Saturday 14 March 2026
5 Baramhat 1742
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 142 : 5,7
| 5 | I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. |
| 7 | Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me." |
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 16 : 19 - 31
| 19 | "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. |
| 20 | But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, |
| 21 | desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. |
| 22 | So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. |
| 23 | And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. |
| 24 | "Then he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' |
| 25 | But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. |
| 26 | And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' |
| 27 | "Then he said, "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, |
| 28 | for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' |
| 29 | Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' |
| 30 | And he said, "No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' |
| 31 | But he said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead."' |
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 Philippians.
May his blessings be with us. Amen.
Philippians 4 : 4 - 9
| 4 | Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! |
| 5 | Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. |
| 6 | Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; |
| 7 | and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. |
| 8 | Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. |
| 9 | The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. |
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 3:13-18 James 4:1-6
| 13 | Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. |
| 14 | But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. |
| 15 | This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. |
| 16 | For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. |
| 17 | But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. |
| 18 | Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. |
| 1 | Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? |
| 2 | You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. |
| 3 | You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. |
| 4 | Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. |
| 5 | Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? |
| 6 | But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." |
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 24:24-27 Acts 25:1-12
| 24 | And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. |
| 25 | Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." |
| 26 | Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. |
| 27 | But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound. |
| 1 | Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. |
| 2 | Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, |
| 3 | asking a favor against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem--while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. |
| 4 | But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. |
| 5 | "Therefore," he said, "let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him." |
| 6 | And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. |
| 7 | When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, |
| 8 | while he answered for himself, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all." |
| 9 | But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, "Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?" |
| 10 | So Paul said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. |
| 11 | For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar." |
| 12 | Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, "You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!" |
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 61 : 1,5
| 1 | Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. |
| 5 | For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name. |
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 21 : 33 - 46
| 33 | "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. |
| 34 | Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. |
| 35 | And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. |
| 36 | Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. |
| 37 | Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, "They will respect my son.' |
| 38 | But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, "This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' |
| 39 | So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. |
| 40 | "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" |
| 41 | They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." |
| 42 | Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? |
| 43 | "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. |
| 44 | And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." |
| 45 | Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. |
| 46 | But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. |
Glory be to God forever.
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