From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Friday, December 31, 2010
Fast Free
Readings for today:
St. Peter's First Universal Letter 1:1-25; 2:1-10
Mark 12:1-12
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Friday of the 15th Week
Apodosis of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Melania the Younger, Nun of Rome
Holy Father Zoticus, the Priest of Orphanotrophus
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Peter's First Universal Letter 1:1-25; 2:1-10
PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the exiles of the Dispersion in
Pontos, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen and destined by
God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus
Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born
anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and
unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are guarded through
faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this
you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer
various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than
gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise
and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having
seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in
him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of
your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.
The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours
searched and inquired about this salvation; they inquired what person or
time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them when predicting
the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to
them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things
which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good
news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into
which angels long to look.
Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace
that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient
children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but
as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your
conduct; since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." And if
you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to
his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your
exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited
from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without
blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but
was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. Through him
you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him
glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere
love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. You
have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable,
through the living and abiding word of God; for "All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and
the flower falls, but the word of the Lord abides for ever." That
word is the good news which was preached to you.
So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and
all slander. Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk,
that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the
kindness of the Lord.
Come to him, to that living stone. rejected by men but in God's sight
chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 12:1-12
The Lord said this parable, "A man planted a vineyard, and set a
hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower,
and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the
time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of
the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him, and sent
him away empty handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and
they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent
another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and
some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he
sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But those
tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him,
and the inheritance will be ours.' And they took him and killed him,
and cast him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard
do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to
others. Have you not read this scripture: 'The very stone which the
builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's
doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" And they tried to arrest him,
but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the
parable against them; so they left him and went away.
(C) 2010 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Apodosis of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
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
Melania the Younger, Nun of Rome
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Melania the Younger, who was born in 388, was the grand-daughter
of Saint Melania the Elder (see June 8). Her father Publicola was an
Eparch of Rome. She was joined in wedlock to a husband and became the
mother of two children, both of which she lost shortly thereafter. Thus,
having agreed with her husband to pass the rest of their lives in
abstinence and chastity, and taking her mother Albina with her, she went off
to Africa. They ransomed 8,000 captives; furthermore, they built two
monasteries - one for men and one for women - in the city of Tagaste, which
was in the district of Tunis. After seven years they moved to
Jerusalem. Thereafter Melania shut herself up in a small and narrow
hermitage by the Mount of Olives, and wearing away her body away with
fasting and vigil, she reposed in 434.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking
up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst
teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to
the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Melania, thy
spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
Being illumined in thy soul with the bright rays of Him that hone forth
unto us from a Virgin, with virtues wast thou brilliant, O all-lauded
one; for having dispersed on earth thy corruptible riches, thou didst
store up for thyself greater riches in Heaven; and in ascetic labours
thou didst shine; hence, O Melania, with longing we honour thee.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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