Third Sunday of Lent - Veneration of the Holy Cross

TROPARION OF THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT IN TONE ONE

O Lord save your people and bless your inheritance, granting peace to the world;
and protect your nation by the power of your Cross.

KONTAKION OF THE ANNUNCIATION IN TONE EIGHT

Triumphant leader, to you belongs our praise of victory, and since you saved us from adversity we offer you our thanks: We are your people, O Mother of God. So, as you have that invincible power, continue to deliver us from danger, that we may cry out to you: Hail O Virgin and Bride ever pure.

AT THE TRISAGION, INSTEAD OF HOLY GOD

We bow in worship before your Cross, O Master,
and we give praise to your Hoy Resurrection.

LITURGY OF THE WORD
PROKIMENON (RESPONSORY)

R. O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.

V. To you, O Lord, I call; my Rock, be not deaf to me.

THE READING FROM THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
BRETHREN: We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honour upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedek."

ALLELUIA

O God, why dost thou cast us off for ever?
Why does thy anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

THE READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST MARK

AT THAT TIME: Jesus called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power."

MEGALYNARION OF THE LITURGY OF ST BASIL THE GREAT

In you, O Woman full of Grace, all creation exults, the hierarchy of angels together with the race of men: in you, sanctified Temple, spiritual Paradise, Glory of virgins of whom God took flesh — from whom our God who exists before the world, became a child! For He has made your womb His Throne, making it more spacious than the Heavens. In you, O Woman full of Grace, all creation exults: glory to you!

COMMUNION HYMN

Let the light of your Face shine on us, O Lord

O Christ, You brought about salvation in the midst of the earth. Alleluia.