From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Friday, December 17, 2010
Fast Day (Wine and Oil Allowed)
Readings for today:
Luke 11:47-54; 12:1
St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2
Mark 9:33-41
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Friday of the 13th Week
Daniel the Prophet & Ananias, Azarias, & Misail, the Three Holy Youths
Dionysios of Zakynthos
Orthros 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
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 11:33-40; 12:1-2
BRETHREN, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced
justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness,
became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their
dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release,
that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking
and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned,
they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the
sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute,
afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering
over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive
what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us,
that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since
we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay
aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run
with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the
pioneer and perfection of our faith.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 9:33-41
At that time, Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum, and when he
was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the
way?" But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one
another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and
he said to them, "If any one would be first, he must be last of all
and servant of all." And he took a child, and put him in the midst
of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever
receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me,
receives not me but him who sent me." John said to him, "Teacher, we saw
a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because
he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for
no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to
speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly,
I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you
bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Daniel the Prophet & Ananias, Azarias, & Misail, the Three Holy Youths
Reading from the Synaxarion:
The Prophet Daniel and the Three Children were all descended from the
royal tribe of Judah. In the year 599 before Christ, in the reign of
Joachim, who was also called Jechonias (I Chron. 3:16, and II Chron.
36:8), while yet children, these righteous ones were led away as
captives into Babylon together with the other Jews by Nabuchodonosor. He
singled them out from among the other captives to serve him, and renamed
them thus: Daniel was named Baltazar; Ananias, Sedrach: Misael,
Misach; and Azarias, Abednago. They were reared in the royal court, and
taught the wisdom of the Chaldeans; and after the passage of three
years, they surpassed all the Chaldean sages (Dan. 1).
Thereafter, Daniel, being still a lad, interpreted that mysterious image seen
by Nabuchodonosor in a dream, an image that was composed of
different metals, but was shattered and ground to dust by a certain stone
which had been hewn out of a mountain without the hand of man. This
vision clearly portrayed through the mountain the height of the Virgin's
holiness and the power of the Holy Spirit which overshadowed her. Through
the image of the Stone, Christ was portrayed, Who was seedlessly born
of her, and Who by His coming as the Godman would shatter and
destroy all the kingdoms of the world, which were portrayed through the
image; and He would raise them that believe in Him into His Heavenly
Kingdom, which is eternal and everlasting (ibid. 2:31-45). Thereupon, he
signified in prophecy the time of His appearance in the Jordan, the
beginning of His preaching of the Gospel, the time of His saving Passion,
and the cessation of the worship according to the Mosaic Law, (ibid.
9:14-27). He portrayed most excellently the majestic and dread image of His
second coming, presenting by means of words, as with living colours, the
fiery throne which shall be set, the Eternal Judge Who shall sit
thereon, the river of fire that shall flow forth before Him, the calling
to account before the impartial judgment seat, the opened books of
each ones deeds, the thousands upon thousands of them that minister to
Him, and the ten thousands of them that stand in His presence (ibid.
7: 9-10). Daniel (whose name means "God is judge") was called "man
of desires" by the Angels that appeared (ibid. 9:23), because he
courageously disdained every desire of the body, even the very bread that is
necessary for nourishment. Furthermore, he received this name because, in
his longing for the freedom of those of his tribe, and his desire to
know their future condition, he ceased not supplicating God, fasting
and bending the knee three times a day. Because of this prayer he was
cast into the den of lions, after he had been accused by his enemies
as a transgressor of the decree issued through the proclamation of
the king, that no one should worship or ask for anything from God or
from men for thirty days, but only from the king. But having stopped
the mouths of the lions by divine might, and appearing among them as
though he were a shepherd of sheep, Daniel showed the impious the might
of godliness (ibid. 6:1-23).
As for the Three Children, Ananias ("Yah is gracious"), Misael ("Who
is what God is?), and Azarias ("Yah is keeper"), since they refused
to offer adoration to Nabuchodonosor's image, they were cast into
the furnace of fire. They were preserved unharmed amidst the flames -
even their hair was untouched - by the descent of the Angel of the
Lord, that is, the Son of God. Walking about in the furnace, as though
in the midst of dew, they sang the universal hymn of praise to God,
which is found in the Seventh and Eighth Odes of the Holy Psalter. And
coming forth therefrom, without even the smell of the fire on their
clothes (Dan. 3), they prefigured in themselves the Virgin's incorrupt
giving of birth; for she, on receiving the Fire of the Godhead within
her womb, was not burned, but remained virgin, even as she was before
giving birth.
Therefore the Church celebrates the Three Children and Daniel on this day,
on the Sunday of the Forefathers, and on the Sunday before the
Nativity of Christ, since they prefigured and proclaimed His Incarnation.
Furthermore, they were of the tribe of Judah, wherefrom, Christ sprang forth
according to the flesh. The holy Three Children completed their lives full
of days; as for the Prophet Daniel, he lived until the reign of
Cyrus, King of Persia, whom he also petitioned that his nation be
allowed to return to Jerusalem and that the Temple be raised up again,
and his request was granted. He reposed in Peace, having lived about
eighty-eight years. His prophetical book, which is divided into twelve
chapters, is ranked fourth among the greater Prophets.
Apolytikion in the Second Tone
Great are the accomplishments of faith. In the fountain of flame the
three Holy Youths rejoiced as though they were resting by the waters.
And the Prophet Daniel showed himself to be a shepherd to the lions,
as though they were sheep. Through their prayers O Christ our God,
save our souls.
Kontakion in the Third Tone
Since thy pure and hallowed heart had been made pure by the Spirit, it
became His dwelling-place and clearest prophecy's vessel; for thou didst
behold things far off as near and present, and when cast into the den,
thou didst muzzle lions; for which cause, O blessed Prophet, glorious
Daniel, we all revere thee in faith.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Dionysios of Zakynthos
Reading from the Synaxarion:
The holy hierarch, Saint Dionysius, who was born and reared on
Zakynthos, was the son of pious and wealthy parents, Mocius and Paulina by
name. In his youth he entered the ancient monastery of the Strophada
Islands, which lie south of Zakynthos, and there he donned the monastic
habit. Later, he was appointed Archbishop of Aegina, and adorned its
throne for a considerable time. Thereafter he returned to his homeland.
One incident in his life especially reveals to what virtue he
attained. A man came to him in desperation, witnessing that he had
committed a murder, and was being pursued by the slain man's family. He
asked Saint Dionysius to give him refuge. The Saint agreed to this,
upon learning that it was his own brother whom the man had slain, he
said nothing, but concealing the agony of his grief, hid him. When the
Saint's kinsmen arrived at the monastery, he told them that the Murderer
had gone by such and such a way. When they had departed, he
admonished the man concerning the gravity of his sin, instructed him in
repentance, and sent him off in peace having forgiven him his brother's
murder. According to local tradition, this man later returned and became
a monk at this same monastery. Saint Dionysius reposed in peace in
1621, leaving behind his sacred and incorrupt relics as a treasure for
his fellow citizens.
Apolytikion in the First Tone
The offspring of Zakynthos and bishop of Aegina, protector of
Strophades Monastery, Saint Dionysios, O faithful, let us all with one
accord now honor and sincerely cry to him: "By your fervant prayers save
us who are observing your mem'ry and who cry to you: Glory to Christ
who glorified you; glory to Him who made you marvelous; glory to Him
who gave you to us as a sleepless advocate."
Kontakion in the Third Tone
On this day doth Zakynthos call all the faithful together, rousing
them to offer praise in songs and hymns of thanksgiving to our great
and fervent helper in needs and sorrows, who doth swiftly rescue them
that are caught in perils. And she honoureth him, crying: O
Dionysius, boast of the faithful, rejoice!
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of St. Gregory Palamas Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
No comments:
Post a Comment