From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Saturday, December 18, 2010
Fast Day (Wine and Oil Allowed)
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:8-12
Luke 13:19-29
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Saturday before Nativity
Sebastian the Martyr & his Companions
Our Righteous Father Michael Syngellon the Confessor
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:8-12
BRETHREN, the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by
faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "in you
shall all the nations be blessed." So then, those who are men of
faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith. For all who rely on works
of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be
every one who does not abide by all things written in the book of the
law, and do them." Now it is evident that no man is justified
before God by the law; for "the righteous shall live by
faith"; but the law does not rest on faith, for "He who does them
shall live by them."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Luke 13:19-29
The Lord said this parable, "The kingdom of God is like a grain of
mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and
became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." And
again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like
leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it
was all leavened." He went on his way through towns and villages,
teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. And some one said to him, "Lord,
will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, "Strive to
enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and
will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the
door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying,
'Lord, open to us.' He will answer you, 'I do not know where you come
from.' Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence,
and you taught in our streets.' But he will say, 'I tell you, I do
not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of
iniquity!' There you will weep and gnash your teeth when you see Abraham and
Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you
yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north
and south, and sit at table in the kingdom of God."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Sebastian the Martyr & his Companions
Reading from the Synaxarion:
This Saint, who was from the city of Milan, was a member of the Senate
as well as a zealot for the Faith of Christ, and had converted many
to the knowledge of God. When Diocletian and Maximian began a
Persecution against the Christians, Saint Sebastian was arrested and pierced
with sharp arrows, and the bones of his body were shattered with
clubs; and being cut into pieces, he gave up his spirit to God in the
year 288. Together with him there were others also who died while
enduring various tortures. Their names are Marcellinus and Mark the
brethren, Tranquillinus their father, Nicostratus and his spouse Zoe,
Tiburtius, Claudius, Castulus, and Castor.
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 Fourth Tone
Since thou wast great in zeal for godly religion, thou didst assemble
an alliance of Martyrs, and in their midst, thou shonest like a
flashing star. With the arrows that did pierce thy much-suffering body,
thou didst slay the enemy, O Great Martyr Sebastian; and thou thyself
didst fly as from a bow into the Heavens, where Christ hath received
thy soul.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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