From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
Strict Fast
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 3:20-21; 4:1-3
Luke 18:15-17, 26-30
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Wednesday of the 10th Week
Our Holy Father Clement, Pope of Rome
Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria
Hermogenes, the Martyr
Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 3:20-21; 4:1-3
Brethren, our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his
glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things
to himself. Therefore, my brethren, whom I love and long for, my
joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat
Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. And I ask you also,
true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side
with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow
workers, whose names are in the book of life.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Luke 18:15-17, 26-30
At that time, they were bringing even infants to him that he might
touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus
called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not
hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to
you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall
not enter it."
Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is
impossible with men is possible with God." And Peter said, "Lo, we have left
our homes and followed you." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to
you, there is no man who has left house or wife or brothers or parents
or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not
receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Our Holy Father Clement, Pope of Rome
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Clement was instructed in the Faith of Christ by the Apostle
Peter. He became Bishop of Rome in the year 91, the third after the
death of the Apostles. He died as a martyr about the year 100 during
the reign of Trajan.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
O God of our Fathers, ever dealing with us according to Thy
gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but by their entreaties guide our
life in peace.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
O divine unshakeable towers of Christ's Church, pillars of true
piety who are most mighty and divine: Clement and Peter, ye
all-acclaimed, by your entreaties, protect and guard all of us.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Peter illustriously occupied the throne of Alexandria for twelve
years, and, as Eusebius says, "was a divine example of a bishop on
account of the excellence of his life and his study of the sacred
Scriptures" (see Eusebius, Eccl. Hist., Book VII, 3 2; Book VIII 11, 13; and
Book IX, 6). He excommunicated Arius for his sympathy with the
Meletian schism. When Arius learned that Saint Peter had been imprisoned,
he sent many priests and deacons to him, asking that he receive him
back into the communion of the Church before his martyrdom. When the
ambassadors of Arius, who had not, like Saint Peter, perceived the ruin he
would engender, were astonished at the vehemence with which Saint Peter
refused to receive Arius again, he revealed to them a dread vision he had
seen, in which the Master Christ had appeared to him as a child wearing
a garment torn from head to foot. When Saint Peter asked the Lord
who rent His garment, the Lord answered that it was Arius, and that
he must not be received back into communion. The holy hieromartyr
Peter was beheaded during the reign of Maximinus in the year 312; he is
called the "Seal of the Martyrs," because he was the last Bishop of
Alexandria to suffer martyrdom under the pagan Emperors. His successors to
the throne of Alexandria, Saints Alexander and Athanasius the Great,
brought to final victory the battle against Arius' heresy which Saint
Peter had begun.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
O divine unshakeable towers of Christ's Church, pillars of true
piety who are most mighty and divine: Clement and Peter, ye
all-acclaimed, by your entreaties, protect and guard all of us.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Afterfeast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Today is the prelude of God's pleasure and the proclamation of man's
salvation. The Virgin is clearly made manifest in the temple of God and
foretells Christ to all. Let us also cry out to her with mighty voice,
"Hail, fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation."
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
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