Friday, January 21, 2011

Greek Orthodox Daily Readings For Friday, 21 January

From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Friday, January 21, 2011



Strict Fast



Readings for today:



St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 1:12-20

Luke 12:8-12



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Maximos the Confessor

Neophytos the Martyr of Nicaea





Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 1:12-20



Brethren, I want you to know that what has happened to me has really served

to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the

praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; and

most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of

my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God

without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but

others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am

put here for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ

out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my

imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in

truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I shall

rejoice. For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit

of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my

eager expectation and hope.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Luke 12:8-12



The Lord said to His disciples, "Every one who acknowledges me before

men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God;

but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of

God. And every one who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be

forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be

forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and

the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or

what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very

hour what you ought to say."



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Maximos the Confessor



Reading from the Synaxarion:



The divine Maximus, who was from Constantinople, sprang from an

illustrious family. He was a lover of wisdom and an eminent theologian. At

first, he was the chief private secretary of the Emperor Heraclius and

his grandson Constans. When the Monothelite heresy became

predominant in the royal court, out of hatred for this error the Saint

departed for the Monastery at Chrysopolis (Scutari), of which he later

became the abbot. When Constans tried to constrain him either to accept

the Monothelite teaching, or to stop speaking and writing against it

- neither of which the Saint accepted to do - his tongue was

uprooted and his right hand was cut off, and he was sent into exile where

he reposed in 662. At the time only he and his few disciples were

Orthodox in the East (See also April 13).



Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

You are a guide of Orthodoxy, a teacher of piety and modesty, a

luminary of the world, the God inspired pride of monastics. O wise

Maximos, you have enlightened everyone by your teachings. You are the harp

of the Spirit. Intercede to Christ our God for the salvation of our

souls.



Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

Let us the faithful praise with fitting hymns that lover of the Holy

Trinity, great Maximus, who clearly taught the divinely-given Faith: that

we should give glory unto Christ our God, Who, though but one

hypostasis, hath in very truth two natures, wills, and energies. Let us cry

to him: Rejoice, divine herald of the Faith.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery





Neophytos the Martyr of Nicaea



Reading from the Synaxarion:



The Martyr Neophytos, who was from Nicea in Bithynia, was the son of

pious parents, Theodore and Florence. Led by grace from his childhood,

he took up his dwelling in a cave upon Mount Olympus at the age of

nine and lived there in asceticism and prayer. At the age of fifteen,

during the reign of Diocletian about the year 290, he presented himself

to the local Governor named Decius. Roused to fury by his

unexpected boldness, Decius had him scourged, then laid out on a bed of

fire. When he had been preserved by grace through these torments, he

gave him up to wild beasts. But since the Saint remained unharmed, a

certain pagan fell on him with a sword and slew him.



Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received the

prize of the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal

God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants

and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ

God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.



Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

Thou didst shine forth from the mount like unto lightning and didst

glorify Christ God in thy martyric pains and death, O thou Great Martyr

Neophytos. Wherefore, thou hast now received the unfading crown.





Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

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