The holy apostle Philip was one of seven deacons chosen by the Apostles. He converted Samaria to the faith of Christ, baptized the eunuch of Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, and passed through cities evangelizing them all until he came to Caesarea, where it is said he rested.
Our venerable father Theophane, the artist and hymnographer, was bishop of Nicea in the 9th century. He and his brother Theodore joined the monastery of St. Sabbas the Sanctified. They were sent by the Patriarch of Jerusalem to emperor Leo the Armenian, to explain the orthodox teaching about holy icons. He tortured them and his successor, Theophilus, had derisory words branded onto their faces. After the Iconoclastic controversy was ended, Theophane was made bishop in Nicea.
O Philip, you won apostolic favor and you astonished all Samaria. Your divinely inspired words gave the eunuch understanding so that he was baptized and gave glory to God when he comprehended the Incomprehensible. O holy apostle, obtain grace and great mercy for us from God.
Guide to Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and holiness, luminary for the world, inspired adornment of bishops, O wise Theophane, harp of the Spirit, you enlightened all by your teachings; intercede with Christ our God to save our souls.
Philip conversed with apostles and fished for people. He was one of the first chosen by the apostles. Today he gives a wealth of cures to the world and protects from calamity those who honor him. Therefore we sing out to him: O apostle, save all of us through your prayers.
You proclaimed the divine Incarnation of Christ, and you exposed the bodiless enemies, O wonderful Theophane. Because of this we perseveringly and piously call to you: Pray unceasingly for all of us.
1 Corinthians 15: 39-45
Brothers and sisters: Not all bodily nature is the same. Men have one kind of body, animals another. Birds are of their kind, fish are of theirs. There are heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies. The splendor of heavenly bodies is one thing, that of the earthly another. The sun has a splendor of its own, so has the moon, and the stars have theirs. Even among the stars, one differs from another in brightness. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown in the earth is subject to decay, what rises is incorruptible. What is sown is ignoble, what rises is glorious. Weakness is sown, strength rises up. A natural body is put down and a spiritual body comes up. If there is a natural body, be sure there is also a spiritual body. Scripture has it that Adam, the first man, became a living soul; the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit.
Luke 5: 27-32
At that time Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Leaving everything behind, Levi stood up and became his follower. After that Levi gave a great reception for Jesus in his house, in which he was joined by a large crowd of tax collectors and others at dinner. The Pharisees and the scribes of their party said to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and non-observers of the law?” Jesus said to them, “The healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do. I have not come to invite the self-righteous to a change of heart, but sinners.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Friday, October 10 –
