Daily Reading:

26th 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

Ephesians 5:9-19

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Luke 12:16-21

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

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ST AMPHILOCHIUS, BISHOP OF ICONIUM, FRIEND OF ST BASIL THE GREAT

ST GREGORY, BISHOP OF AGRIGENTUM

ST METROPHAN, BISHOP OF VORONEZH

ST POLIN

Troparion of the Mother of God    Tone 4

Today is the prelude of God's goodwill/ and the prophecy of the salvation of men./ The Virgin appears openly in the temple of God/ and foretells Christ to all./ So let us cry to her with loud voices:/ Rejoice, thou who art the fulfillment/ of the Creator's providence.

Troparion of St Amphilochius    Tone 4

In thy purity/ thou wast filled with the light of wisdom/ and didst illumine the world with Orthodox doctrine;/ for thou didst preach the consubstantial nature of the Trinity and refute heresy./ Wherefore Christ has glorified thee, O Hierarch Amphilochius.

Troparion of St Gregory of Agrigentum    Tone 1

O Gregory, thou wast diligent in thy Master's commandments/ even from thy swaddling bands./ Thou wast filled with heavenly gifts/ and dost lead to verdant pastures those who cry to thee:/ Glory to Him Who has strengthened thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee;/ glory to Him Who through thee grants healings to all.

Troparion of St Metrophan    Tone 4

O humble Father Metrophan, thou wast a rule of faith/ and an icon of meekness in word and life for thy flock./ In sanctity thou didst shine more brilliantly than the sun/ and wast crowned with incorruption and glory./ Pray to Christ our God to preserve thy city and all Orthodox Christians.

Troparion of St Polin    Tone 8

Thou wast a worthy shepherd of thy flock, O Father Polin,/ bringing many to Christ by thy preaching./ As from Whitland's monastery the pure light of thy piety shone forth,/ pray that we too may be true lights in a world of darkness/ and may thereby attain eternal salvation.

Kontakion of the Feast    Tone 4

The most pure Temple of the Saviour,/ the most precious bridal chamber and Virgin,/ the sacred treasury of the glories of God,/ today enters into the house of the Lord,/ bringing with her the grace that is the Divine Spirit./ And the Angels of God sing of her:/ This is the heavenly tabernacle.

Kontakion of St Amphilochius    Tone 2

Holy thunder, spiritual trumpet/ nurse of the faithful and axe of heresy,/ Amphilochius servant of the Trinity,/ as thou dost stand with the Angels in God's presence/ pray unceasingly for us all.

Kontakion of St Gregory of Agrigentum    Tone 4

With the brilliant rays of the Holy Spirit/ the Church enlightens the way of those who celebrate thy joyful repose,/ O righteous, blessed Father Gregory.

Kontakion of St Metrophan    Tone 8

Thou didst subject thy body to thy spirit by fasting and didst make thy soul equal to the Angels./ The episcopacy crowned thy priesthood and now thou dost stand before the Master of all./ Blessed Metrophan, pray to Him to grant us peace and to save our souls.