Sunday Readings

Apostolic Reading – Ephesians 4:7-13

Gospel – Matthew 4:12-17

Hymns: See our Church’s website for Audio Recordings: holycrossmelkite.org/hymns

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 8)

O Merciful One, Who came down from on high and endured burial for three days in order to save us from suffering. O our Life and our Resurrection, glory to you.

Troparion of the Theophany (Tone 1)

At your Baptism in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was revealed: for the Father’s voice bore witness to you by calling You his Beloved Son, and the spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the truth of these words. O Christ God who have appeared to us, and enlightened the world, glory to You.

Kondakion of the Theophany (Tone 3)

Today You have appeared, O Lord, to the universe and Your light, O Christ our God, has been impressed upon us who sing to You with full knowledge: You came and appeared, O Inaccessible Light.

Prokimenon

May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in you.

Stichon

Exult, you just, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting.

Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians (Eph 4:7-13)

Brethren, to each one of us the grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s bestowal. Thus it says, Ascending on high, he led away captives; he gave gifts to men. Now this ascending, what does it mean but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended, he it is who ascended also above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he himself gave some men as apostles, and some as prophets, and others as pastors and teachers, in order to perfect the saints for a work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the deep knowledge of the Son of God, to perfect manhood, to the mature measure of the fullness of Christ.

Alleluia

Your favor, O Lord, I will sing forever; from generation to generation, my mouth will proclaim your faithfulness.

Stichon

For you have said, “My kindness is established forever.” 

In heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew the Evangelist (4:12-17)

At that time, when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Caparnaum by the sea, in the region of Zabulon and Nephtalim, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: "Land of Zabulon and land of Nephtalim, by the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death a light has arisen." From that time, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."