Daily Scripture Readings

Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for
Saturday July 26, 2008
Readings for today

St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5
Mark 5:24-34
Feasts and Saints celebrated today
Hermolaos the Holy Martyr & his Companions
Paraskevi the Righteous Martyr of Rome

Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-5
BRETHREN, before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under
restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian
until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that
faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; for in Christ Jesus
you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were
baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for
you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you
are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the
heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is
the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees
until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we
were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the
time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, to redeem those who were
under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Gospel Reading
The reading is from Mark 5:24-34
At that time, a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. And
there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who
had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she
had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the
reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his
garment. For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I shall be made
well." And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body
that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself
that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the
crowd, and said, "Who touched my garments?" And his disciples said to
him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who
touched me?'" And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman,
knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell
down before him, and told him the whole truth. And he said to her,
"Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace,
and be healed of your
disease

Hermolaos the Holy Martyr & his Companions
Reading from the Synaxarion

Saint Hermolaus and those with him were priests of the Church in
Nicomedia, living in hiding after the Emperor Maximian had burnt to death
the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia (see Dec. 28). It was Hermolaus who
converted Saint Panteleimon to Christ. When Saint Panteleimon was seized as
a Christian and was asked by Maximian who it was that had turned
him from the idols, the Saint, enlightened by God that the time of
his teacher's martyrdom also was at hand, revealed to Maximian that
it was Hermolaus the priest. Saint Hermolaus was taken with Saints
Hermippus and Hermocrates, and when they had confessed Christ to be the
only true God, they were beheaded in the year 305. Saint Hermolaus is
one of the Holy Unmercenaries.
Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as
the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal
God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the
tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O
Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.
Kontakion in the Third Tone
O wise Hermolaus with the God-bearing Hermippus, and august
Hermocrates, as sacred priests of the Most High, ye who offered the Unbloody
Sacrifice rightly were yourselves stained with your own blood as sacrifices
offered up to Christ the One God; and now with boldness ye pray that all
may be saved

Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Kontakion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery
Paraskevi the Righteous Martyr of Rome

Reading from the Synaxarion

Saint Paraskevi, who was from a certain village near Rome, was born to
pious parents, Agatho and Politia. Since she was born on a Friday (in
Greek, Paraskevi), she was given this name, which means "preparation" or
"preparedness" (compare Matt. 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:31,
where 'Friday' is called "the day of the preparation"). From childhood
she was instructed in the sacred letters and devoted herself to the
study of the divine Scriptures, while leading a monastic life and
guiding many to the Faith of Christ. During the reign of the Emperor
Antoninus Pius, she was apprehended because she was a Christian and was
urged to worship the idols, but she answered with the words of
Jeremias: "Let the gods that have not made heaven and the earth perish from
off the earth" (Jer. 10:11). Because of this she endured exceedingly
painful torments, and was beheaded in the year 140. The faithful pray to
her for the healing of eye ailments

Apolytikion in the First Tone
Appropriate to your calling, O Champion Paraskevi, you worshipped with the
readiness your name bears. For an abode you obtained faith, which is your
namesake. Wherefore, you pour forth healing and intercede for our souls.
Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone
O most majestic One, we have discovered your temple to be a
spiritual clinic wherein all the faithful resoundingly honor you, O famed
and venerable martyr Paraskevi

Reading courtesy of Narthex Press
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press
The DAILYREADINGS list is being made possible by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries

Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Readings for today

2 Timothy 2:1-10 Epistle, St. Panteleimon

Matthew 9:1 Gospel
Feasts and Saints celebrated today
Holy Greatmartyr and Healer Panteleimon 305

Epistle Reading
2 Timothy 2:1-10

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Gospel Reading
Matthew 9:1-8

1 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.
2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."
3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!"
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins-then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
7 And he arose and departed to his house.
8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Greatmartyr and Healer Panteleimon

The Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon was born in the city of Nicomedia into the family of the illustrious pagan Eustorgius, and he was named Pantoleon. His mother St Euboula (March 30) was a Christian. She wanted to raise her son in the Christian Faith, but she died when the future martyr was just a young child. His father sent Pantoleon to a pagan school, after which the young man studied medicine at Nicomedia under the renowned physician Euphrosynus. Pantoleon came to the attention of the emperor Maximian (284-305), who wished to appoint him as royal physician when he finished his schooling.
The hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates, survivors of the massacre of 20,000 Christians in 303 (December 28), were living secretly in Nicomedia at that time. St Hermolaus saw Pantoleon time and again when he came to the house where they were hiding. Once, the priest invited the youth to the house and spoke about the Christian Faith. After this Pantoleon visited St Hermolaus every day.
One day the saint found a dead child on the street. He had been bitten by a great snake, which was still beside the child's body. Pantoleon began to pray to the Lord Jesus Christ to revive the dead child and to destroy the venomous reptile. He firmly resolved that if his prayer were fulfilled, he would become a follower of Christ and receive Baptism. The child rose up alive, and the snake died before Pantoleon's eyes.
After this miracle, Pantoleon was baptized by St Hermolaus with the name Panteleimon (meaning "all-merciful"). Speaking with Eustorgius, St Panteleimon prepared him to accept Christianity. When the father saw how his son healed a blind man by invoking Jesus Christ, he then believed in Christ and was baptized by St Hermolaus together with the man whose sight was restored.
After the death of his father, St Panteleimon dedicated his life to the suffering, the sick, the unfortunate and the needy. He treated all those who turned to him without charge, healing them in the name of Jesus Christ. He visited those held captive in prison. These were usually Christians, and he healed them of their wounds. In a short time, reports of the charitable physician spread throughout the city. Forsaking the other doctors, the inhabitants began to turn only to St Panteleimon.
The envious doctors told the emperor that St Panteleimon was healing Christian prisoners. Maximian urged the saint to refute the charge by offering sacrifice to idols. St Panteleimon confessed himself a Christian, and suggested that a sick person, for whom the doctors held out no hope, should be brought before the emperor. Then the doctors could invoke their gods, and Panteleimon would pray to his God to heal the man. A man paralyzed for many years was brought in, and pagan priests who knew the art of medicine invoked their gods without success. Then, before the very eyes of the emperor, the saint healed the paralytic by calling on the name of Jesus Christ. The ferocious Maximian executed the healed man, and gave St Panteleimon over to fierce torture.
The Lord appeared to the saint and strengthened him before his sufferings. They suspended the Great Martyr Panteleimon from a tree and scraped him with iron hooks, burned him with fire and then stretched him on the rack, threw him into a cauldron of boiling tar, and cast him into the sea with a stone around his neck. Throughout these tortures the martyr remained unhurt, and denounced the emperor.
At this time the priests Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates were brought before the court of the pagans. All three confessed their faith in the Savior and were beheaded (July 26).
By order of the emperor they brought the Great Martyr Panteleimon to the circus to be devoured by wild beasts. The animals, however, came up to him and licked his feet. The spectators began to shout, "Great is the God of the Christians!" The enraged Maximian ordered the soldiers to stab with the sword anyone who glorified Christ, and to cut off the head of the Great Martyr Panteleimon.
They led the saint to the place of execution and tied him to an olive tree. While the martyr prayed, one of the soldiers struck him with a sword, but the sword became soft like wax and inflicted no wound. The saint completed his prayer, and a Voice was heard from Heaven, calling the passion-bearer by his new name and summoning him to the heavenly Kingdom.
Hearing the Voice, the soldiers fell down on their knees before the holy martyr and begged forgiveness. They refused to continue with the execution, but St Panteleimon told them to fulfill the emperor's command, because otherwise they would have no share with him in the future life. The soldiers tearfully took their leave of the saint with a kiss.
When the saint was beheaded, the olive tree to which the saint was tied became covered with fruit. Many who were present at the execution believed in Christ. The saint's body was thrown into a fire, but remained unharmed, and was buried by Christians . St Panteleimon's servants Laurence, Bassos and Probus witnessed his execution and heard the Voice from Heaven. They recorded the life, the sufferings and death of the saint.
Portions of the holy relics of the Great Martyr Panteleimon were distributed throughout all the Christian world. His venerable head is now located at the Russian monastery of St Panteleimon on Mt. Athos.
The veneration of the holy martyr in the Russian Orthodox Church was already known in the twelfth century. Prince Izyaslav ( in Baptism Panteleimon), the son of St Mstislav the Great, had an image of St Panteleimon on his helmet. Through the intercession of the saint he remained alive during a battle in the year 1151. On the Feast of the Great Martyr Panteleimon, Russian forces won two naval victories over the Swedes (in 1714 near Hanhauze and in 1720 near Grenham).
St Panteleimon is venerated in the Orthodox Church as a mighty saint, and the protector of soldiers. This aspect of his veneration is derived from his first name Pantoleon, which means "a lion in everything". His second name, Panteleimon, given him at Baptism, which means "all-merciful", is manifest in the veneration of the martyr as a healer. The connection between these two aspects of the saint is readily apparent in that soldiers, receiving wounds more frequently than others, are more in need of a physician-healer. Christians waging spiritual warfare also have recourse to this saint, asking him to heal their spiritual wounds.
The holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon is invoked in the Mystery of Anointing the Sick, at the Blessing of Water, and in the Prayers for the Sick.
The Feast of the holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon is the patronal Feast of the Russian monastery on Athos. The forefeast starts eight days before the Feast. Each day after Vespers, Moliebens are sung with Canons in each of the eight tones. Thus, each day has its own particular Canon. The second day of the Feast is the monastery feastday. On this day a general Panikhida is served after Vespers in memory of the founders and benefactors of the monastery, and kollyva (kutia: wheat or rice boiled with honey) is blessed and distributed.
The verses of the Ninth Ode of the Canon of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon from the manuscript of the Athonite service are reprinted in the "Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate" (1975, No.3, pp. 45-47).
Troparion - Tone 3

Holy Passion-bearer and healer Panteleimon entreat the merciful God to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions

Kontakion - Tone 5

You emulated the Merciful One
and received from Him the grace of healing
Passion-bearer and healer Panteleimon

by your prayers, heal our spiritual diseases
and continually drive away the temptations of the enemy
from those who cry out in faith Save us, O Lord

Reading courtesy of Narthex Press
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press
The DAILYREADINGS list is being made possible by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries
.

Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for
Monday, July 28 2008
Readings for today

1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11 Epistle
Matthew 13:54-58 Gospel
Feasts and Saints celebrated today
Holy Apostles of the Seventy and Deacons: Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas 1st c

Epistle Reading
1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11

9I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.
10Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.
11But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-not even to eat with such a person.
12For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
13But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."
1Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
2Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
4If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge?
5I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?
6But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!
7Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
8No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!
9Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
11And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Gospel Reading
Matthew 13:54-58

54When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
55Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
56And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?
57So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."
58Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Holy Apostles of the Seventy and Deacons: Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, and Parmenas

Saints Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon and Parmenas, Apostles of the Seventy were among the first deacons in the Church of Christ

In the Acts of the Holy Apostles (6:1-6) it is said that the twelve Apostles chose seven men: Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, and appointed them to serve as deacons

They are commemorated together on July 28, although they died at various times and in various places
At first, St Prochorus accompanied the holy Apostle Peter, who made him bishop in the city of Nicomedia
After the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Prochorus was a companion and coworker of the holy Apostle John the Theologian and was banished with him to the island of Patmos. There he wrote down the Book of Revelation concerning the final fate of the world. Upon returning to Nicomedia, St Prochorus converted pagans to Christ in the city of Antioch, where he suffered martyrdom
Although St Nicanor suffered on the same day that the holy Protomartyr Stephen (December 27) and many other Christians were killed by stoning, he is commemorated on December 28

St Timon was later appointed by the Apostles as bishop of the city of Bostra in Arabia and suffered from the Jews and pagans for preaching the Gospel. He was thrown into a furnace, but by the power of God he came out of it unharmed. The tradition of the Roman Church says that St Timon died by crucifixion
St Timon of the Seventy is also commemorated on December 30.

St Parmenas zealously preached Christ in Macedonia. He died after being afflicted with an illness. Some say that St Parmenas suffered martyrdom under Trajan (98-117) in the final year of his reign.

Troparion - Tone 3
O holy apostles
Entreat the merciful God
To grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions

Kontakion - Tone 1
You were holy deacons and eye-witnesses of the Word
And chosen vessel of the faith
O glorious Nicanor, Prochorus, Parmenas and Timon
Therefore today we celebrate your sacred memory
Blessing you in gladness of heart

Reading courtesy of Narthex Press
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press
The DAILYREADINGS list is being made possible by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for
Wed, July 30 2008
Readings for today

1 Corinthians 7:12-24
Epistle
Matthew 14:35-15:11
Gospel
Feasts and Saints celebrated today
Holy Apostles of the Seventy Silas, Silvanus, Crescens, Epenetus and Andronicus 1st c.

Epistle Reading
1 Corinthians 7:12-24 Epistle

12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.
13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.
16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.
21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.
22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave.
23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

Gospel Reading
Matthew 14:35-15:11 Gospel
(14)
35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick,
36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.
(15)
1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,
2 Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.
3 He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'
5 But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God"-
6 'then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "
10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand:
11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

Holy Apostles of the Seventy Silas, Silvanus, Crescens, Epenetus and Andronicus

The Holy Apostles of the Seventy Silas, Silvanus, Crescens, Epenetus and Andronicus were disciples of the Savior.
St Silas was a respected figure in the original Church at Jerusalem, one of the "chief men among the brethren" (Acts 15:22). The Council of the Apostles was convened at Jerusalem in the year 51 to deal with the question of whether Gentile Christian converts should be required to observe the Mosaic Law. The Apostles sent a message with Paul and Barnabas to the Christians of Antioch, giving the decision of the Council that Christians of Gentile origin did not have to observe the prescriptions of the Mosaic Law. Nonetheless, they were told that they must refrain from partaking of foods offered to idols, from things strangled and from blood, to refrain from fornication (Acts 15:20-29). Together with Sts Paul and Barnabas, the Council of the Apostles sent Sts Silas and Jude to explain the message in greater detail, since they both were filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit. St Jude was later sent back to Jerusalem, but St Silas remained at Antioch and zealously assisted St Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, on his missionary journeys preaching the Gospel. They visited Syria, Cilicia, Macedonia.
In the city of Philippi they were accused of inciting unrest among the people, and for this they were arrested, beaten with rods, and then thrown into prison. At midnight, when the saints were at prayer, suddenly there was a strong earthquake, their chains fell off from them and the doors of the prison opened. The prison guard, supposing that the prisoners had fled, wanted to kill himself, but was stopped by the Apostle Paul. Then, he fell down trembling at the feet of the saints, and with faith accepted their preaching about Christ. He then led them out of the prison and took them to his own home, where he washed their wounds, and was baptized together with all his household.
From Philippi Sts Paul and Silas proceeded on to the cities of Amphipolis, Apollonia and Thessalonica. In each city they made new converts to Christ and built up the Church.
At Corinth the holy Apostle Silas was consecrated as bishop, and worked many miracles and signs, and there he finished his life

Troparion - Tone 3
Holy Apostles Silas and Silvanus
entreat the merciful God
to grant our souls forgiveness of transgressions

Kontakion - Tone 4
You were revealed to be branches of the vine of Christ, O wise ones
bearing clusters of virtues that pour out on us the wine of salvation.
Receiving it, we are filled with gladness,
and we celebrate your most honored memory, apostles of the Lord, Silas and Silvanus.
Therefore, intercede that great mercy and remission of sins may be granted to us

Reading courtesy of Narthex Press
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press
The DAILYREADINGS list is being made possible by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries

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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for
Thursday, July 31 2008
Readings for today

1 Corinthians 7:24-35
Epistle
Matthew 15:12-21
Gospel
Feasts and Saints celebrated today
Righteous Eudocimus of Cappadocia

Epistle Reading
1 Corinthians 7:24-35

24Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.
25Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.
26I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress-that it is good for a man to remain as he is:
27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.
29But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,
30those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,
31and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.
32But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord-how he may please the Lord.
33But he who is married cares about the things of the world-how he may please his wife.
34There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world-how she may please her husband.
35And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.


Gospel Reading
Matthew 15:12-21

12Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"
13But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.
14Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.
15Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."
16So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding?
17Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?
18But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
20These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.
21Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

Righteous Eudocimus of Cappadocia
Saint Eudocimus, a native of Cappadocia (Asia Minor), lived during the ninth century during the reign of Emperor Theophilus (829-842). He was the son of the pious Christians Basil and Eudokia, an illustrious family known to the emperor. They raised their son "in discipline and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6: 4), planting in his soul a sincere faith and holy virtues.
The righteous life of St Eudocimus was devoted to pleasing God and serving his neighbor. Having given a vow to remain unmarried and chaste, he avoided conversation with women and did not look at them. He would speak only with his own mother, whom he greatly respected. The emperor valued his virtue and talents, so he appointed St Eudocimus as governor of Chorziane, Armenia. Fulfilling his duty as a servant of God, St Eudocimus governed the people justly and with kindness. He concerned himself with the unfortunate, and with orphans and widows, and he was a defender of the common people. His personal Christian exploits which he did in secret, were known only to God.
Eudocimus pleased God by his blameless life, and the Lord called him at age 33. Lying on his deathbed, St Eudocimus gave final instructions to place him in the grave in those clothes in which he would meet death. Then he sent everyone out of the room and entreated the Lord that no one would see his end, just as no one saw his secret efforts during life. His attendants buried him as he had instructed them. Right after the death of St Eudocimus miracles took place at his grave. Many sick people were healed, and the news of the miraculous healings spread.
After 18 months, the mother of St Eudocimus came from Constantinople to venerate his relics. She gave orders to remove the stone, dig up the ground, and open the grave. Everyone beheld the face of the saint, bright as if alive, altogether untouched by decay. A great fragrance came from him. They took up the coffin with the relics from the earth, and they dressed the saint in new clothes. His mother wanted to take the relics of her son to Constantinople, but the Kharsian people would not clear a path for their holy one. After a certain time the hieromonk Joseph, having lived and served at the grave of the saint, transported the relics of St Eudocimus to Constantinople. There they were placed in a silver reliquary in the church of the Most Holy Theotokos, built by the parents of the saint.
St Eudocimus is considered by the Russian Church to be one of the special protectors and intercessors before God of the family hearth. He was, as his name implies, truly successful in every virtue.

Troparion - Tone 4
He who called you from earth to heaven,
keeps your body unharmed after death, holy Eudocimus;
for you lived a sober and holy life
and did not defile your flesh;
so with boldness intercede with Christ that we may be saved.
Kontakion - Tone 3
Today your honored memory has assembled us at the holy shrine of your sacred relics;
all then who approach and venerate them
are rescued from the evil malice of demons
and are swiftly delivered from various diseases, blessed Eudocimus

Reading courtesy of Narthex Press
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press
The DAILYREADINGS list is being made possible by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries

Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for
Friday August 1 2008
Readings for today

1 Corinthians 1:18-24 Epistle
John 19:6-11; 13-20; 25-28; 30-35 Gospel
Feasts and Saints celebrated today

- Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord. First of the three "Feasts of the Savior" in
August
-
Holy Seven Maccabean Martyrs
Abimus
Antoninus
Gurias
Eleazar
Eusabonus
Alimus, and Marcellus
their mother Solomonia, (Salomé) and their teacher, Eleazar 166 B.C

Epistle Reading
1 Corinthians 1:18-24

18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written:
20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;
23but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,
24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Gospel Reading
John 19:6-11; 13-20; 25-28; 30-35
6Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him."
7The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."
8Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid,
9and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.
10Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?"
11Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."
13When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"
15But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"
16Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away.
17And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,
18where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.
19Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
25Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!"
27Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
28After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"
30So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
31Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.
33But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
34But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
35And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.

Procession of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord
First of the three "Feasts of the Savior" in August

The Procession of the Venerable Wood of the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord: In the Greek Horologion of 1897 the derivation of this Feast is explained: "Because of the illnesses that occur in August, it was customary, in former times, to carry the Venerable Wood of the Cross through the streets and squares of Constantinople for the sanctification of the city, and for relief from sickness. On the eve (July 31), it was taken out of the imperial treasury, and laid upon the altar of the Great Church of Hagia Sophia (the Wisdom of God). From this Feast until the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, they carried the Cross throughout the city in procession, offering it to the people to venerate. This also is the Procession of the Venerable Cross."
In the Russian Church this Feast is combined also with the remembrance of the Baptism of Rus, on August 1, 988. In the "Account of the Order of Services in the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Great Church of the Dormition," compiled in 1627 by order of Patriarch Philaret of Moscow and All Rus, there is the following explanation of the Feast: "On the day of the Procession of the Venerable Cross there is a church procession for the sanctification of water and for the enlightenment of the people, throughout all the towns and places."
Knowledge of the day of the actual Baptism of Rus was preserved in the Chronicles of the sixteenth century: "The Baptism of the Great Prince Vladimir of Kiev and all Rus was on August 1."
In the present practice of the Russian Church, the Lesser Sanctification of Water on August 1 is done either before or after Liturgy. Because of the Blessing of Water, this first Feast of the Savior in August is sometimes called 'Savior of the Water." There may also be a Blessing of New Honey today, which is why the Feast is also called "Savior of the Honey." From this day the newly gathered honey is blessed and tasted

7 Holy Maccabee Martyrs

The seven holy Maccabee martyrs Abim, Antonius, Gurias, Eleazar, Eusebonus, Alimus and Marcellus, their mother Solomonia and their teacher Eleazar suffered in the year 166 before Christ under the impious Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This foolish ruler loved pagan and Hellenistic customs, and held Jewish customs in contempt. He did everything possible to turn people from the Law of Moses and from their covenant with God. He desecrated the Temple of the Lord, placed a statue of the pagan god Zeus there, and forced the Jews to worship it. Many people abandoned the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but there were also those who continued to believe that the Savior would come.
A ninety-year-old elder, the scribe and teacher Eleazar, was brought to trial for his faithfulness to the Mosaic Law. He suffered tortures and died at Jerusalem.
The disciples of St Eleazar, the seven Maccabee brothers and their mother Solomonia, also displayed great courage. They were brought to trial in Antioch by King Antiochus Epiphanes. They fearlessly acknowledged themselves as followers of the True God, and refused to eat pig's flesh, which was forbidden by the Law.
The eldest brother acted as spokesmen for the rest, saying that they preferred to die rather than break the Law. He was subjected to fierce tortures in sight of his brothers and their mother. His tongue was cut out, he was scalped, and his hands and feet were cut off. Then a cauldron and a large frying pan were heated, and the first brother was thrown into the frying pan, and he died.
The next five brothers were tortured one after the other. The seventh and youngest brother was the last one left alive. Antiochus suggested to St Solomonia to persuade the boy to obey him, so that her last son at least would be spared. Instead, the brave mother told him to imitate the courage of his brothers.
The child upbraided the king and was tortured even more cruelly than his brothers had been. After all her seven children had died, St Solomonia, stood over their bodies, raised up her hands in prayer to God and died.
The martyric death of the Maccabee brothers inspired Judas Maccabeus, and he led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes. With God's help, he gained the victory, and then purified the Temple at Jerusalem. He also threw down the altars which the pagans had set up in the streets. All these events are related in the Second Book of Maccabees (Ch. 8-10).
Various Fathers of the Church preached sermons on the seven Maccabees, including St Cyprian of Carthage, St Ambrose of Milan, St Gregory Nazianzus and St John Chrysostom.

Troparion - Tone 7
Let us praise the seven Maccabees,
with their mother Salome and their teacher Eleazar;
they were splendid in lawful contest
as guardians of the teachings of the Law.
Now as Christ's holy martyrs they ceaselessly intercede for the world

Kontakion - Tone 2
Seven pillars of the Wisdom of God
and seven lampstands of the divine Light,
all-wise Maccabees, greatest of the martyrs before the time of the martyrs,
with them ask the God of all to save those who honor you

Troparion - Tone 1
O Lord, save Your people,
And bless Your inheritance!
Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians
Over their adversaries.
And by virtue of the Cross,
Preserve Your habitation

Kontakion - Tone 4
As You were voluntarily crucified for our sake,
Grant mercy to those who are called by Your name;
Make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power,
Granting them victories over their adversaries,
By bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Your weapon of peace

Reading courtesy of Narthex Press
Apolytikion courtesy of Narthex Press
Kontakion courtesy of Narthex Press
The DAILYREADINGS list is being made possible by the
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department of Internet Ministries