Sunday Readings

Apostolic Reading –  Ephesians 2:14-22

Gospel –  Luke 12:16-22

Troparion of the resurrection (Tone 7)

You destroyed Death by Your cross. You opened paradise to the thief. You changed the weeping of the myrrhbearers, and commanded Your apostles to proclaim that You, O Christ God, have risen, granting to the world great mercy.

Troparion of the Presentation (Tone 4)

Today is the prelude of the benevolence of God, and the announcement of the salvation of men. In the Temple of God the Virgin is seen openly, foretelling to all the coming of Christ. Wherefore let us cry to her in a loud voice, "Hail! O fulfillment of the Creator's plan!"

Troparion of the Holy Cross (Tone 1)

O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance, granting peace to the world. And preserve your community by the power of your Cross.

Kondakion of the Presentation of our Lady to the Temple (Tone 4)

The most pure Temple of our Holy Savior, and the most precious and bright bridal chamber, the Virgin, sacred treasury of the glory of God, openly appears today into the temple of the Lord, bringing with her the grace of the most Holy Spirit. Wherefore the angels of God are singing: “This is the heavenly tabernacle!”

Prokimenon

The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

Stichon

Give to the Lord, you Sons of God, give to the Lord glory and praise.

Reading from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians (2:14-22)

Brethren, Christ is our peace. He it is who has made both [Jews and Gentiles] one, and has broken down the intervening wall of the enclosure, the enemy, in his flesh. He has voided the Law of commandments expressed in decrees, so that of the two he might create in himself one new man, and make peace, and reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, having destroyed their enmity within himself. And as he came, he announced the good tidings of peace to you who were far away, and of peace to those who were near: because through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Therefore, you are now no longer strangers or foreigners, but citizens with the saints and members of God’s household: you are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Cf.Is.28: 16) with Christ himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole structure is closely fitted together and grows into a temple holy in the Lord; in him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.

Alleluia

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High!

Stichon

To proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night.

The Holy Gospel According to St. Luke the Evangelist (12:16-22).

The Lord told this parable: “The land of a certain rich man brought forth abundant crops. And he began to consider, saying, ‘What shall I do, for I have no room to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many good things laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this very night, you must give up your life; and the things you have provided, whose will they be?’ So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich as regards God.” After he had said this, he cried out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”