Thursday 14 March 2024
5 Baramhat 1740
Readings for Thursday of of the Great Lent
Prophecy
From the Book of Isaiah , may his holy blessings be with us all. Amen
Isaiah 2 : 11 - 19
| 11 | The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. |
| 12 | For the day of the LORD of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up--And it shall be brought low-- |
| 13 | Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, And upon all the oaks of Bashan; |
| 14 | Upon all the high mountains, And upon all the hills that are lifted up; |
| 15 | Upon every high tower, And upon every fortified wall; |
| 16 | Upon all the ships of Tarshish, And upon all the beautiful sloops. |
| 17 | The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that day, |
| 18 | But the idols He shall utterly abolish. |
| 19 | They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily. |
Glory be to the Holy Trinity, our God, forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.
From the Book of Zechariah , may his holy blessings be with us all. Amen
Zechariah 8 : 18 - 23
| 18 | Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, |
| 19 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts: "The fast of the fourth month, The fast of the fifth, The fast of the seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.' |
| 20 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; |
| 21 | The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, "Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD, And seek the LORD of hosts. I myself will go also." |
| 22 | Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the LORD.' |
| 23 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts: "In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.' |
Glory be to the Holy Trinity, our God, forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.
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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 24 : 1 - 2
| 1 | The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. |
| 2 | For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. |
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 8 : 23 - 25
| 23 | But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. |
| 24 | And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. |
| 25 | But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!" |
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.
1 Corinthians 4 : 16 - 5 : 9
| 16 | Therefore I urge you, imitate me. |
| 17 | For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. |
| 18 | Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. |
| 19 | But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. |
| 20 | For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. |
| 21 | What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? |
| 1 | It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife! |
| 2 | And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. |
| 3 | For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. |
| 4 | In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, |
| 5 | deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. |
| 6 | Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? |
| 7 | Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. |
| 8 | Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. |
| 9 | I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all. Amen.
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Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. John . May his blessings be upon us. Amen.
1 John 1 : 8 - 2 : 11
| 8 | If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. |
| 9 | If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. |
| 10 | If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. |
| 1 | My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. |
| 2 | And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. |
| 3 | Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. |
| 4 | He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. |
| 5 | But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. |
| 6 | He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. |
| 7 | Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. |
| 8 | Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. |
| 9 | He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. |
| 10 | He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. |
| 11 | But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. |
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 8 : 3 - 13
| 3 | As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. |
| 4 | Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. |
| 5 | Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. |
| 6 | And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. |
| 7 | For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. |
| 8 | And there was great joy in that city. |
| 9 | But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, |
| 10 | to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." |
| 11 | And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. |
| 12 | But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. |
| 13 | Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were 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 5 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 Fifth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Departure of Anba Serapamon, Archpriest
of Abba Yehnis (John) monastery
On this day the ascetic holy father
Anba Serapamon the Archpriest of Abu-Yehnis (John) monastery departed.
This Saint became a monk in his youth at the monastery of the saint Abu-Yehnis.
He stayed there for thirty two years in worshipping God and serving the
elders. Then he was promoted to be the archpriest (Hegomen) of the monastery
and was delegated to manage it. He added to his works of righteousness
and ascetism, and he spent his day fasting from the day of his monkshood
until the day of his departure. After spending twenty years in running
the monastery, he shut himself up in a church and no one saw him for a
period of ten years. During this period he only ate on Saturday and Sunday.
When the time of his departure drew near, the angel of the Lord appeared
to him in a vision and gave him a cross of fire saying: "Take this cross
in your hand". The saint replied: " How can I hold fire in my hands." The
angel said: "Do not be afraid for Christ have not given the fire dominion
over you." The Saint extended his hand and took the cross from the angel.
Then the angel told him: "Be strong, partake of the Holy Mysteries and
after three days I shall come and take you". When he woke up from his sleep,
he told the elders about his vision. They wept, bid him farewell, and asked
him to remember them. He asked them to remember him in their prayers. He
departed on the third day and the elders were around him.
May His prayers be with us. Amen.
Commemoration of the Martyrdom of St.Eudexia
(Eutychia)
On this day also is the
commemoration of St. Eudexia which is interpreted "happiness". This Saint
was Samaritan by race and religion, from the city of Baalbek. The name
of her father was Younan and the name of her mother was Hakeemah. She lived
her early life in immorality. With the beauty of her face and physical
appearance, she stumbled many and made them to fall into sin acquiring
thereby great wealth. A saintly monk from Jerusalem called Germanus heard
about her. He went to her, preached her with solemn and frightful words,
mentioning to her hell, worms, darkness, and the fearful punishments which
are therein. She asked him: "Does the body rise after death, and after
it becomes dust to be judged?" He replied "Yes". She asked him: "What are
the proofs on what you said, since the Torah that God gave to Moses the
prophet and my fathers did not mention this?" He explained to her with
biblical and logical proofs until she was convinced. She asked him: "If
I go back on my evil works would God accept me?" He replied: "If you believed
that the Lord Christ had come to the world, took away our sins by His Crucifixion,
repented now a sincere repentance, and been baptized, He will accept you,
and will not mention any of what you have done, but you will be as if you
just have been borne."
Her heart opened to the
faith and asked him to help her to fulfil that. He took her to the bishop
of Baalbek and she confessed before him the Holy Trinity, the incarnation
of the Word and His Crucifixion. While the Bishop was praying over the
water to baptize her, the Lord opened her mind, she saw an angel attracting
her to the water and the other angels were rejoicing for her. Then she
saw an ugly terrifying looking person trying to drag her away from them
and he was in wrath with her. What she saw increased her desire for repentance
and baptism. After her baptism, she gave all what she gained as fruit of
her sin to the poor and needy. She entered a convent of nuns, she put on
the garb of monasticism, and fought a good and perfect fight. Satan entered
into some of her friends who informed the Governor about her. The Governor
commanded his men to bring her. When she came into his house she found
great lamentation and weeping for the governor's son had just died. She
came to where the son was laid, prayed entreating the Lord Christ for his
sake and He raised him up from death. The Prince believed in Christ through
her. Another prince called Diogenes heard about her. He brought her before
him, and she saw a soldier standing before him, who was blind in one eye,
she prayed and made the sign of the cross over the eye, and it was opened.
The prince released her instantly. Shortly after this, another Prince called
Bekeyfius was appointed, and he heard about her and had her brought to
him. She asked the Lord Christ to give her a portion with the martyrs.
The Prince commanded to cut off her head, and she received the crown of
martyrdom.
May her intercession be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Peter the Priest
On this day also the honorable
presbyter St. Peter departed. This father spent his life fasting, he shut
himself in and was disciplined in praying days and nights. The Lord granted
him the gift of knowing the future, healing the sick through the water
and oil after praying over them. He was ordained a priest, after much reluctance,
and he was forced to obey the order. He offered the incense and celebrated
the Liturgy daily. The people of the city rejoiced saying: "May the Lord
grant us the forgiveness of our sins with his prayers and supplications."
He had a wonderful power of reconciling persons at variance. During his
prayer one night, St.Peter the apostle appeared to him and told him: "Hail
to you for you have kept the priesthood without blemish. Hail to you for
your prayers and masses had ascended as sweet aroma." When the Saint saw
him, he was terrified. St Peter told him: "I am the apostle Peter, do not
be afraid for the Lord has sent me to comfort you and to inform you that
you are leaving this toilsome world to the Eternal kingdom, so rejoice
and be comforted." The priest rejoiced for that and said "Remember me O
My Father." When he said that he departed in happiness, glory and honor.
May the Lord have mercy on us with his prayers and blessings 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 118 : 13,18
| 13 | You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the LORD helped me. |
| 18 | The LORD has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death. |
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 4 : 21 - 29
| 21 | Also He said to them, "Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? |
| 22 | For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. |
| 23 | If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." |
| 24 | Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. |
| 25 | For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." |
| 26 | And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, |
| 27 | and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. |
| 28 | For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. |
| 29 | But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." |
Glory be to God forever.
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