From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Thursday, April 21, 2011
Strict Fast
Readings for today:
St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 11:23-32
Matthew 26:1-20; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-44; Matthew 26:40-75; 27:1-2
The Twelve Gospels of the Passion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Holy Thursday
Ianouarios the Holy Martyr & his Companions
Our Holy Father Maximian, Patriarch of Constantinople
Theodore the Holy Martyr & his mother Philippa of Perge
Alexandra the Martyr
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 11:23-32
BRETHREN, I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the
Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he
had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is
for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup,
after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do
this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as
you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death
until he comes.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an
unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the
Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of
the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body
eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are
weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we
should not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are
chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Matthew 26:1-20; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-44; Matthew 26:40-75; 27:1-2
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "You know that after two
days the Passover is coming, and the Son of man will be delivered up
to be crucified." Then the chief priests and the elders of the
people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called
Caiaphas, and took counsel together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and
kill him. But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult
among the people." Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon
the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very
expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head, as he sat at table. But
when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this
waste? For this ointment might have been sold for a large sum, and given
to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you
trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you
always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In
pouring this ointment on my body she has done it to prepare me for
burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the
whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." Then one
of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief
priests and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" And
they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought
an opportunity to betray him. Now on the first day of Unleavened
Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us
prepare for you to eat the passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a
certain one, and say to him, `The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I
will keep the passover at your house with my disciples.'" And the
disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the passover.
When it was evening, he sat at table with the twelve disciples; Jesus,
knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he
had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside
his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water
into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them
with the towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and
Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him,
"What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will
understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered
him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." Simon Peter said
to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"
Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for
his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every
one of you." For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said,
"You are not all clean." When he had washed their feet, and taken his
garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have
done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I
am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that
you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you,
a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent
greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you
if you do them.
And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you
will betray me." And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him
one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" He answered, "He who has dipped
his hand in the dish with me, will betray me. The Son of man goes as
it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is
betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."
Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Is it I, Master?" He said to him, "You
have said so." Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed,
and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this
is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave
it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood
of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of
sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine
until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this
night; for it is written, `I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of
the flock will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go
before you to Galilee." Peter declared to him, "Though they all fall
away because of you, I will never fall away." Jesus said to him,
"Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will
deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you,
I will not deny you." And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus
went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his
disciples, "Sit here, while I go yonder and pray." And taking with him Peter
and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death;
remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on
his face and prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being
in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops
of blood falling to the ground.
And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to
Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? When morning came, all
the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against
Jesus to put him to death; and they bound him and led him away and
delivered him to Pilate the governor.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The Twelve Gospels of the Passion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
John 13:31-38; 14-18:1
The Lord said to his disciples, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and
in him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also
glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a
little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews
so now I say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.' A new
commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved
you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that
you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Simon Peter
said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am
going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow afterward." Peter
said to him, "Lord, why cannot I follow you now? I will lay down my
life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?
Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied
me three times.
Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have
told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself,
that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am
going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the
truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had
known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him
and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father,
and we shall be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you
so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has
seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not
believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I
say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who
dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the
Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works
that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to
the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I
will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will
ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with
you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot
receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he
dwells with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you desolate; I
will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no
more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also. In that
day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in
you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me;
and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him
and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord,
how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the
world?" Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and
my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home
with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word
which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. These things I
have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you
all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to
you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world
gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let
them be afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I go away, and I will come
to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to
the Father; for the Father is greater than 1. And now I have told you
before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is
coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me,
so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go
hence.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch
of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that
does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are
already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me,
and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the
vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man
does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and
the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it
shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear
much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved
me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my
commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's
commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my
joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my
commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You
are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you
servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I
have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I
have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and
appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should
abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to
you. This I command you, to love one another. If the world hates you,
know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the
world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the
world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his
master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my
word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my
account, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and
spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for
their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done
among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin;
but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. It is to
fulfill the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a
cause.' But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the
Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will
bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been
with me from the beginning.
I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They
will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when
whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will
do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have
said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember
that I told you of them. I did not say these things to you from the
beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me;
yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have
said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless
I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for
if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I
go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the
world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin,
because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go
to the Father, and you will see me no more; concerning judgment,
because the ruler of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say
to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth
comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on
his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will
declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he
will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has
is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare
it to you. A little while, and you will see me no more; again a
little while, and you will see me." Some of his disciples said to one
another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will
not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and,
'because I go to the Father'? " They said, "What does he mean by 'a little
while"? We do not know what he means." Jesus knew that they wanted to ask
him; so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what
I meant by saying, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and
again a little while, and you will see me'? Truly, truly, I say to you,
you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be
sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is in travail
she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered
of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a
child is born into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see
you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy
from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say
to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in
my name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you
will receive, that your joy may be full. I have said this to you in
figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures
but tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in my
name; and I do not say to you that I shall ask the Father for you; for
the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have
believed that I came from the Father. I came from the Father and have come
into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the
Father." His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any
figure! Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question
you; by this we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them,
"Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you
will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet
I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said this to you,
that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and
said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may
glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give
eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life,
that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you
gave me to do; and now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with
the glory which I had with you before the world was made. I have
manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours
they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now
they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I
have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received
them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed
that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the
world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours; all
mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And
now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am
coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given
me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them,
I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded
them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the
scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things
I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in
themselves. I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because
they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not
pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should
keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am
not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As
you did send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be
consecrated in truth. I do not pray for these only, but also for those who
believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you,
Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the
world may believe that you have sent me. The glory which you have given
me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I
in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that
the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as
you have loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have
given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which you have
given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world. O
righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you; and
these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I
will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be
in them, and I in them. " When Jesus had spoken these words, he went
forth with his disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a
garden, which he and his disciples entered.
John 18:1-28
At that time, Jesus went forth with his disciples across the Kidron
valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now
Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there
with his disciples. So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers and some
officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with
lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to
befall him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They
answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas,
who betrayed him, was standing with them. When he said to them, "I am
he," they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "Whom
do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I
told you that I am he; so, if you seek me, let these men go. " This
was to fulfill the word which he had spoken, "Of those whom you gave
me I lost not one." Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and
struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. The slave's
name was Malchos. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its
sheath; shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?" So the
band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews seized
Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas; for he was the
father-in?law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who
had given counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man
should die for the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did
another disciple. As this disciple was known to the high priest, he
entered the court of the high priest along with Jesus, while Peter stood
outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high
priest, went out and spoke to the maid who kept the door, and brought
Peter in. The maid who kept the door said to Peter, "Are not you also
one of this man's disciples?" He said, "I am not." Now the servants
and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they
were standing and warming themselves; Peter also was with them,
standing and warming himself. The high priest then questioned Jesus about
his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken
openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the
temple, where all Jews come together; I have said nothing secretly. Why
do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me, what I said to them;
they know what I said." When he had said this, one of the officers
standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer
the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear
witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike
me?" Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon
Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "Are not you
also one of his disciples?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of
the servants of the high priest, a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter
had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter
again denied it; and at once the cock crowed. Then they led Jesus from
the house of Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was early. They
themselves did not enter the praetorium, so that they might not be defiled,
but might eat the passover.
Matthew 26:57-75
At that time, the soldiers seized Jesus and led him to Caiaphas the
high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter
followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest,
and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief
priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that
they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false
witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow
said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three
days.'" And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to
make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus was
silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God,
tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him,
"You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of
man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of
heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, "He has uttered
blasphemy. Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.
What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they
spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him, saying,
"Prophesy to us, you Christ I Who is it that struck you?" Now Peter was
sitting outside in the courtyard. And a maid came up to him, and said,
"You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them
all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to
the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders,
"This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an
oath, "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came
up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your
accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to
swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the cock crowed. And
Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the cock crows, you will
deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
John 18:28-40; 19:1-16
At that time, they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the
praetorium. It was early. They themselves did not enter the praetorium, so
that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. So Pilate
went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this
man?" They answered him, "If this man were not an evildoer, we would
not have handed him over." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves
and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not
lawful for us to put any man to death." This was to fulfil the word
which Jesus had spoken to show by what death he was to die. Pilate
entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you
the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own
accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a
Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to
me; what have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this
world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that
I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not of
this world." Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus
answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I
have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who
is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is
truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told
them, "I find no crime in him. But you have a custom that I should
release one man for you at the Passover; will you have me release for you
the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but
Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber. Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged
him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his
head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying,
"Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. Pilate went
out again, and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you, that
you may know that I find no crime in him." So Jesus came out,
wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them,
"Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they
cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him
yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered
him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has
made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard these words, he was
the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus,
"Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said
to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have
power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him,
"You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from
above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." Upon
this Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you
release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who makes
himself a king sets himself against Caesar." When Pilate heard these
words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place
called The Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of
Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the
Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with
him, crucify him!" PIlate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?"
The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he
handed him over to be crucified.
Matthew 27:3-32
At that time, when Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned,
he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the
chief priests and the elders, saying, "I have sinned in betraying
innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." And
throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went
and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of
silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they
are blood money." So they took counsel, and bought with them the
potter's field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called
the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been
spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces
of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of
the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the
Lord directed me." Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the
governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have
said so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he
made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many
things they testify against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to
a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly. Now at the
feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one
prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner, called
Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want
me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" For
he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to
him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered
much over him today in a dream." Now the chief priests and the elders
persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor
again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for
you? " And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what
shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be
crucified." And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all
the more, "Let him be crucified." So when Pilate saw that he was
gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and
washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's
blood; see to it yourselves." And all the people answered, "His blood be
on us and on our children!" Then he released for them Barabbas, and
having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers
of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered
the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a
scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his
head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they
mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spat upon him,
and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had
mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on
him, and led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they came upon
a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry
his cross.
Mark 15:16-32
At that time, the soldiers led Jesus away inside the palace (that
is, the praetorium); and they called together the whole battalion.
And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of
thorns they put it on him. And they began to salute him, "Hail, King of
the Jews!" And they struck his head with a reed, and spat upon him,
and they knelt down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him,
they stripped him of the purple cloak, and put his own clothes on him.
And they led him out to crucify him. And they compelled a passer?by,
Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of
Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place
called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him
wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified
him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to
decide what each should take. And it was the third hour, when they
crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, "The
King of the Jews." And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his
right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging
their heads, and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and
build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!"
So also the chief priests mocked him to one another with the
scribes, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ,
the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and
believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
Matthew 27:33-54
At that time, when the soldiers came to a place called Golgotha
(which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink,
mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when
they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by
casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over
his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus
the King of the Jews." Then two robbers were crucified with him, one
on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided
him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple
and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God,
come down from the cross." So also the chief priests, with the scribes
and elders, mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save
himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross,
and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him
now, if he desires him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" And the
robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until
the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud
voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have
you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "This
man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a
sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him
to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will
come to save him." And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded
up his spirit.
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to
bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also
were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were
raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into
the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who
were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what
took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the
Son of God!"
Luke 23:32-49
At that time, two others also, who were criminals, were led away to
be put to death with him. And when they came to the place which is
called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on
the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his
garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him,
saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of
God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and
offering him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save
yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the
Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are
you not the Christ? Save yourself and us! " But the other rebuked
him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same
sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the
due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he
said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me
in Paradise." It was now about the sixth hour, and there was
darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light
failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying
with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!"
And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw
what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man
was innocent!" And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight,
when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their
breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from
Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.
John 19:25-37
At that time, standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and
his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing
near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to
the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple
took her to his own home. After this Jesus, knowing that all was now
finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), "I thirst." A bowl full of
vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop
and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he
said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies
from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a
high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and
that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs
of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but
when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not
break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear,
and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne
witness ? his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth?
that you also may believe. For these things took place that the
scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of him shall be broken." And
again another scripture says, "They shall look on him whom they have
pierced."
Mark 15:43-47
At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the
council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage
and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate
wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked
him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the
centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a
linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and
laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled
a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the
mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
John 19:38-42
At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but
secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the
body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his
body. Nikodemos also, who had at first come to him by night, came
bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds' weight.
They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the
spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he
was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where
no one had ever been laid. So because of the Jewish day of
Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
Matthew 27:62-66
Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and
the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember how
that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will
rise again.' Therefore order the sepulcher to be made secure until the
third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the
people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse
than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers;
go, make it as secure as you can." So they went and made the
sepulcher secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Holy Thursday
Reading from the Synaxarion:
On the evening of this day, which was the eve of the feast of
unleavened bread (that is, the Passover), our Redeemer supped with His
twelve disciples in the city. He blessed the bread and the wine, and
gave us the Mystery of the Divine Eucharist. He washed the feet of the
disciples as an example of humility. He said openly that one of them was
about to betray Him, and He pointed out the betrayer by revealing that
it was he "that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish." And after
Judas had straightway gone forth, Jesus gave the disciples His final
and sublime instructions, which are contained in the first Gospel
Reading of the Holy Passion (John 13:31-18:1 known as the Gospel of the
Testament). After this the God-man went forth to the Mount of Olives, and
there He began to be sorrowful and in anguish. He went off alone, and
bending the knees He prayed fervently. From His great anguish, His sweat
became as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground. As soon as
He had completed that anguished prayer, lo, Judas came with a
multitude of soldiers and a great crowd; on greeting the Teacher guile
fully with a kiss, he betrayed Him.
The Lord Jesus was then apprehended and taken prisoner to the high
priests Annas and Caiaphas. The disciples were scattered, but Peter, who
was more fervent than the others, followed Him even into the court of
the high priest, but in the end denied thrice that he was His
disciple.
Then our divine Teacher was brought before the lawless Sanhedrin and
was interrogated concerning His disciples and His teaching. The high
priest adjured Him before God that He tell them whether He was truly the
Christ. And having spoken the truth, He was judged guilty of death,
supposedly as one who had blasphemed. Then they spat in His face, beat Him,
smote Him with the palms of their hands, and mocked Him in every way,
throughout the whole night until the morning.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
As the glorious disciples, in the washing of the feet, were
enlightened, the profane Judas, ravaged by greed, was benighted. And to the
lawless judges he surrenders You the just judge. Consider, you who love
money, the one who hanged himself for the sake of it. Shun the insatiate
heart that could dare such a deed against the Teacher. Lord, benevolent
above all humans, glory to You.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
Taking the Bread into his hands, the betrayer stretcheth them forth
secretly and receiveth the price of Him that, with His own hands,
fashioned man. And Judas, the servant and deceiver, remained incorrigible.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Ianouarios the Holy Martyr & his Companions
Reading from the Synaxarion:
These Martyrs contested for piety's sake in Campania of Italy, during
the reign of Diocletian (284-305), when Timothy was Proconsul. Saint
Ianouarios was the Bishop of Benevento in Campania; he was arrested and
taken to Nola, where he was cast into a burning furnace, from which he
came forth unharmed; at Puteoli, together with Proculus, Sosius, and
Faustus the deacons, Desiderius, reader of the Church of Benevento, and
Eurychius and Acutius, nobles from Puteoli, he was cast to wild beasts,
which as they came near the Saints, fell affectionately at their feet.
Finally they were all beheaded, about the year 305.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the
Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of
ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of
truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O
Hieromartyr Ianouarios. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be
saved.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Alexandra the Martyr
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Martyr Alexandra, the Empress and wife of Emperor Diocletion, was so
impressed by the courage and martyrdom of St George that she became a
Christian and fell under the same persecution. She also was condemned to be
beheaded but when she arrived at the place of execution she asked to be
allowed to sit down. Her request was granted. She sat down and died
quietly before the executioners could carry out their task. Her feast day
is 21 April.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my
Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy
baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign
with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me
offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our
souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in mercy.
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Thursday, April 21, 2011
Strict Fast
Readings for today:
St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 11:23-32
Matthew 26:1-20; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-44; Matthew 26:40-75; 27:1-2
The Twelve Gospels of the Passion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Holy Thursday
Ianouarios the Holy Martyr & his Companions
Our Holy Father Maximian, Patriarch of Constantinople
Theodore the Holy Martyr & his mother Philippa of Perge
Alexandra the Martyr
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 11:23-32
BRETHREN, I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the
Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he
had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is
for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup,
after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do
this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as
you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death
until he comes.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an
unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the
Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of
the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body
eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are
weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we
should not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are
chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from Matthew 26:1-20; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-44; Matthew 26:40-75; 27:1-2
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: "You know that after two
days the Passover is coming, and the Son of man will be delivered up
to be crucified." Then the chief priests and the elders of the
people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called
Caiaphas, and took counsel together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and
kill him. But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult
among the people." Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon
the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very
expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head, as he sat at table. But
when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this
waste? For this ointment might have been sold for a large sum, and given
to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you
trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you
always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In
pouring this ointment on my body she has done it to prepare me for
burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the
whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." Then one
of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief
priests and said, "What will you give me if I deliver him to you?" And
they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought
an opportunity to betray him. Now on the first day of Unleavened
Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us
prepare for you to eat the passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a
certain one, and say to him, `The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I
will keep the passover at your house with my disciples.'" And the
disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the passover.
When it was evening, he sat at table with the twelve disciples; Jesus,
knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he
had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside
his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water
into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them
with the towel with which he was girded. He came to Simon Peter; and
Peter said to him, "Lord, do you wash my feet?" Jesus answered him,
"What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will
understand." Peter said to him, "You shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered
him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." Simon Peter said
to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"
Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for
his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every
one of you." For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said,
"You are not all clean." When he had washed their feet, and taken his
garments, and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you know what I have
done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I
am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that
you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you,
a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent
greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you
if you do them.
And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you
will betray me." And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him
one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" He answered, "He who has dipped
his hand in the dish with me, will betray me. The Son of man goes as
it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is
betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."
Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Is it I, Master?" He said to him, "You
have said so." Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed,
and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this
is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave
it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood
of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of
sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine
until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this
night; for it is written, `I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of
the flock will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go
before you to Galilee." Peter declared to him, "Though they all fall
away because of you, I will never fall away." Jesus said to him,
"Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will
deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you,
I will not deny you." And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus
went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his
disciples, "Sit here, while I go yonder and pray." And taking with him Peter
and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death;
remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on
his face and prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass
from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."
An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being
in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops
of blood falling to the ground.
And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to
Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? When morning came, all
the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against
Jesus to put him to death; and they bound him and led him away and
delivered him to Pilate the governor.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The Twelve Gospels of the Passion of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
John 13:31-38; 14-18:1
The Lord said to his disciples, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and
in him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also
glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a
little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews
so now I say to you, 'Where I am going you cannot come.' A new
commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved
you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that
you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Simon Peter
said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am
going you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow afterward." Peter
said to him, "Lord, why cannot I follow you now? I will lay down my
life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me?
Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied
me three times.
Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have
told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself,
that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am
going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the
truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had
known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him
and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father,
and we shall be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you
so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has
seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not
believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I
say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who
dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the
Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works
that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to
the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I
will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will
ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with
you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot
receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he
dwells with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you desolate; I
will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no
more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also. In that
day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in
you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me;
and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him
and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord,
how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the
world?" Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and
my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home
with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word
which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. These things I
have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you
all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to
you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world
gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let
them be afraid. You heard me say to you, 'I go away, and I will come
to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to
the Father; for the Father is greater than 1. And now I have told you
before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is
coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me,
so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go
hence.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch
of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that
does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are
already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me,
and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it
abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the
vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is
that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man
does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and
the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you
abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it
shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear
much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved
me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my
commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's
commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my
joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my
commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You
are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you
servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I
have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I
have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and
appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should
abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to
you. This I command you, to love one another. If the world hates you,
know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the
world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the
world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his
master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my
word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my
account, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and
spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for
their sin. He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done
among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin;
but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. It is to
fulfill the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a
cause.' But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the
Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will
bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been
with me from the beginning.
I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They
will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when
whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will
do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have
said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember
that I told you of them. I did not say these things to you from the
beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me;
yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have
said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless
I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for
if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I
go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convince the
world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin,
because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go
to the Father, and you will see me no more; concerning judgment,
because the ruler of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say
to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth
comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on
his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will
declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he
will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has
is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare
it to you. A little while, and you will see me no more; again a
little while, and you will see me." Some of his disciples said to one
another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will
not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and,
'because I go to the Father'? " They said, "What does he mean by 'a little
while"? We do not know what he means." Jesus knew that they wanted to ask
him; so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what
I meant by saying, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and
again a little while, and you will see me'? Truly, truly, I say to you,
you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be
sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is in travail
she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered
of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a
child is born into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see
you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy
from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say
to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in
my name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you
will receive, that your joy may be full. I have said this to you in
figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures
but tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in my
name; and I do not say to you that I shall ask the Father for you; for
the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have
believed that I came from the Father. I came from the Father and have come
into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the
Father." His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly, not in any
figure! Now we know that you know all things, and need none to question
you; by this we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them,
"Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you
will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave me alone; yet
I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said this to you,
that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and
said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may
glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give
eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life,
that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you
gave me to do; and now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with
the glory which I had with you before the world was made. I have
manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours
they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now
they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I
have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received
them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed
that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the
world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours; all
mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And
now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am
coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given
me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them,
I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded
them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the
scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things
I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in
themselves. I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because
they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not
pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should
keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am
not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As
you did send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be
consecrated in truth. I do not pray for these only, but also for those who
believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as you,
Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the
world may believe that you have sent me. The glory which you have given
me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I
in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that
the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as
you have loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have
given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which you have
given me in your love for me before the foundation of the world. O
righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you; and
these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I
will make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be
in them, and I in them. " When Jesus had spoken these words, he went
forth with his disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a
garden, which he and his disciples entered.
John 18:1-28
At that time, Jesus went forth with his disciples across the Kidron
valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now
Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there
with his disciples. So Judas, procuring a band of soldiers and some
officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with
lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to
befall him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They
answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am he." Judas,
who betrayed him, was standing with them. When he said to them, "I am
he," they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "Whom
do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I
told you that I am he; so, if you seek me, let these men go. " This
was to fulfill the word which he had spoken, "Of those whom you gave
me I lost not one." Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and
struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. The slave's
name was Malchos. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into its
sheath; shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?" So the
band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews seized
Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas; for he was the
father-in?law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who
had given counsel to the Jews that it was expedient that one man
should die for the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did
another disciple. As this disciple was known to the high priest, he
entered the court of the high priest along with Jesus, while Peter stood
outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high
priest, went out and spoke to the maid who kept the door, and brought
Peter in. The maid who kept the door said to Peter, "Are not you also
one of this man's disciples?" He said, "I am not." Now the servants
and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they
were standing and warming themselves; Peter also was with them,
standing and warming himself. The high priest then questioned Jesus about
his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken
openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the
temple, where all Jews come together; I have said nothing secretly. Why
do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me, what I said to them;
they know what I said." When he had said this, one of the officers
standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer
the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, bear
witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike
me?" Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon
Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "Are not you
also one of his disciples?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of
the servants of the high priest, a kinsman of the man whose ear Peter
had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter
again denied it; and at once the cock crowed. Then they led Jesus from
the house of Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was early. They
themselves did not enter the praetorium, so that they might not be defiled,
but might eat the passover.
Matthew 26:57-75
At that time, the soldiers seized Jesus and led him to Caiaphas the
high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter
followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest,
and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief
priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that
they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false
witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow
said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three
days.'" And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to
make? What is it that these men testify against you?" But Jesus was
silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God,
tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him,
"You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of
man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of
heaven." Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, "He has uttered
blasphemy. Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.
What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they
spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him, saying,
"Prophesy to us, you Christ I Who is it that struck you?" Now Peter was
sitting outside in the courtyard. And a maid came up to him, and said,
"You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them
all, saying, "I do not know what you mean." And when he went out to
the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders,
"This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." And again he denied it with an
oath, "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came
up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your
accent betrays you." Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to
swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the cock crowed. And
Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the cock crows, you will
deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
John 18:28-40; 19:1-16
At that time, they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the
praetorium. It was early. They themselves did not enter the praetorium, so
that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. So Pilate
went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this
man?" They answered him, "If this man were not an evildoer, we would
not have handed him over." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves
and judge him by your own law." The Jews said to him, "It is not
lawful for us to put any man to death." This was to fulfil the word
which Jesus had spoken to show by what death he was to die. Pilate
entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you
the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own
accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a
Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to
me; what have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this
world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that
I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not of
this world." Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus
answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I
have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who
is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is
truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told
them, "I find no crime in him. But you have a custom that I should
release one man for you at the Passover; will you have me release for you
the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but
Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber. Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged
him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his
head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying,
"Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. Pilate went
out again, and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you, that
you may know that I find no crime in him." So Jesus came out,
wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them,
"Behold the man!" When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they
cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him
yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered
him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he has
made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard these words, he was
the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to Jesus,
"Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate therefore said
to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have
power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him,
"You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from
above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." Upon
this Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you
release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who makes
himself a king sets himself against Caesar." When Pilate heard these
words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place
called The Pavement, and in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of
Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the
Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with him, away with
him, crucify him!" PIlate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?"
The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." Then he
handed him over to be crucified.
Matthew 27:3-32
At that time, when Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned,
he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the
chief priests and the elders, saying, "I have sinned in betraying
innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." And
throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went
and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of
silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they
are blood money." So they took counsel, and bought with them the
potter's field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called
the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been
spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces
of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of
the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the
Lord directed me." Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the
governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have
said so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he
made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many
things they testify against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to
a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly. Now at the
feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one
prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner, called
Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want
me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ?" For
he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to
him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered
much over him today in a dream." Now the chief priests and the elders
persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor
again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for
you? " And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what
shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be
crucified." And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all
the more, "Let him be crucified." So when Pilate saw that he was
gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and
washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's
blood; see to it yourselves." And all the people answered, "His blood be
on us and on our children!" Then he released for them Barabbas, and
having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers
of the governor took Jesus into the praetorium, and they gathered
the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a
scarlet robe upon him, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on his
head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him they
mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spat upon him,
and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had
mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, and put his own clothes on
him, and led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they came upon
a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; this man they compelled to carry
his cross.
Mark 15:16-32
At that time, the soldiers led Jesus away inside the palace (that
is, the praetorium); and they called together the whole battalion.
And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of
thorns they put it on him. And they began to salute him, "Hail, King of
the Jews!" And they struck his head with a reed, and spat upon him,
and they knelt down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him,
they stripped him of the purple cloak, and put his own clothes on him.
And they led him out to crucify him. And they compelled a passer?by,
Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of
Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place
called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him
wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified
him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to
decide what each should take. And it was the third hour, when they
crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, "The
King of the Jews." And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his
right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging
their heads, and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and
build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!"
So also the chief priests mocked him to one another with the
scribes, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ,
the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and
believe." Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.
Matthew 27:33-54
At that time, when the soldiers came to a place called Golgotha
(which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink,
mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when
they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by
casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over
his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus
the King of the Jews." Then two robbers were crucified with him, one
on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided
him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple
and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God,
come down from the cross." So also the chief priests, with the scribes
and elders, mocked him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save
himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross,
and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him
now, if he desires him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" And the
robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until
the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud
voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have
you forsaken me?" And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "This
man is calling Elijah." And one of them at once ran and took a
sponge, filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it to him
to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will
come to save him." And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded
up his spirit.
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to
bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also
were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were
raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into
the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who
were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what
took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the
Son of God!"
Luke 23:32-49
At that time, two others also, who were criminals, were led away to
be put to death with him. And when they came to the place which is
called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on
the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his
garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him,
saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of
God, his Chosen One!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and
offering him vinegar, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save
yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the
Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, "Are
you not the Christ? Save yourself and us! " But the other rebuked
him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same
sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the
due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong." And he
said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me
in Paradise." It was now about the sixth hour, and there was
darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light
failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying
with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!"
And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw
what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man
was innocent!" And all the multitudes who assembled to see the sight,
when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their
breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from
Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things.
John 19:25-37
At that time, standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and
his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing
near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to
the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple
took her to his own home. After this Jesus, knowing that all was now
finished, said (to fulfill the scripture), "I thirst." A bowl full of
vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop
and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he
said, "It is finished"; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies
from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a
high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and
that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs
of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but
when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not
break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear,
and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne
witness ? his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth?
that you also may believe. For these things took place that the
scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of him shall be broken." And
again another scripture says, "They shall look on him whom they have
pierced."
Mark 15:43-47
At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the
council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage
and went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate
wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked
him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the
centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And he bought a
linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and
laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled
a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the
mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
John 19:38-42
At that time, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but
secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the
body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took away his
body. Nikodemos also, who had at first come to him by night, came
bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds' weight.
They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the
spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he
was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where
no one had ever been laid. So because of the Jewish day of
Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
Matthew 27:62-66
Next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and
the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember how
that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will
rise again.' Therefore order the sepulcher to be made secure until the
third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away, and tell the
people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse
than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers;
go, make it as secure as you can." So they went and made the
sepulcher secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Holy Thursday
Reading from the Synaxarion:
On the evening of this day, which was the eve of the feast of
unleavened bread (that is, the Passover), our Redeemer supped with His
twelve disciples in the city. He blessed the bread and the wine, and
gave us the Mystery of the Divine Eucharist. He washed the feet of the
disciples as an example of humility. He said openly that one of them was
about to betray Him, and He pointed out the betrayer by revealing that
it was he "that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish." And after
Judas had straightway gone forth, Jesus gave the disciples His final
and sublime instructions, which are contained in the first Gospel
Reading of the Holy Passion (John 13:31-18:1 known as the Gospel of the
Testament). After this the God-man went forth to the Mount of Olives, and
there He began to be sorrowful and in anguish. He went off alone, and
bending the knees He prayed fervently. From His great anguish, His sweat
became as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground. As soon as
He had completed that anguished prayer, lo, Judas came with a
multitude of soldiers and a great crowd; on greeting the Teacher guile
fully with a kiss, he betrayed Him.
The Lord Jesus was then apprehended and taken prisoner to the high
priests Annas and Caiaphas. The disciples were scattered, but Peter, who
was more fervent than the others, followed Him even into the court of
the high priest, but in the end denied thrice that he was His
disciple.
Then our divine Teacher was brought before the lawless Sanhedrin and
was interrogated concerning His disciples and His teaching. The high
priest adjured Him before God that He tell them whether He was truly the
Christ. And having spoken the truth, He was judged guilty of death,
supposedly as one who had blasphemed. Then they spat in His face, beat Him,
smote Him with the palms of their hands, and mocked Him in every way,
throughout the whole night until the morning.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
As the glorious disciples, in the washing of the feet, were
enlightened, the profane Judas, ravaged by greed, was benighted. And to the
lawless judges he surrenders You the just judge. Consider, you who love
money, the one who hanged himself for the sake of it. Shun the insatiate
heart that could dare such a deed against the Teacher. Lord, benevolent
above all humans, glory to You.
Kontakion in the Second Tone
Taking the Bread into his hands, the betrayer stretcheth them forth
secretly and receiveth the price of Him that, with His own hands,
fashioned man. And Judas, the servant and deceiver, remained incorrigible.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Ianouarios the Holy Martyr & his Companions
Reading from the Synaxarion:
These Martyrs contested for piety's sake in Campania of Italy, during
the reign of Diocletian (284-305), when Timothy was Proconsul. Saint
Ianouarios was the Bishop of Benevento in Campania; he was arrested and
taken to Nola, where he was cast into a burning furnace, from which he
came forth unharmed; at Puteoli, together with Proculus, Sosius, and
Faustus the deacons, Desiderius, reader of the Church of Benevento, and
Eurychius and Acutius, nobles from Puteoli, he was cast to wild beasts,
which as they came near the Saints, fell affectionately at their feet.
Finally they were all beheaded, about the year 305.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the
Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of
ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of
truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O
Hieromartyr Ianouarios. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be
saved.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Alexandra the Martyr
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Martyr Alexandra, the Empress and wife of Emperor Diocletion, was so
impressed by the courage and martyrdom of St George that she became a
Christian and fell under the same persecution. She also was condemned to be
beheaded but when she arrived at the place of execution she asked to be
allowed to sit down. Her request was granted. She sat down and died
quietly before the executioners could carry out their task. Her feast day
is 21 April.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice: O my
Bridegroom, Thee I love; and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy
baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign
with Thee; for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee: accept me
offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our
souls through her intercessions, since Thou art great in mercy.
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
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