee, O pure one, doth hasten from Bethlehem to the Jordan, to be baptised in the flesh.
It is truly meet…
Glory… Now and ever…
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Lord bless.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most-pure Mother, of our holy and God-bearing father, Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, of our venerable fathers, and all the saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for Thou art a merciful God, and lovest mankind. Amen.
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At the end of the evening…
Troparion, Tone I: Thy sound hath gone forth into all the earth, which hath received thy discourse, whereby thou didst divinely teach and make clear the nature of things, and didst adorn the ways of men. O venerable father, thou royal priesthood, entreat Christ God, that our souls be saved.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone IV, Spec. Mel. “Thou hast appeared today…”: Thou hast been shown to be the unshakable foundation of the Church, bestowing upon all men a dominion which cannot be taken away, and sealing them with thy precepts, O venerable Basil who revealest heavenly things!