Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Greek Orthodox Christianity: Daily Readings For 2 November

From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America;

Readings for today:




St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians 3:8-13

Luke 11:34-41



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Tuesday of the 7th Week

Akindynos, Pegasios, Aphthonios, Elpidephoros, & Anempodistos of Persia

Domnina, Domna, & Kyriaki, the Martyrs





Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians 3:8-13



BRETHREN, if you stand fast in the Lord, what thanksgiving can we render to

God for you, for all the joy which we feel for your sake before our

God, praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face

and supply what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father

himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you; and may the Lord make

you increase and abound in love to one another and to all men, as we

do to you, so that he may establish your hearts unblamable in

holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with

all his saints.



(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Luke 11:34-41



The Lord said, "Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is

sound, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound, your

body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you

be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no

part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays

gives you light." While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine

with him; so he went in and sat at table. The Pharisee was astonished

to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said

to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the

dish, but inside you are full of extortion and wickedness. You fools!

Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give for

alms those things which are within and behold, everything is clean for

you."



(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Akindynos, Pegasios, Aphthonios, Elpidephoros, & Anempodistos of Persia



Reading from the Synaxarion:



These Martyrs contested in Persia about the year 330, in the reign of

Sapor (Shapur) II, King of Persia (325-379). Acindynus, Pegasius, and

Anempodistus, Persian Christians, confessed Christ before the King, and were

put to many torments. Aphthonius and Elpidephorus, drawn to the Faith

of Christ through the Martyrs, were beheaded with another 7,000.

Saints Acindynus, Pegasius, and Anempodistus were at last burned to

death. Two churches were dedicated in their honour in Constantinople. As

is often the case in church hymns, there is a play on the meanings

of the Saints' names here. Acindynus means "unimperilled"; Pegasius

is derived from pegazo--"to gush forth"; Aphthonius is derived from

aphthonos-"abundant"; Elpidephorus means "hope-bearing"; Anempodistus means

"unhindered." These are all Greek translations of their Persian names.



Apolytikion in the Second Tone

Blessed is the earth that drank your blood, O prizewinners of the Lord,

and holy are the tabernacles that received your spirit; for in the

stadium ye triumphed over the enemy, and ye proclaimed Christ with

boldness. Beseech Him, we pray, since He is good, to save our souls.



Kontakion in the First Tone

As five unerring stars of the great Sun of Glory, the soldiers of

Christ God brightly shone on the whole earth, dispelling the gloom of

passions and pouring abundant grace on all of the faithful without cease

and unhindered; and they grant salvation that no sin can imperil,

through hope that is full of faith.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

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