Saturday 5 April 2025
27 Baramhat 1741
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 79 : 8 - 9
| 8 | Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, For we have been brought very low. |
| 9 | Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name's sake! |
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 9 : 1 - 8
| 1 | So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. |
| 2 | Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." |
| 3 | And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, "This Man blasphemes!" |
| 4 | But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? |
| 5 | For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, "Arise and walk'? |
| 6 | But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." |
| 7 | And he arose and departed to his house. |
| 8 | Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men. |
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 Ephesians.
May his blessings be with us. Amen.
Ephesians 4 : 1 - 7
| 1 | I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, |
| 2 | with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, |
| 3 | endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. |
| 4 | There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; |
| 5 | one Lord, one faith, one baptism; |
| 6 | one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. |
| 7 | But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. |
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 : 13 - 21
| 13 | Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; |
| 14 | as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; |
| 15 | but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, |
| 16 | because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." |
| 17 | And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; |
| 18 | knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, |
| 19 | but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. |
| 20 | He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you |
| 21 | who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. |
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 27 : 9 - 26
| 9 | Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, |
| 10 | saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." |
| 11 | Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. |
| 12 | And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. |
| 13 | When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. |
| 14 | But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. |
| 15 | So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. |
| 16 | And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. |
| 17 | When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. |
| 18 | And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. |
| 19 | On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. |
| 20 | Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. |
| 21 | But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. |
| 22 | And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. |
| 23 | For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, |
| 24 | saying, "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' |
| 25 | Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. |
| 26 | However, we must run aground on a certain island." |
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 27 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 Twenty-Seventh Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Commemoration of the Crucifixion of Our
Lord Jesus Christ
On this day is the commemoration of the Crucifixion of
Our Lord Jesus Christ Incarnate, to Him is the Glory, for the salvation
of the world. The Holy Bible mentioned that: "From the sixth hour until
the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land."
(Matthew 27:45) The
sun had hidden its light when it saw its creator incarnated, hanging with
His own free will on the wood of the Cross, inclined His head, and yielded
up His spirit. The Holy Church teaches us that: " His Divinity parted not
from His Humanity for a single moment, nor a twinkle of an eye, and He
descended to the hades from the cross to save those in bondage therein."
St. Peter also said: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just
for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the
flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to
the spirits in prison."
(1 Peter 3:18-19) In the heavens He was in His
might, and on earth He was a savior. Praise the Lord, the omnipotent God,
Who is in every place, He saved us by giving Himself up, and opened to
us the door of His kingdom.
To Him is the Glory, Power and Dominion forever. Amen.
Departure of St.Macarius the Great
On this day also, of the year 392 A.D. the blessed
father, the lamp of the wilderness and the father of all the monks the
great saint Anba Macarius, departed. This Saint was born in the village
of Shabsheer - Menuf, from good and righteous parents. His father's name
was Abraham and his mother's name was Sarah and they had no son. In a vision
at night he saw the angel of the Lord and told him that God was about to
give him a son, and his name will be known all over the earth, and he will
have a multitude of spiritual sons. Shortly after, this holy man had a
son and called him Macarius which means "Blessed." He was obedient to his
parents, and the grace of God was upon him since his young age. When he
grew up his father forced him to get married against his will, so he pretended
that he was sick for several days. Then he asked his father if he might
go to the wilderness to relax and that may make him recover from his illness
speedily. He went to the wilderness and prayed to the Lord Christ to direct
him to do what is pleasing to Him. While he was in the wilderness he saw
a vision, and it seemed that one of the Cherubim, with wings, took his
hands, and ascended up to the top of the mountain, and showed him all the
desert, east and west, and north and south. The Cherub told him: "God has
given this desert to you and your sons for an inheritance." When he returned
from the wilderness he found that his wife, who was still virgin, had died,
and Macarius thanked the Lord Christ. Shortly after, his parents departed,
and he gave all what they had left to the poor and the needy. When the
people of Shabsheer saw his chastity and purity, they took him to the bishop
of Ashmoun who ordained him a priest for them. They built a place for him
outside the city, and they went to him to confess and to partake from the
Holy Mysteries. They appointed a servant to take care of his needs and
to sell for him the work of his hands.
When Satan saw St. Macarius growth in virtues, he
brought on him a severe temptation. He inspired a girl that had defiled
herself with a man to claim that St. Macarius is the one who had defiled
her. When her family heard that, they went to him, insulted and beat him
severely, inflicting much pain on him, which he endured silently. Macarius
reproached himself saying "O Macarius now you have a wife and a child,
and it is meet for you to work day and night for your own food and for
that of your child and your wife." He worked continually at weaving mats
and baskets, and he gave them to the man who ministered unto him; and he
sold them and gave the money to the woman. When the day of her delivery
drew near her labor was exceedingly difficult, she continued to suffer
for four days and did not deliver until she confessed her false accusation
against the Saint and named the man that defiled her. When the family of
the girl heard that, they decided to go to ask for his forgiveness for
what happened from them. When St. Macarius heard that, he fled away from
them running from the vain glory of this world.
At that time he was 30 years old, and the angel
of the Lord appeared to him and walked with him for two days until they
came to Wadi El-Natroun and the Saint asked the angel: "Appoint for me
O master a place to live in." The angel replied: "I have not marked out
a place for you to live, lest you leave it in the future and transgress
the commandment of God. Behold all the wilderness is yours, so wheresoever
you wish, live there." St. Macarius dwelt in the Inner Desert, in the place
of the monastery of Sts. Maximus and Domadius which is known now by the
monastery of El-Baramous. He went to visit St. Antonios, who said about
St. Macarius when he saw him: "This is an Israelite in whom there is no
guile." St. Antonios put on him the Holy Eskeem, then St. Macarius returned
to his place. When the number of monks increased around him he built a
church for them. His fame was known all over the country and many kings
and Emperors heard about the miracles that God performed on his hands.
He healed the daughter of the king of Antioch that was possessed by an
unclean spirit. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and took him to a
place and told him to make this place his abode, for many people will come
to him in that place. He built a cell for himself and a church. He thought
one day that the world had no more righteous people, so a voice came to
him from heaven saying: "In the city of Alexandria there are two women
who feared God." He took his staff, his provisions, and went to Alexandria
and he asked around until he reached their house. When he entered, they
welcomed him, washed his feet with warm water, and when he asked them about
their life, one of them told him: "There is no kinship between us and when
we married these two brothers we asked them to leave us to be nuns but
they refused. So we committed ourself to spent our life fasting till evening
with often prayers. When each of us had a son, whenever one of them cry,
any one of us would carry and nurse him even if he was not her own son.
We are in one living arrangement, the unity in opinion is our model, and
our husbands work is shepherding sheep, we are poor and only have our daily
bread and what is left over we give it to the poor and the needy." When
the Saint heard these words he cried saying: "Indeed God looks to the readiness
of the heart and grant the grace of His Holy Spirit for all those who wish
to worship him." He bade them farewell and left returning to the wilderness.
There was an erring monk who strayed many by his saying that there was
no resurrection of the dead. The bishop of the city of Osseem went to St.Macarius
and told him about that monk. Abba Macarius went to that monk and stayed
with him until the monk believed and returned from his error.
On the day of his departure, he saw Sts. Antonios
and Pachomius, and a company of the saints, and he delivered up his soul.
He was ninety-seven years old. St.Macarius had commanded his disciples
to hid his body, but some of the natives of the city of Shabsheer came
and stole his body, built a church for him and placed the body in it for
around one hundred and sixty years until the Arab conquest and the rebuilding
of his monastery, they returned the body to it. In a manuscript in Shebeen
El-Koum, was mentioned that St. Babnuda, his disciple, saw the soul of
St. Macarius ascending to heaven, and he heard the devils crying out and
calling after him, "You have conquered us O Macarius." The Saint replied
"I have not conquered you yet." When they came to the gates of heaven they
cried again saying "You have conquered us", and he replied as the first
time. When he entered the gate of heaven they cried "You have overcome
us O Macarius." He replied "Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ who has delivered
me from your hands."
May his blessing be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Domicos
On this day also St. Domicos was martyred during
the reign of the infidel Emperor Julian. Sapor (Shapur) Arsakis II king
of Persia was in peace with the Roman Empire, and he paid tribute to the
lover of God Emperor Constantine. A dispute took place between Emperor
Julian and Sapor king of Persia, and the later prepared an army to fight
the Romans. Julian offered the sacrifices to his idols in the city of Casius
which was about six miles from Antioch where was the idol Apollon. The
enemy of God went along with the magicians, sorcerers, and the army to
meet the Persians. On his way he passed by an isolated place, where he
saw a multitude of men, women, and children. When he asked about this multitudes
they told him: "A monk who live in a cave in this place, perform miracles
and heal the sick, and the multitudes that you see are the Christians that
came to get his blessing and be cured from their illnesses." Julian became
raged and sent a soldier to St.Domicos who talked to him in a threatening
way saying: "If you are living in this cave to please God so why you are
seeking the gratitude of men? and why don't you hide your self from them?"
The Saint replied saying: "I have given my soul and body to the hands of
God, the God of heaven and earth the Lord Jesus Christ, and spent many
years in seclusion in this cave, as for those who come to me with a strong
faith, I can not dismiss them." When the Emperor heard his answer, he ordered
his soldiers to seal the mouth of the cave with a wall and the Saint was
inside where he delivered his soul therein. Thus this Saint ended his pure
life and received the crown of martyrdom on the 27th. of Baramhat, year
78 A.M. (March 23rd., year 362 A.D.).
May his 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 32 : 1 - 2
| 1 | Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. |
| 2 | Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. |
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 10 : 46 - 52
| 46 | Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. |
| 47 | And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" |
| 48 | Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" |
| 49 | So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." |
| 50 | And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. |
| 51 | So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." |
| 52 | Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. |
Glory be to God forever.
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