Friday, February 17, 2012

Greek Orthodox Church in America Daily Scripture Readings for Thursday, 16 February 2012

From goarch.com:

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Thursday, February 16, 2012

Readings for today:

    St. John's First Universal Letter 4:20-21; 5:1-21
    Mark 15:1-15

Feasts and Saints celebrated today:

      Meatfare Thursday 
    Pamphilios the Martyr & his Companions
    Flavianos, Patriarch of Constantinople
    Romanos the Younger


Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. John's First Universal Letter 4:20-21; 5:1-21

Beloved, if any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.

Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.  And his commandments are not burdensome.  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.  And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth.  There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree.  If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has borne witness to his Son.  He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.  He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son.  And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life.

I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.  And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.  If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal.  There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.  All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.

We know that any one born of God does not sin, but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.

We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, to know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen. 

    (c) 2012 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Mark 15:1-15

At that time, the chief priests, with the elders, and scribes and the whole council held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate.  And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"  And he answered him, "You have said so."  And the chief priests accused him of many things.  And Pilate again asked him, "Have you no answer to make?  See how many charges they bring against you."  But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate wondered.  Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked.  And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas.  And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he was wont to do for them.  And he answered them, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"  For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.  But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him relea
se for them Barabbas instead.  And Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?"  And they cried out again, "Crucify him."  And Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?"  But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him."  So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

    (c) 2012 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America


Pamphilios the Martyr & his Companions

Reading from the Synaxarion:

This Martyr contested during the reign of Maximian, in the year 290, in Caesarea of Palestine, and was put to death by command of Firmilian, the Governor of Palestine.  His fellow contestants' names are Valens, Paul, Seleucus, Porphyrius, Julian, Theodulus, and five others from Egypt:  Elias, Jeremias, Esaias, Samuel, and Daniel.  Their martyrdom is recorded in Book VIII, ch. 11 of Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, called The Martyrs of Palestine.

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God.  For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption.  O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.


Kontakion in the Fourth Tone
When fearful instruments of torture were brought forth, the noble athletes of the Lord went with gladness and an undaunted spirit to endure them all; for they set the flesh at nought and did not spare their bodies; now they have inherited glory lasting for ever.  And without ceasing, they all intercede for us, who laud the great conflicts they underwent.


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    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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