The holy apostles Jason and Sosipater were disciples of St. Paul during the reign of the emperor Nero. They are mentioned in Romans 16:21 by Paul, who calls them his kinsmen. Jason was the first bishop of Tarsus, and Sosipater the first bishop of Iconium.
The holy martyrs Dadas, Maximus, and Quintillian were, at Dorostrorus in Moesia, martyrs in the persecution of the emperor Diocletian in the fourth century.
O holy apostles, intercede with the all-merciful God that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.
O Lord our God, your holy martyrs have deserved the crown of immortality on account of their good fight. Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors and crushed Satan’s dreadful might. Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
By your message you became lights of the world, O holy Jason and blessed Sosipater. Save those who cherish your memory.
You endured agony with courage, and the devil could not prevail over you. O martyrs equal to the angels in honor, the whole world honors your sufferings and pains. By them you have been exalted.
Acts 3: 19-26
In those days, Peter addressed the people: “Reform your lives! Turn to God, that your sins may be wiped away! Thus may a season of refreshment be granted to you by the Lord when he sends you Jesus, already designated as your Messiah. Jesus must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration which God spoke of long ago through his holy prophets.” For Moses said: ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own kinsmen: you shall listen to him in everything he says to you. Anyone who does not listen to that prophet shall be ruthlessly cut off from the people.’
“Moreover, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel onward, have announced the events of these days. You are the children of those prophets, you are the heirs of the covenant God made with your fathers when he said to Abraham, ‘In your offspring, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him to you first to bless you by turning you from your evil ways.”
John 2: 1-11
At that time there was a wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had likewise been invited to celebration. At a certain point the wine ran out, and Jesus’ mother told him, “There is no more wine.” Jesus replied, “Woman, how does this concern of yours involve me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother instructed those waiting on table, “Do whatever he tells you.” As prescribed for Jewish ceremonial washings, there were at hand six stone water jars, each one holding fifteen to twenty-five gallons. “Fill those jars with water,” Jesus ordered, at which they filled them to the brim. “Now,” he said, “draw some out and take it to the waiter in charge.”They did as he instructed them. The waiter in charge tasted the water made wine, without knowing where it had come from; only the waiters knew, since they had drawn the water. Then the waiter in charge called the groom over and remarked to him: “People usually serve the choice wine first; then when the guests have been drinking awhile, a lesser vintage. What you have done is keep the choice wine until now.” Jesus performed this first of his signs at Cana in Galilee. Thus did he reveal his glory, and his disciples believed in him.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Sunday, April 27 –
