Week One, Day Five Readings
The Fifth Day
Morning Prayer
In the name of the Father and the Son…
Opening Prayer
God our Almighty Father, who are the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the creator of the day and the night. We ask you in prayer to bless this new day for our daily task through our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. Our Father…
Psalm 24: 1- end
24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 24:2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 24:5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 24:6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek your face, O Jacob. Selah. 24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 24:8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 24:9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning…
Psalm 25: 1 - 22
25:1 To thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 25:2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 25:3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 25:4 Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 25:5 Lead me in your truth, and teach me: for you are the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 25:6 Remember, O Lord, your tender mercies and your loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old. 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to your mercy remember me for your goodness' sake, O Lord. 25:8 Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 25:10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to those that keep his covenant and his testimonies. 25:11 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 25:12 What man is he that fears the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 25:13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. 25:14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant. 25:15 Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. 25:16 Turn thee to me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. 25:17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. 25:18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 25:19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 25:20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. 25:22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning…
Psalm 26: 1 – 12
26:1 Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide. 26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 26:3 For your loving-kindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in your truth. 26:4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 26:5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. 26:6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass your altar, O Lord: 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all your wondrous works. 26:8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of your house, and the place where your honour dwells. 26:9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 26:10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. 26:11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful to me. 26:12 My foot stands in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning…
Scripture Reading
1st Reading
Tobit 4:15-19
4:15 Do that to no man which thou hates: drink not wine to make thee drunken: neither let drunkenness go with thee in your journey. 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. 4:17 Pour out your bread on the burial of the just, but give nothing to the wicked. 4:18 Ask counsel of all that are wise, and despise not any counsel that is profitable. 4:19 Bless the Lord your God always, 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
2 Thessalonians 3: 10b – 13
3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle’s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm 67: 1 – 2
67:1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Halleluiah stand up and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ
4th Reading
The Gospel of St. Matthew 7: 7 – 12
7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever you wish that men should do to you, do so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Heaven and earth…
Concluding Prayer,
Almighty, ever-living God, we ask, seek and knock in prayer your support, mercy and your Fatherly love. Grant us all our daily need this day and every day. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Our Father…
Day 5
Evening Prayer
In the name of the father and the son…
Opening Prayer
Lord God, true light, giver of light, source of light and Creator of light, grant that faithful pondering on all that is holy, we may ever live in the splendour of your presence. We make our morning prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son. Amen. Our Father…
Psalm 27: 1 – end
27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 27:2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 27:3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises to the Lord. 27:7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said to thee, Your face, Lord, will I seek. 27:9 Hide not your face far from me; put not your servant away in anger: you have been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. 27:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 27:12 Deliver me not over to the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning…
Psalm 28: 1 – end
28:1 To thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. 28:2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry to thee, when I lift up my hands toward your holy oracle. 28:3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. 28:4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. 28:5 Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. 28:6 Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him. 28:8 The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. 28:9 Save your people, and bless your inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up forever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning…
Psalm 29: 1 – end
29:1 Give to the Lord, O ye mighty, give to the Lord glory and strength. 29:2 Give to the Lord the glory due to his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 29:3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thunders: the Lord is upon many waters. 29:4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 29:5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; yea, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 29:6 He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 29:7 The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. 29:8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 29:9 The voice of the Lord makes the hinds to calve, and discovers the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. 29:10 The Lord sits upon the flood; yea, the Lord sits King forever. 29:11 The Lord will give strength to his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning…
Scripture Readings
1st Reading
Isaiah 33: 13 – 16
33:13 Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walks righteously, and speaks uprightly; he that despises the gain of oppressions, that shakes his hands from holding of bribes, that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. He who receives the prophet by the name of the prophet shall receive the prophet reward.
2nd Reading
Colossians 1: 9 – 11
1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, to all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; He who receives the Apostle by the name of the Apostle shall receive the Apostle’s reward. Amen
3rd Reading (Chant)
Psalm 18: 1 – 2
18:1 I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Halleluiah! Stand and harken to the Holy Gospel, the message of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
4th Reading
The Gospel of St. Mark 14: 32 – 42
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. Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrays me is at hand. He who receives the saint” by the name of the saint, shall receive the saint’s reward. Or Heaven and Earth…
Concluding Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world through your suffering: We ask you in our prayer to grant us your grace, and accept our prayer and work of this day, and give us the rest we need. Amen. Our Father…
The Synaxarium
Saints/Feasts to be commemmorated: + St. Merkorios THE SECOND MONTH
TEKEMT 25
(November 04)
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ONE GOD. AMEN.
On this day died Abba Bula, who was surnamed ‘Abib. The name of the father of this holy man was Abraham, and that of his mother was Harik, and they were natives of the country of Rome, and came from the borders of Lupi; and since there was a persecution in the days of the Emperor Maximianus they continued to fly from city to city. As they lacked a son they entreated God, with fasting and prayer, to give them a son. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto them in a dream, and gave them a vine cluster which was full of grapes, and when the blessed woman conceived, a large tree which was near their house blossomed, and on the leaves thereof were written in the language of Rome the following words: “Bula servant of God, and the saint of the God of Jacob, Who dwelleth in Zion.” And when the child was born they left him for some time without making him a Christian. Then our Lady Mariyam appeared unto the Archbishop of Rome, and commanded him to go to the house of Abraham and baptize the child; and when he arrived there he made him a Christian and called his name “Bula.” When the father and the mother of the child heard [this] they marveled because he had called the child by that name without their having told him the name. When the archbishop had prayed, bread for the Offering and a cup of wine came down from heaven, and he consecrated them and administered unto them the Holy Mysteries. When the boy was one year old he spoke plainly and said, “One is the Holy Father, One is the Holy Son, One is the Holy Ghost.” After a little [time] his father and his mother died, on the sixteenth day of the month of Hedar (Nov-Dec). When the boy was ten years of age there arrived a wicked governor who ordered [the people] to worship idols, and when Abba Bula heard about it, he went to the governor and cursed his filthy idols. When the governor saw the small stature of the boy he marveled greatly. And he commanded [his soldiers] to drive nails into him, and to scrape his body, and to strip off his skin, and to saw off his hands and his feet, and to beat his back with whips, and to cast him on the wheel among the sharp knives and spikes, and to drag him along the road of the city; [and they did so]. And Saint Michael came and saved him, and healed him. Then Bula went to another wicked governor and reviled him, and the governor was wroth with him and cut off his head with the sword, and he was crowned on the eighteenth day of the month of Miyazya (April-May). And Saint Michael came down from heaven and raised him up unharmed, and he took him into the desert, and he arrayed him in the garb of the monk, and put upon him a mark in appearance like the sign of the Cross, and he said unto him, “God hath commanded thee to be a companion of the Saints.” And Abba Bula went up into a dry (i.e., withered) tree, and he dwelt therein fighting incessantly, and whenever he remembered the Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Passion, he always cast himself down from the top of the tree. One day having cast himself down Satan was strong to kill him, and he died, but our Redeemer came straightway and raised him up, and he said unto him, “Thy name shall not be ‘Bula’ only, but ‘ ‘Abibha,’ for thou shalt become many fathers.” And Bula loved Christ more and more, and he was always beating his face, and cutting his flesh with knives, every member of him, and he beat his back with seven hundred stripes; through these acts he died three times and our Redeemer raised him up again. And on each occasion He showed him how he had been born of a virgin, and on other days He showed him how he was seized by the Jews and His Passion. And for this reason Bula lived without eating and without drinking for two and forty years, and he never lay on his side for six and sixty years. And he also kept his head fixed for twelve years and six months, until his brains perished. One day when he saw the Passion of our Lord, he place a sword upright before him and then fell upon it and died. And our Lady Mariyam came with angels to the place where his body was, and she said unto him, “Peace be unto thee, O my beloved”; and his body spoke and said unto her, “Peace be unto thee, O Queen of the world.” And she laid her hands upon his body and healed him. And when his days were ended, and it was time for him to depart from this world, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared unto him having in His hands shining crowns set with gems of various kinds, and shining raiment. And He said unto him, “Come unto Me, O My beloved ‘Abib, so that thou mayest enjoy never-ending pleasure. I swear unto thee by Myself that whosoever calleth upon thy name I will forgive him his sins. And whosoever commemorates thee, or show mercy on the poor, or clothes the naked, or feedeth the hungry, or gives drink to the thirsty man, or buildeth a shrine for thee, or writes the story of thy strife, or readeth it or heareth it, I will forgive his sins even to the tenth generation.” Having said this He kissed his mouth, and bearing him upon His breast carried him up into the air. And when he heard the praise of the angels, his soul tore itself away from his body, and entered the heavenly Jerusalem. Salutation to ‘Abib.
Salutation to the twelve handmaidens, and to the three and forty men, and to the three hundred and sixty women, who under the influence of ‘Abib became martyrs.
And on this day also died Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?), who was like the angels. The name of the father of this holy man Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?) was ‘Amone, and he was a native of the city of Akhmim; the name of his mother was Musya. And both of them were righteous before God, and they walked in His way; and they were very charitable towards pilgrims and strangers. Now they had no son at all. And his mother Musya saw a vision one night, and she saw in it a shining man who had with him a tree, and he planted the tree in her house, and it took root and blossomed and bore fruit. And the shining being said unto her, “Whosoever shall eat of this tree shall live for ever.” And the mother of the holy man took some of the fruit thereof and ate it, and it was sweet in her mouth, and she said in her heart, “Shall I, I wonder, have fruit.” When she awoke from her sleep she told her husband what she had seen. And he told her that he had seen in his vision what his wife had seen in her vision, and they praised God many times. And they added to their works of righteousness and to their strivings, and they fasted for two days at a time and their food was bread and salt. When the mother of the holy man Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?) conceived, she prayed many prayers and vanquished enemies. And every night she prostrated herself to the ground one thousand times, and every day five hundred times for a period of nine months, until she brought forth her son; and she called him “ ‘Ebloy (Apollo?).” After this she added to her works of goodness and righteousness. When Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?) arrived at man’s estate he wished to assume the garb of the monk, and he continued to feel this wish until he found the mans of gratifying it. Now he had a friend whose name was ‘Abib, and taking him with him they went forth by night, and they departed and became monks in one of the monasteries of Upper Egypt; and they devoted themselves to the ascetic life and fought strenuously. After a few days ‘Abib died, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Tekemt (Oct-Nov). Thereupon Saint Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?) departed to the monastery of Ablug, and many men were gathered together [there], and he taught them the fear of God and right worship. And on the day of the death of Abba ‘Abib, whilst they were performing the service of commemoration, Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?) said unto them, “O brethren, whosoever shall pray this day in the name of Abba ‘Abib God will forgive him his sin, even as Christ promised him with this promise, in the following words: ‘O My chosen one ‘Abib, whosoever shall pray one prayer on the day of thy commemoration (now Saint ‘Abib had said to God, Forgive me all my sin), I will forgive him his sin for thy name’s sake.’ “ And it came to pass in that hour that one of the monks died, and whilst they were standing and were burying him, one of the brethren who were monks felt doubts about what Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?) said. And straightway that dead man rose up, and he began to speak and to say unto them, “Why do ye doubt the words of Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?)? God did covenant this covenant with our father Abba ‘Abib on the day of his commemoration”; when the dead man had said these words he turned and lay down again. And the brethren, the monks, marveled and praised God. Now Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?) lived very many years, and he built many monasteries, and had many children; and in his days lived Abba Macarius the Great. When Abba Macarius heard the report of him he rejoiced therein exceedingly, and he wrote to him letters comforting him and his sons, the monks, and encouraging him to continue in the work, which was well pleasing to God. Now whilst Abba Macarius was writing those letters in the desert of Scete, Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?), being in Upper Egypt, knew by the Holy Spirit that he was doing so. And he said unto the monks who were round about him, speaking unto them with the voice of God, “Be silent, O my brethren, for behold Abba Macarius is writing to us a letter of encouragement.” Having spoken these words in this manner, behold, straightway a certain monk came having with him the letter of Abba Macarius. And the monks went out and they received him with joy, and he read the letter before all the monks with joy and they rejoiced with a great joy. This holy man Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?) went to the holy father Abba Ammonius, and he saw that holy woman, whose name was Yawahit, dwelling with him. And Christ having wished to give him rest from the labor of this world, he died straightway in peace on the fifth day of the month of Yakatit (Feb-Mar). Now we have written the history of Abba ‘Ebloy (Apollo?) side by side with that of his friend Abba ‘Abib.
And on this day also took place the consecration of the church of Saint Julius the martyr, of the city of ‘Akpahos (Acfaha). Now the saint became a martyr in the city of Tewa, according to what is written in the account of his strife. And this took place after the destruction of Diocletian the infidel, when Constantine was reigning, and a few days before he was baptized with Christian baptism. And when he had been baptized the horn of the Christian kingdom was exalted, and churches were built in the names of the holy martyrs whom the infidel emperors had slain. When the Emperor Constantine heard the report of this holy man Julius, and how God had raised him up and preserved him so that he might care for the bodies of the holy martyrs, both him and his servants, and carry their bodies and bury them, and write the history of their strifes, and how he became a martyr afterwards, he praised [God] for this holy man, for his fight was good. And the emperor sent very much money to Egypt, and he commanded [the people] to build a fine church in his honor, and to carry his body thither and to lay it therein; and they built a fine church in his honor even as the emperor commanded, and they translated the body of Saint Julius and laid it therein. And the Archbishop of Alexandria and his bishops consecrated it, and celebrated a festival even as do we this day. And many great signs and wonders were wrought by the body of Saint Julius. Salutation to the consecration of thy church, O Julius.
And on this day also are commemorated Abba ‘Abel and Dalila (Delilah), the virgin.
Glory be to God Who is glorified in His Saints. Amen.
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