Dismissal Hymn (Apolytikion) and Kontakion of the Worship of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross (3rd Sunday of the Fast) – Απολυτίκιο και Κοντάκιο της Κυριακής της Σταυροπροσκυνήσεως

VatopaidiFriend: Notice what the Kontakion (the second hymn) says. It is LITERAL, not “metaphorical”.

Dismissal Hymn. First Mode.

Save, O Lord, Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy commonwealth.

(Note: The original says “sovereigns” instead of “faithful” and “barbarians” instead of “adversaries”. The “sovereigns” are the pious emperors of Byzantium, the best state in all of history, which – with the exception of some dark periods – provides a luminous example of true Christian spirituality, and unsurpassed economy, welfare, culture, ecology etc. The “barbarians” are the ungodly, backward hordes who always wanted to ravage the Byzantine Empire, and, after more than 1000 years, finally did – temporarily.)

Απολυτίκιον. Ήχος α΄.

Σώσον, Κύριε, τον λαόν σου και ευλόγησον την κληρονομίαν σου, νίκας τοις βασιλεύσι κατά βαρβάρων δωρούμενος και το σον φυλάττων, διά του Σταυρού σου, πολίτευμα.

Kontakion. Grave Mode. READ MORE…

No longer doth the flaming sword guard the gate of Eden, for a marvellous quenching is come upon it, even the Tree of the Cross. The sting hath been taken from death, and victory from Hades. And Thou, my Saviour, hast appeared unto those in Hades, saying: Enter ye again into Paradise.

Κοντάκιον. Ήχος βαρύς.

Ουκέτι φλογίνη ρομφαία φυλάττει την πύλην της Εδέμ· αυτή γαρ επήλθε παράδοξος σβέσις το ξύλον του Σταυρού, θανάτου το κέντρον, και Άδου το νίκος ελήλαται, επέστης δε Σωτήρ μου βοών τοις εν Άδη· Εισάγεσθε πάλιν εις τον Παράδεισον.

The translations into English are by Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Brookline (Boston, Massachusetts).