Meat-fare Sunday

MATINS (III)

Mark 16:9-20

     9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

LITURGY

1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2

     8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

Matthew 25:31-46

     31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

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ST PHOTIOS THE GREAT, PATRIARCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE

SS BARSANOUPHIOS AND JOHN OF GAZA

ST BOUCOLOS, BISHOP OF SMYRNA

Ss MEL AND MUN, BISHOPS

Troparion of the Feast    Tone 1

Rejoice, thou who art full of grace,/ Mother of God and Virgin,/ for from thee arose the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,/ to give light to those in darkness./ Rejoice thou also, righteous Elder, who didst take in thine arms the Redeemer of our souls,/ Who also gives us the grace of resurrection.

Troparion of St Photios the Great    Tone 5

As a radiant beacon of wisdom hidden in God,/ and a defender of Orthodoxy revealed from on high,/ O great Photios, adornment of Patriarchs,/ thou dost refute the innovations of boastful heresy,/ O light of the holy Church,/ preserve her from all error,/ O luminary of the East.

Troparion of Ss Barsanouphios and John    Tone 1

Mystical tongues of the Holy Spirit, rational harps of grace,/ sounding forth sweet hymns of discernment/ which soothe and rejoice men's souls,/ you moved them to cast off the yoke of passion and to trample on Satan's head./ Wherefore God-like Barsanouphios and wise John,/ deliver those who sing to you:/ Glory to Him Who has given you grace; glory to Him Who has blessed you;/ glory to Him Who has saved many through your holy words of counsel.

Troparion of St Boucolos    Tone 4

Thou didst shine with the rays of virtue/ received from him who leaned on the Master's breast./ Resplendent, God-inspired Hierarch,/ thou didst lead thy flock to the pastures of Truth./ O Father Boucolos, entreat Christ our God for those who honour thee.

Troparion of Ss Mel and Mun    Tone 5

Accompanying Ireland's Enlightener, your illustrious uncle,/ on his missionary journeyings,/ O blessed Hierarchs Mel and Mun,/ and being blessed with the gift of oratory,/ you inspired many to reject the darkness of paganism and to believe in Christ./ Pray for us, O holy ones,/ that the darkness of our sins may be blotted out by the mercy of our God.

Kontakion of the Feast    Tone 1

Thou Who didst sanctify the Virgin's womb by Thy birth/ and bless Symeon's hands as was fitting/ hast now come to us and saved us, O Christ our God./ But grant peace in the midst of wars to Thy community,/ and strengthen the Church which Thou hast loved,/ O only Lover of mankind.

Kontakion of St Photios the Great    Tone 8

With garlands of chant let us crown the Church's far-shining star,/ the God-inspired guide of the Orthodox, the divinely sounded harp of the Spirit and steadfast adversary of heresy/ and let us cry to him: Rejoice, O most venerable Photios.

Kontakion of Ss Barsanouphios and John of Gaza    Tone 3

All the hidden secrets of men and of God's dispensation/ were revealed in the mirrors of your pure hearts./ Resplendent were the bright beams of grace that shone forth from you/ and dispelled the shadows of sin from men's souls./ Barsanouphios and John,/ lights of discernment,/ entreat the Lord for us all.

Kontakion of St Boucolos    Tone 2

He who was beloved of Christ/ saw the purity of thy life and made thee a shepherd of the Church/ and a radiant lamp of godliness;/ holy Father Boucolos,/ thou didst emulate his virtues.

Kontakion of Ss Mel and Mun    Tone 2

As streams of pure doctrine flowed from your blessed lips,/ O righteous Mel and Mun,/ pray to Christ our God that the streams of His compassion and forgiveness/ will be poured out on us worthless sinners.