Daily Reading:

Wednesday

LITURGY

1 Corinthians 7:12-24

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

Matthew 14:35-15:11

And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

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HOLY HIEROMARTYR PANCRATIUS, BISHOP OF TAUROMINA IN SICILY

ST URITH OF CHITTLEHAMPTON, VIRGIN MARTYR

Troparion of St Pancratius Tone 3

O follower of the chief Apostle,/ thou wast clothed with divine power from on high./ Thy sacred vestments were dyed with the streams of thy blood./ O Father Pancratius/ pray to Christ our God that He will save our souls.

Troparion of St Urith Tone 5

O holy Virgin Martyr Urith/ who didst suffer martyrdom in a Devon village/ and didst patiently endure the jealousy of thy pagan stepmother;/ pray for the faithful who are today suffering persecution,/ that evil may be destroyed and that God may be glorified,/ that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O Virgin Urith.

Kontakion of St Pancratius Tone 4
Thou wast a martyr for Christ, O Pancratius,/ and a bright star for the people of Tauromena./ Intercede for those who venerate thee, for thou ever standest in His Presence.