From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Strict Fast
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 12:25-27; 13:22-25
Mark 10:2-12
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Tuesday of the 14th Week
Forefeast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Juliana of Nicomedia & her 630 Companion Martyrs
Themistocles the Martyr of Myra
Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 12:25-27; 13:22-25
BRETHREN, see that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did
not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less
shall we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. His voice then
shook the earth; but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will
shake not only the earth but also the heaven." This phrase,
"Yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken, as of
what has been made, in order that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore I appeal to you, brethren, bear with my word of exhortation, for
I have written to you briefly. You should understand that our
brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes
soon. Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from
Italy send you greetings. Grace be with all of you. Amen.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 10:2-12
At that time, the Pharisees came up to Jesus and in order to test
him, asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" He answered
them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses allowed a man to
write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away." But Jesus said to
them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But
from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. For
this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer
two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not
man put asunder." And in the house the disciples asked him again
about this matter. And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and
marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her
husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Forefeast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Be thou ready, Bethlehem, Eden hath opened unto all. Ephratha,
prepare thyself, for now, behold, the Tree of life hath blossomed forth
in the cave from the Holy Virgin. Her womb hath proved a true
spiritual Paradise, wherein the divine and saving Tree is found, and as we
eat thereof we shall all live, and shall not die as did Adam. For
Christ is born now to raise the image that had fallen aforetime.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
In Bethlehem now beholding Him in swaddling clothes, that holdeth
the earth within the hollow of His hand, we all offer our prefestal
songs to the Mother that gave Him birth, who rejoiceth maternally to
hold in her bosom the true Son of God.
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Juliana of Nicomedia & her 630 Companion Martyrs
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Juliana, who was from Nicomedia, lived during the years of
Maximian and was the daughter of wealthy parents. They were pagans, but
she was secretly a Christian. Without consulting her, her parents
betrothed her to an idolater named Eleusius, who was a member of the
Senate. She, not wishing to marry him, told him that unless he became
eparch, she would not marry him. When he had obtained this position, she
told him that unless he renounced the religion of the idols and became
a Christian, she would have nothing to do with him. Eleusius then
told Juliana's father of this. He attempted to turn her from the Faith
of Christ, but when he saw that she could not change her constancy,
he gave her up to the Eparch, Eleusius her betrothed, to be tried
according to the law. When he could not persuade her to do his will, he
subjected her to the most inhuman tortures and after imprisoning her, cast
her into a furnace. But by the grace of God, the furnace was
marvellousy quenched. Seeing this, some five hundred men and one hundred and
fifty women believed in Christ and were beheaded for His sake. After
further torments, she was beheaded, in the year 299.
Kontakion in the First Tone
A comely virgin wast thou, O wise Juliana; and as thy soul was
wounded with love for thy Maker thy body was also pierced through with
comely martyric wounds, which adorned thee as the bride of Christ and
His Martyr; now as thou dost dwell in the bridechambers of Heaven,
thou prayest for all of us.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Themistocles the Martyr of Myra
Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Our holy and wonderworking Father Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, was
born in Volhynia, tonsured a monk at twelve years of age, and later
ordained a priest. He lived in solitude for a time in a desert place north
of Lvov and founded the Holy Transfiguration Monastery; afterwards
he was sent to Constantinople, where the holy Patriarch Athanasius
consecrated him Metropolitan of Kiev in 1308, and he returned to Vladimir,
where the Metropolitans of Kiev had their residence at that time (see
Saint Jonas on June 15). In 1325, he moved to Moscow, where he founded
the Dormition Cathedral, and after his repose in December 21, 1326,
was buried there. He was also an iconographer, and two of his icons,
the Dormition and the Petrovskaya, are found in the Dormition
Cathedral (see also Oct. 5 and Aug. 24).
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Now the formerly fruitless land rejoiceth; for behold, Christ hath
revealed a light in thee that shineth forth clearly in the world, and
healeth our infirmities and sicknesses. Wherefore, dance and be merry
with boldness; he is a hierarch indeed of the Most High, Who was his
fellow-worker in these things.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
On this day, we hasten to thee with love, fashioning a song, O
God-bearing champion and marvellous wonderworker of our land. Since thou hast
boldness before the Lord, deliver us from diverse afflictions, that we may
cry to thee: Rejoice, O support of our city.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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