From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Fast Free
Readings for today:
St. James' Universal Letter 3:1-10
Mark 11:11-23
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Tuesday of the 15th Week
20,000 Martyrs burned in Nicomedia
Holy Martyr Glycerus
Simon the Myrrhbearer, Founder of Simonopetra, Monastery of Mount Athos
Afterfeast of the Nativity
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. James' Universal Letter 3:1-10
BRETHREN, let not many of you become teachers, for you know that we who
teach shall be judged with greater strictness. For we all make many
mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect
man, able to bridle the whole body also. If we put bits into the
mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by
strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will
of the pilot directs. So the tongue is a little member and boasts of
great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the
tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members,
staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on
fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea
creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human being
can tame the tongue - a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it
we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made
in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and
cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 11:11-23
At that time, Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and
when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he
went out to Bethany with the twelve.
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.
And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he
could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but
leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, "May no
one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.
And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to
drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he
over turned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those
who sold pigeons; and he would not allow any one to carry anything
through the temple. And he taught, and said to them, "Is it not written,
'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But
you have made it a den of robbers." And the chief priests and the
scribes heard it and sought a way to destroy him; for they feared him,
because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. And when
evening came they went out of the city.
As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered
away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, "Master,
look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered." And Jesus answered
them, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this
mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his
heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done
for him."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
20,000 Martyrs burned in Nicomedia
Reading from the Synaxarion:
All these Saints, some 20,000 in number, were burned alive in the
year 303, while they were gathered in church. This came to pass during
the reign of Diocletian and Maximian. According to the Synaxarion,
this took place on the day of Christ's Nativity. Eusebius (Eccl. Hist.
VIII, 6) says that, of the Christians then living in Nicomedia, all
were slain by imperial decree - some by the sword, and others by fire,
and that, because of their divine and inexpressible ardour, both men
and women cast themselves into the fire. Besides those burned in
church. the following, who were slain in the same Persecution, are
commemorated today. Indus, Gorgonius, and Peter were cast into the sea;
Glycerius the Presbyter and Mardonius were burned; Dorotheus the Prefect
and Zeno were beheaded; Theophilus the Deacon was stoned; Mygdonius
was buried alive; and Domna, who had been a priestess of the idols,
believed in Christ, and was baptized, was beheaded and cast into the fire.
See also the account of Saint Anthimus on September 3.
Apolytikion in the Second Tone
Blessed is the earth that drank your blood, O prizewinners of the Lord,
and holy are the tabernacles that received your spirit; for in the
stadium ye triumphed over the enemy, and ye proclaimed Christ with
boldness. Beseech Him, we pray, since He is good, to save our souls.
Kontakion in the First Tone
A twenty-thousand numbered battalion of Martyrs ariseth like an
unwaning star great with brightness, enlight'ning by faith the hearts and
the minds of all godly folk. For, enkindled with divine love unto
the Master, this courageous host received a sanctified ending when
eagerly burned with fire.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Afterfeast of the Nativity
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge
upon the world; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were
instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know
Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee.
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
No comments:
Post a Comment