Greek Orthodox Church In America Daily Readings For Firday, 4 February

From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:

Daily Readings:


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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Friday, February 4, 2011



Strict Fast



Readings for today:



St. Peter's First Universal Letter 1:1-25; 2:1-10

Mark 12:1-12



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Friday of the 15th Week

Isidore of Pelusium

Nicholas the Confessor

Hieromartyr Abramius

John the Righteous, Bishop of Irinopolis

Theodosios the Righteous

Joseph the New Martyr of Aleppo

Afterfeast of the Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple





Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Peter's First Universal Letter 1:1-25; 2:1-10



PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the exiles of the Dispersion in

Pontos, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen and destined by

God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus

Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:



May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born

anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from

the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and

unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are guarded through

faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this

you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer

various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than

gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise

and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Without having

seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in

him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of

your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.



The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours

searched and inquired about this salvation; they inquired what person or

time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them when predicting

the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory. It was revealed to

them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things

which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good

news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into

which angels long to look.



Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace

that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient

children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but

as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your

conduct; since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." And if

you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to

his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your

exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited

from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without

blemish or spot. He was destined before the foundation of the world but

was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. Through him

you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him

glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.



Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere

love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. You

have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable,

through the living and abiding word of God; for "All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and

the flower falls, but the word of the Lord abides for ever." That

word is the good news which was preached to you.



So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and

all slander. Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk,

that by it you may grow up to salvation; for you have tasted the

kindness of the Lord.



Come to him, to that living stone. rejected by men but in God's sight

chosen and precious; and like living stones be yourselves built.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Mark 12:1-12



The Lord said this parable, "A man planted a vineyard, and set a

hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower,

and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the

time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of

the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him, and sent

him away empty handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and

they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent

another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and

some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he

sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But those

tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him,

and the inheritance will be ours.' And they took him and killed him,

and cast him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard

do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to

others. Have you not read this scripture: 'The very stone which the

builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's

doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" And they tried to arrest him,

but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the

parable against them; so they left him and went away.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Isidore of Pelusium



Reading from the Synaxarion:



This Saint was from Alexandria and was a disciple of Saint John

Chrysostom. He struggled in asceticism in a monastery at Mount Pelusium, and

became abbot of the monks struggling in that monastery. He wrote a

great many epistles replete with divine grace, wisdom, and much profit.

Over 2,000 of them are preserved in Volume 78 of Migne's

Patrologia Graeca (PG 78:177-1646); according to some, he wrote over

3,000 epistles, according to others, 10,000. He reposed on February 4,

440.



Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

The image of God, was faithfully preserved in you, O Father. For you

took up the Cross and followed Christ. By Your actions you taught us

to look beyond the flesh for it passes, rather to be concerned about

the soul which is immortal. Wherefore, O Holy Isidore, your soul

rejoices with the angels.



Kontakion in the Fourth Tone

O All-Blessed Isidore, the Church hath found thee as another

morning star; and with the lightning of thy words she is illumined and

crieth out: Rejoice, O ven'rable Father of godly mind.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press

Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery





Afterfeast of the Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple



Apolytikion in the First Tone

Hail Virgin Theotokos full of Grace, for Christ our God, the Sun of

Righteousness, has dawned from you, granting light to those in darkness. And

you, O Righteous Elder, rejoice, taking in your arms, the Deliverance

of our souls, who grants us Resurrection.



Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press

1,500 Year Old Church Found In Israel

From the AP and Yahoo News:

1,500-year-old church found in Israel



.. AP – A view of a mosaic in the archaeological site where an ancient church was found in Hirbet Madras, central …



















. Slideshow:1,500-year-old church found in Israel .

By MATTI FRIEDMAN, Associated Press Matti Friedman, Associated Press – Wed Feb 2, 6:25 pm ET

HIRBET MADRAS, Israel – Israeli archaeologists presented a newly uncovered 1,500-year-old church in the Judean hills on Wednesday, including an unusually well-preserved mosaic floor with images of lions, foxes, fish and peacocks.



The Byzantine church located southwest of Jerusalem, excavated over the last two months, will be visible only for another week before archaeologists cover it again with soil for its own protection.



The small basilica with an exquisitely decorated floor was active between the fifth and seventh centuries A.D., said the dig's leader, Amir Ganor of the Israel Antiquities Authority. He said the floor was "one of the most beautiful mosaics to be uncovered in Israel in recent years."



"It is unique in its craftsmanship and level of preservation," he said.



Archaeologists began digging at the site, known as Hirbet Madras, in December. The Antiquities Authority discovered several months earlier that antiquities thieves had begun plundering the ruins, which sit on an uninhabited hill not far from an Israeli farming community.



Though an initial survey suggested the building was a synagogue, the excavation revealed stones carved with crosses, identifying it as a church. The building had been built atop another structure around 500 years older, dating to Roman times, when scholars believe the settlement was inhabited by Jews.



Click image to see photos of the church site





AP/Ariel Schalit

Hewn into the rock underneath that structure is a network of tunnels that archaeologists believe were used by Jewish rebels fighting Roman armies in the second century A.D.



Stone steps lead down from the floor of church to a small burial cave, which scholars suggest might have been venerated as the burial place of the Old Testament prophet Zecharia.



Ganor said the church would remain covered until funding was obtained to open it as a tourist site.



Israel boasts an exceptionally high concentration of archaeological sites, including Crusader, Islamic, Byzantine, Roman, ancient Jewish and prehistoric ruins.

Roman Catholic Readings For Friday, 4 February

From USCCB, CNA and Catholic Online:

Daily Readings:


Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated:


Scriptural Readings:

11:02 PM (7 minutes ago)

First Reading - Heb 13:1-8

from CNA - Daily Readings

1 Let the charity of the brotherhood abide in you. 2 And hospitality do not forget; for by this some, being not aware of it, have entertained angels. 3 Remember them that are in bands, as if you were bound with them; and them that labour, as being yourselves also in the body. 4 Marriage honourable in all, and the bed undefiled. For fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 5 Let your manners be without covetousness, contented with such things as you have; for he hath said: I will not leave thee, neither will I forsake thee. 6 So that we may confidently say: The Lord is my helper: I will not fear what man shall do to me. 7 Remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, 8 Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today; and the same for ever

 

Psalm - Ps 27;1,3,5,8-9

from CNA - Daily Readings

1 The psalm of David before he was anointed. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?3 If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in this will I be confident. 5 For he hath hidden me in his tabernacle; in the day of evils, he hath protected me in the secret place of his tabernacle. 8 My heart hath said to thee: My face hath sought thee: thy face, O Lord, will I still seek. 9 Turn not away thy face from me; decline not in thy wrath from thy servant. Be thou my helper, forsake me not; do not thou despise me, O God my Saviour.

 

11:02 PM (7 minutes ago)

Gospel - Mk 6:14-29

from CNA - Daily Readings

14 And king Herod heard, (for his name was made manifest,) and he said: John the Baptist is risen again from the dead, and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him. 15 And others said: It is Elias. But others said: It is a prophet, as one of the prophets. 16 Which Herod hearing, said: John whom I beheaded, he is risen again from the dead. 17 For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her. 18 For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.  19 Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to put him to death, and could not. 20 For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man: and kept him, and when he heard him, did many things: and he heard him willingly. 21 And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a supper for his birthday, for the princes, and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee. 22 And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were at table with him, the king said to the damsel: Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23 And he swore to her: Whatsoever thou shalt ask I will give thee, though it be the half of my kingdom. 24 Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What shall I ask? But she said: The head of John the Baptist. 25 And when she was come in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying: I will that forthwith thou give me in a dish, the head of John the Baptist.  26 And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with him at table, he would not displease her: 27 But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish. 28 And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish: and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29 Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body, and laid it in a tomb

Greek Orthodox Church In America Daily Readings For Thursday, 3 February

From The Greek Orthodox Arch-Diocese of America:

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Thursday, February 3, 2011



Readings for today:



St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14

Luke 2:25-38



Feasts and Saints celebrated today:



Symeon the God-Receiver, Anna the Prophetess

Stamatios, John, & Nicholas, New Martyrs of Chios

Nicholas, Archbishop & Enlightener of Japan

Afterfeast of the Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple





Epistle Reading



The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14



BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that

have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made

with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all

into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his

own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling

of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the

ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how

much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit

offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead

works to serve the living God.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America



Gospel Reading



The reading is from Luke 2:25-38



At that time, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Symeon

and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of

Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him

by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen

the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the

temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him

according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed

God and said, "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according

to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have

prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the

Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." And his father and his

mother marveled at what was said about him; and Symeon blessed them and

said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and

rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a

sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of

many hearts may be revealed." And there was a prophetess, Anna, the

daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having

lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow

till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple,

worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very

hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking

for the redemption of Jerusalem.



(C) 2011 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America





Symeon the God-Receiver, Anna the Prophetess



Reading from the Synaxarion:



Yesterday we celebrated the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple; today we

honor the righteous Elder Symeon and Prophetess Anna, who prophesied

concerning Him by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and were the first in

Jerusalem to receive Him as the Messiah.



Apolytikion in the First Tone

Hail Virgin Theotokos full of Grace, for Christ our God, the Sun of

Righteousness, has dawned from you, granting light to those in darkness. And

you, O Righteous Elder, rejoice, taking in your arms, the Deliverance

of our souls, who grants us Resurrection.



Kontakion in the First Tone

Your birth sanctified a Virgin's womb and properly blessed the hands

of Symeon. Having now come and saved us O Christ our God, give

peace to Your commonwealth in troubled times and strengthen those in

authority, whom You love, as only the loving One.



Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery

Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press

Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press





Stamatios, John, & Nicholas, New Martyrs of Chios







Afterfeast of the Presentation of Our Lord and Savior in the Temple



Apolytikion in the First Tone

Hail Virgin Theotokos full of Grace, for Christ our God, the Sun of

Righteousness, has dawned from you, granting light to those in darkness. And

you, O Righteous Elder, rejoice, taking in your arms, the Deliverance

of our souls, who grants us Resurrection.



Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press

German Evangelical Daily Readings (EVANGELIUM TAG FÜR TAG) For Thursday, 3 February (Donnerstag, 3 Februar)

From:  http://www.evangeliumtagfuertag.org/



EVANGELIUM TAG FÜR TAG

«Herr, zu wem sollen wir gehen? Du hast Worte des ewigen Lebens.» Joh. 6,68







Donnerstag, 03 Februar 2011



Donnerstag der 4. Woche im Jahreskreis



Die Kirche gedenkt : Hl. Ansgar, Hl. Blasius

Donnerstag, 03 Februar 2011


Hl. Ansgar

Die anderen Heiligen des Tages...

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Hl. Ansgar



Erzbischof von Hamburg und Bremen,

Glaubensbote in Schweden und Dänemark



* um 801 bei Corbie (?) in Frankreich

† 3. Februar 865 in Bremen



Ansgar, um 801 bei Corbie an der Somme geboren, wurde Benediktiner in Corbie; 823 kam er als Lehrer an die Klosterschule von Korvey an der Weser. Er missionierte bei den Dänen und Schweden und gewann den König Olaf für den christlichen Glauben. 831 wurde er er­ster Bischof von Hamburg-Bremen. Obwohl er wenig Erfolg hatte, gilt er als der Apostel des Nordens. Er starb 865 in Bremen. Sein Nachfolger Rimbert zeichnete in liebevoller Verehrung das Leben und die Persönlichkeit Ansgars, der in seinem Herzen ein Mönch, in seiner Tätigkeit ein Apostel war. „Er wollte den Blinden Auge, den Lahmen Fuß, den Armen ein wahrer Vater sein.“
http://www.erzabtei-beuron.de/schott/proprium/Februar03.htm
©Evangelizo.org 2001-2010

 
Donnerstag, 03 Februar 2011


Hl. Blasius

Die anderen Heiligen des Tages...

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Hl. Blasius



Bischof von Sebaste, Märtyrer, Nothelfer



* 2. Hälfte 3. Jahrhundert in Sebaste, heute Sivas in der Türkei

† um 316 daselbst





Blasius war Bischof von Sebaste in Armenien. Nach der Legende erlitt er unter Kaiser Licinius um 316 einen grausamen Märtyrertod. Im Gefängnis soll er einem Knaben, der eine Fischgräte verschluckt hatte, das Leben gerettet haben; deshalb wird er im Osten und Westen gegen Halsleiden angerufen (Blasius-Segen seit dem 16. Jahrhundert). Seit dem späten Mittelalter gilt er als einer der Vierzehn Nothelfer.
http://www.erzabtei-beuron.de/schott/proprium/Februar03_2.htm
©Evangelizo.org 2001-2010



 

Zum Kommentar des heutigen Evangeliums :

Hl. Franziskus von Assisi : „.. kein Geld im Gürtel.“





Brief an die Hebräer 12,18-19.21-24.



Denn ihr seid nicht zu einem sichtbaren, lodernden Feuer hingetreten, zu dunklen Wolken, zu Finsternis und Sturmwind, zum Klang der Posaunen und zum Schall der Worte, bei denen die Hörer flehten, diese Stimme solle nicht weiter zu ihnen reden; Ja, so furchtbar war die Erscheinung, daß Mose rief: Ich bin voll Angst und Schrecken. Ihr seid vielmehr zum Berg Zion hingetreten, zur Stadt des lebendigen Gottes, dem himmlischen Jerusalem, zu Tausenden von Engeln, zu einer festlichen Versammlung und zur Gemeinschaft der Erstgeborenen, die im Himmel verzeichnet sind; zu Gott, dem Richter aller, zu den Geistern der schon vollendeten Gerechten, zum Mittler eines neuen Bundes, Jesus, und zum Blut der Besprengung, das mächtiger ruft als das Blut Abels.



Psalm 48(47),2-3.4.9.10-11.



Groß ist der Herr und hoch zu preisen in der Stadt uns'res Gottes.

Sein heiliger Berg ragt herrlich empor; er ist die Freude der ganzen Welt. Der Berg Zion liegt weit im Norden; er ist die Stadt des großen Königs.

Gott ist in ihren Häusern bekannt als ein sicherer Schutz.

Wie wir's gehört hatten, so erlebten wir's jetzt in der Stadt des Herrn der Heere, in der Stadt uns'res Gottes; Gott läßt sie ewig bestehen. [Sela]

άber deine Huld, o Gott, denken wir nach in deinem heiligen Tempel.

Wie dein Name, Gott, so reicht dein Ruhm bis an die Enden der Erde; deine rechte Hand ist voll von Gerechtigkeit.





Evangelium nach Markus 6,7-13.



Er rief die Zwölf zu sich und sandte sie aus, jeweils zwei zusammen. Er gab ihnen die Vollmacht, die unreinen Geister auszutreiben, und er gebot ihnen, außer einem Wanderstab nichts auf den Weg mitzunehmen, kein Brot, keine Vorratstasche, kein Geld im Gürtel, kein zweites Hemd und an den Füßen nur Sandalen. Und er sagte zu ihnen: Bleibt in dem Haus, in dem ihr einkehrt, bis ihr den Ort wieder verlaßt. Wenn man euch aber in einem Ort nicht aufnimmt und euch nicht hören will, dann geht weiter, und schüttelt den Staub von euren Füßen, zum Zeugnis gegen sie. Die Zwölf machten sich auf den Weg und riefen die Menschen zur Umkehr auf. Sie trieben viele Dämonen aus und salbten viele Kranke mit Öl und heilten sie.



Auszug aus der liturgischen Übersetzung der Bibel







Kommentar des heutigen Evangeliums :



Hl. Franziskus von Assisi (1182-1228), Gründer der Minderbrüder

Erste Regel, § 8-9





„.. kein Geld im Gürtel.“





Der Herr gebietet im Evangelium: Hütet euch vor jeder schlechten Anhänglichkeit; vermeidet sorgfältig, euch in die weltlichen Wichtigkeiten zu stürzen und in die materiellen Sorgen (vgl. Mt 6,25). Deshalb darf kein Bruder, ob er nun in einem Kloster wohne oder auf Reisen sei, in irgendeiner Weise selbst oder für sich Goldstücke noch sonst ein Geldstück annehmen oder sammeln. Und das darf er auch nicht, um Kleidung oder Bücher zu kaufen, noch als Lohn für irgendeine Arbeit, noch unter irgendeinem Vorwand, es sei denn, die kranken Brüder wären offensichtlich bedürftig. Denn Gold und Geld dürfen wir nicht nützlicher einschätzen als Steine. Der Teufel gefällt sich darin, jene blind zu machen, die Geld haben wollen oder die es höher erheben als Steine. Wir, die wir alles verlassen haben, wollen doch nicht für so wenig das Himmelreich verlieren (Mk 10,24.28). Wenn wir zufällig ein Geldstück finden, so wollen wir es nicht mehr beachten als Staub, den wir mit Füßen treten: Denn alles andere wäre Eitelkeit der Eitelkeiten und alles ist Eitelkeit (Koh 1,2)...

Alle Brüder sollen sich bemühen, der Demut und der Armut unseres Herrn Jesus Christus zu folgen... Sie sollen froh sein, wenn sie sich in Gesellschaft von Menschen in armseligen Lebensumständen befinden, von Verachteten, Armen und Kranken, Leidenden, Aussätzigen und Bettlern. Wenn es nötig ist, so sollen sie um Nahrungsmittel bitten. Sie sollen sich deshalb nicht schämen: vielmehr sollen sie sich an unseren Herrn Jesus Christus erinnern, den Sohn des lebendigen und allmächtigen Gottes..., der arm und ohne Unterkunft war, der von Almosen gelebt hat – er, die allerseligste Jungfrau und seine Jünger.

(Dutch) Reformed Church In America Daily Message/Prayer Request For Thursday, 3 February

From The Reformed Church In America:

February 3 Prayer Request


Pray that people in Asia who are sharing the gospel may have an impact amidst the celebrations and busyness of the Lunar New Year.



Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

1 Corinthians 2:1-16


Proclaiming Christ Crucified2When I came to you, brothers and sisters,* I did not come proclaiming the mystery* of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom,* but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

The True Wisdom of God6 Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But, as it is written,

‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the human heart conceived,

what God has prepared for those who love him’—

10these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. 13And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.*

14 Those who are unspiritual* do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are discerned spiritually. 15Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.

16 ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord

so as to instruct him?’

But we have the mind of Christ.

Christian Crosses

From religionfacts.com:

The cross is one of the earliest and most widely used Christian symbol. In the most broad sense it symbolizes the religion of Christianity (and so appears at the top and left of this page). More specifically, it represents and memorializes Christ's death. A great variety of crosses has developed, some with specific symbolic meaning and others that have simply become culturally associated with certain groups.

The simplest and most common Christian cross is the Latin cross. It may not have come into use until the 2nd or 3rd century. The empty cross, usually favored by Protestants, reminds Christians of the resurrection, while the crucifix, with the body of Jesus on it, favored by Catholic and Orthodox churches, is a reminder of Christ's sacrifice.

The Greek cross, with arms of equal length, is the most ancient cross.

The cross of Calvary or Graded Cross has three steps leading up to it, which can represent the hill of calvary or faith, hope, and love.

The Celtic cross is distinguished by the circle around the cross bar and intricate designs throughout.

The Russian Orthodox cross consists of three bars, the lowest bar low and slanted. The top bar represents the "INRI" sign placed over Jesus' head. The meaning of the slanted bar is not known for sure, but probably represents St. Andrew's cross (which looks like an X). St. Andrew is believed to have introduced Christianity to Russia. The crosses in the above right picture sit atop the domes of the Kremlin. Note that they have a slightly different lower bar.

The papal cross is the official symbol of the papacy, and may be used only by the Pope. The three bars of the cross most likely represent the three realms of the Pope's authority: the church, the world, and heaven.

The baptismal cross has eight points, symbolizing regeneration (see Numbers). It is formed by combining the Greek cross with the Greek letter chi (X), the first letter of "Christ" in Greek.

The budded cross is a common form of the cross. Its trefoils represent the Trinity.

The conqueror's or victor's cross is the Greek cross with the first and last letters of "Jesus" and "Christ" on top, and the Greek word for conquerer, nika, on the bottom. The lines over the top letters indicate that they are abbreviations.

The triumphant cross with orb represents Christ reign over the world. It is often shown atop Christ's scepter in Christian art.

An inverted cross is the cross of St. Peter, who, according to tradition, was crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die the same way as Christ. As Catholics believe the pope to be a successor of St. Peter, the inverted cross is frequently used in connection with the papacy, such as on the papal throne and in papal tombs [photo]. It also symbolizes humility because of the story of Peter. The inverted cross has more recently been appropriated by Satanists as a symbol meant to oppose or invert Christianity.







References

1.Color illustrations on this page are the work of Walter E. Gast.

2.Carolle E. Whittenmore, ed., Symbols of the Church.

3.W.E. Post, Saints, Signs, and Symbols.

4.George Wells Ferguson, Signs & Symbols in Christian Art.

5.Frederick Rest, Our Christian Symbols.