Daily Reading

Monday

LITURGY

Acts 10:1-16

     1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

John 6:56-69

     56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

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ST THEODOSIUS ABBOT OF THE KIEVAN CAVES, FOUNDER OF RUSSIAN MONASTICISM
HOLY MARTYRS TIMOTHY THE READER AND HIS WIFE MAURA

Troparion of St Theodosius    Tone 8

From thy youth on wings of virtue thou didst speed on thy monastic way and attain to thy desire./ Thou didst settle in a cave and live radiantly fasting, persevering in prayer like the Bodiless Ones./ Thou didst illumine Russia as a shining lamp./ O Father Theodosius, pray to Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion of Ss Timothy and Maura    Tone 4

Let us the faithful honour Timothy/ with Maura his faithful fellow-athlete, the bride of Christ,/ and let us praise their bold endurance;/ for being crucified they lovingly followed Him Who was slain/ and Who has nailed all our sins to the Cross.

Kontakion of St Theodosius    Tone 3

Today we venerate the star of Russia, blessed Theodosius,/ who has shone from the east to the west;/ he has enriched his whole land/ with miracles and blessings/ and has established there the monastic life.

Kontakion of Ss Timothy and Maura    Tone 4

Having endured many wounds and receiving crowns from God,/ O great Timothy and glorious Maura,/ pray to God for us who celebrate your memory,/ that He may grant peace to His flock and people;/ for He is the strength of the faithful.