Brethren: Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterward be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

¶17

Brethren: Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¶18

Brethren: We speak wisdom among those who are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, who come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for those who love Him.

¶19

Alleluia, in Tone I—

¶20

Alleluia, in Tone IV—

¶21

Alleluia, in Tone V—

¶22

Stichos: With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication.

¶23

Stichos: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and He delivered them out of all their tribulations.

¶24

Stichos: Of Thy mercies, O Lord, will I sing forever. Unto generation and generation will I declare Thy truth with my mouth.

¶25

Stichos: And He brought me up out of the pit of misery, and from the mire of clay.

¶26

Stichos: Many are the tribulations of the righteous, and the Lord shall deliver them out of them all.

¶27

Stichos: for Thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up forever. In the heavens shall Thy truth be established.

¶28

Gospel according to Luke, § 33

¶29

Gospel according to John, § 52

¶30

Gospel according to Matthew, § 39

¶31

At that time, one of the Pharisees desired Jesus that He would eat with him. And He went down into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had bidden Him saw it, he spake within himself, saying: "This man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is who toucheth Him; for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said unto him: "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee." And he said: "Master, say on." "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most?" Simon answered and said: "I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most." And He said unto him: "Thou hast rightly judged." And He turned to the woman, and said unto Simon: "Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house; thou gavest Me no water for My feet: but she hath washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. Thou gavest Me no kiss: but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." And He said unto her: "Thy sins are forgiven." And those who sat at meat with Him began to say within themselves: "Who is this that forgiveth sins also?" And He said to the woman: "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

(Jn. 15: 17-16: 2)

[Mt. 10: 37-11: 1]

Communion Verse—

The Lord said to His disciples: “These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you: The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him Who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth Me hateth My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law: They hated Me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, Who proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

¶36

The Lord said: “He who loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he who loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me. He who findeth his life shall lose it: and he who loseth his life for My sake shall find it. He who receiveth you receiveth Me, and he who receiveth Me receiveth Him Who sent Me. He who receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he who receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding His twelve disciples, He departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

¶37

In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.

¶38

Communion Verse—

¶39

The epistle and Gospel scheduled for this Saturday are also read, as is any prescribed for the saint of the day.

¶40

Author's note .: The stichera idiomela of this service are inspired by stichera composed by the venerable Cassiana herself: that on "Lord, I have cried" is inspired by one she composed for the Nativity of Christ; that from the Vespers Aposticha is based on one from the service to the Martyrs Gurius, Samonas & Habib (November 13th)' and that from the Matins Aposticha is based on one from the service to the Greatmartyr Eustratius & companions (December 13th). The irmoi selected for the Canon of St. Cassiana are taken from Matins of Great & Holy Saturday (St. Cassiana composed the irmoi of Odes I through V herself; the rest were written by St. Cosmas of Maîuma).

¶41

In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.

¶42

Communion hymn of Saturday.

¶43

On the Beatitudes, 8 troparia: 4 from Ode III of the canon of the forefeast, and 4 from Ode VI of the canon of the venerable martyr.

¶44

N.B.: If the Leave-taking of the Nativity of the Mother of God coincide with the Saturday before the Exaltation of the Cross, the prokimenon, alleluia verses and communion verse are those of the feast. Epistle and Gospel of the Saturday before the Exaltation of the Cross precede those of the feast. Prokimenon and Alleluia of the Saturday before the Exaltation are not chanted.

¶45

Prokimenon, in Tone VII—

¶46

Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross

¶47

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

¶48

(which may fall as early as 8 September)

¶49

Stichos: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?

¶50

Prokimenon, in Tone VI—

¶51

Epistle to Timothy, § 292 [II Tim. 2: 1-9]

¶52

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

¶53

Timothy my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman who laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elects’ sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¶54

Stichos: Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry; O my god, be not silent unto me.

¶55

Alleluia, in Tone VI—

¶56

Epistle to the Galatians, § 215 [Gal. 6: 14-18]

¶57

Stichos: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; in His commandments shall he greatly delight.

¶58

Brethren: God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

¶59

Stichos: His seed shall be mighty upon the earth.

¶60

Alleluia, in tone I—

¶61

Gospel according to Matthew, § 38

¶62

Stichos: I have raised up one chosen out of My people; with My holy oil have I anointed him.

¶63

[Mt. 10: 32-38]

¶64

Stichos: For My hand shall be unto Him an ally, and Mine arm shall strengthen him.

¶65

The Lord said to His disciples: “Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father Who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father Who is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be those of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.”

¶66

Gospel according to John, §9 [Jn. 3: 13-17]

¶67

Communion Verse—

¶68

The Lord said: “No man hath ascended up to heaven, but He Who came down from heaven, even the Son of man Who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”

¶69

In everlasting remembrance shall the righteous be; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.

¶70

Communion verse of Sunday.

Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.