SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2017

16th  SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST:
SUNDAY BEFORE THE EXALTATION OF THE LIFE-GIVING CROSS 

On Thursday September 14/27 we will celebrate the Exaltation of the Honorable Cross

Two events in connection with the Honorable Cross of Christ are commemorated on this day: first, the finding of the Honorable Cross on Golgotha and second, the return of the Honorable Cross from Persia to Jerusalem. Visiting the Holy Land, the holy Empress Helena decided to find the Honorable Cross of Christ. An old Jewish man named Judah was the only one who knew where the Cross was located, and, constrained by the empress, he revealed that the Cross was buried under the temple of Venus that Emperor Hadrian had built on Golgotha. The empress ordered that this idolatrous temple be razed and, having dug deep below it, found three crosses. While the empress pondered on how to recognize which of these was the Cross of Christ, a funeral procession passed by. Patriarch Macarius told them to place the crosses, one by one, on the dead man. When they placed the first and second cross on the dead man, the dead man lay unchanged. When they placed the third cross on him, the dead man came back to life. By this they knew that this was the Precious and Life-giving Cross of Christ. They then placed the Cross on a sick woman, and she became well. The patriarch elevated the Cross for all the people to see, and the people sang with tears: ``Lord, have mercy!'' Empress Helena had a silver case made and set the Honorable Cross in it. Later, the Persian Emperor Chozroes conquered Jerusalem, enslaved many people, and took the Lord's Cross to Persia. The Cross remained in Persia for fourteen years. In the year 628 the Greek Emperor Heraclius defeated Chozroes and, with much ceremony, returned the Cross to Jerusalem. As he entered the city Emperor Heraclius carried the Cross on his back, but suddenly was unable to take another step. Patriarch Zacharias saw an angel preventing the emperor from bearing the Cross on the same path that the Lord had walked barefoot and humiliated. The patriarch communicated this vision to the emperor. The emperor removed his raiment and, in ragged attire and barefoot, took up the Cross, carried it to Golgotha, and placed it in the Church of the Resurrection, to the joy and consolation of the whole Christian world. 

The reading from the Second Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians (6: 1-10)

Brethren, we then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.  For He says, “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.”  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.  We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.  But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things

THE GOSPEL READING FROM John 3:13-17

No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

THE GOSPEL READING FROM ST. MATTHEW (25: 14-30)

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’  His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.’  He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’  His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.’  Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.’  But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” 

ЧИТАЊЕ ИЗ ДРУГЕ ПОСЛАНИЦЕ КОРИЋАНИМА СВЕТОГ АПОСТОЛА ПАВЛА (6, 1-10)

Браћо,молимо вас, пак, као помагачи да не примите узалуд благодат Божију Јер Он говори: У време најбоље послушах те, и у дан спасења помогох ти. Ево сад је време најбоље, ево сад је дан спасења! Никакво ни у чему не дајете спотицање, да се служба не куди; Него у свему покажите се као слуге Божије, у трпљењу многом, у невољама, у бедама, у теснотама, У ранама, у тамницама, у бунама, у трудовима, у неспавању, у посту, У чистоти, у разуму, у подношењу, у доброти, у Духу светом, у љубави истинитој, У речи истине, у сили Божјој, с оружјем правде и надесно и налево, Славом и срамотом, куђењем и похвалом, као варалице и истинити, Као незнани и познати, као они који умиру и ево смо живи, као накажени, а не уморени, Као жалосни, а који се једнако веселе, као сиромашни, а који многе обогаћавају, као они који ништа немају а све имају.

Читање светог Јеванђеља по Јовану 3, 13-17 

И нико се не попе на небо осим који сиђе с неба, Син човечији који је на небу. И као што Мојсије подиже змију у пустињи, тако треба Син човечији да се подигне. Да ниједан који Га верује не погине, него да има живот вечни: Јер Богу тако омиле свет да је и Сина свог Јединородног дао, да ниједан који Га верује не погине, него да има живот вечни. Јер Бог не посла Сина свог на свет да суди свету, него да се свет спасе кроза Њ.

Читање светог Јеванђеља по Матеју (25, 14-30)

Јер као што човек полазећи дозва слуге своје и предаде им благо своје; И једном, дакле, даде пет таланата, а другом два, а трећем један, сваком према његовој моћи; и отиде одмах. А онај што прими пет таланата отиде те ради с њима, и доби још пет таланата. Тако и онај што прими два доби и он још два. А који прими један отиде те га закопа у земљу и сакри сребро господара свог. А по дугом времену дође господар тих слуга, и стаде се рачунати с њима. И приступивши онај што је примио пет таланата, донесе још пет таланата говорећи: Господару! Предао си ми пет таланата; ево још пет таланата ја сам добио с њима. А господар његов рече му: Добро, слуго добри и верни! У малом био си ми веран, над многим ћу те поставити; уђи у радост господара свог. А приступивши и онај што је примио два таланта рече: Господару! Предао си ми два таланта; ево још два таланта ја сам добио с њима. А господар његов рече му: Добро, слуго добри и верни! У малом био си ми веран, над многим ћу те поставити; уђи у радост господара свог. А приступивши и онај што је примио један таланат рече: Господару! Знао сам да си ти тврд човек: жњеш где ниси сејао, и купиш где ниси вејао; Па се побојах и отидох те сакрих таланат твој у земљу; и ево ти своје. А господар његов одговарајући рече му: Зли и лењиви слуго! Знао си да ја жњем где нисам сејао, и купим где нисам вејао: Требало је дакле моје сребро да даш трговцима; и ја дошавши узео бих своје с добитком. Узмите дакле од њега таланат, и подајте оном што има десет таланата. Јер сваком који има, даће се, и претећи ће му; а од оног који нема, и шта има узеће се од њега. И неваљалог слугу баците у таму најкрајњу; онде ће бити плач и шкргут зуба.

TROPARION FOR THE RESURRECTION - TONE SEVEN:  By Thy Cross, Thou didst destroy death! To the thief, Thou didst open Paradise! For the myrrhbearers, Thou didst change weeping into joy! And Thou didst command Thy disciples, O Christ God, to proclaim that Thou art risen, granting the world great mercy!

 RESRRECTIONAL KONTAKION - TONE SEVEN:  The dominion of death can no longer hold man captive, for Christ descended, shattering and destroying its powers! Hell is bound, while the prophets rejoice and cry: The Savior has come to those in faith! Enter you faithful into the Resurrection.

NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS TROPARION - TONE FOUR:  Your nativity, O Virgin Theotokos, has proclaimed joy to the whole universe, for from you has shone forth the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God; by annulling the curse He has bestowed a blessing; by destroying death He has granted us eternal life.

NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS KONTAKION - TONE FOUR:  By your nativity, O most pure Virgin, Joachim and Anna are freed from the reproach of childlessness, Adam and Eve from the corruption of death, and we, your people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to you: ‘The barren woman gives birth to the Theotokos, the Nourisher of our life!’

HYMN TO THE THEOTOKOS (REPLACES "IT IS TRULY MEET"):  Virginity is foreign to mothers; childbearing is strange for virgins. But in you, O Theotokos, both were accomplished! For this, all the earthly nations unceasingly magnify you!