From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Fast Free
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 2:11-18
Matthew 2:13-23
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
14,000 infants (Holy Innocents) slain by Herod in Bethlehem
Our Righteous Father Marcellus, Abbot of the Monastery of the Unsleeping Ones
Our Righteous Father Thaddeus the Confessor
Afterfeast of the Nativity
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 2:11-18
BRETHREN, he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one
origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying,
"I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the
congregation I will praise thee." And again, "I will put my trust in
him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself
likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy
him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all
those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. For
surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the
descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in
every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high
priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the
people. For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able
to help those who are tempted.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Matthew 2:13-23
When the wise men departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to
Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and
flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to
search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child
and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there
until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken
by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was
in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in
Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according
to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was
fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in
Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they were no more." But when
Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph
in Egypt, saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to
the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead."
And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land
of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaos reigned over Judea in
place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned
in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and
dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets
might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
14,000 infants (Holy Innocents) slain by Herod in Bethlehem
Reading from the Synaxarion:
The infant-slaying Herod mentioned here is the same one that ruled at
the time of Christ's Nativity. In those days, certain Magi, who were
wise and noble men, perhaps even kings, set forth from the East, and
came to Jerusalem, seeking the King of the Jews, Who had been born;
and they said that in the East, where their homeland was, an unusual
and strange star had appeared two years before, which, according to
an ancient oracle (Num 24:17), was to signify the birth of some
great king of the Jews. "For we have seen His star in the east," they
said, "and have come to worship Him" (Matt. 2:2). Hearing these things,
Herod was troubled, and the whole city together with him. Then, having
inquired and been informed by the high priests and scribes of the people
that, according to the prophecies, Christ was to be born in Bethlehem,
he sent the Magi thither and ordered them that, when they would find
the Child, to inform him, so that he also - as he affirmed - might go
and worship Him. But the Magi, after they had worshipped, departed by
another way to their own country by a divine command. Then Herod was
wroth and sent men to slay all the infants of Bethlehem and the parts
round about, from two years old and under, thinking that with them he
would also certainly slay the King Who had been born. But this vain man
who fought against God was mocked, since Jesus the Child, with Mary
His Mother, under the protection of Joseph the Betrothed, fled into
Egypt at the command of an Angel. As for those innocent infants, they
became the first Martyrs slain in behalf of Christ. But their
blood-thirsty executioner, the persecutor of Christ, came down with dropsy
after a short time, with his members rotting and being eaten by worms,
and he ended his life in a most wretched manner.
Apolytikion in the First Tone
Be entreated, O Lord, by the sufferings endured for You by the
Saints, and we pray You, heal all our pain.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Second Tone
When the King was born in Bethlehem, the Magi arrived from the East
with gifts guided by a Star on high, but Herod was troubled and mowed
down the children like wheat; for he lamented that his power would
soon be destroyed.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Our Righteous Father Marcellus, Abbot of the Monastery of the Unsleeping Ones
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Marcellus, who was from the city of Apamea in Syria, was born of
renowned parents. Adorned with virtue and learning, he succeeded Saint
Alexander to the abbacy of the Monastery of the Unsleeping about the year
460. This monastery was so named because the monks there were divided
into three ranks, and took turns in succession for the execution of
the sacred services both day and night, and thus ceaselessly sent up
praise to God, without any lapse. The author of this practice was the
aforementioned Alexander. As the biographer of both these Saints writes: "Later,
a venerable monastery was established near the mouth of Pontus -
that is, the place where the Black Sea tracts into the Bosphorus - and
he introduced a rule that, though new, was superior to any found
elsewhere; that is, that henceforth they should never be any cessation in
the hymnody offered to God, but that through an unbroken succession
of those that served in turn, there should be achieved this
continuous and unceasing glorification of our Master."
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
The image of God, was faithfully preserved in you, O Father. For you
took up the Cross and followed Christ. By Your actions you taught us
to look beyond the flesh for it passes, rather to be concerned about
the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy Marcellus, your soul
rejoices with the angels.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
Thou clad in a mortal body, O Marcellus most wise, thou strovest to
emulate the Angels' choirs in divine perpetual hymnody. And as an
unsleeping shepherd of thy monastics, thou wast an example of true prayer
and devoutness; O Father, intercede with the Lord, that He would save
our souls.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
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
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