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