Troparia and kontakia for September 17

Afterfeast of the Elevation of the Cross

Troparion — Tone 1

O Lord, save Your people, / and bless Your inheritance. / Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians / over their adversaries. / And by virtue of Your Cross, / preserve Your habitation.

Kontakion — Tone 4

As You were voluntarily raised upon the cross for our sake, / grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God; / make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, / granting them victories over their adversaries, / by bestowing on them the Invincible trophy, Your weapon of Peace.

Martyr Sophia and her three daughters at Rome

Troparion — Tone 4

The Church celebrates and rejoices / in the feast of the three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love / and their Mother Sophia, named for her wisdom: / For in them she gave birth to the three godly virtues. / Now they eternally behold their bridegroom, God the Word. / Let us rejoice spiritually in their memory and cry: / O our three Heavenly Protectors, / establish, confirm and strengthen us / in Faith, Hope and Love.

Troparion — Tone 5

You blossomed in the courts of the Lord / as a fruitful olive tree, / holy martyr Sophia; / in your contest you offered to Christ the sweet fruit of your womb, / your daughters Faith, Hope, and Love. / Together with them intercede for us all.

Kontakion — Tone 1

The holy branches of noble Sophia, / Faith, Hope, and Love, / confounded Greek sophistry through Grace. / They struggled and won the victory / and have been granted an incorruptible crown by Christ the Master of all.

Martyr Theodota at Nicea

Troparion — Tone 4

Your lamb Theodota calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice: / "I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You I endure suffering. / In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You, / and I died so that I might live with You. / Accept me as a pure sacrifice, / for I have offered myself in love." / Through her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.

Martyr Agathocleia

Troparion — Tone 4

Your lamb Agathocleia calls out to You, O Jesus, in a loud voice: / "I love You, my Bridegroom, and in seeking You I endure suffering. / In baptism I was crucified so that I might reign in You, / and I died so that I might live with You. / Accept me as a pure sacrifice, / for I have offered myself in love." / Through her prayers save our souls, since You are merciful.

156 Martyrs of Palestine, including Bishops Peleus and Nilus, the Presbyter Zeno, the Noblemen Patermuthius and Elias, and others

Troparion — Tone 4

Your holy martyrs O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through their intercessions, save our souls!

Constantinople Icon of the Mother of God

Troparion — Tone 1

Your icon, O Sovereign Lady, has shone for us like a sun shining from the east, / with a wondrous radiance of miracles, / illuminating all those who come to it with faith and love, / praying fervently to your majesty, in your Son and God. / Glory to God, Who gave us this Icon with the help of Saint Euphrosynos. / Glory to Him Who brought it from Constantinople. / Glory to Him, Who through it, grants healing to all.

Kontakion — Tone 8

The most glorious Mother of the Almighty / summons us to sing with the coming of her Icon from Constantinople, / and inspires us to fight in order to overcome the power of those who oppose God, / and to praise her in song as the cause of our joy: / “Rejoice, O Bride who knew not wedlock.”