Katavasia of Theophany
(Tone 2)
Note:
According
to the Great Horologion, these Katavasia are chanted as follows: On January 1,
6, and 14, both sets of Katavasia are chanted; from January 2 to the 5, the
first set is used only; from January 7-13, the second set is used only.
According to the Order of Divine Services from St. John of Kronstadt Press,
only the first set is used from the 1st to the 14th, but
on the feast, both are used. Also, according to the Great Horologion the
second set is chanted in the 6th tone, but according to the Festal
Menaion, it is in the same tone as the first set.
Ode 1. The Lord mighty in battle * uncovered the foundation of the
deep * and led His servants on dry ground; * but He covered their adversaries
with the waters, * for He hath been glorified.
Israel passed
through the storm-tossed deep of the sea that God had turned into dry land; but
the dark waters completely covered the chief captains of Egypt in a watery
grave through the mighty strength of the right hand of the master.
Ode 3. The Lord who granteth strength unto our kings, and exalteth
the horn of His anointed, * is born of a Virgin and cometh unto baptism. *
Therefore let us, the faithful, cry aloud: * None is holy as our God * and none
is righteous save Thee, O Lord.
From the
ancient snares have we all been set loose, and the jaws of the devouring lions
have been broken: Let us, then rejoice exceedingly and open wide our mouths,
weaving with words a melody to the Word Whose delight it is to bestow gifts
upon us.
Ode 4. He whom Thou hast called, O Lord, ‘The voice of one
crying in the wilderness,’ * heard Thy voice when Thou hast thundered upon many
waters, * bearing witness to Thy Son. * Wholly filled with the Spirit that had
come, he cried aloud: * ‘Thou art Christ, the wisdom and the power of God.’
Cleansed by
the fire of a mystic vision the Prophet sang the praises of the renewal of
mortal man. Filled with the inspiration of the Spirit, he raised his
voice, telling of the incarnation of the ineffable word, Who hath shattered the
dominion of the mighty.
Ode 5. Jesus, the Prince of Life, hath come to set loose
from condemnation Adam the first-formed man; * and though as God He needeth no
cleansing, * yet for the sake of fallen man He is cleansed in the Jordan. * In
its streams He slew the enmity * and bestoweth the peace that passeth all
understanding.
By the
cleansing of the Spirit have we been washed from the poison of the dark and unclean
enemy, and we have set out upon a new path free from error, that leads to
gladness of heart past all attainment, which only they attain whom God hath
reconciled unto Himself.
Ode 6. The Voice of the Word, the Candlestick of the Light,
the Morning Star and Forerunner of the Sun, * cried in the wilderness to all
the peoples: * ‘Repent and be cleansed while there is yet time. * For lo,
Christ is at hand, * Who delivereth the world from corruption.
The Father in
a voice full of joy made manifest His Beloved Whom He had begotten from the
womb. ‘Verily,’ said He, ‘this is My offspring, of the same nature as
Myself: bearing light, He hath come forth from mankind, My living Word, in the
divine providence made a mortal man.’
Ode 7. The
breath of the wind heavy with dew * and the descent of the angel of God
preserved the Holy Children from all harm, * as they walked in the fiery
furnace. Refreshed with dew in the flames, * they sang in
thanksgiving: * ‘Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O Lord God of our
fathers.’
He who stilled
the heat of the flame of the furnace that mounted high in the air and encircled
the godly Children, burnt the heads of the dragons in the streams of the
Jordan: and He doth wash away with the dew of the Spirit all the stubborn
gloom that sinning doth engender.
Ode 8. The
Babylonian furnace, as it poured forth dew, foreshadowed a marvelous mystery: *
how the Jordan should receive in its streams the immaterial fire, * and should
encompass the Creator, * when He was baptized in the flesh. * Him
do ye peoples bless and exalt above all for ever.
The creation
finds itself set free, and those in darkness are now made sons of the light:
alone the prince of darkness groaneth. Let all the inheritance of the
nations, that was before in misery, now bless with eagerness Him Who hath
wrought this change.
Ode 9. Every tongue is at a loss to praise thee as is due: * even a
spirit from the world above is filled with dizziness, when it seeketh to sing
thy praises, O Theotokos. * But since thou art good, accept our faith: * Thou
knowest well our love inspired by God, * for thou art the Protector of
Christians and we magnify thee.
O most pure Bride, O blessed Mother, the wonders of Thy
birthgiving pass all understanding. Through thee we have obtained
salvation in all things, and, as it is right and meet, we rejoice before thee
our Benefactor, bearing as gift a song of thanksgiving.
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