Sunday Readings

Apostolic Reading – Gal 6:11-18

Gospel – John 3:13-17  

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

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 7)

Through your Cross You destroyed death, You opened Paradise to the thief, and turned into joy the mourning of the ointment bearing women, and You ordered your Apostles to proclaim that You rose, O Christ God, Bestowing great mercy upon the world.

Troparion of the Nativity (Tone 4)

Your Nativity, O Mother of God, heralded joy to the whole universe, for from you rose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God. Taking away the curse, He imparted the blessings. And by abolishing death, He gave us everlasting life.

Kondakion of the Nativity (Tone 4)

Through your holy birth, O Immaculate One, Joachim and Anne were delivered from the shame of childlessness, and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death. Your people, redeemed from the debt of their sins, celebrate your birth crying out to You: “the barren one gives birth to the Mother of God, the Sustainer of our life!”

Prokimenon

O Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance!

Stichon

To You, O Lord, I have called: O my Rock, be not deaf to me!

Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians (6:11-18)

Brethren, see with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand! All those who want to please in a human way are forcing you to be circumcised merely to avoid persecution because of the cross of Christ. For not even the circumcised observe the Law: but they want you to be circumcised that they may boast of your subjection to external rites. But as for me, God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision but a new creation is of any account. And whoever follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and on God’s Israel. From now on, let no man give me trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Alleluia

I have exalted one chosen out of my people. I have found David my servant, and anointed him with holy chrism.

Stichon

For my hand shall support him, and my arm shall make him strong.

The Holy Gospel According to St. John the Evangelist (3:13-17)

Sunday before the feast of the Holy Cross

The Lord said, “No one has gone up into heaven except the One Who has come down from heaven: the Son of Man Who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that those who believe in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.” For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that those who believe in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God did not send His Son into the world in order to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.