Procession of the Holy Cross / Holy
Maccabean Martyrs / Tone 1
The
services is sung from the Octoechos and the Menaion. Before Vespers, the
precious Cross is transferred from the Table of Oblation to the Holy Table (see
Sept. 14th). This is done if Matins is served in the evening. But if Matins is
served in the morning, then the Cross is transferred in the prescribed manner
after the dismissal of Vespers.
Vespers: Kathisma
15.
Lord I have Cried, Tone 4, on 6: Cross 3 (Today
the godly multitude); Martyrs 3 (Tyranny
could not shake); G: Martyrs (The
holy Maccabees); N: Cross (To Thy
precious Cross).
There is no Entrance. Prokimenon
of the day, Tone 6: My help cometh from
the Lord.
Vouchsafe, O Lord. Litany: Let us complete.
Aposticha: Weekday Octoechos,
Tone 1 (The Cross was set up on Golgotha
– with the usual psalm verses); G: Martyrs (The
souls of the righteous); N: Cross (O
God, the words of Moses).
Troparia:
Martyrs (The sufferings of the saints);
G/N: Cross (Save, O Lord). After the
Litany: Have mercy on us, O God; the
usual dismissal sequence for daily vespers.
Small Compline:
Canon
of the Theotokos from the Octoechos.
After
the Trisagion Prayers: Kontakion of the Cross(O Thou who wast lifted up willingly).
Matins: The
usual beginning for daily Matins.
God is the Lord,
Tone 1: Cross x2; G: Martyrs; N: Cross.
After the each Kathisma,
there is no small litany. Instead: Lord,
have mercy x3, followed by the Sessional Hymns from the Octoechos. Psalm
50.
Canon: Canon of the
Cross
(first
canon in the Octoechos) 4 Glory, O Lord, to Thy precious
Cross.
Cross
6 Glory, O Lord, to Thy precious
Cross.
Martyrs 4 Holy Maccabean Martyrs, pray to God
for us.
Irmos: Let us
chant a hymn of victory (from the canon of the Octoechos).
Katavasia:
Inscribing the invincible weapon of the
Cross.
After Ode 3, Kontakion (O
seven pillars), Ikos, and Sessional hymn of the Martyrs (Having been raised in piety); G/N Cross
(Thy Cross, O Lord, is sacred).
After Ode 6, Kontakion (O
Thou who wast lifted up willingly) and Ikos of the Cross.
At Ode 9, More
Honorable.
Exapostilaria: Octoechos (The Cross is the guardian of the whole world
– found in the Horologion); G: Martyrs (We
hymn the wondrous Maccabees); N: Cross (The
Cross is the guardian of the whole world).
Praises, Tone 1, on 6: Cross (The precious
Cross maketh the paths of heaven ready): 3; Martyrs (The much-suffering mother): 3; G: Martyrs (Come, O ye faithful); N: Cross (O
Lord, who enabled the meek David).
For the rubrics
concerning the bringing out of the Cross, see the Triodion, p. 348. During the Great Doxology the priest, wearing all
his vestments, censes three times around the Holy Table. While the choir sings
the concluding Holy God to a slow and solemn melody, the priest takes the Cross
with the tray and, carries it upon his head out of the Altar through the north
door, preceded by two candles, stopping in front of the Royal Doors. When the
final Holy God has ended, he says Wisdom! Aright! Then we sing the
troparion of the Cross, thrice. The priest places the decorated Cross on an
analogion it in the middle of the church, and censes around it three times.
Then he sings three times: Before Thy
Cross, and this is also repeated three times by the people. Then, the
priest, clergy, and the people (one by one) venerate the precious Cross. And as
the clergy and people venerate the Cross, the choir sings the Stichera in the
Menaion: Come, ye faithful, let us bow
down, etc. After
the conclusion of the stichera, the two final litanies as usual,
and the dismissal of the day; First Hour.
Hours:
Troparia: Cross; G: Martyrs; Kontakion: Cross & Martyrs, alternating.
Liturgy:
Beatitudes on 8: Cross: 4, from Ode 3; Martyrs: 4, from Ode 6.
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; Troparion
of the Cross; Martyrs; G: Kontakion of the Martyrs; N: Cross.
The Trisagion is sung as
usual.
Prokimenon, Tone 6: Save, O Lord, Thy people. & Tone 4: In the saints that are in His earth hath
the Lord been wondrous.
Epistle: I Cor. 1:18-24
(§125); Heb. 11:33-12:2 (§330).
Alleluia,
Tone 4.
Gospel: John
19:6-11,13-20,25-28,30-35 (§60); Matt.
10:32-33,37-38;19:27-30 (§38).
It is truly meet.
Communion Hymn: The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath
been signed upon us. & Rejoice in
the Lord, O ye righteous.
Dismissal.
After the Liturgy, the Lesser Blessing of the Waters is performed as set forth in the
Book of Needs. Where possible, there is a procession to a well, river, or lake.
Before Vespers on Friday
evening, the Cross is brought into the Altar, and placed on the Holy Table.