From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Strict Fast
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 5:11-14; 6:1-8
Luke 21:5-8, 10-11, 20-24
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Wednesday of the 12th Week
Forefeast of the Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos
Patapios the Righteous of Thebes
Apollo, Tychikos, Sosthenes, Cephas, Epaphroditos, Caesar, & Onesiphoros, Apostles of the 70
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 5:11-14; 6:1-8
BRETHREN, about Melchizedek we have much to say which is hard to explain,
since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you
ought to be teachers, you need some one to teach you again the first
principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food; for every one who
lives on milk is unskilled in the work of righteousness, for he is a
child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their
faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let
us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity,
not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of
faith toward God, with instruction about ablutions, the laying on of
hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we
will do if God permits. For it is impossible to restore again to
repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the
heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have
tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to
come, if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God
on their own account and hold him up to contempt. For land which has
drunk the rain that often falls upon it, and brings forth vegetation
useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing
from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and
near to being cursed; its end is to be burned.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Luke 21:5-8, 10-11, 20-24
At that time, as some spoke of the temple how it was adorned with
noble stones and offerings, he said, "As for these things, which you
see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone
upon another that will not be thrown down." And they asked him,
"Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about
to take place?" And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray;
for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is
at hand!' Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and
tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end
will not be at once."
Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places
famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from
heaven.
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its
desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those
who are out in the country enter it; for these are days of vengeance,
to fulfill all that is written. Alas for those who are with child
and for those who give suck in those days! For great distress shall
be upon the earth and wrath upon this people; they will fall by the
edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem
will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles
are fulfilled."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Forefeast of the Conception by St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos
Patapios the Righteous of Thebes
Reading from the Synaxarion:
This Saint was from the Thebaid of Egypt and struggled many years in
the wilderness. He departed for Constantinople, and having performed
many miracles and healings, he reposed in peace in a mountain cave on
the Gulf of Corinth, where his holy relics are found incorrupt to the
present day.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
The image of God, was faithfully preserved in you, O Father. For you
took up the Cross and followed Christ. By Your actions you taught us
to look beyond the flesh for it passes, rather to be concerned about
the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy Patapius, your soul
rejoices with the angels.
Kontakion in the Third Tone
Having found thy Church to be a place of spiritual healing, all the
people flock with haste thereto, O Saint, and they ask thee to bestow
the ready healing of their diseases and forgiveness of the sins they
wrought in their lifetime; O Patapius most righteous, in every need, thou
art the protector of all.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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