Daily Reading:

Friday

LITURGY

2 Corinthians 11:5-21

     For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

Mark 4:1-9

     And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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SYNAXIS OF THE MOTHER OF GOD OF PRUSA
HOLY MARTYR AGATHONICOS AND HIS COMPANIONS

Troparion of the Feast    Tone 1

In giving birth thou didst preserve thy virginity;/ in falling asleep thou didst not forsake the world, O Theotokos./ Thou wast translated to life, O Mother of Life,/ and by your prayers you deliver our souls from death.

Troparion of the Mother of God    Tone 1

By thine icon of Prusa thou art protectress of the land of Greece/ and a worker of wondrous signs, O Immaculate Virgin Mary./ For thou dost grant sight to the blind, thou dost cast out demons and strengthen paralytics, O good one./ And thou dost save from dangers all who hasten to thee./ Glory to thy seedless childbirth; glory to Him Who has made thee wonderful;/ glory to Him Who works such wonders through thee.

Troparion of St Agathonicos    Tone 3

Thou hast raised up a victorious trophy over error, O Agathonicus/ and wast found worthy of incorruptible riches./ Thou didst emulate the death of the Master/ and become a partaker of immortal life./ O glorious Martyr, entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

Kontakion of the Feast    Tone 2

Neither the tomb nor death could hold the Theotokos,/ who is sleepless in her intercessions and an unchanging hope in her mediations./ For as the Mother of Life she was transferred to life/ by Him Who dwelt in her ever-virgin womb.

Kontakion of the Mother of God    Tone 3
We lovingly celebrate the joyful feast of thine icon,/ O Virgin Mother of God,/ for we have thee as our protection/ and have found thee to be our helper in all our distress./ Wherefore with faith we praise thy glorious deeds, O Mother of the God of all.

Kontakion of St Agathonicos    Tone 1
O glorious Agathonicos, thou namesake of goodness,/ thou art a godly martyr/ who didst turn from the shrines of evil men,/ not fearing their tortures./ Wherefore thou didst inherit blessings and worthily receive the crown of incorruption/ with thy fellow martyrs.