Saints to be Commemorated: + Hnstata, Abba John the Short, and St. Elisa
Daily Readings for 20 Tekemt:
Day 20
Morning prayer
In the name of the Father …
Opening prayer
O God, our refuge and our strength, who are the author of all godliness; be ready, we pray you, to hear the devout prayer of your servants; and grant us that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; and may your grace be with us forever and ever. Amen. Our Father….O my Lady Mary…
Psalm 102: 1-28
102:1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to thee. 102:2 Hide not your face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline your ear to me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. 102:3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. 102:4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. 102:5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. 102:6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. 102:7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. 102:8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me. 102:9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping. 102:10 Because of your indignation and your wrath: for you have lifted me up, and cast me down. 102:11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. 102:12 But thou, O Lord, shall endure forever; and your remembrance to all generations. 102:13 Thou shall arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 102:14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. 102:15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory. 102:16 When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. 102:17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. 102:19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; 102:20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; 102:21 To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; 102:22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. 102:23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. 102:24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: your years are throughout all generations. 102:25 Of old have you laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of your hands. 102:26 They shall perish, but thou shall endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shall thou change them, and they shall be changed: 102:27 But you are the same, and your years shall have no end. 102:28 The children of your servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Psalm 103: 1-22
103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 103:3 Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; 103:4 Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies; 103:5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 103:6 The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. 103:7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the children of Israel. 103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 103:9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever. 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 103:14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 103:15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 103:16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 103:17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness to children's children; 103:18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. 103:19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom rules over all. 103:20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening to the voice of his word. 103:21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 103:22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Scripture Readings
1st Reading
Jeremiah 17: 9-10
17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. He who receives the prophet the by the name of the prophet, shall receive the prophet’s …
2nd Reading
2nd Corinthians 13: 11-13
13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle’s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm 111: 1-2
111:1 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. 111:2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. Halleluiah, stand up and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel, St St. Matthew 6: 7-9
6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like to them: for your Father knows what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: heaven and earth shall pass away…. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one ….
Concluding prayer
O Lord our God, we humbly offer you our service of praise and thanks for this new day. Grant us your grace to begin this day with you and remain with us throughout the day. And help us to reach the fullness of your redemption. We make our morning prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your Holy Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen. Our Father….O my Lady Mary…
Day 20
Evening prayer
In the name of the Father and of the Son ….
Opening prayer
O God Our heavenly King whose name is holy, and whose mercy is praised from generation to generation, we pray that you will hear our evening prayer and grant us that we may glorify you by never ceasing praise. We make this our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your Holy Son, who loves and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. Our Father….O my Lady Mary…
Psalm 104: 1-35/end
104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with honour and majesty. 104:2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 104:3 Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters: who makes the clouds his chariot: who walks upon the wings of the wind: 104:4 Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever. 104:6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. 104:7 At your rebuke they fled; at the voice of your thunder they hasted away. 104:8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys to the place which you have founded for them. 104:9 You have set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth. 104:10 He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 104:11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. 104:12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. 104:13 He waters the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works. 104:14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 104:15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthens man's heart. 104:16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; 104:17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. 104:18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knows his going down. 104:20 You make darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. 104:21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. 104:22 The sun arises, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. 104:23 Man goes forth to his work and to his labour until the evening. 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! in wisdom have you made them all: the earth is full of your riches. 104:25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. 104:26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom you have made to play therein. 104:27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. 104:28 That you give them they gather: thou openest your hand, they are filled with good. 104:29 Thou hidest your face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 104:30 Thou sendest forth your spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. 104:31 The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. 104:32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles: he touches the hills, and they smoke. 104:33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. 104:35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning….
Scripture Readings
14th Century Bible
1st Reading
Tobit 4: 16-17, 19-20
4:16 Give of your bread to the hungry, and of your garments to them that are naked; and according to your abundance give alms: and let not your eye be envious, when you give alms. Pour out your bread on the burial of the just, but give nothing to the wicked. 4:19 Bless the Lord your God alway, and desire of him that your ways may be directed, and that all your paths and counsels may prosper: forevery nation hath not counsel; but the Lord himself gives all good things, and he humbles whom he will, as he will; now therefore, my son, remember my commandments, neither let them be put out of your mind. He who receives the prophet in the name of the prophet shall receive the prophet reward.
2nd Reading
Romans 14: 17-19
14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 14:18 For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle’s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm 108: 1-2
108:1 O god, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. 108:2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. Halleluiah, stand up and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel, St Mark 14: 32-41
14:32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he takes with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith to them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful to death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and finds them sleeping, and saith to Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith to them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. He that hath ears to hear let him hear… It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one ….
Concluding prayer
Lord our Father and King, to whom we offer evening prayer, we humbly pray that you may mercifully grant us your grace and that our hearts may always meditate on your law and words, and give us the reward of everlasting light and life. We make this our evening prayer through our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Our Father….O my Lady Mary…
Synaxarium for 20 Tekemt:
THE SECOND MONTH
TEKEMT 20
(October 30)
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ONE GOD. AMEN.
On this day died the great father of light, Abba John the Short. This holy man was a native of the city, which is called Tansa and is in Upper Egypt, and he had one brother. His parents were righteous people, and they feared God; they were not rich in the goods and possessions of this world, but they were rich in good works. When this holy man was eighteen years of age, the grace of God moved him to go to the desert of Scete, which [name] being interpreted means, “Balance of hearts.” And he wished to put on the garb of the monk. And he found a certain tried and strong old man, whose name was Abba Bamoy, of the city of Seha, dwelling in Scete, and Saint John bowed low before him and entreated him that he might dwell with him in Scete. And Saint Abba Bamoy wished to try him, and he said unto him, “O my son, it is not right for thee to live here, for this is a very hard desert, and those who dwell therein have to work with their hands, and they can only feed themselves by hard toil. And also over and above this there are very many fasts to be kept, and many prayers, both by day and by night, to be said, and a man must sleep on the bare ground naked without a bed (or cushion), and there is very great hardship in this desert. Nay, my son, go back into the world and live a life of comfort and ease like unto that of all other men.” And Abba John said unto him, “O my father, for God’s sake do not turn me back for I have come to be under thy authority and under the shadow of thy prayer. And if thou wilt accept me I believe that God will make thy heart will-disposed towards me.” Now Saint Abba Bamoy was wont never to do anything hastily, and he entreated God concerning Abba John so that He might reveal to him His works. And the angel of the Lord appeared and said unto him, “God saith unto thee; accept this brother, for he shall become a chosen vessel.” And when Abba Bamoy heard these words from the angel of God, he brought Abba John into the church, and he shaved off the hair of his head. Then he laid out the garb of the monk, and he stood and prayed over it for three days and three nights. Then the angel of the Lord appeared, and made the sign of the Cross over the raiment of monkhood, and Abba Bamoy put it upon Abba John. And Abba John devoted himself with the greatest zeal and diligence to the splendid works of the ascetic life. One day Abba Bamoy wished to try him, and he sent Abba John away from him, saying, “I cannot live with thee”; and Abba John stood for seven days outside the gates of the monastery, and every day Abba Bamoy went out to Abba John, and smote him with a stick, and Abba John bowed down before him and said, “Forgive me, O my father.” On the seventh day the old man Abba Bamoy went forth to go to the church, and he saw seven angels, and they had with them seven crowns which they were placing on the head of Abba John. And straightway Abba Bamoy took Abba John and brought him into his cell, and from that day onward he was held by him in honor and reverence. One day Abba Bamoy found a piece of dry wood and he gave it to Abba John and he said unto him, “Take this wood and plant it in the ground, and water it until it sprouteth and bringeth forth fruit.” And Abba John obeyed Abba Bamoy, and he took that piece of wood, and planted it, and watered it each day twice; now the water was far off, a distance of twelve stadia. And after three years that piece of wood sprouted, and grew into a large tree, and bore fruit, and the old man Abba Bamoy took some of the fruit thereof and carried it to all the aged monks, and he said unto them, “Take ye and eat of the fruit of obedience and humility.” When the monks saw this miracle they marveled exceedingly, and they praised God Who gives this virtue unto those who make themselves subject to His teachers. And Abba Bamoy fill sick of a very severe sickness, and he continued to suffer from this sickness for eighteen years, and though Abba John ministered unto him [all this time] he never once said unto him, “Thou hast done well,” for the old man Abba Bamoy had grown very old, and he used to try him exceedingly. And God tried him with such a severe sickness until at length he became like a piece of dry wood, so that he might become a chosen offering unto God. When Abba Bamoy was about to die, he gathered together the aged monks, and he seized the hand of Abba John and gave it unto them, saying, “Take him, and take care of this man, for he is an angel and not a man.” Then he said unto Abba John, “After I am dead I will live in the place wherein thou didst plant the tree which sprouted and bore fruit, for thou in that place didst become a holy and acceptable sacrifice before God. And many men shall be saved by thy hand, and thy memorial shall be there in that place before God for ever.” When Abba Bamoy had said this unto him, he opened his mouth and delivered up his soul into the hand of God. After this Abba John departed to that place [where the tree was] according as the old man Abba Bamoy had told him. And he strove boldly in the working of righteousness, for his name was exalted exceedingly; and after this he was appointed abbot over his church. And whilst the archbishop was laying his hand upon him at the time of his appointment, a voice came from heaven, and all the people heard it, saying, “Axios, Axios, Axios,” that is to say, “He is worthy, He is worthy, He is worthy.” And every time when Saint John consecrated the Offering, he would watch for those who were worthy to partake and those who were not worthy. Now Abba Theophilus, the archbishop, built a church to the Three Holy Children in the city of Alexandria, and he wished to bring thereto the bodies of the Three Children from the city of Babylon. And he asked Saint Abba John to go to the city of Babylon, and to bring the bodies of the Three Children from the city of Babylon, and after many requests Abba John went forth on behalf of the archbishop. And a cloud straightway carried him away and brought him to the city of Babylon, and he saw that city, and the rivers and the palaces thereof, and he saw the bodies of the Saints, the Three Children, and the body of King Nebuchadnezzar lying in their tombs. And Saint Abba John bowed low, and embraced the bodies of the saints with tears, and he cried out saying, “O my holy fathers, bless me!” And straightway he heard a voice from their bodies, saying, “The God of Israel hath blessed thee.” When Abba John had heard this voice he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and rejoiced in the spiritual blessing. And he said unto them (i.e., the bodies), “O my fathers, ye martyrs of Christ God, I tell you that our father the archbishop, Abba Theophilus, has built a church in your names in the city of Alexandria, and he hath sent me unto you and he beseeches you and your holy bodies to come and dwell in your church, so that there may be healing and salvation unto all those who believe in Christ in all the country of Egypt.” And the saints answered with one voice and said unto him, “God shall give thee the reward of thy labor in the life everlasting! But tell the archbishops that God hath commanded [us] not to remove our bodies from this place until the day of the Resurrection. Nevertheless because of his contendings, and his labor, and his perfect faith, let them suspend lamps, on the night of the day of the consecration of the church, whilst all the people and the priests are assembled therein, and we ourselves will come and we will make manifest the power of God and their blessing.” And Saint Abba John bowed low, and went forth from their presence rejoicing in God. When he had departed a short distance from them, a cloud took him up and brought him to the outskirts of the city of Alexandria, and he came in to the archbishop and told him what the saints had said; and the archbishop did even as the saints had told him. And when midnight had come on the night of the day of the consecration of the church, the Three Holy Children appeared in the church surrounded by brilliant light, and they lighted all the lamps, and they sent forth from themselves an exceedingly sweet odor. After this Abba John returned to Scete, and he contended in the working of righteousness by night and by day. One day a certain monk came into the cave of Abba John, and he found him lying down, and the angels of God were waving their wings over him, and each of them was saying to the other, “Let me lay my wing upon him.” After this the pagan Barbarians came to the desert of Scete to plunder the houses of the monks, and to slay the monks. After this Saint Abba John went to the monastery of Saint Abba Anthony in the desert of Kuelzem [by the Red Sea], not that he was afraid of death, but he said, “I go that a pagan may not come and kill me, and go to Sheol because of me; I do not wish to be in a state of ease and for that pagan to suffer punishment on my account. For he might testify against me before the Lord God, though he is my brother in nature, and form, and likeness.” And Abba John dwelt by the side of a village, and God brought him from it a certain man who was a believer, and he ministered unto him until the time of his death. When God wished to give him rest from the labor of this world, He sent unto him His righteous saints, Abba Anthony, and Abba Macarius, and Abba Pachomius, to comfort him and to inform him concerning his departure, and there was with them Abba Bamoy, his spiritual father. And they comforted him and said unto him, “Be strong in the Lord, and rejoice in the everlasting joy which God hath prepared. Be thou ready, for we will come to thee at dawn on the First Day of the week, and we will take thee with us into everlasting life, even as God hath commanded”; and they blessed him and disappeared. On the day of the Eve of the Sabbath Saint Abba John sent his attendant to the village, for he was sick with a little sickness. And when it was the time of cock-crow on the night of the holy First Day of the week, behold there came unto him many hosts of angels, and all the company of the saints, and when he saw them he rejoiced and bowed low and delivered up his soul into the hand of God. And the holy angels received the soul of the blessed Abba John, and they took it up with them into heaven. And at that moment his attendant came, and he saw his soul as they were carrying it up into heaven, and the holy angels were surrounding it, and were singing before it. And before all these, as it was shining brightly like the sun, one sang and praised the blessed man Abba John. And he stood still for the space of an hour as he marveled at what he saw. And straightway the angel of the Lord came unto him and told him the names of each one of the saints, and pointing with his finger at the saints he said unto [the attendant of] Abba John, “This is Abba Pachomius, this is Abba Macarius, this is Abba Bamoy, and this is Abba So-and-so.” And the attendant said unto the angel, “Who is this in front of them who is shining like the sun?” And the angel said unto him, “This is Abba Anthony, the father of all the monks.” When the attendant came to the cell he found Abba John on his knees, and he wept over him with a great weeping. And he made haste and went to the village, and told the men how that the saint was dead. Then the brethren came and made him ready for burial, and they bore away his body with great honor, and when they had brought him into the village, great wonders and miracles happened through his body. And then his sons, the monks, came and took up his body and they carried it to the desert of Scete and laid it in the church thereof, and it became a haven for everyone who took refuge therein. Salutation to Abba John.
And on this day also died Saint Elisa the prophet, whose name being interpreted is “Savior, protector and king.” This holy man was native of a village the name of which was Be’Elamon, of the tribe of Isaachar, and he prophesied many prophecies concerning the children of Israel. And he also prophesied saying, “God shall come down upon the earth and shall walk with men.” And he gave a sign of this, saying, “The sun shall set in Selom (Silo), and one of its two halves shall be separated from the other, and twelve oak trees shall be useful to the Lord, and submissive to the holy God, Who shall come down upon the earth, and by it the whole earth shall be saved.” When he finished his prophecy he died in peace and was buried in his own land. Salutation to Elisa the prophet who made the bitter water sweet and raised the axe out of the water by means of a splinter of wood.
Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
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