Baramhat 13, 1740 AM <-> March 22 2024 <->The Readings for today

Friday 22 March 2024
13 Baramhat 1740
Readings for Friday of of the Great Lent

Prophecy

From the Book of Deuteronomy of Moses, may his holy blessings be with us all. Amen

Deuteronomy 8 : 1 - 20

¹	"Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers.

²	And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

³	So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.

⁴	Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.

⁵	You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.

⁶	"Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.

⁷	For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills;

⁸	a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;

⁹	a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper.

¹⁰	When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.

¹¹	"Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,

¹²	lest--when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them;

¹³	and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied;

¹⁴	when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

¹⁵	who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock;

¹⁶	who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end--

¹⁷	then you say in your heart, "My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'

¹⁸	"And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

¹⁹	Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.

²⁰	As the nations which the LORD destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God.

Deuteronomy 9 : 1 - 4

¹	"Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven,

²	a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, "Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?'

³	Therefore understand today that the LORD your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the LORD has said to you.

⁴	"Do not think in your heart, after the LORD your God has cast them out before you, saying, "Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land'; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out from before you.

Glory be to the Holy Trinity, our God, forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

From the Book of 1 Samuel , may his holy blessings be with us all. Amen

1 Samuel 17 : 16 - 54

¹⁶	And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening.

¹⁷	Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp.

¹⁸	And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them."

¹⁹	Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.

²⁰	So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle.

²¹	For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army.

²²	And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers.

²³	Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them.

²⁴	And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.

²⁵	So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel."

²⁶	Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

²⁷	And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him."

²⁸

Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."

²⁹	And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"

³⁰	Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.

³¹	Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him.

³²	Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

³³	And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."

³⁴	But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,

³⁵	I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.

³⁶	Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."

³⁷	Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"

³⁸	So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.

³⁹	David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.

⁴⁰	Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.

⁴¹	So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, and the man who bore the shield went before him.

⁴²	And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy and good-looking.

⁴³	So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

⁴⁴	And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"

⁴⁵	Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

⁴⁶	This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

⁴⁷	Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."

⁴⁸	So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

⁴⁹	Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

⁵⁰	So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.

⁵¹	Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

⁵²	Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.

⁵³	Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents.

⁵⁴	And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

1 Samuel 18 : 6 - 9

⁶	Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.

⁷	So the women sang as they danced, and said: "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."

⁸	Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?"

⁹	So Saul eyed David from that day forward.

Glory be to the Holy Trinity, our God, forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

From the Book of Isaiah , may his holy blessings be with us all. Amen

Isaiah 7 : 1 - 14

¹	Now it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but could not prevail against it.

²	And it was told to the house of David, saying, "Syria's forces are deployed in Ephraim." So his heart and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind.

³	Then the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub your son, at the end of the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller's Field,

⁴	and say to him: "Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah.

⁵	Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying,

⁶	"Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for ourselves, and set a king over them, the son of Tabel"--

⁷	thus says the Lord GOD: "It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass.

⁸	For the head of Syria is Damascus, And the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken, So that it will not be a people.

⁹	The head of Ephraim is Samaria, And the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you will not believe, Surely you shall not be established.'

¹⁰	Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying,

¹¹	"Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above."

¹²	But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!"

¹³	Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?

¹⁴	Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Glory be to the Holy Trinity, our God, forever and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

From the Book of Job , may his holy blessings be with us all. Amen

Job 11 : 1 - 20

¹	Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

²	"Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated?

³	Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?

⁴	For you have said, "My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your eyes.'

⁵	But oh, that God would speak, And open His lips against you,

⁶	That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves.

⁷	"Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?

⁸	They are higher than heaven--what can you do? Deeper than Sheol--what can you know?

⁹	Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.

¹⁰	"If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, Then who can hinder Him?

¹¹	For He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it?

¹²	For an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey's colt is born a man.

¹³	"If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him;

¹⁴	If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;

¹⁵	Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;

¹⁶	Because you would forget your misery, And remember it as waters that have passed away,

¹⁷	And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.

¹⁸	And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.

¹⁹	You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court your favor.

²⁰	But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape, And their hope--loss of life!"

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 116 : 7 - 8

⁷	Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

⁸	For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.

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 15:39-39 Matthew 16:1-12

³⁹	And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala.

¹	Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.

²	He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, "It will be fair weather, for the sky is red';

³	and in the morning, "It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

⁴	A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed.

⁵	Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

⁶	Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees."

⁷	And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have taken no bread."

⁸	But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?

⁹	Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?

¹⁰	Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?

¹¹	How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?--but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

¹²	Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

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 Hebrews.
May his blessings be with us. Amen.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Hebrews 13:1-16

²⁸	Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

²⁹	For our God is a consuming fire.

¹	Let brotherly love continue.

²	Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

³	Remember the prisoners as if chained with them--those who are mistreated--since you yourselves are in the body also.

⁴	Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

⁵	Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

⁶	So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

⁷	Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

⁸	Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

⁹	Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

¹⁰	We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

¹¹	For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.

¹²	Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

¹³	Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

¹⁴	For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

¹⁵	Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

¹⁶	But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

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 4 : 7 - 16

⁷	But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

⁸	And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."

⁹	Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

¹⁰	As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

¹¹	If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

¹²	Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

¹³	but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

¹⁴	If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

¹⁵	But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.

¹⁶	Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

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 15 : 22 - 31

²²	Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

²³	They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

²⁴	Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law"--to whom we gave no such commandment--

²⁵	it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

²⁶	men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁷	We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.

²⁸	For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

²⁹	that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

³⁰	So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

³¹	When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

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 13 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 Thirteenth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat

Departure of Abba Dionysius, the Fourteenth Pope of Alexandria

On this day (March 8th, 264 A.D.) the great father Abba Dionysius, the fourteenth Pope of Alexandria, departed. His parents were stare worshippers of the Sun (Sabians) and they put emphasis on teaching him all the knowledge of that sect. One day a Christian old woman passed by him, who had with her some pages of a book containing an Epistle of St. Paul the apostle and offered it to him to buy it. When he read it he found in it strange sayings and unusual knowledge. He asked her: "For how much will you sell it?" She said: "For one dinar of gold." He gave her three dinars and asked her to find the rest of the pages of the book and he was willing to pay her double. She went and brought him more pages. Having read them through he found the book to be still incomplete, he asked her to search for the rest of the book. She told him: "I found these quires among my father's books. If you want to acquire the complete book, go to the church and there you can find it." He went and asked one of the priests to show him what is called the Epistles of Paul. He gave it to him, read it, and memorized it. Then he went to St. Demetrius the twelfth Pope, who taught and instructed him in the facts of the Christian faith then baptized him. He became well rehearsed in the doctrine and knowledge of the church, and Anba Demetrius appointed him a teacher for the people. When Anba Demetrius departed and Anba Heraclas (Yaroklas) was enthroned, he appointed him as a deputy to judge among the believers and entrusted him to administer the affairs of the patriarchate.

When St. Heraclas departed, all the people agreed to appoint this father Patriarch. He was enthroned on the first of Tubah (December 28th, 246 A.D.) during the reign of Emperor Philip who was a lover of the Christians, and he shepherded his flock with the best of care, nevertheless, he suffered much tribulations. When Decius rose up against Philip and killed him, and reigned in his place, he incited persecution against the Christians. Decius slew many of the patriarchs, bishops, and believers. This father endured much suffering during that time. Decius died and Gallus reigned after him, and persecution quieted down during his reign. When Gallus died and Valerian reigned in his place, he renewed the persecution severely against the Christians, and his men seized Abba Dionysius and imprisoned him. They asked him to worship the idols but he refused saying: "We worship God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit the One God." They threatened him, killed few men in front of him to terrify him but he was not afraid. They banished him and shortly after, they brought him back and told him: "We have been informed that you consecrate the offering secretly by yourself." He replied: "We do not forsake our prayers day or night" then he turned to the people present around him and told them: "Go and pray and if I am away from you in the body, I shall be with you in spirit." The governor became raged and returned him to exile. When Sapor king of Persia overcame Emperor Valerian and seized him, his son Gallienus, who was wise and gentle, took over the empire. He released all the believers who were in prison and brought back those who were in exile. He wrote to the Patriarch and the bishops a letter to assure their safety in opening the churches. In the days of this father, certain people arose in the Arabian countries saying: "That the soul dies with the body, and on the day of Resurrection, it shall be raised up with it." He gathered against them a council and anathematized them. When Paul of Samosata denied the Son, a Council assembled against him in Antioch, this Saint was not able to attend for his age. He wrote a letter to the council, rich with wisdom, explained in it the corruptive opinion of this heretic, and stated the true Orthodox belief. He finished his good strife, and departed in a good old age on (March 8th, 264 A.D.), having sat on the Apostolic Throne seventeen years, two month and ten days.

May His prayers be with us all. Amen.

Return of the Great Saints Anba Macarius the Great and Anba Macarius of Alexandria from Exile

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On this day also is the commemoration of the return of the Great Sts. Anba Macarius the Great and Anba Macarius of Alexandria, from exile on an island in Upper Egypt. Emperor Valens the arian had exiled them to this island. The natives of this island worshipped idols, and according to the orders of Valens the two Saints were tortured severely for three years. It came to pass one day that satan entered the daughter of the pagan priest of this island and tortured her. St. Macarius the great came forward and prayed over her and the Lord healed her and subsequently the priest and the people of the island believed on the Lord Christ. The Saints taught them the facts of the Christian faith and baptized them on the eve of the feast of Epiphany, 11th. of Tubah, changed the temple into a church, and with a revelation from the Lord Christ they ordained priests and deacons for them. When they wished to return they did not know the way, so the angel of the Lord appeared to them, guided them walking, until they reached Alexandria. From there they went to the wilderness of Sheahat (Scetis). The monks of the wilderness came out to meat them, and they were at that time about fifty thousand monks among them were Anba John the short and Anba Bishoy, and they all rejoiced to meat their fathers.

May The prayers of these Saints be with us. Amen.

Martyrdom of the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia

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On this day also the holy forty martyrs of the city of Sebastia were martyred. Emperor Constantine the great had appointed his friend Lecius ruler for the east and commanded him to treat the Christians well. When he arrived to his headquarter, he ordered his subordinate to worship the idols but they refused and cursed his idols. That night some of the soldiers and their children, from the city of Sebastia, made an agreement among themselves to go to the governor confessing their faith. While they were sleeping the angel of the Lord appeared to them, strengthened them and comforted their hearts. In the morning they stood before the Governor and confessed their faith in the Lord christ, he threatened them but they were not afraid. He commanded his men to stone them, but the stones came back upon those who stoned them. He ordered to throw them in a nearby lake, which was icy. Their organs were severed because of the excessive cold. One of them whose strength was weakened, went out of the icy water and entered the bath house nearby the lake. The heat in the bath house melted the ice that was on him but he died quickly, and lost his reward.

One of the guards saw angels descending from the heaven and in their hands crowns, they placed them over the heads of the thirty nine martyrs and remained one crown in the hand of the angel. The guard went down into the lake shouting "I am christian...I am christian." He took the crown that was in the hand of the angel and was counted among the martyrs. Among the martyrs, were young men, whose mothers encouraged and strengthened them. Because they remained in the lake for a long time and they did not die, the Governor wished to break their legs, but the Lord took their souls and reposed them. He ordered to burn their bodies and to cast them after that into the sea. As they were carrying them out of the lake, they found a young man alive, so they left him. His mother took him and tried to threw him on the wagon with his mates but they put him off the wagon again for he was still alive. His mother took him and he died in her bosom so she put him back on the wagon. They took them outside the city and cast them into the fire which did not harm them, then they casted them into the river. On the third day those holy martyrs appeared to the Bishop of Sebastia in a vision and told him: "Go to the river and take our bodies." He went with the priests, deacons and the people to the river and found the bodies. They carried the bodies with great honor and placed them in a beautiful shrine, and their strife was heard in all the countries.

May their prayers be with us and Glory be to 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 29 : 10 - 11

¹⁰	The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, And the LORD sits as King forever.

¹¹	The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

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 6 : 39 - 49

³⁹	And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?

⁴⁰	A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

⁴¹	And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?

⁴²	Or how can you say to your brother, "Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.

⁴³	"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

⁴⁴	For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

⁴⁵	A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

⁴⁶	"But why do you call Me "Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?

⁴⁷	Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:

⁴⁸	He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

⁴⁹	But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."

Glory be to God forever.

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