From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
Readings for today:
St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians 4:18-5:10
Luke 11:47-54; 12:1
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Thursday of the 7th Week
Ioannikos the Great
Nikandros, Bishop of Myra
Porphyrios the Mime
Emperor John Batatze, the Merciful
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians 4:18-5:10
BRETHREN, comfort one another with these words. But as to the times and the
seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For
you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a
thief in the night. When people say, "There is peace and security,"
then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a
woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in
darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are
all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of
darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and
be sober. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get
drunk are drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be
sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet
the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to
obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that
whether we wake or sleep we might live with him.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Luke 11:47-54; 12:1
The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, "Woe to you! for you
build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are
witnesses and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they killed them,
and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, 'I
will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and
persecute,' that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of
the world, may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel
to the blood of Zacharias, who perished between the altar and the
sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of this generation. Woe to
you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did
not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering." As
he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to
press him hard, and to provoke him to speak of many things, lying in
wait for him, to catch at something he might say. In the meantime,
when so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that
they trod upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first,
"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Ioannikos the Great
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Joannicius was born in Bithynia about the year 740. His father
was named Myritrikes and his mother Anastaso When he had reached
maturity, he excelled in soldiery and was counted worthy of royal honours
for his bravery. He had been brought up an iconoclast, but while yet
a soldier, he was converted to Orthodoxy by a certain holy elder.
He later forsook all things and departed for Mount Olympus, where he
spent the remainder of his life in asceticism. Becoming great in
virtue, he reposed in the Lord in the year 834, having lived some
ninety-four years. To this Saint is ascribed the brief prayer, "My hope is
the Father . . . ."
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 Ioninicus, our Holy Father, pray to Christ our
God, to save our souls.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
We the faithful on this day all come together, righteous Joannicius,
to keep thy sacred memory; and we beseech thee to intercede that we
may all find great mercy with Christ our Lord.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Nikandros, Bishop of Myra
Reading from the Synaxarion:
The holy Martyrs Nicander and Hermias were ordained by the holy
Apostle Titus. When they had drawn many to the Faith of Christ, they were
accused to Libanius, the Count of the city of Myra, where, after
suffering many torments, they were enclosed in a tomb alive, and thus
surrendered their spirits into the hands of God.
Apolytikion in the Second Tone
As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophet Nicander, O Lord, through
him we beseech Thee to save our souls.
Kontakion in the Third Tone
With your preaching as a plough, ye tilled men's souls with your
doctrines, for ye had yourselves been sown by Christ's wise husbandman,
Titus. Wherefore, ye became you Master's martyric harvest, brought to
Him as fruitful sheaves of sacred confession, O Nicander and Hermias,
when ye contested unto the death for His sake.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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