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.”
Venerable John Climacus of Sinai, Author of “the Ladder”
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile / and by your longing for God you brought forth fruits in abundance. / By the radiance of miracles you illuminated the whole universe. / O our holy Father John Climacus, pray to Christ our God to save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 1
You offered us your teachings as fruits of everlasting freshness, / to sweeten the hearts of those who receive them with attention. / O blessed and wise John, they are the rungs of a ladder, / leading the souls of those who honor you from earth to Eternal glory in Heaven!
Saint Sophronius, Bishop of Irkutsk
Troparion — Tone 4
From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed Sophronios, / and you governed monastic communities well; / and being honored with the rank of Hierarch, you kept watch over the flock of Irkutsk. / Thus, after your repose, you received the gift of miracles from God, / and now entreat Christ God to deliver us from misfortunes, and to save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 4
Let us glorify with love the Hierarch and namesake of sobriety, / O faithful, the special adornment of the Church of Irkutsk, our Father and Hierarch Sophronios, / for he is the guardian of that city and land, and an intercessor for our souls.
Prophet Joad
Troparion — Tone 2
We celebrate the memory / of Your prophet Joad, O Lord; / through him we entreat You, / save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 4
(Podoben: “Today You have shown forth...”)
Enlightened by the Spirit, your pure heart became the dwelling place of most splendid prophecy; / for you saw things far off as if they were near. / Therefore, we honor you, blessed and glorious Prophet Joad.
Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostle Sosthenes, / entreat the merciful God, / to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Apostle Apollos of the Seventy
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostle Apollos, / entreat the merciful God, / to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Apostle Cephas of the Seventy
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostle Cephas, / entreat the merciful God, / to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Apostle Caesar of the Seventy
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostle Caesar, / entreat the merciful God, / to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Apostle Epaphroditus of the Seventy
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostle Epaphroditus, / entreat the merciful God, / to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Saint Euboula, mother of Saint Panteleimon
Troparion — Tone 5
With joyous hymns let us fittingly praise Saint Euboula, / the mother of our protector, Panteleimon. / She has given birth to our defender and healer, / the glory of Martyrs and of Unmercenary Physicians, / and the swift healer of all.
Kontakion — Tone 3
Let us gather today and joyfully honor Saint Euboula, / the mother of our protector. / She stands with him before the throne of God, / interceding unceasingly for us, / that we may be granted the forgiveness of our sins.
Venerable John the Silent of Saint Savva Monastery
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 Zosimus, Bishop of Syracuse
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 Zosimus, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.