Daily Reading

Monday

LITURGY

Romans 16:17-24

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. 23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Matthew 13:10-23

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

+ + + 

ST ATHANASIOS, FOUNDER OF THE GREAT LAVRA OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN ATHOS
RECOVERY OF THE RELICS OF ST SERGEI OF RADONEZH
SS FRAGAN AND GWEN

Troparion of St Athanasios    Tone 3

The ranks of Angels were greatly astonished/ at thy life in the flesh, O glorious Saint./ Thou didst rout the ranks of demons,/ wherefore Christ rewarded thee richly,/ O our father Athanasios./ Intercede with Him that our souls may be saved.

Troparion of St Sergei    Tone 8

From thy youth thou didst love Christ, O Saint, and desire to leave behind thee the tumult of the world./ Thou didst bravely settle in the wilderness and thy humility bore thee children of obedience./ As a dwelling of the Trinity thou didst enlighten with miracles/ all who came to thee with faith and thou didst heal them all./ Holy Father Sergei, pray to Christ our God that He will save our souls.

Troparion of Ss Fragan and Gwen    Tone 4

O noble exiles Fragan and Gwen/ who fled to Brittany in troubled times:/ you established churches to God's praise and glory;/ your children brought joy and gladness to the Breton people./ We praise you, glorious Saints.

Kontakion of St Athanasios    Tone 2

Thou didst take Christ's yoke and bear thy cross on thy shoulders,/ O holy Father Athanasios./ Thou didst participate in His sufferings and share His glory,/ and dost rejoice in unending gladness.

Kontakion of St Sergei    Tone 8

Thou didst rise from the earth and shine like the sun;/ thine incorrupt relics healed many souls and gladdened thy flock./ As thou dost now stand before the Trinity pray for them and for all Orthodox Christians,/ that they may triumph over their enemies and cry to thee: Rejoice, holy Sergei.