Our venerable father George the Chozebite was a Cypriot monk at the Monastery of the Mother of God at Chozeba near Jericho (614)
Our venerable father Emilian the Confessor was a native of Vannes, in what is now France. He was a recluse (767)
Our venerable mother Dominica, born in Carthage in North Africa, lived a life of asceticism and died in Constantinople under the reign of the Emperor Zenon in 474.
Troparion – Venerable Fathers
Come, O people and piously honor the memory of George. Sing praises for his wonderful fasting and praise Emilian for his teachings. Let us sing out: Save our souls, O Christ, through the intercession of these holy monks.
Troparion – Dominica
In you, O mother, the divine image was strictly preserved; taking up your cross, you followed Christ. You taught us by example how to spurn the flesh for it passes away, and how to care for the soul, which is immortal. Therefore, O venerable Dominica, your soul rejoices with the angels.
Kontakion – Venerable Fathers
O George, you have become a brilliant source of light, enlighten all those who come to you in faith. Intercede for us with Christ our God who appeared in flowing waters and enlightened all of us.
Kontakion – Dominica
O Dominica, you crucified the flesh with your suffering, and your love for Christ was sure and constant. For this you have been crowned and admitted to the choirs of angels. Pray now for all those who venerate you, O mother.
Epistle
James 2: 14-26
Brothers and sisters, what good is it to profess faith without practicing it? Such faith has no power to save one, has it? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and no food for the day, and you say to them, “Goodbye and good luck! Keep warm and well fed,” but do not meet their bodily needs, what good is that? So it is with the faith that does nothing in practice. It is thoroughly lifeless.
To such a person one might say, “You have faith and I have work– is that it?” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you the faith that underlies my works! Do you believe that God is one? You are quite right. The demons believe that, and shudder. Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that without works faith is idle? Was not our father Abraham justified by his works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? There you see proof that faith was both assisting his works and implemented by his works. You also see how the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as justice”: for this he received the title “God’s friend.”
You must perceive that a person is justified by his works and not by faith alone. Rahab the harlot will illustrate the point. Was she not justified by her works when she harbored the messengers and sent them out by a different route? Be assured, then, that faith without works is as dead as a body without breath.
Gospel
Mark 10: 46-52
At that time as Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, there was a blind beggar Bartimaeus sitting by the roadside. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to call out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” Many people were scolding him to make him keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and said, “Call him over.” So they called the blind man over, telling him as they did so, “You have nothing to fear from him! Get up! He is calling you!” He threw aside his cloak, jumped up and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said, “I want to see.” Jesus said in reply, “Be on your way! Your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and started to follow Jesus on the road.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Sunday, January 7 –
