Thursday, March 17, 2011

Greek Orthodox Church Daily Readings For Thursday, 17 March

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Thursday, March 17, 2011



Strict Fast



Readings for today:



Isaiah 6:1-12

Genesis 5:1-24

Proverbs 6:3-20



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Alexios the Man of God

Saint Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland

Marinos the Martyr

Theocteristos the Confessor





Old Testament Reading



The reading is from Isaiah 6:1-12



In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a

throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him

stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face,

and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one

called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the

whole earth is full of his glory." And the foundations of the

thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled

with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of

unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for

my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" Then flew one of

the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had

taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said:

"Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your

sin forgiven." And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall

I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

And he said, "Go, and say to this people: 'Hear and hear, but do

not understand; see and see, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of

this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they

see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with

their hearts, and turn and be healed." Then I said, "How long, O

Lord?" And he said: "Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and

houses without men, and the land is utterly desolate, and the LORD

removes men far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of

the land."



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Old Testament Reading



The reading is from Genesis 5:1-24



This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created

man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created

them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.

When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father

of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.

The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight

hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days

that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.



When Seth had lived a hundred and five years, he became the father of

Enosh. Seth lived after the birth of Enosh eight hundred and seven

years, and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Seth were

nine hundred and twelve years; and he died.



When Enosh had lived ninety years, he became the father of Kenan.

Enosh lived after the birth of Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years,

and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enosh were

nine hundred and five years; and he died.



When Kenan had lived seventy years, he became the father of Mahalalel.

Kenan lived after the birth of Mahalalel eight hundred and forty

years, and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Kenan

were nine hundred and ten years; and he died.



When Mahalalel had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of

Jared. Mahalalel lived after the birth of Jared eight hundred and

thirty years, and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of

Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five years; and he died.



When Jared had lived a hundred and sixty-two years he became the

father of Enoch. Jared lived after the birth of Enoch eight hundred

years, and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Jared

were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and he died. When Enoch had

lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah. Enoch

walked with God after the birth of Methuselah three hundred years, and

had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were three

hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for

God took him.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Old Testament Reading



The reading is from Proverbs 6:3-20



Then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into your

neighbor's power: go, hasten, and importune your neighbor. Give your eyes

no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle

from the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the

ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any

chief, officer or ruler, she prepares her food in summer, and gathers

her sustenance in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard?

When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little

slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon

you like a vagabond, and want like an armed man. A worthless person,

a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes,

scrapes with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart

devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come

upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

There are six things which the LORD hates, seven which are an

abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed

innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to

run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and a man who

sows discord among brothers. My son, keep your father's commandment,

and forsake not your mother's teaching.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Alexios the Man of God



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Alexios was born in old Rome of illustrious parents named

Euphemianus and Aglais, and at their request was joined to a young woman in

marriage. However, he did not remain with her even for one day, but fled to

Edessa, where he lived for eighteen years. He returned to Rome in the

guise of a beggar and sat at the gates of his father's house, unknown

to all and mocked by his own servants. His identity was revealed

only after his death by a paper that he had on his person, which he

himself had written a little before his repose. The pious Emperor

Honorius honoured him with a solemn burial. The title "Man of God" was

given to him from heaven in a vision to the Bishop of Rome on the day

of the Saint's repose.



Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Though thou didst bud forth from a renowned and notable root, and though

thou didst blossom from a city famed for her great imperial dignity,

yet didst thou scorn all things as corruptible and fleeting, striving

to be joined to Christ thy Master for ever. Entreat Him, O Alexios

most wise, fervently for our souls.



Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

As we celebrate today with fitting rev'rence the all-holy festival

of Saint Alexios the all-blest, with hymns we praise him and cry

aloud: Rejoice, thou gladsome adornment of righteous men.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA





Saint Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Patrick, the Apostle of the Irish, was seized from his native

Britain by Irish marauders when he was sixteen years old. Though the son

of a deacon and a grandson of a priest, it was not until his

captivity that he sought out the Lord with his whole heart. In his

Confession, the testament he wrote towards the end of his life, he says,

"After I came to Ireland - every day I had to tend sheep, and many times

a day I prayed - the love of God and His fear came to me more and

more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was so moved that in

a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost

as many at night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and

on the mountain; and I would rise for prayer before daylight,

through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm." After six

years of slavery in Ireland, he was guided by God to make his escape,

and afterwards struggled in the monastic life at Auxerre in Gaul,

under the guidance of the holy Bishop Germanus. Many years later he was

ordained bishop and sent to Ireland once again, about the year 432, to

convert the Irish to Christ. His arduous labours bore so much fruit that

within seven years, three bishops were sent from Gaul to help him

shepherd his flock, "my brethren and sons whom I have baptized in the Lord

- so many thousands of people," he says in his Confession. His

apostolic work was not accomplished without much "weariness and

painfulness," long journeys through difficult country, and many perils; he says

his very life was in danger twelve times. When he came to Ireland as

its enlightener, it was a pagan country; when he ended his earthly

life some thirty years later, about 461, the Faith of Christ was

established in every corner.



Apolytikion in the Third Tone

O Holy Hierarch, equal of the Apostles, Saint Patrick, wonderworker

and enlightener of Ireland: Intercede with the merciful God that He

grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.



Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

The Master revealed thee as a skillful fisher of men; and casting

forth nets of Gospel preaching, thou drewest up the heathen to piety.

Those who were the children of idolatrous darkness thou didst render

sons of day through holy Baptism. O Patrick, intercede for us who

honour thy memory.



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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