Our holy father Meletiusm archbishop of Antioch, was elected to the Patriarchal See in 360, but within a month was exiled by Emperor Constantius. Reinstated in 379, he held a council for 150 bishops and took a prominent role in the Ecumenical Council of Constantinople in 381. He was persecuted on account of the Nicene faith with frequent exile and soon after presiding over the First Ecumenical Council of Constantinople he fell asleep in the Lord. St. Meletius was the one who ordained the future hierarch St. Basil the Great as a deacon. St. Meletius also baptized and encouraged St. John Chrysostom, who later eulogized his former archpaster.
Troparion
Your life has shown you to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of gentleness, and a teacher of moderation. You acquired greatness through humility and wealth through poverty. O father and bishop Meletius, intercede with Christ our God to save our souls.
Kontakion
The Macedonian apostate feared your spiritual courage and fled. We your servants gather around you in order to obtain your intercession. O father Meletius, you are equal to the angels and the fiery sword of Christ our God. We praise you as a star enlightening all of us.
Genesis
1: 1-13
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth– and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters–
Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Evening came, and morning followed– the first day.
Then God said: Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters, to separate one body from the other. God made the dome, and it separated the water below the dome from the water above the dome. And so it happened. God called the dome “sky.” Evening came, and morning followed– the second day.
Then God said: Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear. And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared. God called the dry land “earth,” and the basin of water he called “sea.” God saw that it was good. Then God said: Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seeds in it. And so it happened: the earth brought forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree that bears fruit with its seeds in it. God saw that it was good. Evening came, and morning followed– the third day.
Proverbs
1: 1-20
The proverbs of Solomon, the Son of David, king of Israel:
That people may know wisdom and discipline, may understand intelligent sayings;
May receive instruction in wise conduct, in what is right, just, and fair;
That resourcefulness may be imparted to the naive; knowledge and discretion to the young.
The wise by hearing them will advance in learning, the intelligent will gain sound guidance,
To comprehend proverb and byword, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and reject not your mother’s teaching;
A graceful diadem will they be for your head; a pendant for your neck.
My son, should sinners entice you,
Do not go if they say, “Come along with us! Let us lie in wait for blood, unprovoked, let us trap the innocent;
Let us swallow them alive, like Sheol, whole, like those who do down to the pit!
All kinds of precious wealth shall we gain, we shall fill our houses with booty;
Cast in your lot with us, we shall have one purse!”
My son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their path!
For their feet run to evil, they hasten to shed blood.
In vain a net is spread right under the eyes of any bird –
They lie in wait for their own blood, they set a trap for their own lives.
This is the way of everyone greedy for loot: it takes away their lives.
Wisdom cries out in the street; in the open squares she raises her voice.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Monday, February 12 –
