Saturday, March 12, 2011

Greek Orthodox Daily Readings For Saturday, 12 March

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Saturday, March 12, 2011



Fast Day (Wine and Oil Allowed)



Readings for today:



St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:1-10

Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-5



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



First Saturday in Lent

Theophanes the Confessor

Symeon the New Theologian

Gregory Dialogos, Bishop of Rome





Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:1-10



TIMOTHY, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what

you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men

who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good

soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian

pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete

is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the

hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over

what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.



Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as

preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing

fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I

endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain

salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-5



At that time, Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they

made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the

Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the

sabbath?" And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when

he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how

he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate

the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the

priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" And he

said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath;

so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath."



Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered

hand. And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the

sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had

the withered hand, "Come here." And he said to them, "Is it lawful

on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?"

But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger,

grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch it

out," and his hand was restored.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





First Saturday in Lent



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Julian the Apostate, knowing that the Christians purify themselves by

fasting most of all during the first week of the Fast -- which is why we

call it Clean Week -- planned to defile them especially at that time.

Therefore he secretly commanded that during those days the markets be

filled with foods that had been defiled with the blood of animals

offered in sacrifice to idols. But by divine command the Martyr Theodore

(see Feb. 17) appeared during sleep to Eudoxius, then Archbishop of

Constantinople. The Saint revealed to him the tyrant's plan, then told him to

call the faithful together immediately on Monday morning and prevent

them from purchasing those foods, but rather to make kollyva to

supply their needs. The bishop asked what kollyva might be, and

the Saint answered, "Kollyva is what we call boiled wheat in

Euchaita." Thus, the purpose of the Apostate was brought to nought, and the

pious people who were preserved undefiled for the whole of Clean Week,

rendered thanks to the Martyr on this Saturday, and celebrated his

commemoration with kollyva. These things took place in 362. Wherefore,

the Church keeps this commemoration each year to the glory of God and

the honour of the Martyr.



Apolytikion in the Second Tone

Great are the achievements of faith! In the fountain of flame, as by

the water of rest, the holy Martyr Theodore rejoiced; for having been

made a whole-burnt offering in the fire, he was offered as sweet bread

unto the Trinity. By his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.



Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

Having received the Faith of Christ in thy heart as a breastplate, thou

didst trample upon the enemy hosts, O much-suffering champion; and thou

hast been crowned eternally with a heavenly crown, since thou art

invincible.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA





Theophanes the Confessor



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Theophanes, who was born in 760, was the son of illustrious

parents. Assenting to their demand, he married and became a member of the

Emperor's ceremonial bodyguard. Later, with the consent of his wife, he

forsook the world. Indeed, both of them embraced the monastic life,

struggling in the monastic houses they themselves had established. He died

on March 12, 815, on the island of Samothrace, whereto, because of

his confession of the Orthodox Faith, he had been exiled by Leo the

Armenian, the Iconoclast Emperor.



Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

The image of God, was faithfully preserved in you, O Father. For you

took up the Cross and followed Christ. By Your actions you taught us

to look beyond the flesh for it passes, rather to be concerned about

the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy Theophanes, your soul

rejoices with the angels.



Kontakion in the Second Tone

Receiving from God a revelation from the heights, thou swiftly didst leave

the turmoil of the world, O Saint; and thou as a monk didst receive

the power to perform miracles and the grace of true prophecy,

depriving thyself of riches and thy spouse.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA





Symeon the New Theologian



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Symeon the New Theologian reposed on March 12; for the life and

hymns, see Oct. 12.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA





Gregory Dialogos, Bishop of Rome



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Gregory was born in Rome to noble and wealthy parents about the

year 540. While the Saint was still young, his father died. However,

his mother, Sylvia, saw to it that her child received a good

education in both secular and spiritual learning. He became Prefect of Rome

and sought to please God even while in the world; later, he took up

the monastic life; afterwards he was appointed Archdeacon of Rome,

then, in 579, apocrisiarius (representative or Papal legate) to

Constantinople, where he lived for nearly seven years. He returned to Rome in 585

and was elected Pope in 590. He is renowned especially for his

writings and great almsgiving, and also because, on his initiative,

missionary work began among the Anglo-Saxon people. It is also from him that

Gregorian Chant takes its name; the chanting he had heard at Constantinople

had deeply impressed him, and he imported many elements of it into

the ecclesiastical chant of Rome. He served as Bishop of that city

from 590 to 604.



Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

To thee, who art the Church's tuneful harp inspired of God, thou

tongue of wisdom who wast verily possessed of God, unto thee, as it is

meet, we now offer praises; for thou truly hadst the zeal of the

Apostles' choir and didst follow in their footsteps as their worthy heir;

and to thee we say: Rejoice, divine Father Gregory.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA



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