Hymns and Readings for Sunday

18 NOVEMBER 2007
NINTH SUNDAY OF THE SEASON OF THE HOLY CROSS
(TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY OF PENTECOST)
Commemorating the holy martyrs Plato and Romanos

Tone Eight — Eothinon Three

Troparia and Kontakion
(Theme hymns of the day and concluding seasonal hymn)

Troparion of the Resurrection in Tone Eight

You descended from on high, O Compassionate One; and consented to burial for three days, that You might free us from suffering: O Lord, our life and our resurrection, glory to You.

Kontakion of the Presentation of our Lady in Tone Four

The most pure Temple of our Holy Savior, the most precious and bright Bridal Chamber, the Virgin sacred treasury of the glory of God openly appears today in the Temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace of the Most Holy Spirit. Wherefore, the angels of God are singing: This is the heavenly Tabernacle.

Liturgy of the Word

Prokimenon
(Responsory from the Psalter)

Make your vows to the LORD your God, and perform them;
let all around him bring gifts
to Him who is to be feared.

In Judah God is known, his Name is great in Israel.

The reading from the Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians

Brethren: I, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Alleluia

O come, let us sing to the LORD;
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us!

Let us approach Him with praise and thanksgiving
and sing joyful songs to the Lord!

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke

The Lord spoke this parable: The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” And he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.’who showed mercy on him.’

Hirmos in Tone Six
(a “Megalynarion” [Hymn to the Virgin] sung after the Consecration)

It is truly meet to bless you, O Theotokos, who are ever-blessed and all-blameless and the Mother of our God; more honored than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim: you who without stain did bear God the Word, you are truly Theotokos: we magnify you.

Communion Hymn

Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens,
Praise Him in the heights! Alleluia.