New Texts arriving in the evening of April 17, 2024!
Event Information:
-
Sun13Sep2020
Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross, Tone 6; Commemoration of the Dedication of the Holy Church of the Resurrection of Christ Our God (335); Forefeast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross; the Holy Priest-Martyr Cornelius the Centurion
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.
At Psalm 140
In Tone 6
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
O Christ, You won the victory over Hades,* You ascended the Cross so that You might raise up with Yourself* all those who dwelt in the darkness of death.* Almighty Saviour, You are free from death* and bestow life by Your divine light.* We, therefore, beseech You to have mercy on us.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
Today Christ has conquered Death.* He has risen from the grave as He foretold,* bestowing great joy upon the world.* Therefore, let us all lift up our voices and sing:* O Fount of Life, O Light Whom no one can approach,* Almighty Saviour, have mercy on us.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
O Lord, where can we sinners flee from You,* for You are present in all creation?* You are present in heaven, for it is Your dwelling place.* Your power prevails in Hades where You conquered Death.* O Master, Your sustaining hand touches even the depths of the sea.* Where, then, can we take refuge except in You?* We, therefore, prostrate ourselves before You and pray:* O Lord, risen from the dead, have mercy on us.
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
We exult in Your Cross, O Christ,* and we sing the glory of Your Resurrection.* For You are our God, and we have no other Lord but You.
In Tone 6
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
The Old Law prescribed that we should observe the dedication,* but now at this time it is better to make it a time of renewal.* For the islands must be renewed before God* as the Prophet Isaiah said.* And these islands refer to the Churches of the Gentiles,* which were founded and dedicated to God.* For this reason we also keep the memory of this dedication,* and we observe it as a time of renewal.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
Let us all rededicate ourselves today.* Put aside the old self who imposed restraints and promised death.* Mortify the members of the body;* despise the evil fruit of the tree* and live the life of the newly created.* For the sake of this new life remember to put aside the old.* Let us all be rededicated and honour this special day.
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Christ, eternal Word,* You have set your Church as a pillar of might* because You founded it on the rock of faith.* Because of this, it is immovable for all ages.* You will remain with it to the end of days,* for You became man without change.* We, therefore, bless and praise You, saying:* You are without beginning and end.* O King, glory to You!
In Tone 4
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
Christ saw your good deeds, O Cornelius.* He heard your fervent prayers and sent a holy angel to you.* O praiseworthy one,* He enlightened you as well as the leader of the apostles* who had renewed you by water and the Spirit at your home.* He granted you holiness by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
Having been anointed with the oil of the priesthood,* you travelled to distant lands to announce the news of salvation.* O God-wise one, you rooted out the thorns of error* and sowed the true faith by the Spirit.* For this, O Cornelius we rejoice and bless you* as a God-inspired hierarch and courageous martyr.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O blessed one,* those who followed your good example were revealed as wise.* You died and were buried in the grave* according to the law of nature.* O God-inspired and wise Cornelius,* you are the source of many miracles.* You heal the sick and cast out evil spirits by the Holy Spirit.
In Tone 6
Glory…
O Lord, observing the memory of the Rededication,* we glorify and entreat You,* the Giver of holiness and knowledge,* to sanctify us through the prayers of the glorious sufferers of the passion,* O all-powerful Good One.
In Tone 6
Now…
Who would not call you blessed, O Virgin most holy?* Who would not sing a hymn of praise* to the glory of your giving birth without pain or travail?* The Only-begotten Son Himself,* begotten of the Father before all ages,* was made flesh out of you in a manner* that cannot be explained, O Woman most pure!* And for our sake, He Who is God by nature* assumed the nature of a man.* He is not divided into two persons;* He is understood to have two natures* without commixion or confusion.* O noble and blessed Woman,* intercede with Him that He may mercy on our souls.
Readings
(1) 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30; (2) Proverbs 3:19-23; (3) Proverbs 9:1-11
Aposticha
In Tone 6
O Christ our Saviour,* the angels in heaven sing the praises of Your Resurrection;* make us on earth also worthy* to extol You with a pure heart.
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Almighty God, You destroyed the brazen gates and bars of Hades,* and raised up fallen mankind.* Therefore, with one accord, we cry out:* O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
Christ willed to renew us from our corruption of old* by being nailed to a cross and placed in a tomb.* When the women came to anoint His body they tearfully cried out:* O, what sorrow afflicts us!* O Saviour of All, how could You consent to occupy a grave?* If you truly willed this, then why did You allow Your body to be stolen?* How were You removed?* What place now conceals Your life-bearing body?* O Lord, appear to us as You promised* and put an end to our tears.* As they were lamenting, an angel appeared and cried out to them:* Do not weep, but tell the Apostles that the Lord is risen,* granting sanctification and great mercy to the world.
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
O Christ, You were crucified of Your free will,* and by Your burial You imprisoned Death.* As God, You rose in glory on the third day,* granting life and great mercy to the world.
In Tone 2
Glory…
Celebrating the Rededication of the holy Church of the Resurrection,* we glorify You, O Lord.* You blessed it, and it was completed through your renewing grace.* You received praise in it from the people through the holy Mysteries.* You accepted the unbloody and most pure sacrifice* from the hands of your servants,* and You gave great mercy and the right to cleanse sins* to all those who made offerings to You.
Now…
You have given the life-giving Cross of your goodness* to us unworthy ones, O Lord.* We make offerings to You in prayer,* asking that You save us* who pray to the Theotokos, O Lover of Mankind.
Troparia
In Tone 6
Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory be to You!
In Tone 4
Glory…
O Lord, as You had shown from on high the splendour of the firmament,* so did You show on earth* the splendour of the dwelling place of your holy glory.* Make it stand firm for ever and ever* and accept the supplications* which we offer unceasingly to You through your Mother.* O Lord, You are the Life and Resurrection of all of us.
In Tone 2
Now…
We offer You the life-giving Cross, O Lord,* as a means of intercession and as a sign of your bounty* which You have given to us in spite of our unworthiness.* Save our country and your people* who offer You their supplications through your Mother,* for You alone are the Lover of Mankind.
DIVINE LITURGY
Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 6: Angelic powers were upon Your tomb* and the guards became like dead men;* Mary stood before Your tomb* seeking Your most pure body.* You captured Hades without being overcome by it.* You met the Virgin and granted life.* O Lord, risen from the dead,* glory be to You!
Troparion, Tone 4: O Lord, as You had shown from on high the splendour of the firmament,* so did You show on earth* the splendour of the dwelling place of Your holy glory.* Make it stand firm for ever and ever* and accept the supplications* which we offer unceasingly to You through Your Mother.* O Lord, You are the Life and Resurrection of all of us.
Troparion, Tone 4: We offer You the Life-giving Cross, O Lord,* as a means of intercession, and as a sign of Your bounty* which You have given to us in spite of our unworthiness.* Save our country and Your people* who offer You their supplications through Your Mother,* for You alone are the Lover of Mankind.
Kontakion, Tone 6: With His life-giving hand* Christ our God, the Giver of life,* raised all the dead from the murky abyss* and bestowed resurrection upon humanity.* He is for all the Saviour,* the resurrection and the life, and the God of all.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 4: You have made the Church a resplendent heaven, enlightening all the faithful.* Therefore, we stand in the midst of this holy dwelling place and cry out to You:* Make firm this house, O Lord.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 8: Today we see the saving Tree which blossomed from earthy seed.* It is lifted up in the Church by the hands of the bishop.* The universe adores and greets It with awe.* Save us by It, O Lord.
Prokeimenon, Tone 6
Save Your people, O Lord,* and bless Your inheritance.
verse: Unto You I will cry, O Lord, my God, lest You turn from me in silence. (Psalm 27:9,1)
Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
Epistle
Galatians 6:11-18; Hebrews 3:1-4
Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: I have exalted one chosen from the people and with my holy oil anointed him.
verse: My hand shall always be with him and my arm shall make him strong.
verse: His foundations are in the holy mountains.
Gospel
John 3:13-17; Matthew 16:13-18
Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* O Lord, I love the house where you dwell,* the place where your glory abides.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 25:8)