Sunday before the Lifting of the Holy Cross. Tone 7. Mat. Gos. 5. Combine Octoechos andMenaion. Great Vespers: Entrance. Matins: Katavasia of Cross. Liturgy: Epis. Galatians 6:11-18. Gos. John 3:13-27. Axion: “It is truly right.” Hieromartyr Autonomos; Martyrs Macedonios & Theodule (Leave-taking of Nativity of Birthgiver ofGod) Tropar By your Cross, you destroyed death! You opened paradise to the thief! You changed the weeping of the ointment-bearing women to joy; and charged them to pro­claim to your apostles, that you arose, O Christ God, granting great mercy to the world! Kontak The dominion of death can no longer hold men cap­tive, for Christ descended, shattering and destroying its powers! Hades is bound. The prophets together rejoice, for the Savior stood before them and said to those who be­lieve: O you faithful! Come out to resurrection! Nativity of the Theotokos Tone 4 Thy nativity, O Theotokos, hath proclaimed joy to the whole universe; for from thee did shine forth the Sun of justice, Christ our God, annulling the curse, and bestowing the blessing, abolishing death and granting us life everlasting. Exaltation of the Holy Cross Troparion O LORD, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries, and by the virtue of thy Cross preserve thy habitation. Kontakion of the Nativity of the Theotokos Tone 4 By thy holy birth-giving, O pure one, Joachim and Anne were delivered from the reproach of barrenness; and Adam and Eve were delivered from the corruption of death; thy people do celebrate it, having been saved from the stain of iniquity, crying unto thee, the barren doth give birth to the Theotokos, who nourisheth our life. The Trisagion Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Dynamis! (With Strength) Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. Epistle Reading Deacon: Let us be attentive! Priest: Peace be to all. Choir: And to your spirit. Deacon:  Wisdom! (DYNAMIS) Reader: The Prokeimenon in the 7^th Tone: The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. Domnul t?rie poporului S?u va da, Domnul va binecuvânta pe poporul S?u cu pace. Choir:  The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. Domnul t?rie poporului S?u va da, Domnul va binecuvânta pe poporul S?u cu pace. Reader: Bring to the Lord, you sons of God, bring to the Lord glory and power. Aduce?i Domnului, fii ai lui Dumnezeu, aduce?i Domnului mieii oilor, aduce?i Domnului slav? ?i cinste; Choir:  The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. Domnul t?rie poporului S?u va da, Domnul va binecuvânta pe poporul S?u cu pace. Reader:   The Lord will give strength to his people Domnul t?rie poporului S?u va da, Choir:  the Lord will bless his people with peace. Domnul va binecuvânta pe poporul S?u cu pace. Reader: The reading is from Saint Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians 4:6-15. Deacon: Let us be attentive! BRETHREN, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and not only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh. But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God. Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen. Vede?i cu ce fel de litere v-am scris eu, cu mâna mea. Câ?i vor s? plac? în trup, aceia v? silesc s? v? t?ia?i împrejur, numai ca s? nu fie prigoni?i pentru crucea lui Hristos. C?ci nici ei singuri, cei ce se taie împrejur, nu p?zesc Legea, ci voiesc s? v? t?ia?i voi împrejur, ca s? se laude ei în trupul vostru. Iar mie, s? nu-mi fie a m? l?uda, decât numai în crucea Domnului nostru Iisus Hristos, prin care lumea este r?stignit? pentru mine, ?i eu pentru lume! C? în Hristos Iisus nici t?ierea împrejur nu este ceva, nici net?ierea împrejur, ci f?ptura cea nou?. ?i câ?i vor umbla dup? dreptarul acesta, – pace ?i mil? asupra lor ?i asupra Israelului lui Dumnezeu! De acum înainte, nimeni s? nu-mi mai fac? sup?rare, c?ci eu port în trupul meu, semnele Domnului Iisus. Harul Domnului nostru Iisus Hristos s? fie cu duhul vostru, fra?ilor! Amin. Priest: Peace be to you, reader Reader: And to your spirit. – Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Choir/People:  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Reader: (first alleluia verse) It is good to praise the Lord, to sing to your name, O Most High! Bine este a l?uda pe Domnul ?i a cânta numele T?u, Preaînalte, Choir/People:  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Reader: (second alleluia verse) To proclaim your mercy in the morning and your truth all through the night. A vesti diminea?a mila Ta ?i adev?rul T?u în toat? noaptea, Choir/People:  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia During the Alleluia Verses, the priest stands at the holy table and says the PRAYER BEFORE THE GOSPEL: Priest: Enkindle in our hearts the pure light of your divine knowledge, O master, Lover of mankind, and open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of your evangelical proclamations. Instill the fear of your blessed commandments in us, so that trampling down all bodily desires, we may practice a spiritual life, thinking and doing all which pleases you. For you are the illumination of our souls and bodies, Christ God, and we offer glory to you, together with your Father who is without beginning and your All-Holy, good and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Deacon:  Wisdom. Arise. Let us listen to the Holy Gospel. Priest: Peace be to all. People:  And with your spirit. Deacon: The Reading of the Holy Gospel according to St John People:  Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You. Priest: Let us be attentive. The Lord said: “No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Zis-a Domnul: nimeni nu s-a suit în cer, f?r? numai Cel Care s-a pogorât din cer, Fiul Omului, Care este în cer. ?i precum Moise a în?l?at ?arpele în pustie, a?a trebuie s? Se înal?e Fiul Omului, pentru ca oricine crede în El s? nu piar?, ci s? aib? via?? ve?nic?. C?ci a?a a iubit Dumnezeu lumea, încât a dat pe Fiul S?u Unul-N?scut, pentru ca oricine crede în El s? nu piar?, ci s? aib? via?? ve?nic?. C?ci n-a trimis Dumnezeu pe Fiul S?u în lume ca s? osândeasc? lumea, ci ca s? se mântuiasc? lumea prin El. People:  Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.