Daily Reading:

Wednesday

LITURGY

Romans 4:13-25

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Matthew 7:21-23

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

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SS MARTHA AND MARY, SISTERS OF ST LAZARUS THE FRIEND OF CHRIST

ST METROPHANES, FIRST PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE

ST PETROC AND HIS COMPANIONS CROIDAN, MEDAN AND DEGAN

Troparion of Martha and Mary Tone 3

You fervently believed in Christ and His marvelous acts,/ O Martha and Mary, sisters of Lazarus./ You were adorned with radiant virtues/ and were found worthy to be numbered with the Saints;/ together with holy Lazarus pray to God for us.

Troparion of St Metrophanes Tone 1

O good shepherd, thou didst proclaim the great mystery of the Trinity/ and manifest Christ's dispensation to all./ Thou didst put to flight the spiritual wolves who menaced your rational flock/ and didst save the lambs of Christ who cry:/ Glory to Him Who has strengthened thee; glory to Him who has exalted thee;/ glory to Him Who through thee has strengthened the Orthodox Faith.

Troparion of St Petroc and his Companions Tone 2

O Petroc, Master Builder of the Faith in the West,/ who didst prefer the heavenly warfare to thy kingly heritage and military prowess:/ with thy companions thou didst travel through the West Country establishing churches/ and didst include the animals in thy loving care./ In thy monastic zeal thou didst recite the psalms in rivers:/ through thy prayer may the flow of Christian Faith/ ever increase in our land.

Kontakion of St Metrophanes Tone 2

Thou didst proclaim the Faith of Christ by thy words,/ and by thy life thou didst increase Christ's flock to a multitude./ Now thou dost rejoice with the Angels,/ and art ceaselessly praying for us, O Metrophanes.