13 Baunah 1743
Readings for The Feast of the Pentecost
Vespers Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 51 : 12,14
| 12 | Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. |
| 14 | Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. |
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 John the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
John 7 : 37 - 44
| 37 | On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. |
| 38 | He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." |
| 39 | But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. |
| 40 | Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet." |
| 41 | Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Will the Christ come out of Galilee? |
| 42 | Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" |
| 43 | So there was a division among the people because of Him. |
| 44 | Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. |
Glory be to God forever.
Matins Psalm & Gospel
From the Psalms of our father David the prophet and the king, may his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 104 : 30 - 31
| 30 | You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth. |
| 31 | May the glory of the LORD endure forever; May the LORD rejoice in His works. |
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 John the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
John 14 : 26 - 15 : 4
| 26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. |
| 27 | Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. |
| 28 | You have heard Me say to you, "I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, "I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. |
| 29 | "And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. |
| 30 | I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. |
| 31 | But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here. |
| 1 | "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. |
| 2 | Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. |
| 3 | You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. |
| 4 | Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. |
Glory be to God forever.
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 12 : 1 - 31
| 1 | Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: |
| 2 | You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. |
| 3 | Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. |
| 4 | There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. |
| 5 | There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. |
| 6 | And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. |
| 7 | But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: |
| 8 | for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, |
| 9 | to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, |
| 10 | to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. |
| 11 | But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. |
| 12 | For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. |
| 13 | For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. |
| 14 | For in fact the body is not one member but many. |
| 15 | If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? |
| 16 | And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? |
| 17 | If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? |
| 18 | But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. |
| 19 | And if they were all one member, where would the body be? |
| 20 | But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. |
| 21 | And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." |
| 22 | No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. |
| 23 | And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, |
| 24 | but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, |
| 25 | that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. |
| 26 | And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. |
| 27 | Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. |
| 28 | And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. |
| 29 | Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? |
| 30 | Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? |
| 31 | But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all. Amen.
Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. John . May his blessings be upon us. Amen.
1 John 2 : 20 - 3 : 1
| 20 | But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. |
| 21 | I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. |
| 22 | Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. |
| 23 | Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. |
| 24 | Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. |
| 25 | And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life. |
| 26 | These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. |
| 27 | But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. |
| 28 | And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. |
| 29 | If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. |
| 1 | Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know 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.
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us. Amen.
Acts 2 : 1 - 21
| 1 | When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. |
| 2 | And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. |
| 3 | Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. |
| 4 | And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. |
| 5 | And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. |
| 6 | And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. |
| 7 | Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? |
| 8 | And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? |
| 9 | Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, |
| 10 | Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, |
| 11 | Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." |
| 12 | So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" |
| 13 | Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." |
| 14 | But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. |
| 15 | For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. |
| 16 | But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: |
| 17 | "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. |
| 18 | And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. |
| 19 | I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. |
| 20 | The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. |
| 21 | And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.' |
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God. Amen.
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 47 : 5,8
| 5 | God has gone up with a shout, The LORD with the sound of a trumpet. |
| 8 | God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. |
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 John the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
John 15 : 26 - 16 : 15
| 26 | "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. |
| 27 | And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. |
| 1 | "These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. |
| 2 | They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. |
| 3 | And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. |
| 4 | But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. "And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. |
| 5 | "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, "Where are You going?' |
| 6 | But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. |
| 7 | Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. |
| 8 | And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: |
| 9 | of sin, because they do not believe in Me; |
| 10 | of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; |
| 11 | of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. |
| 12 | "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. |
| 13 | However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. |
| 14 | He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. |
| 15 | All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. |
Glory be to God forever.
Not to be read in the Church during this time of the year.
Synaxarium
Day 13 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baunah.
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 Thirteenth Day of the Blessed Month of Baunah
Departure of St.John, Bishop of Jerusalem
On this day, of the year 419 A.D., the holy father St. John the second, bishop of Jerusalem, departed. He became a monk in the monastery of St. Hilarion, with the great father St.Epiphanius, bishop of Cyprus. His virtues and knowledge became well known, so they chose him a bishop for Jerusalem in the year 388 A.D., after the ordination of St. Epiphanius, bishop of Cyprus. After the ordination of St. John a bishop, the enemy of good led him astray through the love of money. He gathered much money, made silver vessels for his table, and neglected the poor and the needy. When St. Epiphanius heard that, he was troubled for what he knew about his friend St.John, from asceticism, righteousness, worshipping and being merciful. St. Epiphanius, because of his old friendship with St. John, came from Cyprus to Jerusalem. He made it appear that he had come to visit and worship the holy places, and visit the saints, but in fact he came to meet Abba John. When he arrived in Jerusalem, Abba John invited him for a visit. He prepared a table for St.Epiphanius and put these silver vessels on the table before him. When St.Epiphanius saw that, his heart was in pain, for he saw that his friend Abba John had in him no mercy for the poor and the needy. St. Epiphanius devised a plan to put his hands on these silver vessels. He went to one of the monasteries of Jerusalem, and sent to Abba John asking to borrow these vessels from him. He pretended that some of the elders of Cyprus came to visit him and he wished to offer them food using them. When Abba John sent the vessels to St. Epiphanius, he took them, sold them and gave the money as alms to the poor and needy.
A few days later, Abba John asked for the vessels, but St. Epiphanius asked him to wait a while on him. Abba John repeated his demand a second and a third time. When St. Epiphanius did not return them, Abba John seized him by the hem of his garment in the church of Resurrection and said to him, "I will not let you go until you give me back my silver vessels." St. Epiphanius prayed to the Lord Christ, and entreated Him for the sake of his old friend. Abba John became blind. He wept, and entreated St. Epiphanius to help him. St. Epiphanius prayed for his sake and one of his eyes was healed. He looked at him and said, "Behold, the Lord Christ has left blind one of your eyes as a reminder for you." He reminded him of his earlier benevolent life, and told him that he had sold his vessels and gave their price as alms. He also told Abba John that he only came to Jerusalem to substantiate what he had heard about his greed and love of the world. Abba John awoke from his foolishness and inadvertence. He walked diligently in the path of charity beyond what can be described. He gave as alms all that he owned of money, clothes, and the vessels. He forsake all things worldly to the point that they did not find even a "Dirham" with him when he departed. God granted him the gift of healing the sick and performing signs. After he finished in his episcopate thirty one years, he departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Commemoration of the Archangel Gabriel, the Announcer of Daniel the Prophet
On this day also, the church
in Egypt celebrates a feast for the honorable angel Gabriel. The angel
Gabriel announced Daniel with the return of the children of Israel from
captivity, the coming of the Lord Christ, the time of His coming, that
He would be killed, the destruction of Jerusalem, and that no other Messiah
would come after Him except the anti-Christ. This angel is the one who
announced to Zachariah the birth of John, and six months later, he came
with the glad tidings of the salvation of the world when he announced to
the Virgin Mary saying, "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and
bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and
will be called the Son of the Highest; ... And He will reign over the house
of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
(Luke 1:31-33)
Therefore, our church has arranged this feast to venerate this honorable
angel.
May his intercession be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Commemoration of the feast of Pentecost
This day also marks the commemoration of the coming
down of the Holy Spirit upon the holy disciples in the upper room of Zion.
They spoke with different tongues and it is called the feast of Pentecost.
May his blessings be with us and glory be to God forever. Amen.
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