Saturday 14 February 2026
7 Amshir 1742
Readings for Preparation Saturday
Vespers Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 17 : 1 - 2
| 1 | Hear a just cause, O LORD, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. |
| 2 | Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. |
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 Luke the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Luke 17 : 3 - 6
| 3 | Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. |
| 4 | And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, "I repent,' you shall forgive him." |
| 5 | And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." |
| 6 | So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. |
Glory be to God forever.
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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 : 49,52
| 49 | Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. |
| 52 | I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD, And have comforted myself. |
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 Mark the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Mark 13 : 33 - 37
| 33 | Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. |
| 34 | It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. |
| 35 | Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- |
| 36 | lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. |
| 37 | And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" |
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 Corinthians.
May his blessings be with us. Amen.
2 Corinthians 6 : 14 - 7 : 16
| 14 | Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? |
| 15 | And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? |
| 16 | And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." |
| 17 | Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." |
| 18 | "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." |
| 1 | Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. |
| 2 | Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. |
| 3 | I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. |
| 4 | Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. |
| 5 | For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. |
| 6 | Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, |
| 7 | and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. |
| 8 | For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. |
| 9 | Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. |
| 10 | For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. |
| 11 | For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. |
| 12 | Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. |
| 13 | Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. |
| 14 | For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. |
| 15 | And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. |
| 16 | Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all. Amen.
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Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. Peter . May his blessings be upon us. Amen.
1 Peter 1 : 1 - 12
| 1 | Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, |
| 2 | elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. |
| 3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, |
| 4 | to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, |
| 5 | who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. |
| 6 | In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, |
| 7 | that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, |
| 8 | whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, |
| 9 | receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. |
| 10 | Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, |
| 11 | searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. |
| 12 | To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into. |
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 : 1 - 14
| 1 | Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. |
| 2 | And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. |
| 3 | When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. |
| 4 | And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. |
| 5 | When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. |
| 6 | When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home. |
| 7 | And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. |
| 8 | On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. |
| 9 | Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. |
| 10 | And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. |
| 11 | When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, "So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."' |
| 12 | Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. |
| 13 | Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." |
| 14 | So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done." |
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 7 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Amshir.
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 Seventh Day of the Blessed Month of Amshir
Departure of St.Alexandros the Second,
the Forty-Third Pope of Alexandria
On this day of the year 715 A.D., the
Holy Father Abba Alexandros the Second, the Forty-Third Pope of Alexandria,
departed. He was from the City of Bana. He became a monk in the monastery
of Pateron (Barbarun) or the monastery of the fathers, which was also known
as El-Zugag monastery, which was west of Alexandria. Because of his righteousness
and his knowledge, he was chosen to the throne of St. Mark. During his
papacy, he suffered many hardships. He was contemporary to the Caliph El-Walid
Ibn Abd-Elmalek. When the latter took the caliphate, he appointed his brother
Abdallah a governor of Egypt in the year 698 A.D. He mistreated the Christians
of Egypt, and confiscated the monasteries of the wilderness of Shiheet
(Scetis). His evil nature went to the extreme. One day he entered
a monastery in Upper Egypt, and saw an icon of the Virgin Mary, the Mother
of God, and inquired about it. He was told that it was the Virgin Mary,
the Mother of Christ, the Savior of the world, he spat on the icon and
said, "If I live, I shall destroy all the Christians." He then blasphemed
against the Lord Christ also. At night, he saw a vision during his sleep
which disturbed him, and filled his heart with fear. He wrote to his brother
saying, "that he suffered the day before as he saw a Man sitting on a great
throne, and His face shone more than the sun, and around Him were thousands
carrying arms. We were bound behind Him. When I asked who He was, I was
told that He was Christ Jesus, the King of the Christians, Whom I mocked
and despised the day before. One of the armed men came and pierced my side
with a spear."
His brother was extremely sad when he
heard about the vision. The same night, that man, Abdallah, caught a severe
fever and died. Forty days later, his brother El-Walid died also. In 701
A.D. another Governor replaced Abdallah, and he followed his predecessor's
policy. He mistreated the Christians, and arrested St.Alexandros and tortured
him until the believers collected for him three thousand Dinari. God perished
this Governor soon after that. The following Governor, was even more wicked
than the one before him. He ordered the arrest of the Pope, and asked him
for three thousand Dinari. The Pope excused himself saying that part of
the money that he paid to his predecessor was collected from some of the
believers and the rest was borrowed. The Governor did not accept his words,
and finally the Pope asked him for a grace period. The Pope went to Upper
Egypt to collect the money from the believers. During his travel, an ascetic
monk asked two of his disciples to dig out a cave. While they were digging,
they found five copper jars filled with gold. They kept one of them and
gave the rest to the hermit, which he sent to the Pope. The two disciples
took the gold and left the desert. They went out into the world, married,
and owned cattle, slaves and maidenservants. The Governor was informed
about these two men, and he called them to him. He threatened them if they
did not tell him the truth about their sudden wealth. They told him about
the five jars of gold, and that four jars were given to the Pope. He rushed
to the patriarchate and plundered all the church vessels. He seized the
Pope, insulted him and put him in prison. He demanded from the Pope the
jars and the three thousand Dinari. He did not release him until the Pope
gave it all to him.
Shortly after that, this Governor died,
and another even more evil came after him. He ordered the Christians to
tattoo on their wrists, instead of the sign of the honorable Cross, the
name of the "beast" that St. John the Theologian had prophesied about in
all the land. He also commanded the Pope to tattoo the sign of the beast
on his wrist, but the Pope refused. As the Governor insisted, the Pope
asked him for three days. The Pope went to his cell and prayed to the Lord
Jesus Christ not to forsake him so that he would not fail in this test.
The Lord answered his prayer, so he fell with a brief sickness. He went
to the Governor and asked his permission to go to Alexandria. The Governor
refused, thinking that the Pope was pretending to be sick just to escape
the tattooing. Afterwards, the Lord inspired him that he would depart from
this world after four days. He told this to his disciples, and asked them
to prepare a carriage to carry his body and to bury him beside the holy
fathers. He departed in peace, and was carried for his burial as he requested.
During the papacy of Abba Alexandros, the Melkites had a Patriarch in Egypt
by the name of Anastasius, who was hated by his own people because he loved
the Orthodox Copts and was peaceful with them. He left his own congregation
and went to Pope Alexandros, and confessed the Orthodox faith before him.
The Pope treated the Patriarch well, honored him and wanted to hand him
the affairs of the patriarchate so he could go and worship in seclusion
in one of the monasteries. Father Anastasius refused and said to him, "If
I had desired the patriarchal seat, I could have remained there, for I
was a patriarch, but now I want to be your disciple." He finally accepted,
however, to become a bishop in one of the bishoprics, and he shepherded
the flock entrusted to him well. Abba Alexandros remained on the seat of
St. Mark for 24 years and 9 months.
May His prayers be with us all. Amen.
Departure of St.Theodorus (Theodor),
the Forty-Fifth Pope of Alexandria
On this day also, of the
year 728 A.D., St. Theodorus (Theodore), 45th Pope of Alexandria, departed.
He was a monk in a monastery near Mariut, which was known as the monastery
of Tanboura, under the guidance of a virtuous elder called Yoannis (John).
Abba Yoannis was inspired by the Holy Spirit that his disciple Tadros one
day would become a Pope. He told those who were in authority. Tadros struggled
in his worship, and was perfect in his humility and meekness. He was chosen
by the will of God to become the Pope of Alexandria. He shepherd the flock
of the Lord Christ well. He continued to read and to preach to his people,
especially on Sundays and on feast days. He completed 12 years on the seat
of St. Mark and departed in peace.
May His prayers be with us, and Glory be to our God forever. 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 95 : 1 - 2
| 1 | Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. |
| 2 | Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. |
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 Luke the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Luke 13 : 1 - 5
| 1 | There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. |
| 2 | And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? |
| 3 | I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. |
| 4 | Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? |
| 5 | I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." |
Glory be to God forever.
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