Third Sunday of Lent: The holy and life-giving cross.
The holy hieromartyrs, Basil, Ephrem, Capiton, Eugene, Etherius, Elpidus, Agathodorus,and Laurence, bishops of the Chersonese

For the holy cross

Troparion, Tone I
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance. * Give victory to those who battle evil, * and with your cross protect us all.

Kondakion, Tone IV
Bestow your mercies on all who bear your name, * O you, who freely let yourself be raised upon the cross. * In your power, gladden all who battle evil, * by gracing them with victory over every foe. * For as long as they have you as their ally, * they possess a weapon of peace, * unfailing trophy of victory.

Kondakion, Tone VII
The angel's fiery sword no longer guards the gate of paradise * for the cross of the Lord has put out its flame once and for all. * Death has lost its power and hades can no longer boast victory, * and you, O saviour, have stood among the dead, * inviting them to everlasting life in heaven above.

Exapostilarion, Tone II
Today, the precious cross of Christ is placed before us. * In worship let us fall before it and rejoice in faith. * With love let us greet him who freely gave his life thereon, * that he may find us worthy of adoring his passion and reaching the resurrection, * free of condemnation.

For Laurence

Troparion, Tone I
Today, let us earnestly extol Laurence as a courageous pastor of the Chersonese, * for he gave his life with his brother hierarchs in the perfection of virtue and faith. * For this, let us entreat him to use his influence with the Lord, * that by his prayers we may find mercy and salvation for our souls.

For all the hieromartyrs

Kondakion, Tone II
Today, the Chersonesus solemnly rejoices in this festival of her martyred hierarchs: * After bravely suffering to defend their flocks, * they gave their lives for Christ, the first among shepherds. * As we honor you today for your courage and devotion, O you martyred priests of the Lord, * pray, that in his kingdom, we, too, may stand at his right.

Blessed is the kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit both now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

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