Saturday, December 17, 2011

Greek Orthodox Church in America Daily Readings for Friday, 16 December 2011

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Friday, December 16, 2011



Strict Fast



Readings for today:



St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 1:1-2; 8-18

Mark 9:33-41



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Friday of the 13th Week

Haggai the Prophet

Modestos, Archbishop of Jerusalem

Our Righeous Mother Blessed Empress Theophania

Nicholas, Patriarch of Constantinople

Memnonus, Archbishop of Ephesus





Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 1:1-2; 8-18



PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,



To Timothy, my beloved child:



Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.



Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.



You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelos and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphoros, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me - may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day - and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesos.



(c) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Mark 9:33-41



At that time, Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they were silent; for on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." And he took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Chris

t, will by no means lose his reward."



(c) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Haggai the Prophet



Reading from the Synaxarion:



The Prophet Haggai, whose name means "festive," was born in Babylon at the time of the captivity Of the Jews. He began to prophesy in Jerusalem after their return thereto, and to admonish the people to rebuild the Temple, in the days of Zorobabel, the second year of the reign of Darius Hystaspes, King of Persia, about the year 520 before Christ. His prophecy, divided into two chapters, is ranked tenth among the minor Prophets.



Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophet Haggai , O Lord, through him we beseech Thee to save our souls.





Kontakion in the Second Tone

Illumined in mind with streams of light from Heaven's heights, thou brightly didst shine in prophecy throughout the world; and in manifesting types of Christ's dispensation, which was to come, thou becamest illustrious, O Prophet Haggai, wise in things divine.





This content is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved:

Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA





Our Righeous Mother Blessed Empress Theophania



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Theophania, who was born in Constantinople, was of royal lineage. Instructed in letters, and adorned with many virtues, she was united in marriage to Emperor Leo the Wise (reigned 886-912). But counting the glory of the earthly kingdom as nought, she spent her nights and days in serving God with psalms and hymns and prayers, working various good deeds until she surrendered her spirit to God in peace, while still in her youth, being, according to some, about twenty years of age, according to others, twenty-seven. Her holy relics are still preserved in the patriarchal church in Constantinople as a source of healing for those that draw nigh with faith and longing. She was also the builder of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropigeal Monastery of St. Anastasia the Protector from Potions in Chalke (883).



Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Preferring heavenly things unto the earthly, thou while on earth didst live the life of the Angels, raised up on godly longing, O Theophania. Wherefore, thou hast been vouchsafed Heaven's graces and visions, standing with the Angels' hosts and the Saints' fair assemblies before the King of all, Whom thou didst love; pray Him to grant us His mercy and blessedness.





Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

As we celebrate today thy radiant feast-day, O divine Theophania, we cry with rev'rence unto thee: Preserve thy servants, who sing thy praise, from every manner of peril and suffering.





This content is under copyright and is used with permission, all rights reserved:

Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA

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