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 Mary of Egypt
Troparion — Tone 8
In you, O Mother, was preserved with exactness what was according to the image; / for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. / By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away; / but to care for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore, O Venerable Mary, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.
Kontakion — Tone 3
Having been a sinful woman, / you became a Bride of Christ through repentance. / Having attained the angelic life, / you defeated demons by the weapon of the Cross; / therefore, O most glorious Mary you are a Bride of the Kingdom.
Venerable Euthymius of Suzdal
Troparion — Tone 3
Like a shining star, you came from the east to the west, / leaving your homeland, Nizhny Novgorod, and reaching the God-saved city of Suzdal, / you founded a monastery there and gathered many monks, / and received the gift of working miracles from God, / O Father Euthymios, you were of one mind with Christ and an ascetic equal to the Venerable Sergius. / With him, entreat Christ God to grant us health, salvation, and great mercy to our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Passing dry through many storms, / you drowned your bodiless enemies with the streams of your tears, O divinely wise Euthymios, / therefore, you received the gift of miracles, / pray unceasingly for all of us.
Martyr Abraham of Bulgaria
Troparion — Tone 3
Your holy martyr Abraham, O Lord, / through his suffering has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God. / For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through his intercessions, save our souls!
Kontakion — Tone 2
(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)
You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance, / which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Abraham; / extinguishing the allure of false gods, / you enlighten the faithful, / always interceding for us all.
Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch of the Kiev Far 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 father Gerontius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
Venerable Makarios, Igoumen of Pelēketḗ
Troparion — Tone 4
You imitated the zeal of Elias the Tishbite, / and the characteristics of the Baptist; / and with inspired words, O Father Makarios, / you rebuked the impious Emperors, strengthening the faithful in piety. / Therefore, having been tested by your afflictions, you went gloriously to God.
Kontakion — Tone 3
(Podoben: “Today the Virgin...”)
Today the most revered memory of Makarios is celebrated joyously, / for he struggled much and was exiled for the Church of Christ; / for behold, the venerable icons are adorned; / therefore, we cry out: / “Rejoice, Godly-minded one, the foundation of piety.”
Martyrs Gerontius and Basilides
Troparion — Tone 4
Your holy martyrs Gerontius and Basilides, 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!
Saint John Shavteli, Bishop of Gaenati and Saint Eulogius, Prophet and Fool-for-Christ of Salosi
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 John, / entreat Christ our God / that our souls may be saved.
Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina
Troparion — Tone 8
In you, O Father, was preserved with exactness what was according to the image; / for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. / By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away; / but to care for the soul, since it is immortal. / Therefore, O Venerable Barsanouphios, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.
Kontakion — Tone 2
(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”)
Having divinely armed yourself with purity of soul / and firmly grasping unceasing prayer as a spear, you slew the hordes of demons. / Therefore, we beseech you, O Father Barsanouphios: / “Always intercede for those who honor you.”