3rd Sunday of Great Lent – The Cross. Martyrs of Communist Persecution. Tone 6. Mat. Gos. 6. Combine Octoechos and Triodion. Great Vespers: Entrance. Matins: Resurrectional Gospel. Ps. 50. “Open the doors.” Katavasia from Triodion. At Great Doxology, the cross is taken in procession from the altar to a stand in the middle of the church where it is censed and venerated by the faithful. During the procession, sing the Tropar and Kontak of the Cross. Then venerate the Cross with great prostrations during the singing of “Before Your Cross”. Liturgy of St. Basil: In place of “Holy God,” sing “Before your Cross”. Epis. Hebrews 4:4-16; 5:1-6. Gos. Mark 8:34-38; 9:1. Axion: “In you o woman full of grace.” Memorial Service for Martyrs of Communist Persecution.
Hieromartyr bishops of Cherson: Basil, Ephraim and Eugene. Martyrs of the Communist Persecution (Oil
& wine permitted)
Tropar
The angelic powers were seated near your tomb, and the soldiers were as dead men; and Mary came before your tomb, seeking your all pure body. You despoiled Hades, and it did not try to hold you back. You met the Virgin and you granted life to all. O you that arose from the dead, O Lord, glory to you.
TROPARION
Tone 6
When Mary stood at thy grave looking for thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above thy revered tomb, and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led hades captive and was not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world. Thou who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Holy Cross
Tone 1
O Lord, save thy people and bless thine inheritance, granting our believing kings victory over the Barbarians, and by the power of thy Cross preserving thy commonwealth.
Kontak
Christ God, the Giver of life, with His life-creating hand raised all the dead from the depths of darkness. He bestowed resurrection on the human race, for he is the Savior, the Resurrection, the Life and God of all.
Kontakion of the First Five Sundays of Great Lent
Tone 8
To thee the champion leader, I thy servant offer thanks for victory, O Theotokos, thou who hast delivered me from terror. As thou hast power invincible, free me from every danger that I may cry unto thee: Rejoice, O bride without bridegroom.
The Trisagion
Before thy cross we bow down in worship, O Master and thy Holy Resurrection we glorify.
Before thy cross we bow down in worship, O Master and thy Holy Resurrection we glorify.
Before thy cross we bow down in worship, O Master and thy Holy Resurrection we glorify.
Epistle Reading
Deacon: Let us be attentive!
Priest: Peace be to all.
Choir: And to your spirit.
Deacon: Wisdom! (DYNAMIS)
Reader: The Prokiemenon is in the 6th tone.
Reader: O Lord, save your people and bless your heritage!
People: O Lord, save your people and bless your heritage!
Reader: I call to you, O Lord; O my God, listen to me!
People: O Lord, save your people and bless your heritage.
Reader: O Lord, save your people
People: and bless your heritage.
The Reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews
Deacon: Let us be attentive!
BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “Thou art my son, today I have begotten thee”; as he says also in another place, “Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Priest: Peace be to you, reader
Reader: And to your spirit. – Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Choir/People: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Reader: (first alleluia verse) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will make his dwelling in the shadow of the God of heaven.
Choir/People: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Reader: (second alleluia verse) He will say to the Lord: “You are my protector, my refuge, my God in whom I trust.”
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. Mark
People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
Priest: Let us be attentive.
The Lord saith: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.
