From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
Fast Day (Wine and Oil Allowed)
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 9:6-11
Matthew 5:14-19
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria
Nilus the Ascetic of Sinai
Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians 9:6-11
BRETHREN, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows
bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up
his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a
cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in
abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide
in abundance for every good work. As it is written, "He scatters
abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever." He who
supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply
your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You
will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us
will produce thanksgiving to God.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Matthew 5:14-19
The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A
city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it
under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I
have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to
abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven
and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law
until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of
these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the
kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called
great in the kingdom of heaven."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint John was born in 555 on the island of Cyprus in the city of
Amathus; his father, Epiphanius, was a ruler of Cyprus. The Saint was
consecrated Archbishop of Alexandria in 608. A man of exemplary uprightness,
in his zeal for Orthodoxy he strove mightily to fight the many
heresies among the Christians in Egypt; but above all, he was famous for
his singular generosity, humility, and sympathy towards all,
especially the poor. His mercy was so great that the report of it reached
the Persian invaders of Jerusalem, who desired to see him because of
it. Saint John reposed in 619, at the age of sixty-four.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
In patiently enduring, you obtained your reward, O venerable father.
You persevered in your prayers without ceasing; and you loved the
impoverished and you satisfied them. We entreat you, intercede with Christ
God, O blessed John the Merciful, for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
Thy riches and wealth didst thou disperse unto the poor; thou now
hast received the Heavens' riches in return. For this cause, O
all-wise John, we all honour thee with our songs of praise as we keep thy
memorial, O namesake of almsgiving and of mercy.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of St. Gregory Palamas Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Nilus the Ascetic of Sinai
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Nilus, who had Constantinople as his homeland, was a disciple of
Saint John Chrysostom. He had formerly been an eparch of the city, then
became an ascetic on Mount Sinai. He wrote epistles and various
ascetical works, and reposed about 451.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
With the rivers of your tears, you have made the barren desert
fertile. Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have
borne fruit a hundred-fold. By your miracles you have become a light,
shining upon the world. O Nilus, our Holy Father, pray to Christ our God,
to save our souls.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
By thine unsleeping prayer, O Father Nilus blest of God, thou didst
most keenly cut away all the material that enkindleth the revolts of
the body's passions; and since thou possessest boldness with the Lord
of all, from all dangers that can be do thou deliver me that I may
cry to thee: Rejoice, O universal Father.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Martin, the great luminary of Gaul, was the son of pagan parents.
When he was still quite young he became a catechumen; at the age of
twenty-two he received Holy Baptism. Then he undertook the labours of a
monk, and was afterwards consecrated Bishop of Tours, renowned as an
ascetic and wonderworker, a faithful shepherd of Christ's flock. He
converted many both from paganism and heresy, cast out demons and raised
the dead, and while undertaking all the apostolic burdens of a
bishop, he never ceased to be a simple monk and man of prayer. His
monastery became a center of monasticism not only for Gaul, but for all of
Western Europe. A widely celebrated incident of his life took place when
he was still a catechumen, fulfilling his military service. Seeing
an ill-clad beggar asking alms at the gate of the city of Amiens and
being overlooked by passersby, Saint Martin, having nothing else to
give, rent his military cloak in two with his sword and gave half to
the beggar, so that he might cover himself in the cold. That night,
the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him, clothed with the half of the
cloak he had given to the beggar. Saint Martin's cloak - capella
in Latin - was kept in a sanctuary which came to be called
capella, from which the word "chapel" is derived; and they under whose
care it was kept were called cappellani, from which "chaplain"
is derived. Saint Martin reposed in peace in the year 397.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
In signs and in miracles thou wast renowned throughout Gaul; by
grace and adoption now thou art a light for the world, O Martin, most
blest of God. Almsdeeds and compassion filled thy life with their
splendour; teaching and wise counsel were thy riches and treasures, which
thou dost dispense freely unto all them that honour thee.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
As a devoted man of God, thou didst proclaim His mysteries. And as a
seer of the Trinity, thou didst shed thy blessings on the Occident. By
thy prayers and entreaties, O adornment of Tours and glory of all the
Church, preserve us, O Saint Martin, and save all who praise thy memory.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
You may also read the prayer of the hour, listen to the weekly audio meditation and search for saints and feasts online by visiting the Online Chapel at: http://www.onlinechapel.goarch.org
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