From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America;
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19
Matthew 13:54-58
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
James the Apostle, brother of Our Lord
Our Righteous Father Ignatius, Patriarch of Constantinople
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19
BRETHREN, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is
not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught
it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have
heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God
violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of
my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the
traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was
born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his
Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did
not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to
those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and
again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to
Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw
none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Matthew 13:54-58
At that time, Jesus came to his own country, and taught the people
in their synagogue so that they were astonished, and said, "Where
did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the
carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers
James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with
us? Where then did this man get all this?" And they took offense at
him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in
his own country and in his own house." And he did not do many mighty
works there, because of their unbelief.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
James the Apostle, brother of Our Lord
Reading from the Synaxarion:
According to some, this Saint was a son of Joseph the Betrothed, born of
the wife that the latter had before he was betrothed to the
Ever-virgin. Hence he was the brother of the Lord, Who was also thought to be
the son of Joseph (Matt. 13: 55). But some say that he was a nephew
of Joseph, and the son of his brother Cleopas, who was also called
Alphaeus and Mary his wife, who was the first cousin of the Theotokos. But
even according to this genealogy, he was still called, according to
the idiom of the Scriptures, the Lord's brother because of their
kinship.
This James is called the Less (Mark 15:4) by the Evangelists to
distinguish him from James, the son of Zebedee, who was called the Great. He
became the first Bishop of Jerusalem, elevated to this episcopal rank by
the Apostles, according to Eusebius (Eccl. Hist., Book II: 23), and
was called Obliah, that is, the Just, because of his great holiness
and righteousness. Having ascended the crest of the Temple on the day
of the Passover at the prompting of all, he bore testimony from
there concerning his belief in Jesus, and he proclaimed with a great
voice that Jesus sits at the right hand of the great power of God and
shall come again upon the clouds of heaven. On hearing this testimony,
many of those present cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David." But the
Scribes and Pharisees cried, "So, even the just one hath been led
astray," and at the command of Ananias the high priest, the Apostle was
cast down headlong from thence, then was stoned, and while he prayed
for his slayers, his head was crushed by the wooden club wielded by a
certain scribe. The first of the Catholic (General) Epistles written to
the Jews in the Diaspora who believed in Christ was written by this
James.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
As the Lord's disciple, O righteous One, you received the Gospel, as
Martyr, you have unwavering courage, as the Lord's brother, you have
forthrightness, as Hierarch, intercession. Intercede with Christ our God, that
our souls may be saved.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
O wondrous Iakovos, God the Logos, only-begotten of the Father, who
dwelt among us in latter days, declared you, the first shepherd and
teacher of Jerusalem, and faithful steward of the spiritual mysteries.
Wherefore, we all honor you, O Apostle.
Reading courtesy of Narthex Press
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press
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