Finding of the Cross
Introit – Galatians 6: 14
It behooves us to glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: in Whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection: by Whom we are saved and delivered, (P.T. Alleluia, alleluia.) (Ps. 66: 2) May God have mercy on us and bless us: May He cause the light of His countenance to shine upon us, and may He have mercy on us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. It behooves us to glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: in Whom is our salvation, life, and resurrection: by Whom we are saved and delivered, (P.T. Alleluia, alleluia.)
Collect
God, Who, in the glorious finding of the cross of our salvation, didst renew the miracles of Thy passion, grant that, by the price of that lifegiving wood, we may obtain the privilege of eternal life. Who lives and reigns with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
(During Eastertide, the following commemoration is made.)
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that, venerating the natal feast of Thy saints, Alexander, Eventius, Theodulus, and Juvenal, we may, by their intercessions, be delivered from all the evils that threaten us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
Epistle Philippians 2: 5-11
Brethren, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself as nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which
is above all names: (Here all kneel down.) that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
(During Eastertide, the Gradual and Lesser Alleluia are replaced by the Greater Alleluia.)
Gradual
Christ became obedient for us unto death: even the death of the cross. For which cause also God hath exalted Him and hath given Him a name which is above all names.
Lesser Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia. Sweet the wood, sweet the nails, sweet the load that hangs thereon: to bear up the King and Lord of Heaven naught was worthy save thou, O holy cross. Alleluia.
Greater Alleluia Ps. 95: 10
Alleluia, alleluia. Say ye among the gentiles, that the Lord hath reigned from the wood. Alleluia. Sweet the wood, Sweet the nails, sweet the load that hangs thereon, to bear up the King and Lord of Heaven, no tree was worthy, save thou, O holy cross. Alleluia.
Gospel – John 3: 1-15
At that time There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night; and said to Him Rabbi, we know that Thou art come, a teacher from God; for no man can do these signs which Thou dost, unless God be with him. Jesus answered and said to him; Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born again, when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born again? Jesus answered, Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he can not enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit, is spirit. Wonder not that I said to thee, You must be born again. The Spirit breatheth where He will; and thou hearest His voice, but thou knowest not whence He cometh, nor whither He goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said to Him, How can these things be done? Jesus answered, and said to him, Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things? Amen, amen, I say to thee, that we speak what we know, and we testify what we have seen, and you receive not our testimony. If I have spoken to you earthly things, and you believe not; how will you believe if I shall speak to you heavenly things? And no man hath ascended into Heaven, but He that descended from Heaven, the Son of man Who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish but may have life everlasting.
Offertory Psalms 117: 16, 17
The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength, the right hand of the Lord hath exalted me: I shall not die, but live, and shall declare the works of the Lord, (P.T. Alleluia.)
Secret
Look with favor, O Lord, upon the sacrifice which we immolate to Thee, that it may preserve us from the horrors of war and, through the banner of the holy cross of Thy Son, may establish us in the security of Thy protection, to trample under foot the snares of the enemy’s power. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
(During Eastertide, the following commemoration is made.)
Let plenteous benediction, we beseech Thee, O Lord, descend upon these sacrifices, both to work Thy merciful sanctification in us and to bring us joy in the solemnity of Thy saints. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
Preface of the Holy Cross
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God: Who didst establish the salvation of mankind on the tree of the Cross: that whence death came, thence also life might arise again, and that he, who overcame by the tree, by the tree also might be overcome: Through Christ our Lord. Through Whom the Angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, the Powers stand in awe. The Heavens and the Heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. With whom, we pray Thee, command that our voices of supplication also be admitted in confessing Thee saying:
Communion
By the sign of the cross, deliver us from our enemies, O Thou our God, (P.T. Alleluia.)
Postcommunion
Filled with heavenly food, and refreshed with the spiritual cup, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that Thou defend us from the. malice of the enemy, as Thou hast bidden us triumph by the wood of the holy cross, the armor of justice for the salvation of the world. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
(During Eastertide, the following commemoration is made.)
Refreshed by partaking of Thy sacred gift, we pray, Thee, O Lord, our God, that by the intercessions of Thy saints Alexander, Eventius, Theodulus, and Juvenal, we may experience the effect of that to which we pay our worship. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.