Sunday Readings

Apostolic Reading – Romans 10:1-10

Gospel – Matthew 8:28-9:1

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

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 4)

The women disciples of the Lord, having learned from the angel the joyful announcement of the resurrection, and having rejected the ancestral sentence, proudly told the apostles: Death is despoiled. Christ God is risen, bestowing 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 protect your community by the power of your Cross.

Kondakion

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 4)

How great are your works, O Lord!

In wisdom you have wrought them all.

Stichon

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

You are very great indeed, O Lord my God!

Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans (10:1-10)

Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God in their behalf is for salvation. For I bear witness to them that they have zeal for God, but a zeal that in not informed. For ignorant of God’s holiness and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to the sanctification offered by God. For Christ is the consummation of the Law in terms of justification for everyone who believes. For Moses has written that “the man who brings about that justification which is of the Law, shall live by it.” But the justification which is of faith says, “Do not ask in your heart, who shall go up to heaven” – that is, to bring down Christ. Or, “Who will descend into the abyss” that is, to bring up Christ from the dead? But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” – that is, the word of faith which we preach. For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For a man believes with the heart and attains justification, but he professes his faith with his mouth and attains salvation.   

Alleluia (Tone 4)

String your bow, go forth, reign for the sake of truth, meekness and righteousness, and your right hand shall lead you wonderfully.

Stichon

You loved righteousness and hated iniquity: therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of joy above your companions.

The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew the Evangelist (8:28-9:1)

Healing of the Gerasene Demoniacs

At that time as Jesus reached the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two men who were possessed, coming from the tombs, so exceedingly fierce that no one could pass by that way. And behold, they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with you, Jesus Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now at a distance from them there was a herd of many swine, feeding. And the devils kept begging him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go!” And they came out and entered into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed from the top of the cliff into the sea, and perished in the water. But the swineherds fled, and going away into the town, they reported everything, and what had befallen the men possessed by - demons. And behold, all the town came out to meet Jesus; and on seeing him they insisted that he leave their district. And getting into a boat, he crossed over and came into his own town.