Friday, February 11, 2011

Greek Orthodox Church In America Daily Readings For Friday, 11 February

From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +




Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Friday, February 11, 2011



Fast Day (Wine and Oil Allowed)



Readings for today:



St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6

Matthew 10:1, 5-8



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Vlassios the Holy Martyr of Sebaste

Theodora the Empress

Finding of the relics of Zachariah the Prophet, Father of the Holy Forerunner

George the Serbian





Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6



BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not

a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but

one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we

may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every

high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men

in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can

deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset

with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his

own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take

the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but

was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I

have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou

art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Matthew 10:1, 5-8



At that time, Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them

authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease

and every infirmity. These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go

nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go

rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go,

saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the

dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying,

give without pay."



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Vlassios the Holy Martyr of Sebaste



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Blaise was Bishop of Sebaste. Divine grace, through which he

healed the diseases of men and beasts, and especially of infants, made

his name famous. He contested for the Faith under Licinius in the

year 316. Saint Blaise is invoked for the healing of throat ailments.



Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the

Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of

ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of

truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O

Hieromartyr Vlassios. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.



Kontakion in the Second Tone

O unfading bloom, thou godly shoot and fruitful branch of Christ

God the Vine, O holy and God-bearing Blaise, do thou fill with thy

joy them that with faith observe thy memorial; and unceasingly

intercede with Christ our Redeemer that we all be saved.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery





Theodora the Empress



Reading from the Synaxarion:



As for the renowned Empress Theodora, she was from Paphlagonia and

was the daughter of a certain Marinus, the commander of a military

regiment. While being the wife of the Emperor Theophilus, the last of the

Iconoclasts, she adorned the royal diadem with her virtue and piety; as long

as her husband Theophilus lived, she privately venerated icons,

despite his displeasure. After his death, she restored the holy icons to

public veneration; this is commemorated on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the

First Sunday of the Great Fast. She governed the Empire wisely for

fifteen years, since her son Michael was not yet of age. But in 857 she

forsook her royal power and entered a certain convent in Constantinople

called Gastria, where she finished the course of her life in holiness

and reposed in the Lord. Her sacred incorrupt remains are found in

Corfu, in the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Cave, in the

capital city of the island (see also Dec. 12).



Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone

As a right worthy namesake of gifts bestowed of God, and a

divinely-wrought image of holy wisdom and faith, thou didst make the Church to

shine with godly piety; for thou didst demonstrate to all that the

Saints in every age have shown honor to the icons, O Theodora, thou

righteous and fair adornment of the Orthodox.



Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

We sing thy praises as the gem and fairness of the Church, and as a

diadem and pattern of all Christian queens, O all-lauded and

divinely-crowned Theodora; for in bringing back the icons to their rightful place,

thou didst cast usurping heresy out of the Church. Hence, we cry to

thee: Rejoice, O Sovereign most ven'rable.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery



No comments:

Post a Comment