From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Monday, December 13, 2010
Strict Fast
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 8:7-13
Mark 8:11-21
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Monday of the 13th Week
Herman the Wonderworker of Alaska & First Saint of America
Auxentios, Eugene, Mardarios, Orestes, & Eustratios, Martyrs of Sebaste
Lucia the Virgin-martyr
Gabriel the Hieromartyr, Archbishop of Serbia
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 8:7-13
BRETHREN, if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been
no occasion for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says:
"The days will come, says the Lord, when I will establish a new
covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not like
the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took
them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did
not continue in my covenant, and so I paid no heed to them, says the
Lord. This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people. And they shall not teach every one his fellow or
every one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall
know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be
merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no
more." In speaking of a new covenant he treats the first as obsolete.
And what is becoming obsolete and growing Old is ready to vanish
away.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 8:11-21
At that time, the Pharisees came and began to argue with him,
seeking from him a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in
his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I
say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation." And he left
them, and getting into the boat again he departed to the other side.
Now they had forgotten to bring bread; and they had only one loaf
with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, "Take heed,
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." And they
discussed it with one another, saying, "We have no bread." And being aware
of it, Jesus said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you
have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts
hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And
do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five
thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They
said to him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the four thousand, how many
baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him,
"Seven." And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Herman the Wonderworker of Alaska & First Saint of America
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Herman (his name is a variant of Germanus) was born near Moscow
in 1756. In his youth he became a monk, first at the Saint Sergius
Hermitage near Saint Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland; while he dwelt
there, the most holy Mother of God appeared to him, healing him of a
grave malady. Afterwards he entered Valaam Monastery on Valiant Island
in Lake Ladoga; he often withdrew into the wilderness to pray for
days at a time. In 1794, answering a call for missionaries to preach
the Gospel to the Aleuts, he came to the New World with the first
Orthodox mission to Alaska. He settled on Spruce Island, which he called
New Valaam, and here he persevered, even in the face of many grievous
afflictions mostly at the hands of his own countrymen in the loving service
of God and of his neighbour. Besides his many toils for the sake of
the Aleuts, he subdued his flesh with great asceticism, wearing
chains, sleeping little, fasting and praying much. He brought many people
to Christ by the example of his life, his teaching, and his kindness
and sanctity, and was granted the grace of working miracles and of
prophetic insight. Since he was not a priest, Angels descended at Theophany
to bless the waters in the bay; Saint Herman used this holy water to
heal the sick. Because of his unwearying missionary labours, which
were crowned by God with the salvation of countless souls, he is
called the Enlightener of the Aleuts, and has likewise been renowned as
a wonderworker since his repose in 1837.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Blessed ascetic of the northern wilds and gracious intercessor for the
whole world, teacher of the Orthodox Faith, good instructor of piety,
adornment of Alaska and joy of all America, holy Father Herman, pray to
Christ God that He save our souls.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Monk of Valaam, who through ascetic labours didst become an emulator
of the desert-dwelling Saints of old, O beloved of the Mother of God
and Virgin, having taken prayer as sword and shield, thou wast
revealed as the scourge of pagan darkness and the demons' hosts. Hence we
cry to thee: O Saint Herman, pray that we be saved.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Auxentios, Eugene, Mardarios, Orestes, & Eustratios, Martyrs of Sebaste
Reading from the Synaxarion:
The Five Martyrs were from Greater Armenia. Like their ancestors,
they worshipped Christ in secret; during the persecution of
Diocletian, they presented themselves before the Forum authorities, and
having been tormented in diverse manners, by Lysius the proconsul, three
of them ended their lives in torments. As for Saints Eustratius and
Orestes, they survived and were sent to Sebastia to Agricolaus, who
governed the whole East; by his command these Saints, received their end
as martyrs by fire in 296. Saint Auxentius was a priest. Saint
Eustratius was educated and an orator; he was the foremost among Lysius'
dignitaries and the archivist of the province. In the Synaxarion he is given
the Latin title of scriniarius, that is, "keeper of the archives."
The prayer, "Magnifying I magnify Thee, O Lord," which is read in the
Saturday Midnight Service, is ascribed to him. In the Third Hour and
elsewhere there is another prayer, "O Sovereign Master, God the Father
Almighty," which is ascribed to Saint Mardarius.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as
the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal
God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the
tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O
Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
Thou shonest as a most brilliant light for them that sat in the
darkness of ignorance, O prizewinner. And armed with faith as with a
spear, thou wast not frightened by the audacity of thine adversaries, O
Eustratius, most eloquent of orators.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Lucia the Virgin-martyr
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Lucia was from Syracuse in Sicily, a virgin betrothed to a
certain pagan. Since her mother suffered from an issue of blood, she went
with her to the shrine of Saint Agatha at Catania to seek healing (see
Feb. 5). There Saint Agatha appeared to Lucia in a dream, assuring her
of her mother's healing, and foretelling Lucia's martyrdom. When her
mother had been healed, Lucia gladly distributed her goods to the poor,
preparing herself for her coming confession of Christ. Betrayed as a
Christian by her betrothed to Paschasius the Governor, she was put in a
brothel to be abased, but was preserved in purity by the grace of God.
Saint Lucia was beheaded in the year 304, during the reign of
Diocletian.
Kontakion in the Third Tone
We extol with fervent love thy most illustrious contest, and we
praise and honour thee as a chaste virgin and victor; for since thou
didst seek the beauty of Christ and none else, thou didst hate all
things corruptible, O wise Lucia. Wherefore, when thou wast beheaded,
thou wast adorned with an incorruptible crown.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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