From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Saturday, February 12, 2011
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:11-19
Luke 18:2-8
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
17th Saturday after Pentecost
Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch
Antonius, Archbishop of Constantinople
Christos the New Martyr
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:11-19
TIMOTHY, my son, the saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall
also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we
deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains
faithful - for he cannot deny himself.
Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid disputing
about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your
best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no
need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Avoid such
godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
and their talk will eat its way like gangrene. Among them are
Hymenaios and Philetos, who have swerved from the truth by holding that the
resurrection is past already. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God's
firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who
are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart
from iniquity."
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Luke 18:2-8
The Lord said this parable, "In a certain city there was a judge who
neither feared God nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city
who kept coming to him and saying, 'Vindicate me against my
adversary.' For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, 'Though
I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers
me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual
coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear, what the unrighteous judge says. And
will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will
he delay long over them? I tell you, he will vindicate them
speedily."
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch
Reading from the Synaxarion:
This holy Father, who was from Meletine of Armenia, was a blameless
man, just, reverent, sincere, and most gentle. Consecrated Bishop of
Sebaste in 357, he was later banished from his throne and departed for
Beroea of Syria (this is the present-day Aleppo). After the Arian
bishop of Antioch had been deposed, the Orthodox and the Arians each
strove to have a man of like mind with themselves become the next Bishop
of Antioch. Meletius was highly esteemed by all, and since the
Arians believed him to share their own opinion, they had him raised to
the throne of Antioch. As soon as he had taken the helm of the
Church of Antioch, however, he began preaching the Son's
consubstantiality with the Father. At this, the archdeacon, an Arian, put his hand
over the bishop's mouth; Meletius then extended three fingers towards
the people, closed them, and extended one only, showing by signs the
equality and unity of the Trinity. The embarrassed archdeacon then seized
his hand, but released his mouth, and Meletius spoke out even more
forcibly in defense of the Council of Nicea. Shortly after, he was
banished by the Arian Emperor Constantius, son of Saint Constantine the
Great. After the passage of time, he was recalled to his throne, but
was banished again the third time by Valens. It was Saint Meletius
who ordained Saint John Chrysostom reader and deacon in Antioch (see
Nov. 13). He lived until the Second Ecumenical Council in 381 (which
was convoked against Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, the
enemy of the Holy Spirit), over which he presided, being held in great
honor as a zealot of the Faith and a venerable elder hierarch.
Some time before, when the Emperor Gratian had made the Spanish
General Theodosius commander-in-chief of his armies in the war against
the barbarians, Theodosius had a dream in which he saw Meletius, whom
he had never met, putting upon him the imperial robe and crown.
Because of Theodosius's victories, Gratian made him Emperor of the East
in Valens's stead in 379. When, as Emperor, Saint Theodosius the
Great convoked the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople two
years later, he forbade that anyone should tell him who Meletius was;
and as soon as he saw him, he recognized him, ran to him with joy,
embraced him before all the other bishops, and told him of his dream.
While at the Council, Saint Meletius fell ill and reposed a short while
after. Saint Gregory of Nyssa, among others, gave a moving oration at
his funeral; bewailing the loss of him whom all loved as a father, he
said, "Where is that sweet serenity of his eyes? Where that bright
smile upon his lips? Where that kind right hand, with fingers
outstretched to accompany the benediction of the mouth?" (PG 46:8-6). And he
lamented, "Our Elias has been caught up, and no Elisseus is left behind in
his place." (ibid., 860). The holy relics of Saint Meletius were
returned to Antioch and were buried beside Saint Babylas the Martyr (see
Sept. 4), in the Church dedicated to the Martyr which Meletius, in his
zeal for the Martyr's glory, had helped build with his own hands.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of
faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause,
thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O
Father and Hierarch Meletios, intercede with Christ God that our souls
be saved.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Second Tone
Fearing thy spiritual boldness, the apostate Macedonius doth flee; and as
we accomplish the service wherein we seek thine intercessions, we,
thy servants, hasten to thee with longing, O Meletius, thou equal of
the Angels, thou fiery sword of Christ our God which doth utterly
slay all the godless. We praise thee, the luminary which doth
illumine all.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Saturday, February 12, 2011
Readings for today:
St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:11-19
Luke 18:2-8
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
17th Saturday after Pentecost
Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch
Antonius, Archbishop of Constantinople
Christos the New Martyr
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:11-19
TIMOTHY, my son, the saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall
also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we
deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains
faithful - for he cannot deny himself.
Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid disputing
about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your
best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no
need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Avoid such
godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
and their talk will eat its way like gangrene. Among them are
Hymenaios and Philetos, who have swerved from the truth by holding that the
resurrection is past already. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God's
firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who
are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart
from iniquity."
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Luke 18:2-8
The Lord said this parable, "In a certain city there was a judge who
neither feared God nor regarded man; and there was a widow in that city
who kept coming to him and saying, 'Vindicate me against my
adversary.' For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, 'Though
I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers
me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual
coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear, what the unrighteous judge says. And
will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will
he delay long over them? I tell you, he will vindicate them
speedily."
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch
Reading from the Synaxarion:
This holy Father, who was from Meletine of Armenia, was a blameless
man, just, reverent, sincere, and most gentle. Consecrated Bishop of
Sebaste in 357, he was later banished from his throne and departed for
Beroea of Syria (this is the present-day Aleppo). After the Arian
bishop of Antioch had been deposed, the Orthodox and the Arians each
strove to have a man of like mind with themselves become the next Bishop
of Antioch. Meletius was highly esteemed by all, and since the
Arians believed him to share their own opinion, they had him raised to
the throne of Antioch. As soon as he had taken the helm of the
Church of Antioch, however, he began preaching the Son's
consubstantiality with the Father. At this, the archdeacon, an Arian, put his hand
over the bishop's mouth; Meletius then extended three fingers towards
the people, closed them, and extended one only, showing by signs the
equality and unity of the Trinity. The embarrassed archdeacon then seized
his hand, but released his mouth, and Meletius spoke out even more
forcibly in defense of the Council of Nicea. Shortly after, he was
banished by the Arian Emperor Constantius, son of Saint Constantine the
Great. After the passage of time, he was recalled to his throne, but
was banished again the third time by Valens. It was Saint Meletius
who ordained Saint John Chrysostom reader and deacon in Antioch (see
Nov. 13). He lived until the Second Ecumenical Council in 381 (which
was convoked against Macedonius, Patriarch of Constantinople, the
enemy of the Holy Spirit), over which he presided, being held in great
honor as a zealot of the Faith and a venerable elder hierarch.
Some time before, when the Emperor Gratian had made the Spanish
General Theodosius commander-in-chief of his armies in the war against
the barbarians, Theodosius had a dream in which he saw Meletius, whom
he had never met, putting upon him the imperial robe and crown.
Because of Theodosius's victories, Gratian made him Emperor of the East
in Valens's stead in 379. When, as Emperor, Saint Theodosius the
Great convoked the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople two
years later, he forbade that anyone should tell him who Meletius was;
and as soon as he saw him, he recognized him, ran to him with joy,
embraced him before all the other bishops, and told him of his dream.
While at the Council, Saint Meletius fell ill and reposed a short while
after. Saint Gregory of Nyssa, among others, gave a moving oration at
his funeral; bewailing the loss of him whom all loved as a father, he
said, "Where is that sweet serenity of his eyes? Where that bright
smile upon his lips? Where that kind right hand, with fingers
outstretched to accompany the benediction of the mouth?" (PG 46:8-6). And he
lamented, "Our Elias has been caught up, and no Elisseus is left behind in
his place." (ibid., 860). The holy relics of Saint Meletius were
returned to Antioch and were buried beside Saint Babylas the Martyr (see
Sept. 4), in the Church dedicated to the Martyr which Meletius, in his
zeal for the Martyr's glory, had helped build with his own hands.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
The truth of things hath revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of
faith, an icon of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; for this cause,
thou hast achieved the heights by humility, riches by poverty. O
Father and Hierarch Meletios, intercede with Christ God that our souls
be saved.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Second Tone
Fearing thy spiritual boldness, the apostate Macedonius doth flee; and as
we accomplish the service wherein we seek thine intercessions, we,
thy servants, hasten to thee with longing, O Meletius, thou equal of
the Angels, thou fiery sword of Christ our God which doth utterly
slay all the godless. We praise thee, the luminary which doth
illumine all.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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