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.”
Saint James the Confessor, Bishop of Catania
Troparion — Tone 5
(Podoben: “Come, let us worship the Word...”)
Shining forth with purity, you rightly divided the inspired Word of truth / as a Hierarch and a minister of God the Word. / By your virtuous struggle you revealed and confirmed the grace granted to you, O James, / instructing all to venerate the Icon of the Savior, / with Whom you intercede for us all.
Kontakion — Tone 8
You excelled in the gifts of the priesthood, O Confessor, / and through your labors You became illustrious in confessing the Faith. / Since you are a fruitful branch of Christ the True Vine, / grant the new wine of forgiveness and salvation to those who cry to you: “Rejoice, O Father James!”
Saint Cyril, Bishop of Catania
Troparion — Tone 4
In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, / an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; / your humility exalted you; / your poverty enriched you. / Hierarch Father Cyril, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.
Saint Thomas, Patriarch of Constantinople
Troparion — Tone 4
In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, / an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; / your humility exalted you; / your poverty enriched you. / Hierarch Father Thomas, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.
Venerable Seraphim of Vyritsa
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 Seraphim, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Saint Serapion, Bishop of Thmuis in Lower Egypt
Troparion — Tone 4
In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, / an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; / your humility exalted you; / your poverty enriched you. / Hierarch Father Serapion, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.