The Procession of the Holy Cross, Holy Maccabean Martyrs

Beatitude Verses: Octoechos: 4; Procession of the Cross: 4 from Ode 3; Maccabean Martyrs: 4 from Ode 6.

 

1.  Of old, a sword was set to guard the blessed tree of life after the disobedience of

Adam the first created; but the Cross hath opened a path thereto.

 

2.  With eyes, mouth and soul, with our faces and hearts, let us all bow down before the

all-holy Cross of Christ, the Bestower of life, whereby the whole world is sanctified.

 

3.  Becoming temples of God today, as the prophets said, bowing down before the wood

of the all-holy Cross, all of us who are heirs thereto kiss it with fear.

 

4.  We chant hymns to thee, O Christ, and with faith entreat thy power: Rescue us from

the snares of the enemy, and direct all of us who hymn thee to the haven of salvation.

 

5.  Having arrayed yourselves in the vesture of martyrdom, O saints, ye embroidered it

with the feats of your suffering.

 

6.  Desiring to be with Christ, O most glorious martyrs, ye have run the course of

suffering with unwavering resolve.

 

7.  Preserving the law which Moses handed down, O holy ones, ye suffered lawfully,

putting the tyrant Antiochus to shame.

 

8.  O thou who alone gavest birth to the Word in the flesh at His word, deliver our souls

from the snares of the enemy, we pray.

 

At the Entrance:  O come let us worship and fall down before Christ. O Son of God who

art wondrous in the saints, save us who sing to Thee: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

 

Troparia & Kontakia

 

Tone 1: O Lord, save Thy people /

and bless Thine inheritance. /

Grant Thou victory unto Orthodox Christians /

over their enemies, /

and by the power of Thy Cross //

do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

 

Tone 1:  By the pangs of the saints, /

which they suffered for Thee, O Lord, /

be Thou entreated, and heal Thou all our infirmities, //

we pray Thee, O Thou Who lovest mankind.

 

Glory… Tone 2:  O Seven pillars of the wisdom of God /

And seven-branched candlestick of the Divine Light /

Ye were great martyrs before the martyrs, O supremely-wise Maccabees. /

With them pray to the God of all //

That they who venerate you may be saved.

 

Both now… Tone 4:  O Thou Who wast lifted up willingly on the Cross, /

bestow Thy mercies upon the new community named after Thee, O Christ God; /

gladden with Thy power the Orthodox Christians, /

granting them victory over enemies; //

may they have as Thy help the weapon of peace, the invincible trophy.

 

The Epistle

 

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 6th Tone:  Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine

inheritance.

Choir: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Reader: Unto Thee, O Lord, Will I cry; O my God, be not silent unto me.

Choir: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Reader:  In the 4th Tone: In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been

wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them.

Choir:  In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought

all His desires in them.

 

Reader: The Reading is from the First Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the

Corinthians:  [1st Corinthians 18-24 (§125); Hebrews 11:33-12:2 (§330)]

 

Reader: Alleluia in the 4th Tone: Remember Thy congregation which Thou has

purchased from the beginning.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: God is our King before the ages, He hath wrought salvation in the midst of the

earth.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader:  The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and He delivered them out of all

their tribulations

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

Gospel [John 19:6-11,25-28,30-35 (§60); Matthew 10:32-33,37-38; 19:27-30 (§38)]

 

Communion Verse:  The Light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us. 

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright.  Alleluia, Alleluia,

Alleluia!

 

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