Daily Reading

Wednesday

LITURGY

Romans 15:7-16

     7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to
thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, 16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 12:38-45

     38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

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HOLY MARTYRS ALEXANDER AND ANTONINA
ST JOHN, METROPOLITAN OF TOBOLSK

Troparion of Ss Alexander and Antonina    Tone 1

Let us praise the two holy Martyrs,/ renowned Alexander and noble Antonina;/ in their holy contests they shone with love, faith and healing/ for those who cry together:/ Glory to Him Who has strengthened you; glory to Him Who has crowned you;/ glory to Him Who through you works healings for all.

Troparion of St John of Tobolsk    Tone 8

Thou wast a guide of virtue, a comforter of orphans and an unmercenary physician of the sick;/ a help of the suffering and an intercessor to the Lord;/ beseech Him to save our souls.

Kontakion of Ss Alexander and Antonina    Tone 2

Let us bless godly Alexander and Antonina,/ spiritual kinsmen in Christ and of one mind in holiness;/ receiving their struggles and wounds as fragrant myrrh/ He has glorified them.

Kontakion of St John of Tobolsk    Tone 2

To those in the darkness of ignorance thou wast a light,/ a comforter of widows and orphans, and a physician to the weak,/ a guide to the young and the light of joy to parents./ Pray to Christ our God to grant Faith in our land/ and great mercy to His people.