From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Strict Fast
Readings for today:
St. John's First Universal Letter 3:21-24; 4:1-11
Mark 14:43-72; 15:1
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Meatfare Wednesday
Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna
Proterios, Archbishop of Alexandria
Gorgonia the Righteous, sister of Gregory the Theologian
Damian the New Martyr of Mount Athos
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. John's First Universal Letter 3:21-24; 4:1-11
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his
commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we
should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another,
just as he has commanded us. All who keep his commandments abide in
him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the
Spirit which he has given us.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether
they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses
that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit
which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of
antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world
already. Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of
the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world
listens to them. We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he
who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit
of truth and the spirit of error.
Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is
born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God;
for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us,
that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live
through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us
and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God
so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 14:43-72; 15:1
At that time, while Jesus was speaking, Judas came, one of the
twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief
priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them
a sign, saying, "The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and
lead him away under guard." And when he came, he went up to him at
once, and said, "Master!" And he kissed him. And they laid hands on
him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword,
and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. And
Jesus said to them, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords
and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple
teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled."
And they all forsook him, and fled. And a young man followed him,
with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and they seized him,
but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked. And they led Jesus
to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the
scribes were assembled. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right
into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the
guards, and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the
whole council sought testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but
they found none. For many bore false witness against him, and their
witness did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against
him, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is
made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with
hands.'" Yet not even so did their testimony agree. And the high priest
stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make?
What is it that these men testify against you?" But he was silent and
made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ,
the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am; and you will see the
Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the
clouds of heaven." And the high priest tore his garments, and said,
"Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What
is your decision?" And they all condemned him as deserving death.
And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to strike
him, saying to him, "Prophesy!" And the guards received him with
blows. And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the
high priest came; and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him,
and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied
it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he
went out into the gateway. And the maid saw him, and began again to
say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." But again he
denied it. And after a little while again the bystanders said to Peter,
"Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean." But he began to
invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom
you speak." And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And
Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows
twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept. And
as soon as it was morning the chief priests, with the elders and
scribes, and the whole council held a consultation; and they bound Jesus
and led him away and delivered him to Pilate.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna
Reading from the Synaxarion:
This apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a
disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus (Feb. 6), and
teacher of Irenaeus (Aug. 23). He was an old man and full of days when
the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus
Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he
commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to
give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two
hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so
venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the
stadium and was commanded, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and
say, 'Away with the atheists.'" By atheists, the Proconsul meant the
Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his
hand towards them and said, "Away with the atheists." When the
Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: "I have been
serving Christ for eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in nothing;
how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?" But the tyrant became
enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and
thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says,
"Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles,
which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true"
(Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).
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 Polycarp. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.
Kontakion in the First Tone
Through godly virtues, thou broughtest forth for the Lord God much
spiritual fruit, O thou most blessed Hierarch, and so didst prove worthy of
God thy Lord, O wise Polycarp. Wherefore, on this day we who have
all been enlightened through thy holy words extol thy praiseworthy
mem'ry and glorify Christ the Lord.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Strict Fast
Readings for today:
St. John's First Universal Letter 3:21-24; 4:1-11
Mark 14:43-72; 15:1
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Meatfare Wednesday
Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna
Proterios, Archbishop of Alexandria
Gorgonia the Righteous, sister of Gregory the Theologian
Damian the New Martyr of Mount Athos
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. John's First Universal Letter 3:21-24; 4:1-11
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his
commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we
should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another,
just as he has commanded us. All who keep his commandments abide in
him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the
Spirit which he has given us.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether
they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses
that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit
which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of
antichrist, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world
already. Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he
who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of
the world, therefore what they say is of the world, and the world
listens to them. We are of God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and he
who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit
of truth and the spirit of error.
Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is
born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God;
for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us,
that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live
through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us
and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God
so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 14:43-72; 15:1
At that time, while Jesus was speaking, Judas came, one of the
twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief
priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them
a sign, saying, "The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and
lead him away under guard." And when he came, he went up to him at
once, and said, "Master!" And he kissed him. And they laid hands on
him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword,
and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. And
Jesus said to them, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords
and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple
teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled."
And they all forsook him, and fled. And a young man followed him,
with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and they seized him,
but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked. And they led Jesus
to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the
scribes were assembled. And Peter had followed him at a distance, right
into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the
guards, and warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the
whole council sought testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but
they found none. For many bore false witness against him, and their
witness did not agree. And some stood up and bore false witness against
him, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is
made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with
hands.'" Yet not even so did their testimony agree. And the high priest
stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make?
What is it that these men testify against you?" But he was silent and
made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ,
the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am; and you will see the
Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the
clouds of heaven." And the high priest tore his garments, and said,
"Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What
is your decision?" And they all condemned him as deserving death.
And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to strike
him, saying to him, "Prophesy!" And the guards received him with
blows. And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the
high priest came; and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him,
and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied
it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he
went out into the gateway. And the maid saw him, and began again to
say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." But again he
denied it. And after a little while again the bystanders said to Peter,
"Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean." But he began to
invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom
you speak." And immediately the cock crowed a second time. And
Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows
twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept. And
as soon as it was morning the chief priests, with the elders and
scribes, and the whole council held a consultation; and they bound Jesus
and led him away and delivered him to Pilate.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Polycarp the Holy Martyr & Bishop of Smyrna
Reading from the Synaxarion:
This apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a
disciple of John the Evangelist, successor of Bucolus (Feb. 6), and
teacher of Irenaeus (Aug. 23). He was an old man and full of days when
the fifth persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus
Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler, found Polycarp, he
commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to
give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two
hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so
venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the
stadium and was commanded, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and
say, 'Away with the atheists.'" By atheists, the Proconsul meant the
Christians. But Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his
hand towards them and said, "Away with the atheists." When the
Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: "I have been
serving Christ for eighty-six years, and He has wronged me in nothing;
how can I blaspheme my King Who has saved me?" But the tyrant became
enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and
thus he gloriously expired about the year 163. As Eusebius says,
"Polycarp everywhere taught what he had also learned from the Apostles,
which also the Church has handed down; and this alone is true"
(Eccl. Hist., Book IV, ch. 14,15).
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 Polycarp. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.
Kontakion in the First Tone
Through godly virtues, thou broughtest forth for the Lord God much
spiritual fruit, O thou most blessed Hierarch, and so didst prove worthy of
God thy Lord, O wise Polycarp. Wherefore, on this day we who have
all been enlightened through thy holy words extol thy praiseworthy
mem'ry and glorify Christ the Lord.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
No comments:
Post a Comment