Author: Irina Vysokovskaya
Date of publication: 04/02/2016
When starting a feat and finishing it, we are usually inspired. At first - with the consciousness of the strength within oneself, still fresh and untested, and finally - with the hope of an imminent and successful ending. But the middle of the field is often a dangerous stumbling block for us. Thus, the Church, never leaving her children without consolation and encouragement, among the labors of Great Lent, with which those who fast and repentant must crucify their flesh with passions and lusts, from the third week of Lent begins to especially encourage and strengthen those who strive. Especially for the consolation and encouragement of the repentant during the Lent, the Church points in the third Sunday of Great Lent to the Life-giving Cross of the Lord.
"Midnight" (half) of Lent: The Cross
The third Sunday of Great Lent is called the Worship of the Cross. During the all-night vigil of this day, after the Great Doxology, while singing “Holy God...” The cross, decorated with green flowers, signs of life, is brought out among the believers to worship and kiss it. When venerating the Cross and kissing it, the Church exalts:
“We bow to Your Cross, Master, and we glorify Your Holy Resurrection”.
Choir of the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra
The Cross is spoken of in all the hymns of this Sunday, but it is not about suffering on the Cross, but about victory and joy. Moreover, the irmos of the second Sunday Canon are taken from the Easter service: “Resurrection Day” and all of it is, as it were, a paraphrase of the Easter Canon.
The meaning of all this is clear. We have reached the middle of Lent. On the one hand, a physical and spiritual feat, if it is serious and consistent, begins to take its toll and one feels tired. We need help and encouragement. On the other hand, having endured this fatigue, having climbed half the mountain, we begin to see the end of our pilgrimage, and the radiance of the Easter light becomes brighter. Great Lent is a time of our self-crucifixion, an experience, albeit limited, of Christ’s call, which we hear in the Gospel reading for this day: “... If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8) :34). But we cannot accept our cross and follow Christ if we do not accept His cross, which He took for our salvation. It is His cross that saves us, not ours. Only His cross imparts not only meaning, but also power to our crosses.
Stichera on “The Lord cried...” Rejoice, life-giving Cross, invincible victory of piety, the door of heaven, the affirmation of the faithful, the fence of the Church, in which aphids were ruined and abolished, and the mortal power was trampled underfoot, and let us ascend from earth to heaven, invincible weapon, resisting demons, glory martyrs, such as truly fertilizer, a haven of salvation, granting great mercy to the world.
Choir of STSL and MDAiS
The meaning of the Cross of Christ for those who labor in fasting is explained by the Church in liturgical hymns in many different images and similarities. Like a “hay-leafed” tree (providing thick shade from its leaves) that brings coolness and rest to a weary traveler, the Cross of Christ, among the feats of fasting, provides believers with coolness and encouragement to complete their work. The Cross of Christ, as a sign of victory over death, prepares us for the joyful glorification of the Conqueror of hell and death. The Cross of Christ is compared to the tree that sweetened the bitter waters of Marah, and to the tree of life planted in the midst of paradise (Synaxarion 3 Weeks).
In addition to the glorification of the Holy Cross, on which the Lord “humbled Himself even to death” (Phil. 2:8), the service exposes the Pharisees’ pride, condemned by God, and praises the publican’s humility, so that, while going through the field of fasting, one would not be exalted like the Pharisees, “not like other men.” ": To the lofty wisdom of the evil Pharisees, the Lord taught all by a parable to escape from this, and not to become arrogant any more than one should be wise, to punish everyone, the prescription and the image He Himself was, even before the crucifixion and death terti, having poured it out to Himself. Thanking you with the publican’s mouth: He who suffered for us and remained passionless, God, deliver us from passions and save our souls.
The Church recalls the feat of fasting as a preparation for Holy Week and imitation of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. At Matins, a hymn is sung, belonging to the Venerable Roman the Sweet Singer and telling about the descent of Christ into hell: Ikos: Pilate set up three crosses on Calvary, two thieves, and one Life-Giver. He can see hell, and he will say to those who exist: O my servants and my strength! Who, having planted a nail in my heart, suddenly pierced me with a wooden spear? And I am torn to pieces, I hurt with my inner beings, I am wounded in my belly, my feelings confuse my spirit, and I am forced to vomit out Adam, and those who are from Adam, the tree given to me: for this tree brings the packs into paradise . Pilate erected three crosses on Calvary - two for the thieves and one for the Giver of life, Whom hell saw and said to those below: “My servants and my strength! Who drove the nail into my heart? A wooden spear pierced me suddenly, and I am tormented. My insides hurt, my belly and my feelings suffer; my spirit is confused, and I am forced to cast out Adam and those descended from Adam, who were given to me by the tree; for the tree leads them again into paradise
Akathist and prayer to the Honest Life-Giving Cross of the Lord
PRAYER TO THE LIFE-GIVING CROSS
Marvelous with its miraculous power, the four-pointed and three-part Cross of Christ is spread out into the dust at Your foot, I bow to You, the honorable Tree, which drives away all demonic shooting and frees you from all troubles, sorrows and misfortunes. For You are the Tree of Life, For You are the purification of the air, the consecration of the Holy Temple, the fencing of the dwelling, the guarding of my bed, the enlightenment of my mind, heart and all my feelings. Your holy sign has protected me from the day of my birth, enlightened me from the day of my baptism; it is with me and upon me all the days of my life, on dry land and on the waters; it will accompany me to the grave, and will overshadow my ashes; For it, the holy sign of the miraculous Cross of the Lord, will announce to the whole universe about the hour of the general resurrection of the dead and the last terrible and righteous judgment of God.
About the Cross, O All-Honorable One, by Your shadow, teach, teach and bless me, unworthy, who always undoubtedly believes in Your invincible power, protect me from every enemy and adversary, heal all my mental and physical ailments.
Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God! By the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross, have mercy and save me, a sinner. Amen.
Troparion to the Cross, chapter 4.
Save, O Lord, Thy people and bless Thy inheritance, granting victories to Orthodox Christians against resistance and preserving Thy residence through Thy Cross.
Kontakion, ch. 4.
Having ascended to the Cross by Will, Your namesake new residence of Your bounty, bestowing, O Christ God, made us glad with Your power, giving us victories as adversaries, an aid to those who have Your weapon of peace, an invincible victory.
Greatness
We magnify You, Life-Giving Christ, and honor Your Holy Cross, with which You saved us from the work of the enemy.
September 17/30: post-celebration of the Exaltation of the Cross, mcc. Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia
Troparion to the Venerable Cross, tone 1:
Save, O Lord, Thy people,/ and bless Thy inheritance,/ granting victories against the enemy,// and preserving Thy life through Thy Cross.
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Troparion to the honest and 3 life-giving church, voice No.:
Save2 your people,/ and3 bless2 your dignity,/ victory in the resistance against the gift,// and3 yours will preserve your1st residence.
Troparion to the Holy Martyr Elizabeth, tone 1:
By humility you hid your princely dignity, / God-wise Elisaveto, / through the deep service of Martha and Mary, / you honored Christ. / Having purified yourself with mercy, patience and love, / as if you offered a righteous sacrifice to God. / We, who honor your virtuous life and suffering, / as a true mentor, we earnestly ask you: / Holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth, // pray to Christ God to save and enlighten our souls.
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Troparion of the Holy Martyr E#3lisavete, voice no.:
Let us humble the dignity of the princely abbreviation, / by Gomydraz є3lisaveto, / by the deep service of Marfa and 3 Marji / Khrta almost 1la є3si2. / mercy, patience and3 self-love, / ћkw sacrifice of righteousness was brought by є3с2. / mh, honor the virtuous life and3 suffering of yours, / ћкw and4 true mentor ўserdnw ўserdnw pm tS: / ™az m§nce great book є3lisaveto, // pray2 xrta bGa sp7sti2 and3 enlightenment1 these are our souls.
Troparion mcc. Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, voice 4:
The Church of the firstborn triumphs,/ and the mother rejoicing over her children will rejoice,/ even as the wisdom of the same name/ with the triple theological virtue of equal generations./ You I and the wise virgins behold the ignorant Bridegroom God’s Word,/ with her we also rejoice spiritually in their memory, saying:/ Trinity champions,/Faith, Love and Hope,//affirm us in faith, love and hope.
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Troparion with ™hz m§nitsa sophia, and 3 three є3S daughters: faith, hope and 3 love, voice d:
The church of the first-born triumphs, / and the joyful reception of the mother of the joyful children, / also, the wisdom of the same name, / the spiritual and divine virtue of the equal race. / thz with the wise wives behold the bridegroom to the word. / with her and3 we2 spirit0vne in memory and5x cheerful1msz, verb0ly: / trbtsy champions, / faith, love and3 hope, // in faith, love2 and3 hope confirm us.
Kontakion to the Venerable Martyr Elizabeth, tone 2:
Who tells the story of the greatness of the feat of faith: / in the depths of the earth, as in heaven of lordship, / the passion-bearer Grand Duchess Elizabeth / with the angels rejoicing in psalms and songs / and enduring murder , about the godless tormentors you cry: / Lord, forgive them this sin, / not They know what they are doing. / Through your prayers, O Christ God, // have mercy and save our souls.
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Kontakion of the venerable disciple E#3lisavete, voice v7:
The great advance of faith who2 story: / in the depths of the earth2, ћкw in heaven2 lordship, / the passion-bearer of the great prince є3lisaveta / with ѓгГлы in balance and 3 singing joyful z / and3, ўbіenіe I endure cabbage soup, you cry out to the godless tormentors: / gdi, forgive this sin, / not You know what2 is doing. / ToS mltvami, xrte b9e, // have mercy and3 sp7si2 our souls.
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit:
Kontakion mcc. Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, voice 1:
Honest Sophia of the most sacred branches, / Faith and Hope and Love, appearing, / wisdom enshrouded by Hellenic grace, / both the sufferer and the victorious one appeared, / an incorruptible crown // from all Vlada The kin of Christ got stuck.
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Kontakion with ™hz m§nitsa sophia, and 3 three є3S daughters: faith, hope and 3 love, voice No.:
Sophie is honest, the most sacred in you, / faith, and 3 hope, and 3 love, shown, / the wisdom of God and the 4th blessing of the Lord: / and 3 those who suffered, and 3 the victorious women kwi1vshesz, / a crown incorruptible // t of all in L ki xrta ўвzз0шасz.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion to the Honorable Cross, tone 4:
Ascend to the Cross by your will,/ to Your namesake new residence/ grant Your bounty, O Christ God,/ make us glad with Your power,/ giving us victories for our peers,/ benefit to those who have Yours ́ weapon of the world, // invincible victory.
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Kontakion to the honest and 3 life-giving krtY, voice d7:
Ascend to your will/ your name for your new residence/ your bounty, grant to God:/ make us glad with your strength,/ give us victory for our companions,/ help your other world to the powerful, // invincible victory.
Prokeimenon to the Cross of the Lord, tone 7:
Lift up the Lord our God,/ and worship His footstool, for He is holy.
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Prokjmen krtY gDnyu, voice з7:
Raise up our god,/and3 bow down to the foot of nHgu є3гw2, ћкw є4st. Stjkh: GD votsRi1sz, let people be angry.
Zadostoynik for the Exaltation of the Cross:
Magnify, my soul,/ the most honorable Cross of the Lord. Mystery art thou, O Mother of God, paradise, / who grew Christ uncultivated, / Through whom the life-giving cross of the cross was planted on the earth. / By this I now exalt, / who worship Him, / / We magnify Thee.
Destiny for the promotion of honesty and 3 life-giving crtA:
Great, my dear soul,/ the most honorable day. Mystery є3сi2, btsde, paradise,/ uncultivated grown-up hrta,/ and also the godfather of life-giving on the earth2 planted a tree./ darkly we exalt,/ worshipingz є3mY// we magnify.
Participated in the Cross:
The light of Your face appears upon us, O Lord.
Involved in the city:
The banner is upon us, the light of your face is upon us.
Hallelujah. (Thrice)
Hallilya, three times.
Author: Administrator
Date of publication: 09/28/2019
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Prayer three
Most honorable and life-giving Cross of the Lord! In ancient times you were a shameful instrument of execution, but now you are a sign of our salvation, ever revered and glorified! How worthily can I, the unworthy, sing to You and how dare I bend the knees of my heart before my Redeemer, confessing my sins! But the mercy and ineffable love for mankind of the humble Boldness crucified upon you gives me, so that I may open my mouth to glorify You; For this reason I cry to Ti: Rejoice, Cross, the Church of Christ is the beauty and foundation, the whole universe is the affirmation, all Christians are the hope, kings are the power, the faithful are refuge, Angels are glory and praise, demons are fear, destruction and driving away, the wicked and infidels - shame, the righteous - delight, the burdened - weakness, the overwhelmed - refuge, the lost - a mentor, those possessed by passions - repentance, the poor - enrichment, those floating - the helmsman, the weak - strength, in battle - victory and conquest, the orphans - faithful protection, widows - intercessor, virgins - protection of chastity, hopeless - hope, sick - a doctor and the dead - resurrection! You, typified by the miracle-working rod of Moses, are a life-giving source, watering those thirsty for spiritual life and delighting our sorrows; You are the bed on which the Risen Conqueror of Hell rested royally for three days. For this reason, morning, evening, and noon, I glorify Thee, blessed Tree, and I pray by the will of the One who has been crucified on Thee, may He enlighten and strengthen my mind with Thee, may He open in my heart a source of more perfect love and all my deeds and paths, mine through Thee. will overshadow, so that I may magnify Him who is Nailed to You, for my sin, the Lord my Savior. Amen.
