The holy great martyr Catherine, was an Alexandrian and a martyr, filled with sharpness of mind and wisdom no less than with strength of soul. Her body is honored in pious veneration in a famous coenobium on Mt. Sinai. (310)
The holy great martyr Mercury was an Armenian soldier in the army of the emperor Decius. In a battle, an angel of the Lord appeared to Mercury and steeled him for combat. After this victory, he was made a commander by the emperor, but was denounced to him as a Christians by jealous soldiers. He was beheaded in Cappadocia sometime between 251 and 259.
You enlightened pagan philosophers with the light of your works. You were like a full moon for those who travel at night. You overcame the darkness and converted the queen. You stood up to the torturer, O blessed Catherine, chosen by God. On your wishes you were carried to the heavenly bridal chamber of your splendid Bridegroom Christ. You were espoused to him with a regal crown, O bride chosen by God. In the company of the angels, pray for us who keep your memory.
O martyr Mercury, you were led to the struggle of your martyrdom like a true soldier standing before the Immortal King. You have gone confidently and were welcomed into the ranks of the passion-bearers. Hasten to give help to the faithful who hold fast to your memory
Let us who love the divine martyr now raise up an honorable choir honoring the all-wise Catherine. For this she preached Christ in the arena, and trampled down the serpents, disposing the wisdom of the long-winded orators.
Let us praise and bless Mercury in song. He is an invincible warrior in battle and a sure defender in trouble. He delivers from all danger and tribulation those who venerate him.
2 Thessalonians 1: 1-10
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace be yours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is no more than right that we thank God unceasingly for you, brothers, because your faith grows apace and your mutual love increases; so much so that in God’s communities we can boast of your constancy and your faith in persecution and trial. You endure these as an expression of God’s just judgment, in order to be found worthy of his kingdom – it is for his kingdom you suffer – even if strict justice would require that God visit hardships on those who visit them on you. He will provide relief to you who are sorely tried, as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels; when, [as Scriptures say], “with flaming power he will inflict punishment on those who do not acknowledge God nor heed” the good news of our Lord Jesus. Such as these will suffer the penalty of eternal ruin apart from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his might on the Day when he comes, to be glorified in his holy ones and adored by all who have believed – for you already have our witness to you.
Luke 17: 20-25
At that time, on being asked by the Pharisees when the reign of God would come, Jesus replied: “You cannot tell by careful watching when the reign of God will come. Neither is it a matter of reporting that it is ‘here’ or ‘there.’ The reign of God is already in your midst.”
He said to the disciples: “A time will come when you will long to see one day of the Son of Man but will not see it. They will tell you he is to be found in this place or that. Do not go running about excitedly. The Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning that flashes from one end of the sky to the other. First, however, he must suffer much and be rejected by the present age.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Sunday, November 23 –
