Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Wednesday, July 23, 2014 Strict Fast Feasts and Saints celebrated today: Phocas the Holy Martyr, Bishop of Sinope Ezekiel the Prophet Pelagia the Righteous of Tinos Trophimos & Theophilios and the 13 others martyred in Lycia St. Anna of Levkadio The Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos of Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God Readings for today: St. Pauls First Letter to the Corinthians 7:12-24 Matthew 14:35-36;15:1-11 Phocas the Holy Martyr, Bishop of Sinope Reading from the Synaxarion: This saint was known for the many miracles he worked and for his apostolic zeal in shepherding the flock of Sinope. He contested for the Faith during the reign of the Emperor Trajan, in the year 102, when he was burned to death in a bath-house. A homily in his honour was composed by Saint John Chrysostom. The translation of his holy relics is celebrated on July 23. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone As a sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles, O inspired of God, thou foundest discipline to be a means of ascent to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth, thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Phocas. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved. Kontakion in the Second Tone The Master hath established thee as a divinely-radiant, luminous, and spiritual sun shining upon the multitude of the churchs faithful, O glorious Martyr Phocas; for He hath accepted thy life, faith, and contests as fragrant myrrh, since He alone is abundant in mercy. The content on this page is under copyright and is used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder: Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Ezekiel the Prophet Reading from the Synaxarion: The Prophet Ezekiel (God is strong) was the son of Buzi and a priest by rank. He was taken captive and brought to Babylon during the reign of Jechonias. In the fifth year of this captivity, about 594 or 593 B.C., he began to prophesy. Having prophesied for about twenty-eight years, he was murdered, it is said, by the tribe of Gad, because he reproached them for their idolatry. His book of prophecy, divided into forty-eight chapters, is ranked third among the greater Prophets. It is richly filled with mystical imagery and marvelous prophetic visions and allegories, of which the dread Chariot of Cherubim described in the first Chapter is the most famous; in the gate that was shut, through which the Lord alone entered, he darkly foretold of the Words Incarnation from the Virgin (44:1-3); through the dry bones that came to life again (37:1-14), he prophesied both of the restoration of captive Israel, and the general resurrection of our race. Apolytikion in the Second Tone As we celebrate the memory of Thy Prophet Ezekiel, O Lord, through him we beseech Thee to save our souls. Kontakion in the Fourth Tone O divine Ezekiel, as Gods true Prophet, thou foretoldest unto all the Incarnation of the Lord, the Lamb of God, the Artificer, the Son of God, the Eternal made manifest. The content on this page is under copyright and is used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder: Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Pelagia the Righteous of Tinos The content on this page is under copyright and is used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder: The Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos of Pochaev Reading from the Synaxarion: The Icon of the Mother of God of Pochaev - Metropolitan Neophytus, a bishop belonging to the see of Constantinople, was traveling through Volhynia in Ukraine where he was given hospitality by a pious woman, Anna Goyskaya. The bishop gave this woman an icon of the holy Theotokos, which began to work miracles, including the healing of her blind brother. In 1597 the icon was given to the monks residing in Pochaev near the border of Galicia, where the Mother of God had appeared in 1340, leaving an imprint of her footprint in the rock, from which a stream gushed forth. In 1675 when the Lavra of Pochaev was besieged by the Moslem Turks, it was saved by the miraculous intervention of the Mother of God through her wonderworking icon. Even though the Lavra of Pochaev came into Uniate hands for over a century, miracles continued to be worked through the holy icon. Since its return to the Orthodox Catholic Church in 1831, the icon has been a grace-bestowing support for Orthodox Christi ans, especially those in western Ukraine and the Carpathian region. Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone They that pray before thy holy icon, O sovereign Lady, are made worthy of healing, receive the gift of understanding of the true Faith, and repel the attacks of the Hagarenes; likewise for us who fall down before thee, do thou ask for forgiveness of our sins. Enlighten our hearts with devout purpose and raise thy prayer to thy Son for the salvation of our souls. Kontakion in the First Tone Thine icon of Pochaev, O Theotokos, hath been shown to be a source of healing and a confirmation of the Orthodox Faith. Therefore deliver us who flee to it from danger and temptation; preserve thy Lavra unharmed; strengthen Orthodoxy in the neighbouring lands; and loose thy suppliants from sins; for thou canst do whatsoever thou dost will. The content on this page is under copyright and is used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder: Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Icon of the Mother of God Reading from the Synaxarion: The Icon of the Mother of God Joy of All That Sorrow - As with so many other icons of the Theotokos, wonderworking copies of this icon have been found throughout Orthodox Russia, each with its own history and moving collection of miracles. In this icon, the most holy Mother of God is depicted standing full stature sometimes with, sometimes without the Divine Child in her arms; she is surrounded by all manner of the sick and the suffering, to whom Angels of the Lord bear gifts of mercy, consolation, and suitable aid from the most holy Theotokos. The icon Joy of all that Sorrow was inspired by the hymn of the same name; see page 222 in Great Compline. Through one copy of this icon, the sister of Patriarch Joachim was healed at the end of the seventeenth century in Moscow, from which time the feast was established. Another copy of the icon was found in Saint Petersburg; on July 23, 1888, during the severe thunderstorm, lightning struck a chapel at a glass factory, burning th e interior walls of the church, but leaving the icon unsinged. From the violent disturbance of the air, the icon was knocked to the floor, the poor-box broke open, and twelve copper coins adhered to the icon in various places; afterwards many miracles were worked by the grace of the holy icon. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone To Gods Birthgiver let us run now most earnestly, we sinners all and wretched ones, and fall prostrate in repentance, calling from the depths of our souls: Lady, come unto our aid, have compassion upon us; hasten thou, for we are lost in a throng of transgressions; turn not thy servants away with empty hands, for thee alone do we have as our only hope. Kontakion in the Plagal of the Second Tone We have no other help, we have no other hope, but thee, O sovereign Lady; do thou help us. In thee do we hope, and of thee do we boast, for we are thy servants. Let us not be put to shame. The content on this page is under copyright and is used by permission. All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on other websites or in any other form, without the prior written authorization of the copyright holder: Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Apolytikion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Kontakion (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA Epistle Reading The reading is from St. Pauls First Letter to the Corinthians 7:12-24 BRETHREN, if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner desires to separate, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. For God has called us to peace. Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife? Only, let every one lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was any one at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was any one at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Every one should remain in the state in which he was called. Were you a slave when called? Never mind. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. So, brethren, in whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God. Gospel Reading The reading is from Matthew 14:35-36;15:1-11 At that time, when the men of Gennesaret recognized Jesus, they sent round to all that region and brought to him all that were sick, and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many touched it were made well. Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat. He answered them, And why do you transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, Honor your father and your mother, and, He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die. But you say, If any one tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father. So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. And he called the people to him and said to them, Hear and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man . Learn more by visiting the Online Chapel at: onlinechapel.goarch.org
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 04:08:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015