Thursday, April 7, 2011

Greek Orthodox Church Daily Readings For Friday, 8 April

From goarch.com:

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Friday, April 8, 2011



Strict Fast



Readings for today:



Isaiah 45:11-17

Genesis 22:1-18

Proverbs 17:17-18:5



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Agavos, Rouphos, Asynkritos, Phlegon, Herodion, & Hermes of the 70 Apostles

Rufus the Obedient of the Kiev Caves

Celestine, Pope of Rome





Old Testament Reading



The reading is from Isaiah 45:11-17



Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: "Will you

question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my

hands? I made the earth, and created man upon it; it was my hands that

stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. I have aroused

him in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways; he shall

build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward," says

the LORD of hosts.



Thus says the LORD: "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of

Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be

yours, they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow

down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying: 'God is with

you only, and there is no other, no god besides him.'" Truly, thou

art a God who hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior. All of

them are put to shame and confounded, the makers of idols go in

confusion together. But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting

salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Old Testament Reading



The reading is from Genesis 22:1-18



After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him,

"Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." He said, "Take your son, your only son

Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there

as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell

you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took

two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he cut the wood

for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God

had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw

the place afar off. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here

with the ass; I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again

to you." And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid

it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife.

So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father

Abraham, "My father! "And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold,

the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my

son." So they went both of them together.



When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built

an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son,

and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. Then Abraham put forth his

hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD

called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said,

"Here am I." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything

to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not

withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham lifted up his

eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket

by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up

as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name

of that place The LORD will provide; as it is said to this day, "On

the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." And the angel of the

LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, "By myself

I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this, and have

not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I

will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand

which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate

of their enemies, and by your descendants shall all the nations of

the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice."



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Old Testament Reading



The reading is from Proverbs 17:17-18:5



A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

A man without sense gives a pledge, and becomes surety in the

presence of his neighbor. He who loves transgression loves strife; he who

makes his door high seeks destruction. A man of crooked mind does not

prosper, and one with a perverse tongue falls into calamity. A stupid son

is a grief to a father; and the father of a fool has no joy. A

cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the

bones. A wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways

of justice. A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but

the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. A foolish son is a

grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. To impose a

fine on a righteous man is not good; to flog noble men is wrong. He

who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit

is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is

considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. He who

is estranged seeks pretexts to break out against all sound judgment.

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing

his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also; and with

dishonor comes disgrace. The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the

fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream. It is not good to be partial to a

wicked man, or to deprive a righteous man of justice.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Agavos, Rouphos, Asynkritos, Phlegon, Herodion, & Hermes of the 70 Apostles



Reading from the Synaxarion:



The Apostle Herodion, whom Saint Paul mentions in his Epistle to the

Romans (16:11) and calls his "kinsman," was ordained presbyter and then

Bishop of New Patras, where he was slain by Jews and pagans. Saint

Agabus is mentioned in Acts 21:10-11, where he prophesied SaintPaul's

arrest in Jerusalem at the hands of the Jewish leaders. In Acts 11:27-28

it is mentioned also that this Saint foretold the great famine that

would come to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar. Having preached the

Gospel throughout various regions, he departed to the Lord. The Apostle

Rouphos became Bishop of Thebes in Greece. The Apostles Asynkritos and

Phlegon preached Christ in many places, suffered many afflictions at the

hands of the pagans and Jews, and departed unto the Lord. The Apostle

Hermes is mentioned with them in the Epistle to the Romans (16:13-14).



Apolytikion in the Third Tone

O Holy Apostles, intercede to our merciful God, that He may grant

our souls forgiveness of sins.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA



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