The Circumcision of Our Lord Jesus Christ
and the Commemoration of Saint Basil The Great,
Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia
1 January
Tropar’ of the Feast, Tone 1.
O Thou Who sittest upon a fiery throne on high with the unoriginate Father and Thy Spirit Divine, Thou was pleased to be born in the flesh on earth from the Virgin who knew not man, O Jesus; therefore, Thou wast circumcised as a man on the eighth day. Glory to Thy most gracious will; glory to Thine ineffable dispensation; glory to Thy philanthropic condescension, O Thou Who alone lovest mankind.
Tropar’ of Saint Basil, Tone 1.
Thy sound hath gone forth into all the earth, which hath received thy word, whereby thou hast divinely taught the faith. Thou hast explained the nature of things that exist; thou hast beautified the customs of men. O namesake of the royal priesthood, holy Father Basil, entreat Christ our God to save our souls.
Glory.
Kondak of Saint Basil, Tone 4.
Thou hast proved to be an unshakable pillar of the Church and its firm foundation, as thou givest all men an inviolate treasure and doth seal it with thy doctrines, O godly Basil, revealer of heavenly things.
Now and ever.
Kondak of the Feast, Tone 3.
The Lord of all accepteth circumcision, and in His goodness He cutteth away the sins of men and giveth salvation to the world. And in heaven above with the Creator Basil rejoiceth, as the most illustrious hierarch of Christ and His divine mysteries.
Prokimen of the Circumcision, Tone 6. Psalm 27:9,1.
Save, O Lord, thy people: and bless thy inheritance.
Verse: Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord: O my God, be not Thou silent to me.
Immediately after Verse: Prokimen of Saint Basil, Tone 1. Psalm 48:4.
My mouth shall speak wisdom: and the meditation of mine heart understanding.
The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Colossians.
Of the Feast: Colossians §254 (2:8-12).
Brethren: Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ: for in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally; and you are filled in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power: in Whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in despoiling of the body of the flesh, but in the circumcision of Christ: buried with Him in baptism, in Whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him up from the dead.
Of Saint Basil: Hebrews §318a (7:26-8:2).
Brethren: It was fitting that we should have such a High Priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily (as the other priests) to offer sacrifices first for His own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did once, in offering Himself. For the law maketh men priests, who have infirmity: but the word of the oath, which was since the law, the Son Who is perfected for evermore. Now of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens, a minister of the holies, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord hath pitched, and not man.
Alleluia, Tone 8. Psalm 79:2; 36:30.
Verse 1: Give ear, O Thou that rulest Israel: Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep.
Verse 2: The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom: and his tongue shall speak judgment.
The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke.
Of the Feast: Saint Luke §6, (2:20-21,40-52).
At that time: Cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him. But John stayed Him, saying: I ought to be baptized by Thee, and comest Thou to me? And Jesus answering, said At that time: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And after eight days were accomplished, that the Child should be circumcised, His name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel, before He was conceived in the womb. And the Child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in Him. And His parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the pasch, and when He was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast, and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and His parents knew it not. And thinking that He was in the company, they came a day’s journey, and sought Him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking Him. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and His answers. And seeing Him, they wondered. And His mother said to Him: Son, why hast Thou done so to us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing. And He said to them: How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know, that I must be about My Father’s business? And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And His mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfill all justice. Then he suffered Him. And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to Him: and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him. And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.
Of Saint Basil: Saint Matthew §11 (5:14-19).
The Lord said to His disciples: You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Zadostoinik.
Magnify, O my soul, the Lord Who hath been circumcised in the flesh in accordance with the law!
Magnify, O my soul, the great Basil of Cæsarea!
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.
Communion. Psalm 148:1; Psalm 111:7.
Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye Him in the high places.
The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not fear the evil hearing. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
3 December 2025