Sunday Readings

Apostolic Reading –  2 Timothy 2:1-10

Gospel –  Luke 8:27-39

Troparion of the resurrection (Tone 3)

Let all in heaven rejoice and all on earth be glad, for the Lord has exerted power with His arm: By death He has trampled upon Death and has become the firstborn from the dead. He has delivered us from the bosom of Hades and has granted to the world great mercy.

Troparion of Demetrios (Tone 3)

O victorious Demetrios, you were given to the world as a powerful protector against dangers and invincible soldier of Christ. As you inspired Nestor to overcome the pride of Lyaios, so intercede with Christ God that He may grant us His great mercy.

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 (Tone 2)

O never failing Protectress of Christians and their ever-present intercessor before the Creator, despise not the petitions of us sinners, but in your goodness extend your help to us who call upon you with confidence. Hasten, O Mother of God, to intercede for us, for you have always protected those who honor you.

Prokimenon

The just shall rejoice in the Lord and place his hope in him. All those with an upright heart shall be praised.

Stichon

O God, hear my voice when I pray to you; save my life from the dreadful enemy.

Reading from the Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Timothy (2:1-10)

My son Timothy, be strengthened in the grace which is in Christ Jesus; and the things you have heard from me through many witnesses, commend to trustworthy men who shall be competent in turn to teach others. Conduct yourself in work as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one serving as God's soldier entangles himself in worldly affairs, so that he may please the one whose approval he has obtained. And again, one who enters a contest is not crowned unless he has competed according to the rules. The farmer who toils must be the first to partake of the fruit. Take in what I tell you, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and was a descendant of David; this is my Good News in which I suffer even to the point of being chained as a criminal. But God's word is not bound. This is why I bear all things for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory.

Alleluia (Tone 4)

The just shall bloom like the palm tree; he shall grow like the cedar of Lebanon.

Stichon

Those who are planted in the Lord's house shall flourish in the courts of our God.

The Holy Gospel According to St. Luke the Evangelist (8:27-39)

At that time when Jesus came to the country of the Gerasenes there met Him a certain man who for a long time was possessed by a devil, and wore no clothes, and lived in the tombs, not in a house. And when he saw Jesus, he fell down before Him, and crying out with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Son of the most high God? I pray Thee, do not torment me.” For he was charging the unclean spirit to go forth from the man. For many times it had laid hold of him; and he was bound with chains and fetters, and kept under guard, but he would break the bonds asunder, and be driven by the devil into the deserts. And Jesus asked him, saying, “What is thy name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many devils had entered into him. And they entreated Him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was there, feeding on the mountainside. And they kept entreating Him to give them leave to enter into them. And He gave them leave. And the devils came out from the man and entered into the swine; and the herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and were drowned. And when the swineherds saw what had happened, they fled and reported it in the town and in the country; and people came out to see what had happened. And they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the devils had gone out sitting at His feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those also who had seen it reported to them how he had been saved from Legion. And all the people of the Gerasene district besought Him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear. And He got into a boat and went back. But the man from whom the devils had gone out prayed Him that he might remain with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to thy house, and tell all that God has done for thee.” And he departed, proclaiming throughout the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.