Saturday, February 26, 2011

Greek Orthodox Church In America Daily Readings For Saturday, 26 February

From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Saturday, February 26, 2011



Readings for today:



St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians 4:13-17

Luke 21:8-9,25-27,33-36



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Saturday of Souls

Porphyrios, Bishop of Gaza

Photini the Samaritan Woman & her martyred sisters: Anatole, Phota, Photis, Paraskevi, & Kyriaki

Holy Martyr Theocletus

John Claphas the new Martyr





Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians 4:13-17



But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who

are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through

Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this

we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive,

who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those

who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from

heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the

sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first;

then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with

them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always

be with the Lord.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Luke 21:8-9,25-27,33-36



The Lord said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will

come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do

not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be

terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once.

And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth

distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,

men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the

world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will

see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But

take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with

dissipation and drunkenness and cares of life, and that day come upon you

suddenly like a snare; for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face

of the whole earth. But watch at all times, praying that you may

have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to

stand before the Son of man."



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Saturday of Souls



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Through the Apostolic Constitutions (Book VIII, ch. 42), the Church of

Christ has received the custom to make commemorations for the departed

on the third, ninth, and fortieth days after their repose. Since

many throughout the ages, because of an untimely death in a faraway

place, or other adverse circumstances, have died without being deemed

worthy of the appointed memorial services, the divine Fathers, being so

moved in their love for man, have decreed that a common memorial be

made this day for all pious Orthodox Christians who have reposed from

all ages past, so that those who did not have particular memorial

services may be included in this common one for all. Also, the Church of

Christ teaches us that alms should be given to the poor by the departed

one's kinsmen as a memorial for him.



Besides this, since we make commemoration tomorrow of the Second Coming

of Christ, and since the reposed have neither been judged, nor have

received their complete recompense (Acts 17:31; II Peter 2:9; Heb.

11:39-40), the Church rightly commemorates the souls today, and trusting in

the boundless mercy of God, she prays Him to have mercy on sinners.

Furthermore, since the commemoration is for all the reposed together, it

reminds each of us of his own death, and arouses us to repentance.



Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

Only Creator who out of the depths of wisdom lovingly govern all

things and upon all bestow what is accordingly best for them, give rest

to the souls of Your servants, for they have placed their hope in

You, our Author and Maker and God.



Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

Give rest, O Christ, among the Saints to the souls of Your servants,

where there is no pain, no sorrow, no grieving, but life everlasting.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA

Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA





Porphyrios, Bishop of Gaza



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Porphyrius had Thessalonica as his homeland. He became a monk in

Scete of Egypt, where he lived for five years. He went on pilgrimage

to Jerusalem, after which he spent five years in much affliction in

a cave near the Jordan. Stricken with a disease of the liver, he

departed to Jerusalem, where he was ordained presbyter and appointed

Keeper of the Cross at the age of 45. Three years later he was made

Bishop of Gaza. He suffered much from the rulers and pagans of Gaza;

but with the friendship of Saint John Chrysostom, and the patronage

of the Empress Eudoxia, he razed the temple of the idol Marnas in

Gaza and built a great church to the glory of God. He reposed in 450.



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 Porphyrios, intercede with Christ God that our souls

be saved.



Kontakion in the Second Tone

Arrayed with a most sacred life, thou wast adorned with the priestly

vestment, O all-blessed and godly-minded Porphyrius; and thou art

conspicuous for miracles of healing, interceding unceasingly for us all.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA





Photini the Samaritan Woman & her martyred sisters: Anatole, Phota, Photis, Paraskevi, & Kyriaki



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Photine was the Samaritan Woman who encountered Christ our

Saviour at Jacob's Well (John 4:1-42). Afterwards she laboured in the

spread of the Gospel in various places, and finally received the crown

of martyrdom in Rome with her two sons and five sisters, during the

persecutions under the Emperor Nero.



Apolytikion in the Third Tone


All illumined by the Holy Spirit, thou didst drink with great and

ardent longing of the waters Christ Saviour gave unto thee; and with the

streams of salvation wast thou refreshed, which thou abundantly gavest to

those athirst. O Great Martyr and true peer of Apostles, Photine,

entreat Christ God to grant great mercy unto us.




Kontakion in the Third Tone


Photine the glorious, the crown and glory of the Martyrs, hath this day

ascended to the shining mansions of Heaven, and she calleth all together

to sing her praises, that they might be recompensed with her

hallowed graces. Let us all with faith and longing extol her gladly in

hymns of triumph and joy.




Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA



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