Canon for the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross
Composed by St. Theodore the Studite – Tone 1
Ode I, Irmos.
The day of Resurrection! Let us be illumined, O people. Pascha, the Pascha of the Lord! For from death unto life and from earth unto heaven Christ God hath brought us over, as we sing the hymn of victory.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
The day of triumph hath dawned through the Resurrection of Christ; death hath vanished away. The dawn of life hath shone forth. Adam, arisen, rejoiceth with gladness. Wherefore let us cry aloud, singing the hymn of victory.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
The day of the veneration of the Precious Cross is come. Come ye all unto it. For by the Resurrection of Christ it now stretcheth forth the rays of light. Let us kiss it with spiritual rejoicing.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Let heaven and earth praise together, for the all-blessed Cross is set forth for all. Upon it Christ was nailed in the flesh and was slain. Let us kiss it with rejoicing of spirit.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
O great Cross of the Lord, appear! Show unto me now the divine beauty of thy form, making me worthy to be a worshipper unto thy praise. For unto thee as unto a living thing I cry aloud and fall down before thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Trinity of Persons and Unity of Essence, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one in power, one in will and dominion: preserve Thy world granting unto it humility.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Without knowing man, O Virgin, thou hast conceived without seed and hast borne a Child. In purity thou hast carried the birth of Christ God, the Creator of the world. Entreat Him to grant peace unto all.
Katavasia.
Preserve Thy servants from misfortune, O Merciful One, for we fervently flee unto Thee, our merciful Deliverer and Master of all, the Lord Jesus. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode III, Irmos.
Come, let us drink a new drink, not miraculously brought forth from a barren rock, but the fountain of incorruption which Christ hath caused to rain forth from the tomb; in Him we are established.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Come, let us sing a new song, celebrating the destruction of Hades. For Christ hath arisen from the tomb, taking death captive and saving all things.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Come, O faithful, let us draw water, not pouring into vessels the corruptible stream, but from the fountain of enlightenment: the veneration of the Cross of Christ, wherein we glory.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Of old Moses prefigured Thy Cross stretching forth his hands. Kissing it now, we conquer the noetic Amalek, O Master Christ, through whom also we are saved.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
With pure eyes and lips singing with voices of gladness, let us joyfully venerate the Cross of the Lord, clapping our hands in hymns.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
One Essence in three Persons I honor: the unoriginate God, the Father, the Son, and the Living Spirit, in Whom we were baptized.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
In the bush Moses beheld thy mystery in figure of old, O Pure One. For as the flame consumed not the bush, so the fire of the Godhead burned not thy womb.
Katavasia.
Preserve Thy servants from misfortune, O Merciful One, for we fervently flee unto Thee, our merciful Deliverer and Master of all, the Lord Jesus. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Sedalen, Tone 6.
Today the prophetic word is fulfilled: for behold, we worship at the place where Thy feet once stood, O Lord. And tasting of the Tree of salvation we have received freedom from sinful passions, through the prayers of the Theotokos, O only Lover of mankind.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Thy Cross, O Lord, hath been sanctified; for through it come healings for those sick with sins. Therefore we fall down before Thee: have mercy upon us.
Ode IV, Irmos.
Let the God-proclaiming Habakkuk stand with us upon the divine watch and show us the radiant angel crying aloud: Today salvation hath come to the world, for Christ is risen, for He is all-powerful.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Christ is risen! The angel said unto the myrrh-bearing women: Weep not. Go and tell the disciples with joy: Today salvation hath come to the world; the tyranny of the enemy is destroyed by death.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Today, O Christ, celebrating with reverence the joy of bowing before Thy life-giving Cross, we greet Thy most holy Passion which Thou hast wrought for the salvation of the world.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Today there is joy in heaven and on earth, for the sign of Christ appeareth to the world: the thrice-blessed Cross. Set forth before all, it poureth forth unceasing joy upon those who venerate it.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
What shall we offer unto Thee, O Christ, for Thou hast given us Thy precious Cross to venerate? Upon it Thou didst pour forth Thy most holy Blood, and Thy flesh was fastened with nails. Kissing it now we give thanks unto Thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I sing the one Godhead in three distinct Persons: the Father without beginning, the Son, and the Holy Spirit enthroned together: one dominion, one kingdom, one eternal power.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen:
A wondrous thing hath appeared among women, O Pure One: for thou hast surpassed nature, bearing without a husband, yet remaining after childbirth a Virgin as before, having borne God from thyself.
Katavasia.
Preserve Thy servants from misfortune, O Merciful One, for we fervently flee unto Thee, our merciful Deliverer and Master of all, the Lord Jesus. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode V, Irmos.
Let us arise early in the deep dawn and instead of myrrh offer a hymn unto the Master; and we shall behold Christ, the Sun of righteousness, who causeth life to dawn for all.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
From the tomb Thou hast shone forth as an unsetting Light illumining the world with incorruption. Thou hast destroyed mortal lamentation unto the ends of the earth.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Let us approach purified by fasting kissing the most holy Tree with praise, upon which Christ was crucified and saved the world for He is compassionate.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
The angelic hosts rejoice today at the veneration of Thy Cross; for thereby Thou hast cast down the ranks of demons and saved mankind, O Christ.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Another Paradise hath been revealed to the Church having the life-bearing Tree: Thy Cross, O Lord. By touching it we have become partakers of immortality.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I glorify three co-eternal Hypostases, one God in essence: Father, Son, and Spirit, one thrice-radiant Light and sovereign kingdom.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Thou hast given birth according to nature yet beyond nature and beyond law; for thy birth was without seed, a strange and wondrous mystery.
Katavasia.
Preserve Thy servants from misfortune, O Merciful One, for we fervently flee unto Thee, our merciful Deliverer and Master of all, the Lord Jesus. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode VI, Irmos.
Thou didst descend into the lowest parts of the earth and didst break the eternal bars that held the captives fast, O Christ. And on the third day like Jonah from the whale Thou didst arise from the tomb.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Thou hast arisen, O Christ, trampling down death as a mighty King. From the treasuries of Hades Thou hast called us forth into the rest of the heavenly Kingdom.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Clapping our hands with divine hymns let us cry aloud unto God, kissing the Cross of the Lord; for it poureth forth a fountain of sanctification.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
The voice of the hymnographer is fulfilled: for we now worship the footstool of Thy most pure feet: Thy precious Cross, the thrice-beloved Tree.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Upon Thy shoulder Thou wast willing to bear the holy Cross, O Christ, and upon it Thou wast lifted up and crucified in the flesh. Kissing it now we mock the enemies.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I sing the Unity in three Persons and worship the Trinity in one Essence, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
O all-pure Lamb, a wonder of wonders appeared in thee: for thou didst bear the Lamb who taketh away the sins of the world.
Katavasia.
Preserve Thy servants from misfortune, O Merciful One, for we fervently flee unto Thee, our merciful Deliverer and Master of all, the Lord Jesus. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Kondak, Tone 7.
No longer doth the flaming sword guard the gates of Eden; for upon it hath come the glorious power of the Tree of the Cross. The sting of death and the victory of Hades are destroyed. For Thou hast come, O my Savior, crying unto those in Hades: Enter ye again into Paradise.
Ikos.
Pilate set up three crosses on Golgotha: two for the thieves, and one for the Giver of Life. Seeing Him, Hades said to those below: “O my servants and my powers, who hath driven the nails into my heart? A wooden spear hath pierced me; I am torn apart. My inward parts are in anguish. I am compelled to cast forth Adam and those with Adam. For by a tree they were given unto me, but by a Tree He bringeth hem again into Paradise.”
Ode VII, Irmos.
He who delivered the youths from the furnace, having become man, suffereth as a mortal; and by His Passion He clotheth mortality with the beauty of incorruption, the only blessed God of our fathers.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Risen from the tomb on the third day, as from sleep, O Lord, Thou hast broken the gates of Hades by Thy divine power.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
With the flute of song let us rejoice today, O people, celebrating the veneration of the Cross and glorifying Him who was nailed upon it.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
O all-merciful One, sanctify those who venerate Thy Cross, the instrument of death that hath become the maker of life.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
O compassionate Jesus, enlighten and sanctify those who faithfully bow before Thy Cross and Thy divine sufferings.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
I sing the one Godhead in three Persons: Light the Father, Light the Son, Light the Spirit, one indivisible Light.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Thou art the many-named prophecy of the prophets: the Gate of God, the Golden Rod, the Holy Mountain, O Virgin who hast borne Christ God.
Katavasia.
Preserve Thy servants from misfortune, O Merciful One, for we fervently flee unto Thee, our merciful Deliverer and Master of all, the Lord Jesus. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode VIII, Irmos.
This chosen and holy day is the king and lord of Sabbaths, the feast of feasts and triumph of triumphs, wherein we bless Christ unto the ages.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
This day is fragrant with divine perfumes, the sweet-smelling Tree, the Cross of Christ. Let us inhale its God-breathed fragrance.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Glory to Him who by the Cross cast down the enemy and despoiled Hades bringing life to the dead.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Come, O prophet Eliseus, tell plainly what was the wood that thou didst cast into the waters: it was the Cross of Christ whereby we are drawn up from corruption.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Of old Jacob prefigured Thy Cross, O Christ, when Joseph bowed to the top of the divine staff, foreseeing the sceptre of Thy kingdom.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
One Essence in three Persons I glorify: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God over all unto the ages.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Thou alone among mothers wast revealed a Virgin, O Bride of God, having borne Christ the Savior while preserving the seal of purity.
Katavasia.
Preserve Thy servants from misfortune, O Merciful One, for we fervently flee unto Thee, our merciful Deliverer and Master of all, the Lord Jesus. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode IX, Irmos.
Shine, shine, New Jerusalem! For the glory of the Lord hath shown upon thee. Exult now, and make glad, O Zion. And thou, O Pure Mother of God, rejoice in the rising of thy Child.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Thy tomb hath poured forth life for me, O Christ. Standing before those in the tombs Thou didst cry aloud: Loose yourselves from your bonds, for I am come as the Deliverance of the world.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Let all the trees of the forest rejoice beholding today the Tree of the Cross kissed in veneration.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
By a tree I died; by the Tree of the Cross I have found life. O Christ-bearing Cross, my unshakable fortress against demons.
Refrain: Glory to Thee, O our God, glory to Thee. (Bow)
Rejoice, O Church of God, as thou bowest today before the thrice-blessed Tree, the most holy Cross of Christ.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Trinity of Persons and Unity of Essence, I worship Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Thou wast revealed, O Virgin, as the high mountain in which Christ made His dwelling. Through thee we are raised unto heaven being adopted by the Spirit.
Katavasia.
Preserve Thy servants from misfortune, O Merciful One, for we fervently flee unto Thee, our merciful Deliverer and Master of all, the Lord Jesus. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Dismissal.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, through the prayers of my holy guardian angel, and of all the saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for Thou art good and lovest mankind. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
Final bows.
14 March 2026