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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Sunday, May 1, 2011
Readings for today:
Matthew 28:16-20
Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20
John 20:19-31
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Thomas Sunday
Jeremiah the Prophet
New Martyr Maria of Fourna, Mirabella in Crete
Tamara, Queen of Georgia
Nikiforos the Monk of Chios
Ignatios, & Euthemios the New Martyrs
Orthros Gospel Reading
The reading is from Matthew 28:16-20
At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain
to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they
worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the
close of the age. Amen."
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Epistle Reading
The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20
IN THOSE DAYS, many signs and wonders were done among the people by
the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in
Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held
them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the
Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out
the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as
Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The
people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick
and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the
party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the
apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the
Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go
and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this
Life."
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from John 20:19-31
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors
being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came
and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When He
had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the
disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again,
"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them:
"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them
when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the
Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the
nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand
in His side, I will not believe."
Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was
with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them,
and said: "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your
finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my
side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My
Lord and my God!" Jesus said to Him: "Have you believed because you
have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you
may have life in His name.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Thomas Sunday
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were
gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the
Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and
greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He
showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their
presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus
assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then
present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning
Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see
in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the
print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not
believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the
disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord
Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in
their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas,
"Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy
hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but
believing."
And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of
the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he
clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man
(Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).
This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not
"in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday
after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the
commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.
Apolytikion in the Grave Tone
Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, didst shine forth from the
grave, O Christ God; and whilst the doors were shut, Thou didst come
unto Thy disciples, O Resurrection of all, renewing through them an
upright Spirit in us according to Thy great mercy.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
With his searching right hand, Thomas did probe Thy lifebestowing
side, O Christ God; for when Thou didst enter whilst the doors were
shut, he cried out unto Thee with the rest of the Apostles: Thou art my
Lord and my God.
This content is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved:
Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Jeremiah the Prophet
Reading from the Synaxarion:
This great Prophet of God, Jeremiah, who loved his brethren and
lamented for them greatly, who prayed much for the people and the Holy
City, was the son of Helkias of the tribe of Levi, from the city of
Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. He was sanctified from his mother's
womb, as the Lord Himself said concerning him: "Before I formed thee in
the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth from the womb, I
sanctified thee; I appointed thee a prophet to the nations" (Jer. 1:5). He
prophesied for thirty years, from 613 to 583 B.C. During the last captivity
of the people in the reign of Sedekias, when only a few were left
behind to cultivate the land, this Prophet remained with them by the
permission of Nabuzardan, the captain of the guard under Nabuchodonosor. He
wept and lamented inconsolably over the desolation of Jerusalem and
the enslavement of his people. But even the few that remained behind
transgressed again, and fearing the vengeance of the Chaldeans, they fled into
Egypt, forcibly taking with them Jeremiah and Baruch his disciple and
scribe. There he prophesied concerning Egypt and other nations, and he
was stoned to death in Taphnas by his own people about the year 583
B.C., since they would not endure to hear the truth of his words and
his just rebukes. His book of prophecy is divided into fifty-one
chapters, and his book of lamentation into five; he is ranked second among
the greater Prophets. His name means "Yah is exalted."
Apolytikion in the Second Tone
As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophet Jeremiah, O Lord, through
him we beseech Thee to save our souls.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
O blessed Jeremiah, being chosen of God from thy mother's womb, in
thy compassion, thou sorely didst mourn for the falling away of
Israel. And in Egypt, O Prophet, thou wast murdered by stoning for thy
most just rebukes by them that understood not to cry with thee:
Alleluia.
This content is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved:
Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Tamara, Queen of Georgia
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Tamara was the only child of King George III. Upon his death in
1184, she became Queen at the age of twenty-four. Despite her youth,
she ruled the country with such wisdom and godliness - leading it to
unprecedented military triumphs over the neighbouring Moslem countries in
defence of her kingdom, fostering arts and letters, and zealously
strengthening Orthodoxy - that her reign is known as the Golden Age of Georgia.
After her coronation, she convoked a local council to correct disorders
in church life. When the bishops had assembled from all parts of her
kingdom, she, like Saint Constantine at the First Ecumenical Council,
honoured them as if she were a commoner, and they Angels of God; exhorting
them to establish righteousness and redress abuses, she said in her
humility, "Do away with every wickedness, beginning with me, for the
prerogative of the throne is in no wise that of making war against God."
Saint Tamara called herself "the father of orphans and the judge of
widows," and her contemporaries called her "King" instead of "Queen." She
herself led her army against the Moslems and fearlessly defeated them;
because of the reverence that even the enemies of Georgia had for her,
entire mountain tribes renounced Islam and were baptized. She built
countless churches and monasteries throughout her kingdom, and was
benefactress also to the Holy Land, Mount Athos, and holy places in Greece and
Cyprus. She has always been much beloved by her people, who have
memorialized her meekness, wisdom, piety, and obedience, and peace loving
nature in innumerable legends, ballads, and songs; the poem written in
her honour by Shota Rustaveli, "The Knight in the Panther Skin," is
the masterpiece of Georgian literature. The great Queen Tamara
departed the earthly kingdom for the heavenly in the year 1212.
Apolytikion in the Third Tone
Let the mountain-tops and vales of Georgia sound with songs of praise
to laud Tamara as the vessel of wisdom, the smiling sun, the sword
of truth, the conversion of infidels, the most harmonious reed-pipe
of Jesus Christ, and our fervent intercessor before the King of
Kings, entreating Him to grant great mercy unto us.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
O Thou whom thy people called a king in justice and truth, the
father of orphans and the judge of widows, thou sun which shone on the
Georgian land, thou who spentest all thy strength defending thy kingdom,
rise up, O Tamara, and defend us now also, and by thine intercessions
with Christ, save us from sufferings.
This content is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved:
Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Ignatios, & Euthemios the New Martyrs
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Of the three newly-shining luminaries of the Holy Mountain, the New
Martyr Euthymios , who was from Demetsana of the Peloponnesus, won the
crown of martyrdom when he was beheaded on Palm Sunday, March 22, 1814.
Saint Ignatios , who was from Stara Zagora in Bulgaria, was martyred by
hanging on October 8, 1814. Saint Acacius, who was from Neochorion of
Thessalonica, was beheaded on May 1, 1815. All three had denied Christ in the
foolishness of youth, and repented with great fervour; all became monks in
the Skete of the Venerable Forerunner on the Holy Mountain; all had
the revered elders Nicephorus and Acacius as their spirtual fathers;
all were martyred in Constantinople; all were about twenty years of
age; and the holy relics of all three are treasured in the
aforementioned Athonite Skete of the Forerunner.
Apolytikion in the First Tone
Ye who are equal in number to the unoriginate Trinity stand now with
the choirs of the Angels and hosts of Martyrs in boundless joy before
the thrice-resplendent throne of the Godhead; wherefore, O most wise
ones, ye partake of the beams from that awesome majesty, and grant unto
the faithful the divine enlightenment from on high, unending
well-springs of healings, and the pardon of our grievous sins. O divine
Euthymios, Martyr of Christ, with the wise Ignatios, and God inspired
Acacius, ye ever entreat the Lord God in behalf of all.
Kontakion in the Third Tone
In your zeal to emulate the righteous God-bearing Fathers, ye strove
in ascetic deeds, accepting every affliction; having sought the
Martyrs' glory through death by torments, ye are crowned with twofold
crowns by the Crown-bestower, O Euthymios most righteous, with Saint
Ignatios, and the blest Acacius on high.
This content is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved:
Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Sunday, May 1, 2011
Readings for today:
Matthew 28:16-20
Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20
John 20:19-31
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Thomas Sunday
Jeremiah the Prophet
New Martyr Maria of Fourna, Mirabella in Crete
Tamara, Queen of Georgia
Nikiforos the Monk of Chios
Ignatios, & Euthemios the New Martyrs
Orthros Gospel Reading
The reading is from Matthew 28:16-20
At that time, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain
to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they
worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All
authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the
close of the age. Amen."
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Epistle Reading
The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 5:12-20
IN THOSE DAYS, many signs and wonders were done among the people by
the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in
Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held
them in high honor. And more than ever believers were added to the
Lord, multitudes both of men and women, so that they even carried out
the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as
Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The
people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick
and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
But the high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the
party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the
apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the
Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go
and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this
Life."
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from John 20:19-31
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors
being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came
and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When He
had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the
disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again,
"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them:
"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them
when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the
Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the
nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand
in His side, I will not believe."
Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was
with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them,
and said: "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Put your
finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my
side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered Him, "My
Lord and my God!" Jesus said to Him: "Have you believed because you
have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you
may have life in His name.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Thomas Sunday
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Though the doors were shut at the dwelling where the disciples were
gathered for fear of the Jews on the evening of the Sunday after the
Passover, our Saviour wondrously entered and stood in their midst, and
greeted them with His customary words, "Peace be unto you." Then He
showed unto them His hands and feet and side; furthermore, in their
presence, He took some fish and a honeycomb and ate before them, and thus
assured them of His bodily Resurrection. But Thomas, who was not then
present with the others, did not believe their testimony concerning
Christ's Resurrection, but said in a decisive manner, "Except I shall see
in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the
print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not
believe." Wherefore after eight days, that is, on this day, when the
disciples were again gathered together and Thomas was with them, the Lord
Jesus came while the doors were shut, as He did formerly. Standing in
their midst, He said, "Peace be unto you"; then He said to Thomas,
"Bring hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and bring hither thy
hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not unbelieving, but
believing."
And Thomas, beholding and examining carefully the hands and side of
the Master, cried out with faith, "My Lord and my God." Thus he
clearly proclaimed the two natures - human and divine - of the God-man
(Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-29).
This day is called Antipascha (meaning "in the stead of Pascha," not
"in opposition to Pascha") because with this day, the first Sunday
after Pascha, the Church consecrates every Sunday of the year to the
commemoration of Pascha, that is, the Resurrection.
Apolytikion in the Grave Tone
Whilst the tomb was sealed, Thou, O Life, didst shine forth from the
grave, O Christ God; and whilst the doors were shut, Thou didst come
unto Thy disciples, O Resurrection of all, renewing through them an
upright Spirit in us according to Thy great mercy.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
With his searching right hand, Thomas did probe Thy lifebestowing
side, O Christ God; for when Thou didst enter whilst the doors were
shut, he cried out unto Thee with the rest of the Apostles: Thou art my
Lord and my God.
This content is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved:
Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Jeremiah the Prophet
Reading from the Synaxarion:
This great Prophet of God, Jeremiah, who loved his brethren and
lamented for them greatly, who prayed much for the people and the Holy
City, was the son of Helkias of the tribe of Levi, from the city of
Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. He was sanctified from his mother's
womb, as the Lord Himself said concerning him: "Before I formed thee in
the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth from the womb, I
sanctified thee; I appointed thee a prophet to the nations" (Jer. 1:5). He
prophesied for thirty years, from 613 to 583 B.C. During the last captivity
of the people in the reign of Sedekias, when only a few were left
behind to cultivate the land, this Prophet remained with them by the
permission of Nabuzardan, the captain of the guard under Nabuchodonosor. He
wept and lamented inconsolably over the desolation of Jerusalem and
the enslavement of his people. But even the few that remained behind
transgressed again, and fearing the vengeance of the Chaldeans, they fled into
Egypt, forcibly taking with them Jeremiah and Baruch his disciple and
scribe. There he prophesied concerning Egypt and other nations, and he
was stoned to death in Taphnas by his own people about the year 583
B.C., since they would not endure to hear the truth of his words and
his just rebukes. His book of prophecy is divided into fifty-one
chapters, and his book of lamentation into five; he is ranked second among
the greater Prophets. His name means "Yah is exalted."
Apolytikion in the Second Tone
As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophet Jeremiah, O Lord, through
him we beseech Thee to save our souls.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
O blessed Jeremiah, being chosen of God from thy mother's womb, in
thy compassion, thou sorely didst mourn for the falling away of
Israel. And in Egypt, O Prophet, thou wast murdered by stoning for thy
most just rebukes by them that understood not to cry with thee:
Alleluia.
This content is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved:
Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Tamara, Queen of Georgia
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Tamara was the only child of King George III. Upon his death in
1184, she became Queen at the age of twenty-four. Despite her youth,
she ruled the country with such wisdom and godliness - leading it to
unprecedented military triumphs over the neighbouring Moslem countries in
defence of her kingdom, fostering arts and letters, and zealously
strengthening Orthodoxy - that her reign is known as the Golden Age of Georgia.
After her coronation, she convoked a local council to correct disorders
in church life. When the bishops had assembled from all parts of her
kingdom, she, like Saint Constantine at the First Ecumenical Council,
honoured them as if she were a commoner, and they Angels of God; exhorting
them to establish righteousness and redress abuses, she said in her
humility, "Do away with every wickedness, beginning with me, for the
prerogative of the throne is in no wise that of making war against God."
Saint Tamara called herself "the father of orphans and the judge of
widows," and her contemporaries called her "King" instead of "Queen." She
herself led her army against the Moslems and fearlessly defeated them;
because of the reverence that even the enemies of Georgia had for her,
entire mountain tribes renounced Islam and were baptized. She built
countless churches and monasteries throughout her kingdom, and was
benefactress also to the Holy Land, Mount Athos, and holy places in Greece and
Cyprus. She has always been much beloved by her people, who have
memorialized her meekness, wisdom, piety, and obedience, and peace loving
nature in innumerable legends, ballads, and songs; the poem written in
her honour by Shota Rustaveli, "The Knight in the Panther Skin," is
the masterpiece of Georgian literature. The great Queen Tamara
departed the earthly kingdom for the heavenly in the year 1212.
Apolytikion in the Third Tone
Let the mountain-tops and vales of Georgia sound with songs of praise
to laud Tamara as the vessel of wisdom, the smiling sun, the sword
of truth, the conversion of infidels, the most harmonious reed-pipe
of Jesus Christ, and our fervent intercessor before the King of
Kings, entreating Him to grant great mercy unto us.
Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
O Thou whom thy people called a king in justice and truth, the
father of orphans and the judge of widows, thou sun which shone on the
Georgian land, thou who spentest all thy strength defending thy kingdom,
rise up, O Tamara, and defend us now also, and by thine intercessions
with Christ, save us from sufferings.
This content is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved:
Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Ignatios, & Euthemios the New Martyrs
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Of the three newly-shining luminaries of the Holy Mountain, the New
Martyr Euthymios , who was from Demetsana of the Peloponnesus, won the
crown of martyrdom when he was beheaded on Palm Sunday, March 22, 1814.
Saint Ignatios , who was from Stara Zagora in Bulgaria, was martyred by
hanging on October 8, 1814. Saint Acacius, who was from Neochorion of
Thessalonica, was beheaded on May 1, 1815. All three had denied Christ in the
foolishness of youth, and repented with great fervour; all became monks in
the Skete of the Venerable Forerunner on the Holy Mountain; all had
the revered elders Nicephorus and Acacius as their spirtual fathers;
all were martyred in Constantinople; all were about twenty years of
age; and the holy relics of all three are treasured in the
aforementioned Athonite Skete of the Forerunner.
Apolytikion in the First Tone
Ye who are equal in number to the unoriginate Trinity stand now with
the choirs of the Angels and hosts of Martyrs in boundless joy before
the thrice-resplendent throne of the Godhead; wherefore, O most wise
ones, ye partake of the beams from that awesome majesty, and grant unto
the faithful the divine enlightenment from on high, unending
well-springs of healings, and the pardon of our grievous sins. O divine
Euthymios, Martyr of Christ, with the wise Ignatios, and God inspired
Acacius, ye ever entreat the Lord God in behalf of all.
Kontakion in the Third Tone
In your zeal to emulate the righteous God-bearing Fathers, ye strove
in ascetic deeds, accepting every affliction; having sought the
Martyrs' glory through death by torments, ye are crowned with twofold
crowns by the Crown-bestower, O Euthymios most righteous, with Saint
Ignatios, and the blest Acacius on high.
This content is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved:
Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery
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