Daily Reading:

Wednesday October 14/27
22nd Week After Pentecost
Fast Day

Icon Orginal link:

http://ww.iconsandmore.com/hand6.html

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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

Illumine my heart, O Master who lovest mankind, with the pure light of Thy divine knowledge. Open Thou the eyes of my mind to the understanding of Thy Gospel teachings. Implant also in me a love for Thy blessed commandments. Grant me the grace to overcome all my carnal desires, so that I may enter more completely into a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well pleasing to Thee. For Thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee do we ascribe glory, together with Thine all-holy, good and life-creating Spirit; now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, open Thou the eyes of my heart, that I may hear Thy word and understand and do Thy will, for I am a sojourner upon the earth. Hide not Thy commandments from me, but open mine eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of Thy law. Speak unto me the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom. On Thee do I set my hope, O my God, that Thou shalt enlighten my mind and understanding with the light of Thy knowledge, not only to cherish those things which are written, but to do them; that in reading the lives and sayings of the Saints I may not sin, but that such may serve for my restoration, enlightenment and sanctification, for the salvation of my soul, and the inheritance of life everlasting. For Thou art the enlightenment of those who lie in darkness, and from Thee cometh every good deed and every gift. Amen.

By the intercessions of Thine All-immaculate Mother and of all Thy Saints, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen

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Colossians 3:17-4:1

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Luke 9:44-50

"Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men." But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask Him of that saying. Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by Him, And said unto them, "Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me receiveth Him that sent Me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great." And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, "Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us."

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HOLY MARTYRS NAZARIUS, CELSUS, GERVASIUS AND PROTASIUS OF MILAN
ST COSMAS THE HYMNOGRAPHER, BISHOP OF MAIUMA
ST PARASCEVA OF SERBIA

Troparion of the Martyrs Tone 4
Let us praise the fourfold company of Martyrs,/Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and Celsus./ For they preached the Trinity to all/ and by their contests dispelled idol worship./ By their prayers, O Christ, have mercy on us all.

Troparion of St Cosmas Tone 4
Though in the flesh thou wast zealous to emulate the choirs of heaven,/ and whilst on earth didst compose hymns to God in the highest;/ like a harp of holy wisdom/ thou didst hymn in enlightenment God the Word./ O divinely inspired Cosmas, we praise thee with hymns.

Troparion of St Parasceva of Serbia Tone 4
Thou didst choose a silent and solitary life/ and follow Christ thy Bridegroom./ Thou didst take His easy yoke in thy youth/ and wast armed with the sign of the Cross./ Thou didst contend against spiritual enemies with fasting, tears and labours, O glorious Parasceva./ Thou dost stand before Christ with the wise virgins:/ pray for us who venerate thy memory.

Kontakion of the Martyrs Tone 2
You appeared as bright lights and illumine creation with the radiancy of miracles, O Martyrs,/ dispelling the darkness of disease./ Intercede with Christ our God/ that He may grant us His great mercy.

Kontakion of St Cosmas Tone 8
Adorned with virtues thou wast an adornment of Christ's Church;/ for thou hast adorned her with chants, blessed Cosmas./ Intercede with the Lord that He deliver from the snares of the enemy us who cry to thee:/ Rejoice, thrice-blessed Father.

Kontakion of St Parasceva of Serbia Tone 6
Let us all praise holy Parasceva/ who intercedes for the afflicted./ She despised earthly honours and received incorruption,/ and God has given her the grace of wonderworking.

11 - 17
SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE 7th ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

Troparion Tone 8
Glorious art Thou, O Christ our God/ Who hast established our holy fathers as stars on earth./ Through them Thou dost guide us to the True Faith./ O Most Merciful One, glory to Thee.

Kontakion Tone 8
The preaching of the Apostles and the doctrine of the Fathers confirmed the one faith in the Church./ In the garment of truth woven from theology on high she rightly divides and glorifies true piety.

Another Kontakion Tone 2
The Son Who shone from the Father/ was ineffably born in two natures of a woman./ We do not deny the image of His form/ but depict it piously and revere it./ For this cause the Church, holding the true Faith,/ kisses the icon of Christ's Incarnation.

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Our Holy Mother Petka (Paraskeva)

This glorious saint was of Serbian birth, from the town of Epibata,between Silinaurius and Constantinople. St Petka's parents were wealthy and devout Christians, and had one son, Euthymius, who became a monk during his parents' lifetime and later became Bishop of Madytos. After her parents' death, the maiden Petka, always desirous of the ascetic life for the sake of Christ, left her home and went first to Constantinople and then to the Jordan wilderness, where she lived to old age in asceticism. Who can describe all the labours, the sufferings, the temptations from demons that Petka endured for many years? In her old age, an
angel of God appeared to her and said: 'Leave the wilderness and go back to your home.' St Petka obeyed the voice from heaven, left her beloved wilderness and returned to Epibata. She lived a further two years there, still in ceaseless fasting and prayer, and then gave her spirit into God's hands and went to join the company of Paradise. She entered into rest in the eleventh century. Her wonderworking relics were, in the course of time, taken to Constantinople, Trnovo, Constantinople again and Belgrade. They are now in Romania, in the town of Jassy. St Petka's spring is to be found in Belgrade. The waters miraculously heal all the sick who, with faith in God and love for this saint, hasten to ask her aid.

-The Prologue From Ochrid

of St. Nikolai (Velimirovic) Bishop of Zhicha