Third Saturday of Great Lent / 40 Martyrs of Sebaste
Beatitudes, on 8: 40 Martyrs: 4, from Ode 3, first canon; and 4, from Ode 6, second canon.
1 & 2. Disdaining the army and life, the comeliness of their bodies, and wealth, the right glorious forty martyrs inherited Christ instead of all of these things.
3. When the forty martyrs were mercilessly stoned with rocks at the command of the tormentors, by the Spirit of God the stones were hurled back against those who commanded that they be beaten.
4. The serpent of him who invented blasphemy spake through the lips of the tormentors, but his blasphemous mouth is broken by the rocks hurled at the martyrs.
5. O mighty ones, ye have been shown to be watchful and vigilant preservers of the human race and makers of entreaty; and ye have been put yourselves forward as helpers of the grieving.
6. Shining forth in your unexcelled beauties within the Church of Christ, O all-praised ones, from temptations deliver those who honor you with love.
7. Of old ye became destroyers of the deception of the demonized persecutors, O most eminent ones; and be ye now our ready help and rampart.
8. On thee have I set my hope of salvation, O Ever-virgin Mother; and Thee have I appointed as the steadfast and unshaken intercessor of my life.
Troparia & Kontakia
[Troparion of the Temple]
Tone 1: By the pangs of Thy saints, /
be Thou entreated, O Lord, /
and heal all our diseases, we beseech Thee, //
O Thou Who lovest mankind.
[Kontakion of the Temple]
Glory… Tone 6: Having left every military array of the world, /
ye cleaved unto the Master in the heavens, /
O forty passion-bearers of the Lord; /
for, having passed through fire and water, O blessed ones, /
as is meet ye received glory from the heavens //
and a multitude of crowns.
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 8th Tone: Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous.
Choir: Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous.
Reader: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Choir: Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous.
Reader: In the 5th Tone: Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt preserve us from this generation and for evermore.
Choir: Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt preserve us from this generation and for evermore.
Reader: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews:
[Heb. 10:32-38 (§325); Heb. 12:1-10 (§331)]
Reader: Alleluia in the 4th Tone: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and He delivered them out of all their tribulations.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Many are the tribulations of the righteous, and the Lord shall deliver them out of them all.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Reader: Shout with jubilation unto the Lord all the earth; chant ye unto His name, give glory in praise of Him.
Choir: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel [Mark 2:14-17 (§8); Matt. 20:1-16 (§80)]
Communion Verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!