Sunday September 23, 2018 / September 10, 2018

17th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone eight.

Sunday before the Universal Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord
Synaxis of All Saints of Altai (movable holiday on the Sunday after September 7th).
Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora at Nicomedia (305).
New Hieromartyrs Ismail, Eugine, John, Constantine, Peter, Basil, Gleb, Basil, John, Nicholas, Palladius priests, Hieromartyrs Meletius and Gabriel, Martyr Symeon, Virgin-Martyr Tatiana (1937).
New Hieromartyr Warus bishop of Lipetsk (1938).
Venerable Paul the Obedient of the Kiev Caves (13th c.).
Venerable Prince Andrew, in monasticism Joasaph, of Kubensk, Vologda (1453).
Synaxis of the Holy Apostles Apelles, Lucius, and Clement of the Seventy..
Martyr Barypsabas in Dalmatia (2nd c.).
Blessed Pulcheria, the Empress of Greece (453).
Sts. Peter (826) and Paul (9th c.), bishops of Nicaea.
Synaxis of All Saints of Lipetsk.
Venerable Cassian, abbot of Spaso-Kamenny and St. Cyril of White Lake Monasteries (1469).
St. Salvius, bishop of Albi (584) (Gaul).
Venerable Finian of Ulster (Ireland), abbot (579) (Celtic & British).
St. Theodaard of Maastricht (668) (Neth.).
Translation of the relics of St. Egvin, bishop of Worchester.
Translation of the relics of St. Ethelwold, bishop of Winchester.

The Scripture Readings

Luke 24:36-53 (6th Matins Gospel)
2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1
Matthew 15:21-28
Galatians 6:11-18 Sunday before the Universal Elevation
John 3:13-17 Sunday before the Universal Elevation

Troparion

Troparion of the Sunday, Tone VIII —
Thou didst descend from on high, O Merciful One! / Thou didst accept the three-day burial to free us from our sufferings! / O Lord, our Life and Resurrection: glory to Thee!

Hymn to the Theotokos, Tone VIII —
For our sake Thou wast born of the Virgin / and did endure crucifixion, O Good One, / destroying death by death. / Revealing the resurrection as God, / do not despise the work of Thy hand. / Reveal Thy love for man, O merciful One, / and accept the Theotokos praying for us, / and save Thy despairing people, O Savior.

Kontakion of the Sunday, Tone VIII —
By rising from the tomb, Thou didst raise the dead and resurrect Adam. / Eve exults in Thy Resurrection, / and the world celebrates Thy rising from the dead, O greatly Merciful One!

Holy Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora, Troparion in Tone IV —
In their sufferings, O Lord, / Thy martyrs received imperishable crowns from Thee our God; / for, possessed of Thy might, / they set at nought the tormentors and crushed the feeble audacity of the demons.// By their supplications save Thou our souls.

Kontakion of the martyrs in Tone IV "Having been lifted up" —
Clad as sisters in the Spirit, / ye who contended with endurance for the Trinity/ have vanquished the greatly cunning enemy; / wherefore, ye have made your abode with the five virgins in the heavenly bridal chamber, O passion-bearers,// and with the angels ye stand in unceasing gladness before the King of all.