Hymns and Readings for Sunday

Fourteenth Sunday of the Season of the Holy Cross
(Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Pentecost)
Commemorating the holy Prophet Habakkuk

Tone Two — Eothinon Five

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

Troparion of the Resurrection in Tone One
When You descended to death, O immortal Life, You destroyed Hades by the splendor of Your divinity, and when You raised the dead from below the earth, all the heavenly powers cried out to You: O Giver of Life, Christ our God, glory to You.

Kontakion of Preparation for the Nativity of Christ in Tone Three
Today the Virgin is on her way to the cave where she will give birth to the Eternal Word of God in an ineffable manner. Rejoice therefore, O Universe, when you hear this news, and glorify with the angels and the shepherds Him who shall appear as new Child being God from all eternity.

Liturgy of the Word

Prokimenon
(Responsory from the Psalter)
The LORD is my strength and my song;
He has become my salvation.

The LORD has chastened me sorely,
but He has not given me over to death.

The reading from the Epistle of St Paul to the Ephesians
Brethren: Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Alleluia
The LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!

Give victory to the king, O LORD; answer us when we call.

The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Luke
At that time: As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to Him; and when he came near, He asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

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.