At the Aposticha. Tone 6.

Your endured blows and crucifixion and shame, long-suffering Lord, wishing to redeem all from the hand of the deceiver, O only giver of life, all-compassionate and lover of mankind.

Exalt the Lord our God, and fall down before his footstool, for he is holy.

I honour your Cross, loving Saviour, the nails and the lance, through which you have redeemed all from corruption as alone giver of life and benefactor of all, only lover of mankind and our Saviour.

God is our king; he has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

Nailed to a cross for me, my Saviour and Redeemer, supremely good, you were struck and reviled, given vinegar to drink and pierced by a lance; and you bear them all, O only sinless One.

**Tone 8. By Vyzantios.**

Let every tongue be stirred to the praise of all-glorious Efphemia, every race and every age, young men and virgins, let us crown with praises the Virgin Martyr of Christ; for like a professional she fought and, casting off her woman’s frailty, through athlete’s toils she cast down the tyrannous foe; while adorned with heavenly and divine strength she asks her bridegroom and God to bestow on us his great mercy.

**Same Tone.**

Your precious Cross, Christ God, which Moses prefigured in himself of old, when he cast down and routed Amalek; and David the singer cried out to you and ordered your footstool to be worshipped: to-day we sinners with unworthy lips worshipping you, who deigned be fixed upon it, and praising you we beg with the Thief: Lord, make us worthy of your kingdom!

Apolytikion of the Saint. Tone 4.

O Jesu, your lamb cries aloud: O my Bridegroom, I long for you; and seeking you I struggle, and I am crucified and buried with you in your baptism; and I suffer for your sake, that I may reign with you; and I die for You, that I may live in you; but as a spotless victim now accept one who with longing is slain for you. Through her prayers, as you are merciful, save our souls!

Of the Feast.

Lord, save your people, and bless your inheritance; granting to faithful Christians victories over their enemies; and protecting your commonwealth by your Cross.

Let us worship the place where the feet of Christ have stood as we lift high the thrice blessed Cross, on which the Master’s blood was emptied out, pouring forth resurrection for the world.

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool, for he is holy.

Having put to death the passions of flesh and spirit, let us be eager to be lifted up from earth to a part in heaven by the exaltation of Cross, having being crucified with the Master Christ.

God is our King for ever; he has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

A source owing with life clearly gushed from the Saviour’s side, watering the souls of those who in faith worship his divine passion, and his Cross and Resurrection.

**Tone 1. By Vyzantios.**

Today choirs of Fathers, assembled, All-praised, for the sake of Christ, bring you the volume of the orthodox faith; which you took in your honoured hands and guard to the end. Therefore we choirs of mortals have come together and honour your struggle as we devoutly cry aloud: Hail, all-praised, who guarded unharmed the orthodox faith handed down by the Fathers; hail, who intercede on behalf of our souls.

Both now. Of the Feast. Same Tone.

By Andrew of Jerusalem.

Today truly the holy utterance of David has reached its term; for see, we manifestly worship the footstool of your immaculate feet.; and hoping in the shadow of your wings, O all-compassionate, we cry aloud to you: Let the light of your face be signed upon us, and exalt the horn of orthodox Christians by the exaltation of your precious Cross, O Christ most merciful.