4th Sunday After Pentecost / The Chinese Martyrs of the Boxer Rebellion

Beatitude Verses: Octoechos: 6; Martyrs: 4, from Ode 3.

 
1. From paradise didst Thou drive our forefather Adam, who had broken Thy 
commandment, O Christ; but, O Compassionate One, Thou didst cause to dwell therein 
the thief who confessed Thee on the cross, crying out: “Remember me, O Savior, in Thy 
kingdom!”
 
2. With the curse of death didst Thou condemn us who had sinned, O Lord, Bestower of 
life; yet having suffered in Thy flesh, O sinless Master, Thou hast granted life unto 
mortals who cry out: “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!”
 
3. In rising from the dead, Thou hast raised us up from the passions with Thyself through 
Thy resurrection, O Lord; and all the power of death hast Thou destroyed, O Savior.  
Wherefore, with faith we cry out to Thee: “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!”
 
4. O Thou who as God grantest life, by Thy three days in the tomb Thou didst raise up 
with Thyself the dead in hell, and as One Who is good Thou hast poured forth 
incorruption upon all of us who with faith ever cry out: “Remember us also in Thy 
kingdom!”
 
5. Risen from the dead, O Savior, Thou didst first appear to the myrrh-bearing women, 
crying out: “Rejoice!” and through them Thou didst announce Thy resurrection to Thy 
friends, O Christ.  Wherefore, with faith we cry out to Thee, “Remember us also in Thy 
kingdom!”
 
6. Moses, stretching out his arms on the mountain, prefigured the Cross and thus 
conquered Amelek.  And, receiving it with faith as a mighty weapon against the demons, 
we all cry out: “Remember us also in Thy kingdom!”
 
7. Even though ye were born in a godless land, with love for God ye did search for the 
Truth; and in the Orthodox Church ye found the living Water which floweth unto life 
everlasting.
 
8. An unexpected downpour of trials fell; rivers of wrath arose; and the storms of the 
heathen beset you, O valiant martyrs of Christ; but, faithful to Christ unto death, ye 
calmly endured to the end.
 
9. We hymn your journey to the Jerusalem on high, and are amazed by your manly valor, 
O right wondrous ones; and our souls are delighted by your love for God.  Wherefore, 
travel with us amid both joys and sorrows.
 
10. Having made His abode within thee, God in nowise disturbed the key of thy virginity, 
O pure one.  Earnestly beseech Him, that He make steadfast all who hymn thee.
 
Troparia & Kontakia
 
Tone 3:  Let the heavens be glad; let earthly things rejoice; /
for the Lord hath wrought might with His arm. /
He hath trampled down death by death; /
the first-born of the dead hath He become. /
From the belly of Hades hath He delivered us //
and Hath granted to the world great mercy.
 

[Troparion of the Temple]

 

Tone 3: Let us the flock of Christ with faith and love /

now glorify with hymns the faithful martyrs who suffered for Christ in China. /

For having confessed the Faith, /

they all went bravely unto death, /

not considering suffering for Christ’s sake too hard to endure; /

but rather viewing death as a passage to a place of blessed repose. /

Therefore to the Martyrs we cry out: //

Remember us all, who sing your praises.

 
Tone 3:  Thou didst rise today from the tomb, O Merciful One, /
and didst lead us out of the gates of death. /
Today Adam danceth and Eve rejoiceth; /
and together with them both the prophets and patriarchs //
unceasingly praise the divine might of Thine authority.

 

[Kontakion of the Temple]

 

Glory… Tone 1:  O martyrs of these latter times, /
ye whitened your garments in the blood of the Lamb, /
and shed your own blood for Christ.  /
Wherefore, ye now minister unto Him day and night in the Church of heaven.  /
Therefore, entreat Christ for us, O glorious martyrs, /
that He preserve His little flock from the beguilement of the enemy, /
and that he lead all of us out of all tribulation //
unto a land of never-waning light.

 

Both now... Tone 6: O protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, /

O mediation unto the Creator unfailing, /

disdain not the suppliant voices of sinners, /

but be thou quick, O good one, to help us who in faith cry unto thee; /

hasten to intercession and speed thou to make supplication, //

thou who dost ever protect, O Theotokos, them that honor thee.

 

The Epistle

 

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 3rd Tone:  O chant unto our God, chant ye; chant unto

our King, chant ye.

Choir:  O chant unto our God, chant ye; chant unto our King, chant ye.

Reader: Clap your hands, all ye nations; shout unto God with a voice of rejoicing.

Choir:  O chant unto our God, chant ye; chant unto our King, chant ye.

Reader:  In the 4th Tone: From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the 
name of the Lord is to be praised.
Choir:  From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the 
name of the Lord is to be praised.

 

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

[Rom. 6:18-23 (§93) & Rom. 8:28-39 (§99)]

 

Reader: Alleluia in the 3rd Tone: In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be put to

shame in the age to come.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader:  Be Thou unto me a God to defend me and a house of refuge to save me.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader:  In the 6th Tone: The God of gods, the Lord, hath spoken, and He hath called the

earth from the rising of the sun and unto the setting thereof.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

 

Gospel [Matt. 8:5-13 (§25) & John 15:17-16:2 (§52)]

 

Communion Verse:  Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest! 

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

Alleluia!

 

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