Saturday, December 31, 2011

Greek Orthodox Church in America Daily Readings for Saturday, 31 December 2011

From goarch.com:

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Saturday, December 31, 2011



Fast Free



Readings for today:



St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 3:13-16; 4:1-5

Matthew 3:1-6



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Saturday before Epiphany

Apodosis of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

Melania the Younger, Nun of Rome

Holy Father Zoticus, the Priest of Orphanotrophus





Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 3:13-16; 4:1-5



TIMOTHY, my son, those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion:



God was manifested in the flesh,

justified in the Spirit,

seen by angels,

preached among the nations,

believed on in the world,

taken up in glory.



Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving; for then it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.



(c) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Matthew 3:1-6



At that time, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. " Now John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.



(c) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Apodosis of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ



Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world; for thereby they that worshipped the stars were instructed by a star to worship Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. O Lord, glory be to Thee.





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

Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA





Melania the Younger, Nun of Rome



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Saint Melania the Younger, who was born in 388, was the grand-daughter of Saint Melania the Elder (see June 8). Her father Publicola was an Eparch of Rome. She was joined in wedlock to a husband and became the mother of two children, both of which she lost shortly thereafter. Thus, having agreed with her husband to pass the rest of their lives in abstinence and chastity, and taking her mother Albina with her, she went off to Africa. They ransomed 8,000 captives; furthermore, they built two monasteries - one for men and one for women - in the city of Tagaste, which was in the district of Tunis. After seven years they moved to Jerusalem. Thereafter Melania shut herself up in a small and narrow hermitage by the Mount of Olives, and wearing away her body away with fasting and vigil, she reposed in 434.



Because of the Apodosis of the Feast of the Nativity on the 31st of this month, the hymns of Saint Melania the Younger are transferred to December 30th along with the Martyr Anysia.



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 Melania, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.





Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

As a doubly-shining lamp * of truly mystical brightness * do ye shine upon the Church * like a high-towering beacon: * thou with beams of martyr's glory, * O Anysia; * thou with rays of great ascetic deeds, O Melania. * Now together ye are honoured * by Christ your Bridegroom * for your travails in His Name.





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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