3rd Sunday of Great Lent: Veneration of the Cross
Troparion — Tone 4
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 7
Now the flaming sword no longer guards the gates of Eden; / it has mysteriously been quenched by the wood of the Cross! / The sting of death and the victory of hell have been vanquished; / for You, O my Savior, have come and cried to those in hell: / “Enter again into paradise.”
Hieromartyr Mark, Bishop of Arethusa, who suffered under Julian the Apostate
Troparion — Tone 3
In preparation for the contest, you anointed an assembly of martyrs / and bolstered them by your steadfastness, O glorious Mark. / You finished your course together with them / and all of you were found worthy of the joy of heaven. / Righteous father, entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.
(The Typikon does not prescribe a Kontakion.)
Martyr Cyril the Deacon of Heliopolis, and those with him, who suffered under Julian the Apostate
Troparion — Tone 3
In preparation for the contest, O glorious Cyril, / you anointed an assembly of martyrs / and strengthened them by your steadfastness. / You finished your course with them. / And you were all found worthy of the joys of heaven. / O righteous Father, / pray to Christ our God to grant us his great mercy!
Kontakion — Tone 4
Having been illumined by the grace of truth, / you radiantly instruct the ends of the earth in piety, O glorious Hieromartyrs. / Therefore we bless you in faith.
Venerable John the Anchorite of Egypt
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father John, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Saint Eustathius (Eustace) the Confessor, Bishop of Bithynia
Troparion — Tone 8
Champion of Orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship, / the enlightener of the universe and the adornment of hierarchs: / all-wise father Eustathius, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things. / Intercede before Christ God to save our souls.
Venerable Mark, Jonah, and Bassa of the Pskov Caves
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy fathers Mark, Jonah, and Bassa, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Saint Nikḗtas of the Roslavl Forests
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, / and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! / O our holy father Niketas, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!