Saturday 13 March 2027
4 Baramhat 1743
Readings for Saturday of of the Great Lent
Matins Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 119 : 57 - 58
| 57 | You are my portion, O LORD; I have said that I would keep Your words. |
| 58 | I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. |
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, unto Him be the glory forever, Amen.
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Matthew 5 : 25 - 37
| 25 | Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. |
| 26 | Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. |
| 27 | "You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not commit adultery.' |
| 28 | But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. |
| 29 | If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. |
| 30 | And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. |
| 31 | "Furthermore it has been said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' |
| 32 | But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. |
| 33 | "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' |
| 34 | But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; |
| 35 | nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. |
| 36 | Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. |
| 37 | But let your "Yes' be "Yes,' and your "No,'"No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. |
Glory be to God forever.
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Divine Liturgy
Pauline Epistle
Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God. A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Romans.
May his blessings be with us. Amen.
Romans 12 : 1 - 21
| 1 | I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. |
| 2 | And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. |
| 3 | For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. |
| 4 | For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, |
| 5 | so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. |
| 6 | Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; |
| 7 | or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; |
| 8 | he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. |
| 9 | Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. |
| 10 | Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; |
| 11 | not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; |
| 12 | rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; |
| 13 | distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. |
| 14 | Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. |
| 15 | Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. |
| 16 | Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. |
| 17 | Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. |
| 18 | If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. |
| 19 | Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. |
| 20 | Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." |
| 21 | Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all. Amen.
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Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. James . May his blessings be upon us. Amen.
James 1 : 1 - 12
| 1 | James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. |
| 2 | My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, |
| 3 | knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. |
| 4 | But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. |
| 5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. |
| 6 | But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. |
| 7 | For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; |
| 8 | he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. |
| 9 | Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, |
| 10 | but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. |
| 11 | For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. |
| 12 | Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. |
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Amen.
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Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us. Amen.
Acts 21 : 27 - 39
| 27 | Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, |
| 28 | crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." |
| 29 | (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) |
| 30 | And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. |
| 31 | Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. |
| 32 | He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. |
| 33 | Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. |
| 34 | And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. |
| 35 | When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. |
| 36 | For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, "Away with him!" |
| 37 | Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, "May I speak to you?" He replied, "Can you speak Greek? |
| 38 | Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?" |
| 39 | But Paul said, "I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people." |
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God. Amen.
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Synaxarium
Day 4 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramhat.
May God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins are forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers. Amen.
The Fourth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Assembly of the Holy Council on the island
of Bani-Omar
On this day a Holy Council convened
on the island of Bani-Omar against those people called the Fourteenthians.
The Fourteenthians celebrated the feast of the Holy Easter with the Jews
on the fourteenth of the crescent of Neesan (April) which was on any day
of the week. The Bishop of the island excommunicated them, and sent to
Serapion Patriarch of Antioch, Democratus Bishop of Rome, Demetrius Patriarch
of Alexandria, and Symmachus Bishop of Jerusalem to inform them of the
heresy of these people. Each one of them sent an epistle indicating in
it that Easter was only to be celebrated on the Sunday that follows the
feast of the Jews and ordered to excommunicate everyone that contradict
and disobey that. A council of eighteen bishops convened and these holy
epistles were read to them. They brought those heretics and read before
them these epistles, some of them returned from their wrong opinion and
the others insisted on their error. They prevented and excommunicated them
from the Holy Church. Also, they decided to celebrate Easter as the order
of the Holy Apostles saying: "Any one that celebrate Easter on any other
day than Sunday, had shared the Jews in their feasts and separated from
the Christians."
The dispute on the feast of the Christian
Passover (Easter) started between Asia Minor and Rome. Polycarp, Bishop
of Smyrna, publicly announced the need of keeping the 14th of Neesan to
commemorate the Crucifixion and the 16th of Neesan to commemorate the Resurrection
(These were the original dates that the Crucifixion and Resurrection fall
on regardless what day of the week they fell on) and the Christians of
Mesopotamia, Cilicia, and Syria followed his opinion. Victor, Bishop of
Rome, publicly announced the importance of putting into consideration that
the Crucifixion be on a Friday and the Resurrection be on a Sunday, (since
Friday is the day of the Crucifixion and Sunday is the day of the Resurrection).
The Christians of Egypt, Greece, Pontus and Arabia agreed with him in that.
The dispute between the two bishops intensified, nevertheless their friendship
remained unchanged. Alexandria intervened in this subject, and its Patriarch
Anba Demetrius the vine dresser (El-Karram), tried to mediate between these
two opinions (By making the commemoration of the Crucifixion on Friday
and the Resurrection on Sunday), and to be linked to the day 14th of Neesan
(The Jewish Passover).
Pope Demetrius gathered the Alexandrian
astronomers, among them was Ptolemy the astronomer which was from Farma,
and with their help the Patriarch established the reckoning of the Epacts,
which is known by the reckoning of El-Karmah. The reckoning of the Epacts
was able to determine the day of the Jewish Passover (The slaughter of
the Lamb) in any Egyptian Coptic year, and fix the Sunday after to be the
Feast of Resurrection. This way he fulfilled what the Apostles commend
that the Jewish Passover and the christian one not to be on the same day.
The first Universal council that convened in Nicea, 325 A.D. approved that
view and asked the Alexandrian Pope to issue a message on the feast and
its date every year.
May the Lord Guard us against the enticement of Satan, with the blessing
of the prayers of the saints. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Haboulyous (Hanulius)
the Prince
On this day also St. Haboulyous (Hanulius)
the prince of the city of Perga in Pamphylia was martyred. The love of
this prince for Christ made him publicly confess his faith. Barnabakhas
the Governor arrested him at Diocletian's command. He confessed the Lord
Christ before him giving the Lord the honor with glorious hymns then he
cursed the idols. The Prince became raged and ordered him to be crucified.
The Saint praised Christ that made him worthy to be martyred in His Name.
Then he delivered his soul in the hand of the Lord and received the crown
of martyrdom.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God for ever. Amen.
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Divine Liturgy Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 5 : 1 - 2
| 1 | Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my meditation. |
| 2 | Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray. |
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, unto Him be the glory forever, Amen.
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Matthew 5 : 38 - 48
| 38 | "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' |
| 39 | But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. |
| 40 | If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. |
| 41 | And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. |
| 42 | Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. |
| 43 | "You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' |
| 44 | But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, |
| 45 | that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. |
| 46 | For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? |
| 47 | And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? |
| 48 | Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. |
Glory be to God forever.
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