The Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos /The Sunday of the Holy Cross

Beatitudes on 12: 4 from the Octoechos; 4 from Ode 3 of the Feast; 4 from Ode 6 of the Triodion:

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. “A ruler hath failed from Judah! The following time hath come, wherein Christ, the hope of the nations, shall appear! But tell me: how shall I, who am a virgin, give birth to Him?”

6. “O Virgin, thou seekest to learn from me the manner of thy conceiving; yet it is indescribable. The Holy Spirit, overshadowing thee, shall accomplish it with His creative power.”

7. “My first mother, accepting the serpent’s knowledge was driven away from divine sustenance; wherefore, I fear thy strange salutation, wary lest I stumble.”

8. “I am sent as a divine intercessor to convey to thee the divine counsel. Wherefore fearest thou me who am even more in fear of thee, O most immaculate one? Why dost thou render homage to me who render homage to thee with honor, O Mistress?”

9. Thou hast crushed death, O Christ, and risen as a mighty King; Thou hast recalled us from the depths of hell and brought us to the land of immortality, granting us the joy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

10. O ye faithful, let us cry aloud with joy and sing triumphantly to God, as we greet the Cross of the Lord; for it is a fountain of holiness to all those in the world.

11. The words of the Psalmist are fulfilled: for see, we bow before the footstool of Thy most pure feet, O Lord all-powerful, at Thy Precious Cross, the thrice-blessed Wood.

12. O Ewe free from blemish, the greatest wonder of all wonders was revealed in thee: for thou hast borne the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. Entreat Him fervently for those who sing thy praises.

Troparia & Kontakion

 
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.

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 4: Today is the fountainhead of our salvation /

and the manifestation of the mystery which was from eternity. /

The Son of God becometh the Virgin’s Son, /

and Gabriel proclaimeth the good tidings of grace; /

wherefore, we also cry to the Theotokos with him: /

Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, //

the Lord is with thee.

Glory… Tone 7: No longer doth the flaming sword guard the gate of Eden, /

for a strange extinction hath come upon it, even the Tree of the Cross. /

The sting hath been taken from death, and the victory from hades. /

And Thou, my Savior, didst appear unto those in hades, saying: //

Enter ye again into Paradise.

 
Both now… Tone 8: To Thee, the Champion Leader, /
we Thy servants dedicate a feast of victory and of thanksgiving /
as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos: /
but as Thou art one with might which is invincible, /
from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, //
that we may cry to Thee: Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!




 
Instead of the Trisagion: 
 Before Thy Cross we bow down, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection we glorify. Thrice
 Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. And Thy holy Resurrection we glorify.
 Before Thy Cross we bow down, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection we glorify.
 

The Epistle

Reader: The Prokimenon in the 4^th Tone: Proclaim from day to day the good tidings of the salvation of our God.

Choir: Proclaim from day to day the good tidings of the salvation of our God.

Reader: O sing unto the Lord a new song, sing unto the Lord all the earth.

Choir: Proclaim from day to day the good tidings of the salvation of our God.

Reader: In the 6th Tone: Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

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

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

[Heb. 2:11-18 (§306); Heb. 4:14-5:6 (§311)]

Reader: Alleluia in the 8th Tone: He shall come down like rain upon a fleece, and like raindrops that fall upon the earth.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: His name shall be blessed unto the ages, before the sun doth his name continue.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Reader: Remember Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased from the beginning.

Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Gospel [Luke 1:24-38 (§3); Mark 8:34-9:1 (§37)]

Instead of “All creation rejoiceth…” we chant the Irmos of the 9^th Ode of the Canon of the feast, Fourth Tone:

Refrain: Proclaim, O earth, good tidings of great joy; ye heavens, praise the glory of God.

Irmos: Let no profane hand touch the living Ark of God, but let the lips of the faithful, chanting unceasingly the words of the angel to the Theotokos, with joy cry out: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

But according to other texts (such as the Festal Menaion), after the above refrain, we chant instead (also in the fourth tone):

Let every mortal born on earth, radiant with light, in spirit leap for joy; and let the host of the angelic powers celebrate and honor the holy feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry: Rejoice! Pure and blessed Ever-Virgin, who gavest birth to God.

Communion Verse: The Lord hath elected Zion, He hath chosen her to be a habitation for Himself. The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!