Daily Readings:
Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated: the Feast of the Nativity (3rd Day), Feast of st. Stephen
December 27 / January 9. Third Day of the Feast of the Nativity. Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen St. Theodore Graptus ("the Branded", confessor, brother of St. Theophanes the Hymnographer. (services combined) St. Theodore, Archbishop of Constantinople. St. Luke, monk of Tryglia. New-Martyrs Tikhon, Archbishop of Voronezh, and with him 160 martyred priests (1919). Repose of Athanasius of Grigorious Monastery, Mt. Athos (1953).
Понедельник, 27 Декабря/ 14 Декабря (Церковный календарь)
Неделя святых Праотец. Мчч. Фирса, Левкия и Каллиника (249-251). Мчч. Филимона, Аполлония, Ариана и Феотиха (286-251). Новосвмч. Вассиана, арх. Тамбовского.
Third Day of the Nativity of our Lord
The third day of the Nativity is dedicated to the Protomartyr St Stephen. This is the third day of the three day Winter Pascha.
Third Day of the Nativity of our Lord
Kontakion - Tone 3
Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One,
And the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One!
Angels with shepherds glorify Him!
The wise men journey with a star!
Since for our sake the Eternal God was born as a Little Child!
Troparion - Tone 4
Your Nativity, O Christ our God,
Has shone to the world the Light of wisdom!
For by it, those who worshipped the stars,
Were taught by a Star to adore You,
The Sun of Righteousness,
And to know You, the Orient from on High.
O Lord, glory to You!
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Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen
The Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen was the eldest of the seven deacons, appointed by the Apostles themselves, and therefore he is called "archdeacon." He was the first Christian martyr, and he suffered for Christ when he was about thirty. In the words of Asterias, he was "the starting point of the martyrs, the instructor of suffering for Christ, the foundation of righteous confession, since Stephen was the first to shed his blood for the Gospel."
Filled with the Holy Spirit, St Stephen preached Christianity and defeated Jewish teachers of the Law in debate. The Jews maligned St Stephen, saying that he had uttered blasphemy against God and against Moses. St Stephen came before the Sanhedrin and the High Priest to answer these charges. He gave a fiery speech, in which he recounted the history of the Jewish nation, and denounced the Jews for persecuting the prophets, and also for executing the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ (Acts ch. 7).
During his speech, St Stephen suddenly saw the heavens opened and Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God. The Jews shouted and covered their ears, and rushed at him. They dragged him out of the city and stoned him, but the holy martyr prayed for his murderers. Far off on the heights stood the Mother of God with the holy Apostle John the Theologian, and She prayed fervently for the martyr. Before his death St Stephen said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. O Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." Then he joyfully gave up his pure soul to Christ.
The body of the holy Protomartyr Stephen, left to be eaten by beasts, was secretly taken up by the Jewish teacher Gamaliel and his son Habib, who buried Stephen on his estate. They both believed in Christ, and later received holy Baptism.
St Stephen is also commemorated on August 2 (Translation of his relics) and on September 15 (Uncovering of his relics in the year 415).
Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen
Kontakion - Tone 3
Podoben: "Today the Virgin..."
Yesterday the Master appeared in the flesh among us,
today His servant departs from the flesh.
Yesterday the King was born,
and today His servant is stoned to death;
for His sake, the divine Protomartyr Stephen is perfected through martyrdom.
Troparion - Tone 4
Protomartyr and mighty warrior of Christ our God,
you were victorious in battle and crowned with glory, holy Stephen.
You confounded the council of those who persecuted you,
beholding your Savior enthroned at the Father's right hand.
Never cease praying that our souls may be saved!
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Venerable Theodore Graptus, "the branded," Confessor
Saint Theodore the Confessor, and his brother Theophanes (October 11) were born in Jerusalem of Christian parents. From early childhood Theodore shunned childish amusements and loved to attend church services. With his younger brother Theophanes (October 11), he was sent to the Lavra of St Sava to be educated by a pious priest. Both brothers became monks, and St Theodore was ordained to the holy priesthood.
The iconoclast emperor Leo V the Armenian (813-820) expelled and replaced the pious ruler Michael I Rhangabe (811-813). In the beginning, Leo concealed his heretical views, but later declared himself an iconoclast. The Patriarch of Jerusalem sent the two brothers to Constantinople to defend the holy icons. Theodore refuted Leo's arguments, proving the falseness of his beliefs. Leo ordered that both brothers be beaten mercilessly, and then had them sent into exile, forbidding anyone to help them in any way.
Under the subsequent emperors, Michael II (820-829), and particularly under the iconoclast Theophilus (829-842), both brothers returned from exile. Again they were urged to accept iconoclasm, but they bravely endured all the tortures. They were sent into exile once more, but later returned. This time they were subjected to fierce torture, and finally, their faces were branded with the verses of a poem which mocked the holy confessors. Therefore, the brothers were called "the Branded."
The city prefect asked St Theodore to take communion with the iconoclasts just once, promising him freedom if he did. But the holy martyr replied, "Your proposal is the same as saying: 'Let me cut off your head once, and then you may go wherever you wish.'"
After torture the holy brothers were banished to Apamea in Bithynia, where St Theodore died around the year 840. St Theophanes survived until the end of the iconoclast heresy, and died as Bishop of Nicea. St Theophanes was author of many writings in defense of Orthodoxy. The relics of St Theodore were transferred to Chalcedon, where they worked many healings.
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St Theodore the Archbishop of Constantinople
Saint Theodore, Archbishop of Constantinople, was a native of Constantinople, led a pious life, was ordained as a priest and served in the cathedral of Hagia Sophia, where he was also the keeper of the sacred vessels.
In the year 676 he was chosen to be Patriarch of Constantinople, although after two years he was deposed because of slander. But truth triumphed, and St Theodore was restored to the Patriarchal throne in 683. He then guided the Church of Constantinople to the very end of his life. He died around the year 686.
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Icon of the Mother of God "the Merciful"
The All-Merciful Kykko Icon of the Mother of God: This icon was painted, according to Tradition, by the holy Evangelist Luke. It received its name "Kykkiotisa" from Mount Kykkos, on the island of Cyprus. Here it was placed in an imperial monastery (so designated because it was built with donations from the Emperor), in a church named for it. Before coming to the island of Cyprus, the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God was brought throughout the region by the will of God. At first, it was in one the earliest Christian communities in Egypt, and then it was taken to Constantinople in 980, where it remained in the time of Emperor Alexius Comnenos (end of the eleventh to early twelfth century).
During these years it was revealed to the Elder Isaiah through a miraculous sign, that by his efforts the wonderworking image painted by the Evangelist Luke would be transferred to Cyprus. The Elder exerted much effort to fulfill the divine revelation.
When the icon of the Mother of God arrived on the island, many miracles were performed. The Elder Isaiah was instrumental in building a church dedicated to the Theotokos, and placing the Kykko Icon in it. From ancient times up to the present day, those afflicted by every sort of infirmity flock to the monastery of the Mother of God the Merciful, and they receive healing according to their faith. The Orthodox are not the only ones who believe in the miraculous power of the holy icon, but those of other faiths also pray before it in misfortune and illness.
Inexhaustible is the mercy of the Most Holy Theotokos, Mediatrix for all the suffering, and Her icon fittingly bears the name, the "Merciful." The wonderworking "Kykkiotisa" Icon of the Mother of God possesses a remarkable peculiarity: from what time period is unknown, but it is covered by a half shroud from the upper left corner to the lower right, so that no one is able to see the faces of the Mother of God and the Divine Infant. The depiction of the Mother of God appears to be of the Hodigitria ("Directress") type, as is also the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The head of the Mother of God is adorned with a crown.
A copy of this icon is particularly venerated at the women's Nikolsk monastery in the city of Mukachev.
Scriptural Readings (in English):
Daily Scripture Readings
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Prayer Before Reading the Holy Scriptures: http://www.pomog.org/before.html
James 2:14-26
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Mark 10:46-52
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Sunday of the Holy Forfathers
Colossians 3:4-11
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Sunday of the Holy Forfathers
Luke 14:16-24
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Acts 6:8-15; 7:1-5,47-60 (Epistle, Saint)
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.
13 They also set up false witnesses who said, "This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;
14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.
15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
1 Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?"
2 And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
3 and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.'
4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell.
5 And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him.
46 who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob.
47 But Solomon built Him a house.
48 However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:
49 Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest?
50 Has My hand not made all these things?'
51 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.
52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,
53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.
54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
56 and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord;
58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Matthew 21:33-42 (Gospel, Saint)
33 Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.
34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.
35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.
37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.'
39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?
41 They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons."
42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?
Scriptural Readings (in Russian):
Ежедневные Евангельские Чтения
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Молитва перед чтением Евангелия: http://www.pomog.org/before_russian.html
Соборное послание святого апостола Иакова
2:14-26
Что пользы, братия мои, если кто говорит, что он имеет веру, а дел не имеет? может ли эта вера спасти его? Если брат или сестра наги и не имеют дневного пропитания, а кто-нибудь из вас скажет им: "идите с миром, грейтесь и питайтесь", но не даст им потребного для тела: что пользы? Так и вера, если не имеет дел, мертва сама по себе. Но скажет кто-нибудь: "ты имеешь веру, а я имею дела": покажи мне веру твою без дел твоих, а я покажу тебе веру мою из дел моих. Ты веруешь, что Бог един: хорошо делаешь; и бесы веруют, и трепещут. Но хочешь ли знать, неосновательный человек, что вера без дел мертва? Не делами ли оправдался Авраам, отец наш, возложив на жертвенник Исаака, сына своего? Видишь ли, что вера содействовала делам его, и делами вера достигла совершенства? И исполнилось слово Писания: "веровал Авраам Богу, и это вменилось ему в праведность, и он наречен другом Божиим". Видите ли, что человек оправдывается делами, а не верою только? Подобно и Раав блудница не делами ли оправдалась, приняв соглядатаев и отпустив их другим путем? Ибо, как тело без духа мертво, так и вера без дел мертва.
От Марка святое благовествование
10:46-52
Приходят в Иерихон. И когда выходил Он из Иерихона с учениками Своими и множеством народа, Вартимей, сын Тимеев, слепой сидел у дороги, прося милостыни. Услышав, что это Иисус Назорей, он начал кричать и говорить: Иисус, Сын Давидов! помилуй меня. Многие заставляли его молчать; но он еще более стал кричать: Сын Давидов! помилуй меня. Иисус остановился и велел его позвать. Зовут слепого и говорят ему: не бойся, вставай, зовет тебя. Он сбросил с себя верхнюю одежду, встал и пришел к Иисусу. Отвечая ему, Иисус спросил: чего ты хочешь от Меня? Слепой сказал Ему: Учитель! чтобы мне прозреть. Иисус сказал ему: иди, вера твоя спасла тебя. И он тотчас прозрел и пошел за Иисусом по дороге.
Неделя святых Праотец
3:4-11
Когда же явится Христос, жизнь ваша, тогда и вы явитесь с Ним во славе. Итак, умертвите земные члены ваши: блуд, нечистоту, страсть, злую похоть и любостяжание, которое есть идолослужение, за которые гнев Божий грядет на сынов противления, в которых и вы некогда обращались, когда жили между ними. А теперь вы отложите все: гнев, ярость, злобу, злоречие, сквернословие уст ваших; не говорите лжи друг другу, совлекшись ветхого человека с делами его и облекшись в нового, который обновляется в познании по образу Создавшего его, где нет ни Еллина, ни Иудея, ни обрезания, ни необрезания, варвара, Скифа, раба, свободного, но все и во всем Христос.
Неделя святых Праотец
14:16-24
Он же сказал ему: один человек сделал большой ужин и звал многих, и когда наступило время ужина, послал раба своего сказать званым: идите, ибо уже всё готово. И начали все, как бы сговорившись, извиняться. Первый сказал ему: я купил землю и мне нужно пойти посмотреть ее; прошу тебя, извини меня. Другой сказал: я купил пять пар волов и иду испытать их; прошу тебя, извини меня. Третий сказал: я женился и потому не могу придти. И, возвратившись, раб тот донес о сем господину своему. Тогда, разгневавшись, хозяин дома сказал рабу своему: пойди скорее по улицам и переулкам города и приведи сюда нищих, увечных, хромых и слепых. И сказал раб: господин! исполнено, как приказал ты, и еще есть место. Господин сказал рабу: пойди по дорогам и изгородям и убеди придти, чтобы наполнился дом мой. Ибо сказываю вам, что никто из тех званых не вкусит моего ужина, ибо много званых, но мало избранных.
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