Sunday Readings

Apostolic Reading – 1 Cor 16:13-24

Gospel – Mt 21:33-42

Hymns: See our Church’s website for Audio Recordings: holycrossmelkite.org/hymns

 

Troparion of the Resurrection (Tone 4)

The women disciples of the Lord, having learned from the angel the joyful announcement of the resurrection, and having rejected the ancestral sentence, proudly told the apostles: Death is despoiled. Christ God is risen, bestowing to the world great mercy.”

Troparion of the Dormition (Tone 1)

In giving birth you have preserved your virginity and in falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Mother of God. You have passed to life being the Mother of Life. Through your intercession, save our souls from death

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 Dormition (Tone 2)

Neither death nor the tomb could hold the Mother of God, our watchful Protectress and our unfailing hope. Since she is the Mother of Life. Christ who dwelt in her ever-virginal womb lifted her up to the eternal life

 

Prokimenon

How great are your works, O Lord!

in wisdom you have wrought them all.

Stichon

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

You are very great indeed, O Lord my God!

 

Reading from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians (16:13-24)

Brethren, watch, stand fast in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let everything you do he done out of love. Now, I beg you, brethren: you know that the members of Stephanas’ family are the first-fruits of Achaia and have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. To such as these, you too become subject, and to every helper and worker. I rejoice at the presence of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because what was lacking on your part they have supplied — for they have refreshed both my spirit and yours. To such as these, therefore, give recognition. The churches of Asia greet you. Acuila and Priscilla with the church at their house greet you heartily in the Lord. All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

I, Paul, greet you with my own hand. If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him he accursed. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. My love is with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

Alleluia (Tone 4)

String your bow, go forth, reign for the sake of truth, meekness and righteousness and your right hand shall lead you wonderfully.

Stichon

You loved righteousness and hated iniquity: therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of joy above your companions.

 

The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew the Evangelist (21:33-42)

The Lord told this parable: “There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard, and put a hedge around it, and dug a wine vat in it, and built a tower; then he leased it to the vine-dressers, and went abroad. But when the fruit season drew near, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his fruits. And the vine-dressers seized his servants, and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent another party of servants more numerous than the first; and they did the same to these. Finally, he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But the vine-dressers, on seeing the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and we shall have his inheritance.’ So they seized him, cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When, therefore, the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?” They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men, and will lease the vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The Stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone; by the Lord this has been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes.’”