Post-feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Saint with Six Stichera.

VESPERS ON MONDAY EVENING

Kathisma Reading

The appointed psalms are chanted.

At Psalm 140

Tone 4, Podoben “You have given a sign…”

If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

Today, Your precious Cross* has shone forth radiantly like the sun, O Saviour Christ,* set up and elevated on the all-glorious place of the skull, on Your all-holy mountain,* showing forth most manifestly that it is thereby, O Omnipotent One,* that You have raised our nature up to the heavens,* in that You love mankind.

I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

Today, O Unapproachable One,* the heavens have declared Your glory to men;* for the image of the Cross, shining forth in radiance with unapproachable light,* has denounced the savage and cruel nature of those who slew God.* Therefore, we glorify Your loving dispensation, O almighty Jesus,* Saviour of our souls.

From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

By stretching forth his arms Moses vanquished Amalek,* prefiguring the image of the Cross;* and we now, bowing down before the tree of the Cross,* trample the wiles and machinations of the enemy underfoot,* having Christ as our champion,* who was lifted up upon it in the flesh,* slew the serpent and saved man.

Tone 4, Podoben “As one valiant among the martyrs…”

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Having adorned your soul with the beauties of virginity* and the blood of martyrdom, O glorious martyr,* you were betrothed to the Creator* who has truly preserved you incorrupt for ages;* and for this you join chorus with choirs of the archangels and angels,* the apostles, prophets, and martyrs,* O most praised one.

Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

Bound to wheels of torture, rent asunder by wild beasts,* and your mind having been sharpened with fire and water by the divine Spirit,* you manfully choked the princes of darkness with the torrents of your blood,* and hastened to the noetic bridal-chambers,* offering your suffering to your Bridegroom as a dowry, O virgin.

Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

Though you have died, you live forever, O martyr,* and have poured forth torrents of blood to the praise of the Lord,* watering the faithful and illumining them with understanding,* but drowning the unbelieving enemy therein.* Therefore, the divine scroll of the dogmas of the Church was entrusted to you,* which you preserve and hold for ever.

Tone 6, Glory…

O most glorious Euphemia, who flourished in the virtues and was illumined in mind,* pouring myrrh into the hearts of the faithful,* shining forth from the East like a radiant star,* and, through the coming of the Holy Spirit, assembling the council of the divine fathers:* Never cease to pray to the Lord for us, that our souls be saved.

Now…

The four corners of the world are sanctified today* as the four parts of Your Cross are elevated, O Christ our God;* and with it the horn of all Orthodox hierarchs is exalted.* Therefore, we crush the horns of our enemies.* Great are You, O Lord, and wondrous are You in Your works!* Glory be to You!

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

The Lord hears me* when I cry out to Him.

verse: Whenever I called, the God of my justice heard me.

Aposticha

Tone 6, Podoben “On the third day…”

We bow down before the place where the feet of Christ stood,* exalting the thrice blessed Cross whereon was shed the blood of the Master* who has poured forth resurrection upon the world.

Exalt the Lord our God; and worship the footstool of His feet, for it is holy.

Having mortified the passions of flesh and spirit, O you divinely wise,* let us make haste to elevate ourselves above earthly things to the resting-place of heaven,* through the exaltation of the Cross,* having crucified ourselves with Christ the Master.

God is our King before the ages, He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

An ever-flowing well-spring has manifestly issued forth from the divine side of the Saviour,* watering the souls of those who with faith worship His divine sufferings,* His Cross and resurrection.

Tone 8, Glory…

Let every tongue be moved to the goodly praise of Euphemia the most lauded,* and let us all – every generation, every age, youths and virgins,* crown the virgin martyr of Christ with praises;* for, having lawfully shown manly courage and cast aside feminine weakness,* she brought low the tyrannous foe with the pangs of her suffering,* and having been adorned with a divine crown,* she entreats her Bridegroom and God, that He grant us great mercy.

Now…

That which Moses prefigured with his body of old* cast down and vanquished Amalek;* and David the psalmist, crying out,* has commanded us to bow down before Your footstool, Your precious Cross, O Christ God. Today we sinners also do homage with our unworthy lips to You* whose will it was to be nailed thereto;* and, chanting, we pray: O Lord, vouchsafe that with the thief* we may receive Your kingdom!

Troparia

Tone 4

Your lamb, Euphemia, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.

Tone 1, Glory… Now…

Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance.* Grant victory to Your faithful people against enemies,* and protect Your community by Your cross.

DIVINE LITURGY ON TUESDAY MORNING

Antiphon 1

O God, my God, hear me; why have You forsaken me? The words of my transgressions put salvation far from me.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

O God, I will call to You by day but You will not listen; and by night, yet it will not be foolish of me.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

But You, the praise of Israel, dwell in the holy place.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Saviour, save us.

Glory… Now… Only-begotten Son…

Antiphon 3

Come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord, let us acclaim God, our Saviour.

Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Let us come before His face with praise, and acclaim Him in psalms.

Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

For God is the great Lord, and the great king over all the earth.

Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Entrance

Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ.

Son of God, crucified in the flesh, save us who sing to You: Alleluia.

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 1: Save Your people, O Lord, and bless Your inheritance.* Grant victory to Your faithful people against enemies,* and protect Your community by Your cross.

Troparion, Tone 4: Your lamb, Euphemia, O Jesus, cries in a loud voice:* “You, O my Bridegroom, I love; and, seeking You, I undergo martyrdom.* And with You I am crucified and buried in Your baptism,* and I suffer for Your sake that I may reign with You.* And I die on Your behalf that I may live in You.* Receive me as a spotless sacrifice,* sacrificed for You with love.”* Through her intercession in Your mercy save our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 4: We celebrate the memory of Christ’s women martyrs* and with faith ask for help that we all may be saved from every tribulation.* And we cry: “Our God is with us,* and He has glorified these women as He willed!”

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 4: By Your own choice, O Christ our God,* You were lifted on the cross.* Grant Your mercies to Your new community* that bears Your Name.* By Your power gladden the faithful people,* and grant them victory against enemies.* May they have the help of Your instrument of peace,* the invincible sign of victory.

Prokeimenon, Tone 7

Exalt the Lord our God,* and bow in worship at the footstool of his feet, for it is holy.

verse: The Lord reigns, let the people tremble. (Psalm 98:5,1)

Epistle

Galatians 2:21-3:7

Alleluia, Tone 1

verse: Remember Your congregation which You acquired from the beginning.

verse: But God is our king before the ages; He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth. (Psalm 73:2,12)

Gospel

Mark 6:1-7

Hymn to the Mother of God

O my soul, magnify the most precious cross of the Lord.

And the Irmos, Tone 8: You are a mystical Paradise, O Mother of God, who though untilled, have brought forth Christ. He has planted upon earth the life-giving Tree of the Cross. Therefore today as we raise it on high we bow low and we magnify you.

Communion Hymn

Let the light of Your countenance, O Lord,* shine upon us.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 4:7)

At the end of Liturgy we sing:

To Your Cross, O Master, we bow in veneration, and we glorify Your holy Resurrection. (3)