from The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Sunday, April 24, 2011
Readings for today:
Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8
John 1:1-17
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Great and Holy Pascha
Elizabeth the Wonderworker
Savvas the General of Rome
Epistle Reading
The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8
IN THE FIRST BOOK, O Theophilos, I have dealt with all that Jesus
began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had
given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had
chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many
proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom
of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart
from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he
said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many
days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at
this time restore the kingdom of lsrael?" He said to them, "it is not
for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his
own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all
Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from John 1:1-17
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made
through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him
was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for
testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the
world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people
received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name,
he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood
nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and
truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the
Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I
said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'")
And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the
law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus
Christ.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Great and Holy Pascha
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Mary Magdalene, and the other women who were present at the burial of
our Saviour on Friday evening, returned from Golgotha to the city and
prepared fragrant spices and myrrh, so that they might anoint the body of
Jesus. On the morrow, because of the law which forbids work on the day
of the Sabbath, they rested for the whole day. But at early dawn on
the Sunday that followed, almost thirty-six hours since the death of
the Life-giving Redeemer, they came to the sepulchre with the spices
to anoint His body. While they were considering the difficulty of
rolling away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, there was a
fearful earthquake; and an Angel, whose countenance shone like lightning
and whose garment was white as snow, rolled away the stone and sat
upon it. The guards that were there became as dead from fear and took
to flight. The women, however, went into the sepulchre, but did not
find the Lord's body. Instead, they saw two other Angels in the form
of youths clothed in white, who told them that the Saviour was
risen, and they sent forth the women, who ran to proclaim to the
disciples these gladsome tidings. Then Peter and John arrived, having
learned from Mary Magdalene what had come to pass, and when they entered
the tomb, they found only the winding sheets. Therefore, they
returned again to the city with joy, as heralds now of the supernatural
Resurrection of Christ, Who in truth was seen alive by the disciples on this
day on five occasions.
Our Lord, then, was crucified, died, and was buried on Friday, before
the setting of the sun, which was the first of His "three days" in
the grave; observing the mystical Sabbath, that "seventh day" in
which it is said that the Lord "rested from all His works" (Gen.
2:2-3), He passed all of Saturday in the grave; and He arose "while it
was yet dark, very early in the morning" on Sunday, the third day,
which, according to the Hebrew reckoning, began after sunset on
Saturday.
As we celebrate today this joyous Resurrection, we greet and embrace
one another in Christ, thereby demonstrating our Saviour's victory
over death and corruption, and the destruction of our ancient enmity
with God, and His reconciliation toward us, and our inheritance of
life everlasting. The feast itself is called Pascha, which is derived
from the Hebrew word which means "passover"; because Christ, Who
suffered and arose, has made us to pass over from the curse of Adam and
slavery to the devil and death unto our primal freedom and blessedness.
In addition, this day of this particular week, which is the first of
all the rest, is dedicated to the honour of the Lord; in honour and
remembrance of the Resurrection, the Apostles transferred to this day the
rest from labour that was formerly assigned to the Sabbath of the
ancient Law.
All foods allowed during Renewal Week.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and bestowing
life on those in the graves.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You
rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women,
"Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the
fallen.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA
Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA
Elizabeth the Wonderworker
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Elizabeth was born in Heraclea of Thrace. She lived in virginity
and exhausted herself with ascetical labours and every kind of
hardship from the time of her youth, and was deemed worthy of the grace of
wonderworking from God; she reposed in peace in Constantinople in the middle of
the fifth century.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking
up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst
teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to
the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Elizabeth, thy
spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
As a fair house of virtues and a temple of virginity, thou makest
miracles pour forth abundantly as an unfailing fount of grace; and thou
purgest all sickness from the body and soul, O Mother Elizabeth, for them
that praise the Maker while crying out: Alleluia.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Sunday, April 24, 2011
Readings for today:
Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8
John 1:1-17
Feasts and Saints celebrated today:
Great and Holy Pascha
Elizabeth the Wonderworker
Savvas the General of Rome
Epistle Reading
The reading is from Acts of the Apostles 1:1-8
IN THE FIRST BOOK, O Theophilos, I have dealt with all that Jesus
began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had
given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had
chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many
proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom
of God. And while staying with them he charged them not to depart
from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he
said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many
days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at
this time restore the kingdom of lsrael?" He said to them, "it is not
for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his
own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all
Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Gospel Reading
The reading is from John 1:1-17
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made
through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him
was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for
testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the
world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people
received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name,
he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood
nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and
truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the
Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I
said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'")
And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the
law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus
Christ.
(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Great and Holy Pascha
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Mary Magdalene, and the other women who were present at the burial of
our Saviour on Friday evening, returned from Golgotha to the city and
prepared fragrant spices and myrrh, so that they might anoint the body of
Jesus. On the morrow, because of the law which forbids work on the day
of the Sabbath, they rested for the whole day. But at early dawn on
the Sunday that followed, almost thirty-six hours since the death of
the Life-giving Redeemer, they came to the sepulchre with the spices
to anoint His body. While they were considering the difficulty of
rolling away the stone from the door of the sepulchre, there was a
fearful earthquake; and an Angel, whose countenance shone like lightning
and whose garment was white as snow, rolled away the stone and sat
upon it. The guards that were there became as dead from fear and took
to flight. The women, however, went into the sepulchre, but did not
find the Lord's body. Instead, they saw two other Angels in the form
of youths clothed in white, who told them that the Saviour was
risen, and they sent forth the women, who ran to proclaim to the
disciples these gladsome tidings. Then Peter and John arrived, having
learned from Mary Magdalene what had come to pass, and when they entered
the tomb, they found only the winding sheets. Therefore, they
returned again to the city with joy, as heralds now of the supernatural
Resurrection of Christ, Who in truth was seen alive by the disciples on this
day on five occasions.
Our Lord, then, was crucified, died, and was buried on Friday, before
the setting of the sun, which was the first of His "three days" in
the grave; observing the mystical Sabbath, that "seventh day" in
which it is said that the Lord "rested from all His works" (Gen.
2:2-3), He passed all of Saturday in the grave; and He arose "while it
was yet dark, very early in the morning" on Sunday, the third day,
which, according to the Hebrew reckoning, began after sunset on
Saturday.
As we celebrate today this joyous Resurrection, we greet and embrace
one another in Christ, thereby demonstrating our Saviour's victory
over death and corruption, and the destruction of our ancient enmity
with God, and His reconciliation toward us, and our inheritance of
life everlasting. The feast itself is called Pascha, which is derived
from the Hebrew word which means "passover"; because Christ, Who
suffered and arose, has made us to pass over from the curse of Adam and
slavery to the devil and death unto our primal freedom and blessedness.
In addition, this day of this particular week, which is the first of
all the rest, is dedicated to the honour of the Lord; in honour and
remembrance of the Resurrection, the Apostles transferred to this day the
rest from labour that was formerly assigned to the Sabbath of the
ancient Law.
All foods allowed during Renewal Week.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and bestowing
life on those in the graves.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Though You went down into the tomb, You destroyed Hades' power, and You
rose the victor, Christ God, saying to the myrrh-bearing women,
"Hail!" and granting peace to Your disciples, You who raise up the
fallen.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA
Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press - Northridge, CA
Elizabeth the Wonderworker
Reading from the Synaxarion:
Saint Elizabeth was born in Heraclea of Thrace. She lived in virginity
and exhausted herself with ascetical labours and every kind of
hardship from the time of her youth, and was deemed worthy of the grace of
wonderworking from God; she reposed in peace in Constantinople in the middle of
the fifth century.
Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
In thee the image was preserved with exactness, O Mother; for taking
up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst
teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to attend to
the soul since it is immortal. Wherefore, O righteous Elizabeth, thy
spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
As a fair house of virtues and a temple of virginity, thou makest
miracles pour forth abundantly as an unfailing fount of grace; and thou
purgest all sickness from the body and soul, O Mother Elizabeth, for them
that praise the Maker while crying out: Alleluia.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
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