------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prelent Sunday Season : Annual, Pre-Lent Tune : Adam Theme of the Day: Forgiving, Searching the Inner Self, and Struglling, All Combined with Humility. Verse of the Day: "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'" (Luke 17:10) VESPERS: ________ Psalm: 45:10 "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth." Alleluia! Gospel: Mark 11:22-26 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." MATINS: _______ Psalm: 99:2,3 "Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before His presence with rejoicing. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 17:3-10 "If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." LITURGY: ________ Pauline Epistle: II Corinthians 11:16-28 "... in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness ..." Catholic Epistle: II Peter 1:1-11 "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." Praxis: Acts 21:15-26 "And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem." Synexarion: + Repose of Saint Saverus of Antioch. He was the leading opponent of the Council of Chalcedon. Empror Justin decreed his arrest and punishment. Thus, the Saint fled to Egypt, wandering in a monk's garb, strengthening the believers. + Repose of Saint James, 50th Patriarch of Alexandria. Psalm: 2:11,10 "Serve ye the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling. And now, O ye kings, understand; be instructed, all ye that judge the earth." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 6:1-18 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place ..." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday of the First Week of the Great Lent Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "...but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors." (James 2:9) Pauline Epistle: Romans 1:26-2:7 "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." Catholic Epistle: James 2:1-13 "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." Praxis: Acts 14:19-28 "...strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.' " Synexarion: + St. Zacchariah, the prophet. + Consecration of the first church for the forty martyrs of Sebaste. + St. Paphnotius Psalm: 21:26 "The poor shall eat and be filled and they that seek the Lord shall praise Him; their hearts shall live forever and ever." Alleluia! Gospel: Mark 9:33-50 "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday of the First Week of the great Lent Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." (Romans 9:15) Pauline Epistle: Romans 9:15-29 "So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy." Catholic Epistle: 1 Peter 4:3-11 "They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." Praxis: Acts 5:34-42 "...rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name." Synexarion: + St. Elizabeth, mother of St. John the Baptist. She is from the house of Aaron. Sophie is her mother and Salome is her sister, who looked after the Ever-Virgin Mary during the birth of Our Lord and Savior. Psalm: 24:16,17 "Look upon me and have mercy on me; for I am one only-begotten and poor. The afflictions of my heart are multiplied." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 12:41-50 "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday of the first week. Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness's sake, O Lord." (Psalms 25:7) From Matins' Psalm. Pauline Epistle: Romans 14:19-15:7 "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which we may edify one another." Catholic Epistle: II Peter 1:4-11 "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." Praxis: Acts 10:9-20 "And there came a voice to him, 'Rise Peter; kill and eat.'" Synexarion: + Martyrdom of St. Minas the monk. Psalm: 25:20,16 "O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed: for I put my trust in thee. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 6:35-38 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive and you shall be forgiven." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday of the first Week Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath." (Psalms 109:5) From Matins' Psalm. Pauline Epistle: II Timothy 3:10-4:22 "And that from childhood you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Catholic Epistle: I Peter 5:1-14 "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." Praxis: Acts 20:17-38 "...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Synexarion: + Repose of St. Matathius the Antiochian. Psalm: 72:23,24,28 "I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. It is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works." Alleluia! Gospel: John 10:1-16 "And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday of the first week Season : Great Lent (1st week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations." (Deuteronomy 7:9) From Matins' Prophecies. Pauline Epistle: Romans 12:6-21 "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. ... If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." Catholic Epistle: III John 1:1-15 "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." Praxis: Acts 2:42-3:9 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Synexarion: + Translocation of the relics of St. Martianus of Athens to Antioch. He led a harlot towards repentance and monasticism. When he reposed in Athens, St. Demetrius, Patriarch of Antioch, endeavored to translocate his relics. Psalm: 12:5,6 "But as for me, I have hoped in Thy mercy. My heart will rejoice in Thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, Who is my benefactor, and I will chant unto the Name of the Lord Most High." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 11:1-10 "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seekteth findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday of the first week Season : Great Lent (1st week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison." (Matthew 5:25) From Matins' Gospel. Pauline Epistle: Romans 12:1-21 "Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome evil, but overcome evil with good." Catholic Epistle: James 1:1-12 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." Praxis: Acts 21:27-39 "And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him." Synexarion: + St. Peter, 21st Patriarch of Alexandria. He was the candidate nominated by St. Athanasius before his repose. He underwent numerous hardships from Arian followers who tried several times to put the saint to death. + Martyrs Sts. Basil, Theodore, and Timothy of Alexandria. Psalm: 5:2 "Unto my words give ear, O Lord; hear my cry. Attend unto the voice of my supplication, O my King and my God." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday First Sunday of Great Lent Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten (Weekend) Abstinence Theme of the Day: Defining the Kingdom of God as our Priority. Verse of the Day: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) VESPERS: ________ Psalm: 16:1,2 "Hearken, O Lord, unto my righteousness; attend unto my supplication. Give ear unto my prayer which cometh not from deceitful lips. From before Thy face let my judgment come forth; let mine eyes behold uprightness." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 6:34-7:12 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." MATINS: _______ Psalm: 17:1,2 "I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my foundation and my refuge and my deliverer. My God is my helper and I will hope in Him." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 7:22-29 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock ..." LITURGY: ________ Pauline Epistle: Romans 13:1-14 "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Catholic Epistle: James 1:13-21 "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." Praxis: Acts 21:40-22:16 "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Synexarion: + Commemoration of the Theotokos Virgin Mary. + Martyrdom of Saint Onesimus, the disciple of Saint Paul. + Repose of Saint Gabriel, the 57th Patriarch of Alexandria. + Repose of Saint Zachariah, bishop of Sakha. Psalm: 24:1,2,4,5 "Unto thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. O my God, in Thee have I trusted; let me not be put to shame. Make Thy ways, O Lord, known unto me and teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 6:19-33 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday of the second week Season : Great Lent (2nd week) Tune : Lenten (Weekdays) Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "...men always ought to pray and not lose heart..." (Luke 18:1-8) Pauline Epistle: Romans 1:18-25 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness..." Catholic Epistle: Jude 1:1-8 "But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe." Praxis: Acts 4:36-5:11 "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." Synexarion: + St. Maruta. He translocated all the relics of the Diocletian martyrs. He was sent by king Theodosius as an envoy to Shapur, the king of Persia. The king honored him greatly after the saint cured his demoniac daughter through prayers. The king permitted him to carry away the relics of the saints who suffered martyrdom in Persia. Psalm: 28:1,2 "Bring unto the Lord, ye sons of God; bring unto the Lord the sons of rams; bring unto the Lord glory and honor. Bring unto the Lord glory due unto His Name." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 18:1-8 "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday of the second Week of the Great lent. Season : Great Lent (2nd week) Tune : Lenten (Weekdays) Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:24) Pauline Epistle: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." Catholic Epistle: James 1:1-12 "Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation..." Praxis: Acts 4:13-22 "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge." Synexarion: + St. Eusebius. He was the son of St. Basilides. He confessed the Faith before the lawless Diocletian. He was then sent to the Governor Maurianos at Coptos. He was tortured and finally beheaded. Psalm: 40:1 "Blessed is the man that hath understanding for the poor man and the needy; in an evil day the Lord will deliver him." Alleluia! Gospel: Mark 10:17-27 "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday of the second week Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil; who exchange darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20) From Matins' Prophecies. Pauline Epistle: Romans 3:1-17 "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, no not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.'" Catholic Epistle: II John 8-13 "Whosoever transgresses, and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. He that abides in the teaching of Christ has both the Father and the Son." Praxis: Acts 5:3-11 "And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things." Synexarion: + Repose of St. Agapitus, the bishop. Psalm: 18:1,2 "I will love thee, O Lord my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer. My God, my strength, in whom I will trust." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 15:32-38 "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with me now for three days, and have had nothing to eat..." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday of the second week Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies, and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have ever been of old." (Psalms 25:6) From Matins' Psalm. Pauline Epistle: Romans 14:19-15:7 "Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace, and the things with which we may edify one another." Catholic Epistle: II Peter 1:4-11 "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." Praxis: Acts 10:9-20 "And the voice spoke to him again a second time, 'What God has cleansed, you do not call unclean.'" Synexarion: + Martyrdom of Sts. Archippus, Philemon, and Epphia. Psalm: 25:20,16 "O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 6:35-38 "But love your enemies, and do good; and lend hoping for no return; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be children of the Most High." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday of the second week Season : Great Lent (2nd week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years." (Deuteronomy 8:3-4) From Matins' Prophecies. Pauline Epistle: Hebrews 12:28-13:16 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, not forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Catholic Epistle: I Peter 4:7-16 "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayers... Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." Praxis: Acts 15:22-31 "... ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well." Synexarion: + St. Hosea, the prophet. He prophesied of the Passion of our Lord and of His Holy Ressurection. He also foretold the negation of the authority of death over us. + Martyrs Sts. Zadok and his Persian companions (128 persons). Psalm: 28:10,11 "The Lord shall sit as King forever. The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 6:39-49 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday of the second week. Season : Great Lent (2nd week) Tune : Lenten Abstinence Verse of the Day: "For the sake of Thy Name, O Lord, be gracious unto my sin; for it is great." (Psalms 24:11) From Matins' Psalm. Pauline Epistle: Romans 14:1-18 "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." Catholic Epistle: James 1:22-27 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Praxis: Acts 22:17-30 "And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles." Synexarion: + St. Eustathius, Patriarch of Antioch, 330 A.D. Malicious people bribed an evil woman to accuse the saint of fathering her child. So he was deposed and banished. Later, the woman became seriously ill and suffered great pain. She then confessed the false charges brought against the saint. Psalm: 117:19,20 "Open unto me the gates of righteousness; I will enter therein and give thanks unto the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter in threat." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 7:13-21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday Second Sunday of Great Lent Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten (Weekend) Abstinence Theme of the Day: Facing Temptations with the Help of God and His Word. Verse of the Day: "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" (Matthew 4:10) VESPERS: ________ Psalm: 50:1,9 "Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Turn Thy face away from my sins and blot out all mine iniquties." Alleluia! Gospel: Mark 1:12-15 "And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan ..." MATINS: _______ Psalm: 56:1 "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me; for my soul trusted in Thee and in the shadow of Thy wings will I hope until iniquity shall pass away." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 4:1-13 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'" LITURGY: ________ Pauline Epistle: Romans 14:19-15:7 "For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, 'The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.'" Catholic Epistle: James 2:1-13 "So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty." Praxis: Acts 23:1-11 "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." Synexarion: + Martyrdom of Saint Theodorus, the Roman. He was tortured by Maximian and Diocletian and finally beheaded. Psalm: 26:9,10,11 "Thy face, O Lord, will I seek. Turn not Thy face from me. Be Thou my helper; cast me not ytterly away and forsake me not, O God my Savior." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11 "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday of the third week Season : Great Lent (3rd week) Tune : Lenten Strict abstinence Verse of the Day: "No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light." (Luke 11:33) Pauline Epistle: 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:5 "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person." Catholic Epistle: 1 Peter 1:2-12 "To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into." Praxis: Acts 17:10-14 "...in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." Synexarion: + Martyr St. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna. He was a disciple of St. John the Evangelist. He is the angel of the Church of Smyrna (Rev. 2:8). He was tortured by the ruler, Marcus Aurilius, in his old age and finally beheaded. Psalm: 31:5 "Mine iniquity have I acknowledged and my sin have I not hid. I said: I will confess mine iniquities before the Lord against myself and Thou forgavest the ungodliness of my heart." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 11:33-36 "If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday Of The Third Week of the Great Lent Season : Great Lent (3rd week) Tune : Lenten Strict abstinence Verse of the Day: "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin." (John 8:34) Pauline Epistle: Romans 4:1-8 "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered..." Catholic Epistle: 1 John 2:1-11 "And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Praxis: Acts 27:9-12 "Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul." Synexarion: + Finding of the head of St. John the Baptist. He appeared to St. Martin, bishop of Homos, and revealed to him the location where his head laid. Psalm: 31:2,3 "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin and in whose mouth there is no guilt. Because I kept silence, my bones are waxed old." Alleluia! Gospel: John 8:31-39 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday Of The Third Week of the Great Lent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday Of The Third Week of the Great Lent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday Of The Third Week of the Great Lent Season : Great Lent (3rd week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "O Lord God, destroy not thy people and thine inheritence, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness." (Deuteronomy 9:26) From Matins' Prophecies. Pauline Epistle: Hebrews 11:1-8 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Catholic Epistle: Jude 17-25 "there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts." Praxis: Acts 23:6-11 "be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome." Synexarion: + St. Kosma, 58th Patriarch of Alexandria. + Martyr St. Prophorius. + St. Abba Hadid. Psalm: 15:1,2 "Preserve me, O God; for in Thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord: Thou art my Lord; my goodness extendeth not to Thee." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 11:14-26 "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday of the third week Season : Great Lent (3rd week) Tune : Lenten Abstinence Verse of the Day: "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27) From Matins' Gospel. Pauline Epistle: II Corinthians 7:2-11 "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." Catholic Epistle: James 2:14-26 "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." Praxis: Acts 23:12-35 "certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat or drink till they had killed Paul." Synexarion: + Commemoration of the Council on the island of Bani-Omar, excommunicating those celebrating the Holy Pascha on the same day as the Jews' Passover in the middle of the week. + Martyr St. Hanolius the prince. Psalm: 26:6,7,8 "I will sing and I will chant unto the Lord. Hearken, O Lord, unto my voice, wherewith I cried; have mercy on me and hearken unto me; my heart said unto Thee." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 18:23-35 "O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservants, even as I had pitty on thee?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday Third Sunday of Great Lent Sunday of the Prodigal Son Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten (Weekend) Abstinence Theme of the Day: Repentance, Change of Heart and Mind, and Confession. Verse of the Day: "I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.'" (Luke 15:18-19) VESPERS: ________ Psalm: 87:1,2 "O Lord, God of my salvation; by day have I cried and by night before Thee. Let my prayer come before Thee; bow down Thine ear unto my supplication." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 15:1-20 "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." MATINS: _______ Psalm: 54:1,2,16 "Give ear, O God, unto my prayer and disdain not my supplication; attend unto me and hear me. As for me, unto God have I cried and the Lord hearkened unto me." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16 "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen." LITURGY: ________ Pauline Epistle: II Corinthians 6:2-13 "'In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Catholic Epistle: James 3:1-12 "For we all stumble in many things." Praxis: Acts 24:1-23 "... I myself always strive to have a good conscience without offense toward God and men." Synexarion: + Repose of Saint Sarapamon, the ascetic. + Martyrdom of Saint Eudexia. She repented from her sins and became a teacher for others. + Repose of Saint Peter, the priest. Psalm: 78:8,9 "O remember not our iniquities of old; let Thy compassion quickly go before us, O Lord, for we are become exceedingly poor. Help us, O God our Savior, for the sake of the glory of Thy Name." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 15:11-32 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday of the Fouth Week Season : Great Lent (4th week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'" (Romans 8:15) Pauline Epistle: Romans 8:12-26 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Catholic Epistle: James 5:16-20 "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed." Praxis: Acts 11:2-18 "Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing." Synexarion: + St. Dioscorus, the new martyr. He was brought up as a Christian, but later converted to Islam. His pious sister was greatly distressed at her brother's apostasy and rebuked him. He finally renounced Islam and suffered the penalty of death. + Bishop Theodotus. Psalm: 54:17,18 "As for me, unto God have I cried and the Lord hearkened unto me; and He will hear my voice." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 16:1-9 "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday Season : Great Lent (4th week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift." (Ephesians 4:7) Pauline Epistle: Ephesians 4:1-16 "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling..." Catholic Epistle: 2 Peter 2:2-8 "By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber." Praxis: Acts 27:1-3 "And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care." Synexarion: + Martyrs Sts. Philemon and Apollonius. St. Philemon was a musician in the service of the Arian governor of Ansana. His companion St. Apollonius was a flute player. They converted to Christianity and were taken prisoners, tortured, and beheaded. + Martyr St. Mary, the penitent Israelite. Psalm: 16:6 "I can upon Thee; for Thou wilt answer me, O God, incline Thine ear unto me and hearken unto my words." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 9:57-62 "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday Season : Great Lent (4th week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy...And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke." (Joel 2:28,30) From the Matins' Prophecies. Pauline Epistle: Ephesians 4:17-32 "Be angry, and sin not; let the sun not go down upon your wrath. Neither give room to the devil." Catholic Epistle: James 3:13-4:4 "...whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." Praxis: Acts 11:26-12:22 "Peter therefore was kept in prison, but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." Synexarion: + Martyrdom of St. Matthias the Apostle. He was chosen by God to replace Judas the betrayer. After serving the Lord in many lands, he preached the gospel among a cannibal tribe. They mercilessly plucked his eyes and cast him in a dungeon. The Lord delivered him in a miraculous way. The people were amazed at his deliverance, and as he continued preaching the gospel, they believed. + Martyrdom of St. Arianus the governor of Ansena at the hand of Diocletian. Psalm: 18:17,18 "He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hate me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay." Alleluia! Gospel: Mark 4:35-41 "And he said unto them, 'Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, what manner of a man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday Season : Great Lent (4th week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." (Proverbs 8:1-11) From the Matins' Prophecies. Pauline Epistle: I Thessalonians 4:1-18 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Catholic Epistle: James 4:7-12 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Praxis: Acts 18:9-18 "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not your peace: for I am with you and no man shall set on you to hurt you: for I have many people in this city." Synexarion: + Repose of St. Konen. + Martyrdom of SS. Andrianus, Martha his wife, Eusabius, Armanius, and the forty martyrs following sever persecution for the name of Christ. Psalm: 34:1,2 "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 13:1-5 "I tell you, no; for unless you repent, you shall all likewise perish." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday Fourth week of Great Lent ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday Fourth week of Great Lent Season : Great Lent (4th week) Tune : Lenten Abstinence Verse of the Day: "And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." (Luke 16:21) From Matin's Gospel. Pauline Epistle: Philippians 4:4-9 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Catholic Epistle: James 3:13-4:6 "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." Praxis: Acts 24:24-25:12 "And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time." Synexarion: + St. Basil, consecrated bishop of Armoun of Jerusalem. He was without a See, but was designated to carry missionary work into pagan cities. He went to the city of Shasunah, where he converted many, but was hindered by pagan opponents. Then he went and dwelt in a cave where he consecrated himself to a life in prayer. but after some time, the son of the governor of the city died and St. Basil restored his life. He was then attacked and was slain. Psalm: 60:1,5 "Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. Thou has given me the heritage of those that fear Thy name." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46 "The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday Fourth Sunday of Great Lent Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten (Weekend) Abstinence Theme of the Day: Seeking God and Worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth. Verse of the Day: "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." (John 4:23) VESPERS: ________ Psalm: 26:14,13 "Wait on the Lord; let thy heart be strengthened and wait on the Lord. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 12:22-31 "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you." MATINS: _______ Psalm: 30:23,24 "Be of good courage and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that hope in the Lord. O love ye the Lord, all ye His saints, for the Lord requireth truth." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14 "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." LITURGY: ________ Pauline Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-24 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit..." Catholic Epistle: James 4:7-17 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." Praxis: Acts 25:13-26:1 "Then Agrippa said to Festus, 'I also would like to hear the man myself.' 'Tomorrow,' he said, 'you shall hear him.'" Synexarion: + Commemoration of Archangel Michael. + The revealing of the virginity of Saint Demetrius, 12th Patriarch of Alexandria. + Martyrdom of Saint Malachious of Syria. + Martyrdom of Saint Glathinos. Psalm: 104:3,4,5 "Let the heart of them be glad that seek the Lord; seek ye the Lord and be strengthened; seek ye His face at all times. Remember His wonders which He wrought; His marvels and the judgments of His mouth." Alleluia! Gospel: John 4:1-42 "The woman said to Him, 'Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.'" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday of the fifth week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (5th week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 2:5) Pauline Epistle: Philippians 2:1-16 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." Catholic Epistle: 1 Peter 3:10-18 "For 'He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile...'" Praxis: Acts 10:25-35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." Synexarion: + St. Dionysus, 14th Patriarch of Alexandria. + The return from exile of St. Macarius the Great and St. Macarius of Alexandria. + The 49 martyrs of Sebastia (in Armenia), who froze to death. Psalm: 85:3 "Have mercy on me, O Lord, for unto Thee will I cry all day long; make glad the soul of Thy servant, for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 9:12-17 "But He said to them, 'You give them something to eat.'" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday of the fifth week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (5th week) Tune : Lenten (weekdays) Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'" (John 8:12) Pauline Epistle: Philippians 2:22-26 "But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel." Catholic Epistle: 1 John 3:2-11 "Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him." Praxis: Acts 24:10-23 "This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men." Synexarion: + Martyr St. Shenouti + St. Cyril, 75th Patriarch of Alexandria + Martyrs Sts. Eugenius, Agathodorus and Ephlidius Psalm: 85:17 "Establish with me a token for good and let them that hate me see it and be ashamed." Alleluia! Gospel: John 8:12-20 "Then they said to Him, 'Where is Your Father?' Jesus answered, 'You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.'" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday of the fifth week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (5th week) Tune : Lenten (weekdays) Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "And the Lord said unto Moses, 'Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he comes forth to the water; and say to him, Thus says the Lord, 'Let my people go, that they may serve me.''" (Exodus 8:20) Pauline Epistle: Romans 4:14-5:5 "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God." Catholic Epistle: I Peter 4:12-19 "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busy body in other men's matters. Yet if any one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on his behalf." Praxis: Acts 11:12-18 "For as much then as God gave them the same gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I to uphold God?" Synexarion: + Repose of St. Sarah the Ascetic. + Repose of St. Elias the Ahnasi. Psalm: 85:13,14 "For great is thy mercy toward me, and thou has delivered my soul from the lowest hell. O God, the proud are risen against, and the assembly of the violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 13:6-9 "...leave it alone this year also..." neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.'" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday of the fifth week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (5th week) Tune : Lenten (weekdays) Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "And the lord said unto the servant, 'go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.'" (Luke 14:16-24) Pauline Epistle: Ephesians 4:17-32 "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members of one another." Catholic Epistle: James 3:13-4:4 "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to entreat, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." Praxis: Acts 11:26-12:22 "And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened that for a whole year they gathered with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians in Antioch first." Synexarion: + Repose of Abba Chael the 46th of the patriarchs of Alexandria. Psalm: 18:17,18 "He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay." Alleluia! Gospel: Mark 4:35-41 "...'Let us pass over to the other side.'" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday of the fifth week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (5th week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30,31) From Matin's Gospel. Pauline Epistle: Hebrews 12:5-16 "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyos, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness" Catholic Epistle: I Peter 4:15-5:5 "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." Praxis: Acts 15:36-16:3 "Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord" Synexarion: + St. Lazarus, friend of Christ and bishop of Cyprus. He was in the tomb for four days before he was raised up from death and corruption by our Lord Jesus Christ. + Martyr St. George, the ascetic. + St. Basil, Bishop of Jerusalem. + Martyr St. Sedhom Bishai. Psalm: 137:1,2 "I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; and before the angels will I chant unto Thee; I will worship towards Thy Holy temple." Alleluia! Gospel: John 8:21-27 "but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday Fifth week of Great Lent Season : Great Lent (5th week) Tune : Lenten Abstinence Verse of the Day: "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." (Luke 15:7) From Matin's Gospel. Pauline Epistle: Galatians 5:16-6:2 "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so ye cannot do the things that ye would." Catholic Epistle: James 5:7-11 "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." Praxis: Acts 26:1-18 "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." Synexarion: + Martyr St. Isidore. He was a weaver and had an intimate friend by the name of St. Sina. They both made an open profession of the Faith to the governor, who ordered a trench to be dug and cast both of them in it. St. Isidore was put to death first, followed by St. Sina a few days later. In a vision, St. Isidore's mother saw her son's soul carried up to heaven by the angels of God. Psalm: 142:1,2 "O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear unto my supplication in Thy truth; hearken unto me in Thy righteousness and enter not into judgement with Thy servant." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 23:13-39 "For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday Fifth Sunday of Great Lent Sunday of the Palsied Man Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten (Weekend) Abstinence Theme of the Day: Hope in the Mercy and Grace of God Leading to Repentance. Verse of the Day: "Do you want to be made well?" (John 5:6) VESPERS: ________ Psalm: 38:15,16 "Hearken unto my prayer, O Lord, and unto my supplication; give ear unto my tears. Be not silent, for I am a sojourner with Thee and a stranger, as were all my fathers." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 18:1-8 "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?" MATINS: _______ Psalm: 101:1,2,12 "O Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come unto Thee. Turn not Thy face away from me. But Thou, O Lord, forever abides and Thy remembrance is unto generation and generation." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46 "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." LITURGY: ________ Pauline Epistle: II Thessalonians 2:1-17 "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts ..." Catholic Epistle: II Peter 3:1-18 "... account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation ..." Praxis: Acts 26:19-27:8 "Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great ..." Synexarion: + Martyrdom of Saint Aristobulus, one of the seventy-two disciples. + Martyrdom of Saints Alexander, Agabius, Timol, Dionysius, and Romulus. Psalm: 32:5,6 "The Lord loves mercy and judgment; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord. By the word of the Lord were the heavens established and all the might of them by the Spirit of His mouth." Alleluia! Gospel: John 5:1-18 "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday of the Sixth Week Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten (Weekdays) Strict abstinence Verse of the Day: "But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another..." (1 Thessalonicans 4:9) Pauline Epistle: 1 Thessalonicans 4:1-18 "For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness." Catholic Epistle: James 4:7-12 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." Praxis: Acts 18:9-18 "...for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you..." Synexarion: + St. Michael II, 56th Patriarch of Alexandria. He encountered numerous hardships from an ignorant and evil bishop of Sakha, who complained about the saint to the Muslim Governor which resulted in the saint's imprisonment for a year. + Commemoration of the raising up of Lazarus from the dead. Psalm: 34:1,2 "Judge them, O Lord, that do me injustice; war against them that war against me. Take hold of weapon and shield and arise unto my help." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 13:1-5 "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday of the Sixth Week Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten (Weekdays) Strict abstinence Verse of the Day: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22) Pauline Epistle: 1 Corinthians 14:18-28 "Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature." Catholic Epistle: James 1:22-2:1 "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless." Praxis: Acts 19:11-20 "And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds." Synexarion: + Commemoration of the Theotokos. + The dwelling of our Lord Jesus Christ in Bethany, where Lazarus was one of them sitting at the table with Him. Lazarus' sister, Martha, was serving while Mary, the other sister, was anointing the feet of our Savior. + The consultation of the chief priests to put Lazarus to death. Psalm: 41:1 "As the heart panteth after the fountains of water, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 9:18-22 "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday of the sixth week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (6th week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead." (Job 34:24) Pauline Epistle: Romans 2:12-24 "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law." Catholic Epistle: II Peter 1:20-2:6 "And many shall follow their pernicious ways; causing the way of truth to be evil spoken of." Praxis: Acts 26:1-8 "And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God to our fathers." Synexarion: + Repose of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Psalm: 9:11,12 "Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people of his doings. When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 11:45-52 "Woe unto you, lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and them that were entering in you hindered." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday of the sixth week of the great lent Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "And he called Gehazi and said, 'Call this Shunamite.'... And when she cam to him, he said, 'Take up your son.'" (II Kings 4:36) Pauline Epistle: I Timothy 2:1-3:4 "I desire therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or doubting." Catholic Epistle: Jude 19-25 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Praxis: Acts 27:16-20 "And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest fell on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away." Synexarion: + Repose of Daniel the great prophet. Psalm: 9:13,14 "Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death, that I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion." Alleluia! Gospel: John 6:47-71 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday of the sixth week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (6th week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16,17) From Matin's Gospel. Pauline Epistle: I Corinthians 10:1-13 "But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." Catholic Epistle: I John 2:12-17 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world... And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." Praxis: Acts 8:9-17 "And they that had eaten were about four thousand..." Synexarion: + St. Macarius, 59th Patriarch of Alexandria (952 A.D.). When he was ordained to the papal office, he visited his pious mother who was very distressed when she saw him saying: "I would rather see you in a bier than a pope, because now you are responsible for all the souls of your flock, whereas before your ordination, you were only responsible for your own soul; so preserve in teaching your flock." + Apparition of the Theotokos in Zeitoun. Psalm: 33:5,4 "Come unto Him and be enlightened and your faces shall not be ashamed. I sought the Lord and He heard me." Alleluia! Gospel: John 3:1-13 "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday of the sixth week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (6th week) Tune : Lenten Abstinence Verse of the Day: "and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." (Matthew 9:2) From Matin's Gospel. Pauline Epistle: Ephesians 4:1-7 "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love." Catholic Epistle: I Peter 1:13-21 "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Praxis: Acts 27:9-26 "And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive." Synexarion: + St. Onesiphorous, one of the seventy-two disciples. He was a witness to the miracle of the widow of Nain's son which caused him to convert to Christianity. + St. Matthias, 100th Patriarch of Alexandria. Psalm: 31:1,2 "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not sin." Alleluia! Gospel: Mark 10:46-52 "And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday Sixth Sunday of Great Lent Sunday of the Born Blind Man Season : Great Lent Tune : Lenten (Weekend) Abstinence Theme of the Day: Enlightenment through Faith in Christ and Babtism. Verse of the Day: "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." (John 9:39) VESPERS: ________ Psalm: 16:3,5 "Thou hast proven my heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me by fire and unrighteousness was not found in me. Set my footsteps in Thy paths, that my steps may not be shaken." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 13:22-35 "... you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'" MATINS: _______ Psalm: 25:2,3 "Prove me, O Lord, and try me; prove with fire my reins and my heart. For Thy mercy is before mine eyes and I have been well-pleasing in Thy truth." Alleluia! Gospel: Matthew 23:1-39 "Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also." LITURGY: ________ Pauline Epistle: Colosians 3:5-17 "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him." Catholic Epistle: I John 5:13-21 "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true ..." Praxis: Acts 27:27-37 "But when the fourteenth night had come, ... about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land." Synexarion: + Repose of Saint Praxia, a virgin of Rome. She and her mother went to Egypt and took shelter at a convent in Alexandria. She liked it and promised never to leave. Her mother sold their property and joined her. + Repose of Saint Peter the Sixth, the 104th Patriarch of Alexandria. Psalm: 142:7,1 "Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not Thy face away from me. O Lord, hear my prayer; give ear unto my supplication in Thy truth." Alleluia! Gospel: John 9:1-41 "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Monday of the seventh week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (7th week) Tune : Lenten (weekdays) Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10) Pauline Epistle: Romans 14:10-15:2 "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way." Catholic Epistle: James 2:5-13 "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." Praxis: Acts 9:22-31 "But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ." Synexarion: + Commemoration of the Crucifixion of Christ + St. Macarius, the Great (392 A.D.) A village girl accused him of seducing her causing a scandal against him. The girl had much pain in giving birth, at which she began to fear the judgment of heaven on her false accusation and confessed the truth. The saint fled in order to escape the glory of men. Psalm: 85:12,13 "I will confess Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart and I will glorify Thy Name forever. For great is Thy mercy upon me and Thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost Hades." Alleluia! Gospel: John 5:31-47 "And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday of the seventh week of the great lent Tune : Lenten (Weekdays) Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." (John 12:36) Pauline Epistle: 1 Corinthians 14:5-17 "...for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues..." Catholic Epistle: 2 Peter 3:8-15 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." Praxis: Acts 22:17-24 "Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles." Synexarion: + Emperor Constantine the Great. Heaven showed hi a sign of the Holy Cross, inscribed on it the words: "By this sign thou shalt conquer." When he won the battle, he converted, was baptized, and then released all the prisoners. + St. Peter VII, 109th Patriarch fo Alexandria. + St. Sarapamon, known as the "veiled" bishop. Psalm: 50:2,3 "Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin; for I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me." Alleluia! Gospel: John 12:36-43 "...for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday of the seventh week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (7th week) Theme of the Day: The Annunciation feast Pauline Epistle: Romans 3:1-31 "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" Catholic Epistle: 1 John 1:1-2:6 "And we have seen it and bear witness, and shew unto you that the eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us." Praxis: Acts 7:23-34 "... I have see the affliction of My people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaring, and am come down to deliver them." Synexarion: + The Annunciation feast. + The commemoration of the Holy Resurrection. Psalm: 45:10-11 "Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, name Nazareth." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday of the seventh week of the great lent Season : Great Lent (7th week) Tune : Lenten (Weekdays) Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: As righteousness tendeth to life; so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death" (Proverbs 11:19) Pauline Epistle: 2 Corinthians 4:5-18 "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." Catholic Epistle: 1 John 3:13-24 "We know that we have passed from death unto life." Praxis: Acts 25:23-26 "of whom (Paul) I have no certain thing to write unto my lord." Synexarion: + The commemoration of the archangel Gabrial. + The commemoration of Samson the judge of Israel. Psalm: 122:1,2 "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." Alleluia! Gospel: Mark 12:18-27 "He is not the God of the dead but the God of the living." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday of the seventh week of the great lent Season : Last Friday of Great Lent (7th week) Tune : Lenten Strict Abstinence Verse of the Day: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (Genesis 50:20) From Matin's Prophecies. Pauline Epistle: II Timothy 3:1-4:5 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." Catholic Epistle: James 5:7-16 "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience." Praxis: Acts 15:1-18 "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." Synexarion: + St. Silvanus, the ascetic of Scetis. He was very humble. His advice to his disciples was to concern themselves with their hand-work as a guard against indolence. One lazy monk commented saying: "Labor not for the meat which perishes." So he was not given food by the fathers for a few days, which taught him a spiritual lesson. + St. Aaron, Moses' brother. Psalm: 97:8,9 "The mountains shall rejoice at the presence of the Lord, for He cometh; yea, He is come to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the people with uprightness." Alleluia! Gospel: Luke 13:31-35 "and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------