Daily Reading:

15th Sunday after Pentecost

MATINS (IV)

Luke 24:1-12

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

LITURGY

2 Corinthians 4:6-15

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Matthew 22:35-46

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

For Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross

LITURGY

Galatians 6:11-18

Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

John 3:13-17

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

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FOREFEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

HOLY MARTYR SOZON THE SHEPHERD

ST JOHN, ARCHBISHOP OF NOVGOROD

Troparion of the Forefeast Tone 4

From the root of Jesse and from David's loins/ the divine maiden Mary is born for us today,/ and all things are filled with God and renewed./ Rejoice together, heaven and earth!/ Praise her, you countries of the nations!/ Joachim rejoices and Anna keeps festival, crying:/ The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God and the nurse of our life.

Troparion of St Sozon Tone 1

O Martyr Sozon, thou didst pledge thy life to God,/ endure the contest and become a sharer in Christ's Passion./ Save from temptation those who cry to thee:/ Glory to Him Who strengthened thee;/ Glory to Him Who crowned thee;/ glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

Troparion of St John Tone 8

Great Novgorod rejoices over thy relics today, O holy Hierarch John./ For they shine as the sun and grant healing to all who venerate thy shrine with faith./ Entreat Christ our God to deliver this city from captivity, from civil war and fire,/ O wise wonderworker, heavenly man and earthly angel,/ that we may hymn thee and glorify our God.

Kontakion of the Forefeast Tone 3

Today the bridal chamber of the heavenly Bridegroom,/ Mary the Virgin Mother of God,/ by God's will is born of a barren woman,/ and the chariot of the Word of God/ is beautifully adorned./ She is the gate and the Mother of life:/ for this God chose her.

Kontakion of St Sozon Tone 2

Together let us praise with loud voices/ Sozon the Athlete of piety,/ vessel of grace and bestower of healings./ He prays to God for us all.

Kontakion of St John Tone 4

Today the Church rejoices remembering holy Hierarch John/ who shines forth in virtue from Novgorod the Great./ Now as his incorrupt body pours forth miracles/ we cry to him: O most blessed one,/ pray to Christ our God for us all.