[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, lightman...and a Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours on this Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost(Western)/Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost(Orthodox).

[lightman]

Tomorrow is also the Forefeast of the Universal Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross (aka "Holy Cross Day" on Western calendars) which is celebrated on September 14.

The forefeast has its own, unique, once-a-year hymn which really hits home with the proximity to September 11:

The life-giving Cross of Your goodness,
which we the unworthy have from You as a gift,
we present to You, O Lord, as an intercessor.
Save our leaders and our nation and keep them in peace,
through the Theotokos,
O only One who loves humanity.