Sunday Readings
Apostolic Reading – Ephesians 2:14-22
Gospel – Luke 16:19-31
Hymns: See our Church’s website for Audio Recordings: holycrossmelkite.org/hymns
Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 7)
You destroyed Death by Your cross. You opened paradise to the thief. You changed the weeping of the myrrhbearers, and commanded Your apostles to proclaim that You, have risen O Christ God, granting to the world great mercy.
Troparion of the Holy Cross (Tone 1)
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance, granting peace to the world. And preserve your community by the power of your Cross.
Kondakion (Tone 2)
O never failing Protectress of Christians and their ever-present intercessor before the Creator, despise not the petitions of us sinners, but in your goodness extend your help to us who call upon you with confidence. Hasten, O Mother of God, to intercede for us, for you have always protected those who honor you.
Prokimenon (Tone 7)
The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
Stichon
Give to the Lord, you Sons of God, give to the Lord glory and praise.
Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians (2:14-22)
Brethren, Christ is our peace. He it is who has made both [Jews and Gentiles] one, and has broken down the intervening wall of the enclosure, the enemy, in His flesh. He has voided the Law of commandments expressed in decrees, so that of the two He might create in himself one new man, and make peace, and reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, having destroyed their enmity within Himself. And as He came, He announced the good tidings of peace to you who were far away, and of peace to those who were near: because through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Therefore, you are now no longer strangers or foreigners, but citizens with the saints and members of God’s household: you are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is closely fitted together and grows into a temple holy in the Lord; in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.
Alleluia (Tone 7)
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High!
Stichon
To proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night.
The Holy Gospel According to St. Luke the Evangelist (16:19-31)
The Rich Man & Lazarus
At that time, the Lord told this parable; “there was certain rich man who used to clothe himself in purple and fine linen, and who feasted every day in splendid fashion. And there was certain poor man, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. And it came to pass that the poor man died and was borne away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; but the rich man also died and was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes, being in torments, he saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham have pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember you in your lifetime have received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now here he is comforted whereas you are tormented. And besides all that, between us and you a great gulf is fixed, so that those who wish to pass over from this side to you cannot, and they cannot cross from your side to us.’ And he said, ‘Then, father, I pray you to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they too come into this place of torments.’ And Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ But he answered, ‘No father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not believe even if someone rises from the dead.”