Sunday, March 20, 2011

Greek Orthodox Church Daily Readings For Sunday, 20 March

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Sunday, March 20, 2011



Fast Day (Wine and Oil Allowed)



Readings for today:



John 21:1-14

St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3

Mark 2:1-12



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas

Righteous Fathers slain at the Monastery of St. Savas

Saint Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne

Myron the New Martyr of Crete

Photini the Samaritan Woman





Orthros Gospel Reading



The reading is from John 21:1-14



At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the

Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter,

Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of

Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said

to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with

you." They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught

nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; but the

disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children,

have you any fish?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast

the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So

they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the

quantity of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the

Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his

clothes, for he was stripped for work, and sprang into the sea. But the

other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for

they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.



When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish

lying on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish

that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the

net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them;

and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to

them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared ask

him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the

bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third

time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from

the dead.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 1:10-14; 2:1-3



"IN THE BEGINNING, you O Lord, didst found the earth, and the heavens

are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they

will all grow old like a garment, like a mantle thou wilt roll them

up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years

will never end." But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at

my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet?"

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the

sake of those who are to obtain salvation? Therefore we must pay

closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For

if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression

or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if

we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the

Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Mark 2:1-12



At that time, Jesus entered Capernaum and it was reported that he

was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no

longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the

word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by

four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd,

they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening,

they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus

saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are

forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their

hearts, "Why does this man speak thus? It is a blasphemy! Who can forgive

sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit

that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you

question thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic,

'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your pallet and

walk? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth

to forgive sins"-he said to the paralytic-"I say to you, rise, take

up your pallet and go home." And he rose, and immediately took up

the pallet and went out before them all; so that they were all amazed

and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas



Reading from the Synaxarion:



This divine Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from childhood reared

in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in

both religious and secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left

the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in

the Skete at Beroea. He spent some time in Thessalonica being treated

for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was

present in Constantinople at the Council that was convened in 1341

against Barlaam of Calabria, and at the Council of 1347 against

Acindynus, who was of like mind with Barlaam; Barlaam and Acindynus claimed

that the grace of God is created. At both these Councils, the Saint

contended courageously for the true dogmas of the Church of Christ,

teaching in particular that divine grace is not created, but is the

uncreated energies of God which are poured forth throughout creation:

otherwise it would be impossible, if grace were created, for man to have

genuine communion with the uncreated God. In 1347 he was appointed

Metropolitan of Thessalonica. He tended his flock in an apostolic manner for

some twelve years, and wrote many books and treatises on the most

exalted doctrines of our Faith; and having lived for a total of

sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359.



His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessalonica. A full

service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheus in

1368, when it was established that his feast be celebrated on this day.

Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of

faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Fast, by

celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy the Sunday before, and the great

defender of the teachings of the holy Fathers today.



Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Second Tone

When You descended unto death, O Lord who yourself are immortal Life,

then did You mortify Hades by the lightning flash of Your Divinity.

Also when You raised the dead from the netherworld, all the Powers of

the heavens were crying out: O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory

be to You.



Resurrectional Kontakion in the Second Tone

You rose from the tomb, O Savior all-powerful, * and Hades beheld the

marvel and was struck with fear, * and the dead were rising up, and

creation beholds and rejoices with You, * and Adam is also exultant; O my

Savior, and the world ever sings Your praise.



Seasonal Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

To you, Theotokos, invincible Defender, having been delivered from

peril, I, your city, dedicate the victory festival as a thank offering.

In your irresistible might, keep me safe from all trials, that I may

call out to you: "Hail, unwedded bride!"



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of St. Gregory Palamas Monastery

Kontakion courtesy of St. Gregory Palamas Monastery

Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press





Righteous Fathers slain at the Monastery of St. Savas



Reading from the Synaxarion:



The Righteous Martyrs were put to death by the barbarians during the

reign of Emperor Heraclius, when Saint Modestus was Patriarch of

Jerusalem (632-634).



Apolytikion in the Second Tone

Blessed is the earth that drank your blood, O prizewinners of the Lord,

and holy are the tabernacles that received your spirits; for in the

stadium ye triumphed over the enemy, and ye proclaimed Christ with

boldness. Beseech Him, we pray, since He is good, to save our souls.



Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

Shunning all earthly and corruptible pleasures, ye chose a life of great

ascetical struggles, disdaining worldly beauty and all fleeting fame;

wherefore, ye dwell joyously in the Kingdom of Heaven with the Martyrs' holy

choirs and the ranks of ascetics. Hence, we revere your memory and cry:

From every peril, O Fathers, deliver us.



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 Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Cuthbert was born in Britain about the year 635, and became a

monk in his youth at the monastery of Melrose by the River Tweed.

After many years of struggle as a true priest of Christ, in the service

both of his own brethren and of the neglected Christians of isolated

country villages, he became a solitary on Farne Island in 676. After

eight years as a hermit, he was constrained to leave his quiet to

become Bishop of Lindisfarne, in which office he served for almost two

years. He returned to his hermitage two months before he reposed in

peace in 687. Because of the miracles he wrought both during his life

and at his tomb after his death, he is called the "Wonderworker of

Britain." The whole English people honoured him, and kings were both

benefactors to his shrine and suppliants of his prayers. Eleven years after

his death, his holy relics were revealed to be incorrupt; when his

body was translated from Lindisfarne to Durham Cathedral in August of

1104, his body was still found to be untouched by decay, giving off "an

odour of sweetest fragrancy," and "from the flexibility of its joints

representing a person asleep rather than dead." Finally, when the most impious

Henry VIII desecrated his shrine, opening it to despoil it of its

valuables, his body was again found incorrupt, and was buried in 1542. It is

believed that after this the holy relics of Saint Cuthbert were hidden to

preserve them from further desecration.



Apolytikion in the Third Tone

While still in thy youth thou didst lay aside all worldly care and

didst take up the sweet yoke of Christ, O godly-minded Cuthbert, and

thou wast shown forth in truth to be nobly radiant in the grace of the

Holy Spirit. Wherefore, God established thee as a rule of faith and

shepherd of His rational flock, O converser with Angels and intercessor

for men.



Kontakion in the First Tone

Having surpassed thy brethren in prayers, fasting, and vigils, thou wast

found worthy to entertain a pilgrim-angel; and having shone forth with

humility as a bright lamp set on high, thou didst receive the gift of

wonderworking. And now as thou dwellest in the heavenly Kingdom, O our righteous

Father Cuthbert, intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.



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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