Wednesday July 08, 2026 / June 25, 2026
O prophet and forerunner of the coming of Christ,/ we who honor thee with love are at a loss how to praise thee worthily;/ for by thy glorious and honored nativity/ thou didst loose the barrenness of her who gave birth to thee/ and the muteness of thy father,/ and dost proclaim unto the world// the incarnation of the Son of God.
Thy ewe-lamb Febronia crieth out to Thee with a loud voice, O Jesus:/ "I love Thee, O my Bridegroom,/ and, seeking Thee, I pass through many struggles:/ I am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism,/ and suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee;/ I die for Thee that I might live with Thee./ As an unblemished sacrifice accept me,/ who sacrifice myself with love for Thee// By her supplications save Thou our souls, in that Thou art merciful.
"O my Bridegroom, Jesus most sweet," cried Febronia,/ "it is not difficult for me to follow Thee,/ for the sweetness of Thy love hath given wings of hope to my soul,/ and the beauty of Thy mercy hath sweetened my heart,/ that I might drain the cup of sufferings in emulation of Thee,/ that Thou mayest worthily reckon me among the wise virgins who dance with Thee in Thy bridal chamber."/ Wherefore, O venerable passion-bearer, honoring the struggles of thy labor, we entreat thee:// Pray thou, that we not find the portals of the bridal-chamber locked to us.
Today she who before was barren/ giveth birth unto the forerunner of Christ,/ and he is the fulfillment of all prophecy;/ for, laying his hand in the Jordan upon Him Whom the prophets foretold,// he hath been shown to be the prophet, herald and forerunner of the Word of God.