The Canon to the Forerunner, in Tone VI:
Ode I, Irmos: When Israel walked on foot in the sea as on dry land, * on seeing their pursuer Pharaoh drowned, * they cried: * Let us sing to God * a song of victory.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
Come, ye faithful, and with spiritual odes let us glorify the Forerunner, the voice of the Word, weaving hymns with a right laudable tongue and an almighty spirit, though our lips be impure.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
With peaceful tranquility the Church of Christ hath been calmed, and with countless multitudes it is prosperously tended, chanting its yearly hymns unto thee, O Forerunner.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Assembling, O ye faithful, let us all honor with hymns, as is meet, the God-bearing head of the Forerunner which hath been given unto us by God as an inviolate treasure.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O pure one, who received the Creator, as He Himself desired, beyond understanding assuming flesh seedlessly from thy womb, thou hast truly been shown to be the Sovereign Lady of creation.
Ode III, Irmos: There is none as holy as Thou, * O Lord my God, * who hast exalted the horn of The faithful O good One, * and strengthened us upon the rock * of Thy confession.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
A barren womb put thee forth as a divine off-shoot, a glorious attendant to the Bride which is the Church of the nations, betrothing Her to Christ, the true God and Bridegroom.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
O Forerunner John, the wretched adulteress could not stop thy divinely eloquent voice with the sword, for from the earth thou hast revealed thy divine head to us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The city of Jerusalem, desiring thee and radiantly celebrating, keepeth festival, having found thy head as a hidden treasure and an inexhaustible wellspring of healings, O Forerunner.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The wonder of thy divine birthgiving surpasseth the order of nature; for in a manner transcending nature thou didst conceive God in thy womb and, having given birth, dost ever remain a Virgin.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Sessional Hymn, in Tone VIII: Like a treasure laid up in a hiding place was the head of the Forerunner preserved, the voice of the Word was hidden in a cistern; but like a grain of wheat planted in the depths of the earth it blossomed forth, yielding the fruit of divine life. The discovery thereof we all honor, glorifying Christ Who hath given it the grace to pour forth healings. (Twice)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion: Secretly pondering in his mind that which was commanded, * the incorporeal one presented himself without delay * in the house of Joseph, * and said unto her who knew not wedlock: * “He Who bowed the heavens down by His descent * shall be immutably contained wholly within thy womb! * And beholding Him assuming the guise of a servant in thy womb, * I am afraid to cry to thee: ** Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded!”
Ode IV, Irmos: Christ is my power, * my God and my Lord, * the holy Church divinely singeth, * crying with a pure mind, * keeping festival in the Lord.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
Clearly thou wast the seal of the Old Covenant and the prophets, O thou who art most rich, and preaching unto the ends of the earth, thou hast been revealed as the adorner of the bridal chamber of the New Covenant, O Forerunner.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
O Forerunner rejoicing, thou didst endure the covering of thy precious and glorious head with coarse rags, as with a garment of royal purple.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
By thy divine instructions, O John, a poor man, and a homeless wanderer, hath revealed thy divine head to be an abundant treasure.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Forerunner, ever pray that the city of Jerusalem which honoreth thee be illumined with the radiance of the divine Spirit, and that it rejoice with the incorporeal ones in thy divine memory.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Eating hath shown me to be a dead plant, O most pure one, but the Tree of Life Who revealed Himself through thee, hath raised me up and made me an heir to the nourishment of paradise.
Ode V, Irmos: Illumine with Thy divine light, I pray, O Good One, * the souls of those who with love rise early to pray to Thee, * that they may know Thee, O Word of God, * as the true God, * Who recalleth us from the darkness of sin.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
O Baptist, thou wast not a reed shaken by the trying winds of enmity, but an unshakable pillar for the people of God; for thou didst manifest thyself by the power of Elijah and the Spirit.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
He that rejected the Godhead and belittled the glory of Christ, Who was baptized of thee, concealing thy divine grace, is rightly kept from the fold of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou hast opened up the portal of a bountiful and divine wellspring which poureth forth the waters of divine grace upon those who with love hymn thee, O glorious Forerunner, gladdening all with the streams of healing.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Bearing the noetic beauty of thy soul thou didst become the Bride of God, sealed in thy virginity, O pure one, enlightening the world with the radiance of purity.
Ode VI, Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, * I run to Thy calm haven, and cry to Thee: * Raise up my life from corruption, * O greatly Merciful One.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
Christ called thee a true prophet, and the most exalted of the prophets, the Baptist and Forerunner of Life; for thou didst behold Him Whom the Law and the prophets foretold.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
The fountain of miracles, the treasury of grace, thy sacred head, O Baptist, Prophet and Forerunner, could not bear to be concealed, and, having revealed itself, it poured forth springs of healing.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Christ-loving and right glorious city hath set before itself thy precious and divine head, O Forerunner, as richly praiseworthy, and a radiantly adorned shield of salvation.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Moses, great among the prophets, prefigured thee in the ark, the table, the candlestick and the jar, signifying the incarnation of the Most High which took place through thee, O Virgin Mother.
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, in Tone II: O prophet of God and Forerunner of grace, * having obtained thy head from the earth like a most sacred rose, * we ever receive healings, * for now, as of old, ** thou dost preach repentance in the world.
Ikos: Thou wast exalted above all mankind, O John, as the Lord Himself bore witness. Hence, I fear to offer thee hymns of praise; yet, inspired by love, I have made bold to begin a hymn. Wherefore, deem me not to be an unworthy helper, that I may crown thy holy head, O thrice blessed one; for thou hast preached repentance to the world.
Ode VII, Imos: An Angel made the furnace bedew the holy Children. * But the command of God consumed the Chaldeans * and prevailed upon the tyrant to cry: * O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
The Offspring of the Virgin called thee the greatest among those born of women, for thou didst live for Him on earth like an incorporeal one, an equal to the angels, crying out: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
From within the barren womb of thy mother, thou didst recognize Him Who had taken up His abode within the Virgin’s womb, O Forerunner; and, with the voice of thy mother, leaping up, thou didst cry out to Him: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
Out of the wilderness thou didst appear like a radiant dawn, an angel of light, taught by the most holy Spirit, teaching us to cry out: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having acquired thee as a treasure, O ever-memorable one, this city is now truly blessed among all cities, O Forerunner of Christ. Wherefore, keeping festival it crieth aloud: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Through thee, O Virgin Mother, a radiant Light hath shone forth upon the whole world, for thou didst give birth unto God, the Creator of all. Him do thou beseech, O most pure one, that He send down great mercy upon us, the faithful.
Ode VIII, Irmos: Thou didst make flame bedew the holy children, * and didst burn the sacrifice of a righteous man with water. * For Thou alone, O Christ, dost do all as Thou willest, * Thee do we supremely exalt throughout all ages.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
The Forerunner was sent as the voice of the Son of God, crying out to barren hearts, making steadfast the pious faith in Him Who is God, Whom we supremely exalt throughout all ages!
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
Even now the Forerunner saith: Prepare ye the way of the Lord! For, having come for the sake of our sanctification, He maketh His abode in our hearts with the Father and the Spirit, throughout all ages.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
When the voice of the Father was heard, and the divine Spirit was seen by the eyes of man, John the Forerunner, laying his hand upon Thee, O Christ, became a God- bearer in every way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou wast sanctified from the womb by the Spirit of God, and shown to be a prophet while yet carried in the womb; and now, thou hast been shown to be the delight of the city that seeketh thee in the bosom of the earth, O prophet.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The golden candlestick prefigured thee who hast ineffably received the unapproachable Light which illumineth mankind with the knowledge of Himself. Him do we supremely exalt throughout all ages!
Ode IX, Irmos: It is impossible for mankind to see God * upon Whom the orders of Angels dare not gaze; * but through thee, O all-pure one, * did the Word Incarnate become a man * and with the Heavenly Hosts * Him we magnify and thee we call blessed.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
Being clearly one who kept the Ten Commandments, O Forerunner, thou wast rightly honored by Christ with ten-fold gifts. Wherefore, knowing thee to be a friend of the Word, we bless thee as an initiate of the mysteries of the Spirit.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
Thou wast revealed to be a prophet of Christ and an apostle, an angel and forerunner, the Baptizer of God Incarnate, a priest and faithful martyr, a preacher to those bound in Hades, a rule for virgins, and an offspring of the desert.
Holy and great John, Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, pray to God for us.
The unbelieving soul of the priest hath been reproved by the miracle of the withered hand; for when his faith blossomed anew after thy head appeared, O blessed one, his outstretched hand was renewed.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The ranks of angels have truly proclaimed thy prophetic appearance to him who beheld thee, emulating the divine announcement of Gabriel which the sacred Zacharias received before thy birth.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Let us draw forth the healing of our passions, making haste to the glorious temple of the Forerunner; for choirs of angels, the souls of all the righteous, the Sovereign Lady and John the Baptist enter therein, bestowing healings.
Troparion, in Tone IV: The head of the Forerunner, which hath shone forth from the earth, * sheddeth rays of incorruption and healing upon the faithful. * Assembling a multitude of angels on High, * it calleth upon the human race below ** to send up glory with one voice to Christ God.
