From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Fast Day (Wine and Oil Allowed)
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 1:8-18
Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-5
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Eleutherios the Holy Martyr, Bishop Illyria and his mother Anthia
The Martyr Susannah the Deaconess
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 1:8-18
TIMOTHY, my son, do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of
me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power
of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in
virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which
he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through
the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel
I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I
suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed,
and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been
entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard
from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the
truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells
within us.
You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among
them Phygelos and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the
household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of
my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly
and found me - may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on
that Day and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesos.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-5
At that time, Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they
made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the
Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the
sabbath?" And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when
he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how
he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate
the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the
priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" And he
said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath;
so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath."
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered
hand. And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the
sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had
the withered hand, "Come here." And he said to them, "Is it lawful
on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?"
But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger,
grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch it
out," and his hand was restored.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Eleutherios the Holy Martyr, Bishop Illyria and his mother Anthia
Reading from the Synaxarion:
This Saint had Rome as his homeland. Having been orphaned of his
father from childhood, he was taken by his mother Anthia to Anicetus,
the Bishop of Rome (some call him Anencletus, or Anacletus), by whom
he was instructed in the sacred letters (that is, the divine
Scriptures). Though still very young in years, he was made Bishop of Illyricum
by reason of his surpassing virtue, and by his teachings he
converted many unbelievers to Christ. However, during a most harsh
persecution that was raised against the Christians under Hadrian (reigned
117-138), the Saint was arrested by the tyrants. Enduring many torments for
Christ, he was finally put to death by two soldiers about the year 126.
As for his Christ-loving mother Anthia, while embracing the remains
of her son and kissing them with maternal affection, she was also
beheaded.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Adorned with flowing priestly vesture and with dripping streams of blood
you at once went to your Lord Christ, O blessed wise Eleftherios,
annihilator of Satan. Wherefore, do not cease to intercede for those who
honor your blessed struggles in faith.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
O venerable One, we all praise and entreat you, Eleftherios,
Priest-Martyr, comeliness of Priests and exaltation of champions. Deliver from
diverse dangers those fervently honoring your memory, interceding
unceasingly for us all.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press
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