Daily Reading:

1 Timothy 3:1-13

     This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Luke 16:1-9

     And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

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ST STEPHEN THE NEW
HOLY MARTYR IRENARCHUS

Troparion of St Stephen the New    Tone 3
Thou didst live a holy and ascetic life/ and didst become a vessel of prayer./ Through thy reverence for the Icon of Christ/ thou wast found worthy of the joy of martyrs./ O holy Stephen, pray to Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

Troparion of Holy Martyr Irenarchus    Tone 4
Thou didst confess the Prince of Peace with faith/ and abandon the lord of error and turmoil, O wise Irenarchus./ Thou didst pass through fire and water/ and emerge as a trophy-bearer./ Pray that peace and salvation may be granted unto all.

Kontakion of St Stephen the New    Tone 8
Come all you faithful who rejoice to celebrate:/ let us praise Stephen the lover of the Trinity/ who honoured the Icon of Christ and His Mother./ Let us all cry out to him rejoicing:/ Renowned Father Stephen, joy to thee.

Kontakion of the Holy Martyr Irenarchus    Tone 8
O soldier and martyr of the Prince of Peace,/ thou didst destroy the prince of darkness by thy brave resistance./ Thou dost ever preserve in peace, O Irenarchus, those who honour thy achievements with faith.