Elevation of the Holy Cross

September 14

14. ΤΙΜΙΟΣ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΣ (17)Today we celebrate the Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. On this day in the year 326AD, the Holy Patriarch Macarius, along with the Holy Empress Helen the Equal to the Apostles, raised up the newly found Cross of Christ, chanting “Lord, have mercy” while piously venerating the holy wood.

Ἀπολυτίκιον
Ἦχος α’.
Σῶσον Κύριε τὸν λαόν σου καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοῖς Βασιλεῦσι κατὰ βαρβάρων δωρούμενος καὶ τὸ σὸν φυλάττων διὰ τοῦ Σταυροῦ σου πολίτευμα.

Κοντάκιον
Ἦχος δ’. Αὐτόμελον.
Ὁ ὑψωθεὶς ἐν τῷ Σταυρῷ ἑκουσίως, τῇ ἐπωνύμῳ σου καινὴ πολιτεία, τοὺς οἰκτιρμούς σου δώρησαι, Χριστὲ ὁ Θεός, Εὔφρανον ἐν τῇ δυνάμει σου, τοὺς πιστοὺς Βασιλεῖς ἡμῶν, νίκας χορηγῶν αὐτοῖς, κατὰ τῶν πολεμίων, τὴν συμμαχίαν ἔχοιεν τὴν σήν, ὅπλον εἰρήνης, ἀήττητον τρόπαιον.

Troparion — Tone 1
O Lord, save Your people, and bless Your inheritance, granting to all nations, victory over their adversaries. And by power of Your Cross, preserve Your estate.

Kontakion — Tone 4
As You were voluntarily raised upon the cross for our sake, / Grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God; / Make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, / Granting them victories over their adversaries, / By bestowing on them the Invincible trophy, Your weapon of Peace.

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