Daily Reading:

28th Sunday after Pentecost

MATINS (VI)

Luke 24:36-53

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

For Sunday of the Holy Forefathers

LITURGY

Colossians 3:4-11

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Luke 14:16-24

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 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. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

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HIEROMARTYR ELEUTHERIUS, BISHOP OF ILLYRICUM, AND HIS MOTHER THE HOLY MARTYR ANTHIA

ST STEPHEN THE CONFESSOR, ARCHBISHOP OF SOUROZH

Troparion of Hieromartyr Eleutherius Tone 5
Adorned with the robe of priest/ and stained with streams of blood,/ O wise and blessed Eleutherius,/ thou didst hasten to Christ thy Master,/ O overthrower of Satan./ Unceasingly pray for those who faithfully honour thy contest.


Troparion of St Stephen of Sourozh Tone 4
Solitary dweller with the Bodiless Hosts,/ thou didst take the Cross as thy weapon and stand firm against the iconoclasts and Macedonians;/ they would not worship the icon of Christ our God,/ but thou didst cut out all wicked heresies./ Then as one who had received the martyr's crown/ thou didst deliver thy city, Sourozh, from all enemies./ And now we implore you, O Stephen, that we may be delivered from temptations and eternal torments.


Kontakion of Hieromartyr Eleutherius Tone 2
We all praise and entreat thee, Hieromartyr Eleutherius,/ adornment of priests, encouragement of martyrs:/ free from danger those who lovingly celebrate thy memory;/ and pray unceasingly for us all.


Kontakion of St Stephen of Sourozh Tone 3
Strengthened by the power of the Most High God,/ thou didst overcome the iconoclasts of the royal house./ Today the glory of thy relics belong to Sourozh and to us faithful,/ and the Angelic Orders bear them triumphantly./ With songs and hymns they glorify thee, O great Saint Stephen.

11-17

SUNDAY OF THE HOLY FOREFATHERS

Troparion Tone 2
Thou didst justify the Forefathers by faith,/ when of old through them Thou didst betroth Thyself to the Church of the nations./ The Saints rejoice in the glorious fruit of their seed,/ even in her who bore Thee seedlessly./ By their prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.

Kontakion Tone 2
An image made with hands you would not worship, O thrice blessed three;/ but protected by the ineffable Essence you were glorified in your ordeal by fire./ From the midst of the devouring flames you called upon God, crying:/ Hasten, O compassionate One,/ in Thy mercy come to our aid,/ for if Thou willest Thou canst.