Feb. 20 Our Venerable Father Leo Bishop of Catania

In the town of Catania below the volcanic Mount Ezra, lived our venerable father Leo, a good shepherd and compassionate teacher of the people. He had great concern for the sick and the poor. His zeal for the Faith was as great as his charity toward the less fortunate. A magician named Heliodorus appeared in Catania and deluded the people with various illusions, greatly demoralizing the youth of the town. At one time during divine services, Heliodorus entered the church of God and began his obscenities. St. Leo approached him, tied him to one end of his pallium, and led him to the marketplace. Here Leo ordered that  a large fire be built. When it was raging, Leo stood in the middle of the blaze and pulled Heliodorus into the fire. Heliodorus was completely consumed, but Leo remained alive and unscathed. All who had been bewitched by Heliodorus and who had looked upon him as someone divine, were ashamed. The compassionate and zealous Leo was proclaimed throughout the entire kingdom as a great miracle-worker, who helped men by his shining miracles. St. Leo fell asleep in the Lord around the year 787, and from his relics flowed a healing myrrh. 

Troparion

The sincerity of your deeds has revealed you to your people, as a teacher of moderation, a model of faith, and an example of virtue. Therefore, you attend greatness through humility, and wealth through poverty. O father and bishop Leo, ask Christ our God to save our souls.

Kontakion

The Church sees you as a brilliant  light in the heavens, shining more radiantly than the sun. Preserve her unconquered and indestructible to heresy, and keep her ever spotless, O blessed saint, for we honor your memory at all times.

Readings for the day

Genesis 4: 8-15

Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.” When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. The Lord asked Cain, Where is your brother Abel? He answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” God then said: What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are banned from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. If you till the ground, it shall no longer give you its produce. You shall become a constant wanderer on the earth. Cain said to the Lord: “My punishment is too great to bear. Look, you have now banished me from the ground. I must avoid you and be a constant wanderer on the earth. Anyone may kill me at sight.” Not so! The Lord said to him. If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged seven times. So the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one would kill him at sight. Cain then left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 

Proverbs 5: 1-15

My son, to my wisdom be attentive, to understanding incline your ear,

That you may act discreetly, and your lips guard what you know. 

Indeed, the lips of the stranger drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; 

But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, as sharp as a two-edged sword.

Her feet go down to death, her steps reach Sheol;

Her paths ramble, you know not where, lest you see before you the road to life. 

So now, children, listen to me, do not stray from the words of my mouth. 

Keep your way far from her, do not go near the door of her house,

Lest you give your honor to others, and your years to a merciless one;

Lest outsiders take their fill of your wealth, and your hard-won earnings go to another’s house;

And you groan in the end, when your flesh and your body are consumed;

And you say, “Oh, why did I hate instruction, and my heart spurn reproof!

Why did I not listen to the voice of my teachers, incline my ear to my instructors!

I am all but ruined, in the midst of the public assembly!”

Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Feb. 19 The Holy Apostle Archippus

The holy apostle Archippus, one of the Seventy, was a student and companion of the holy Apostle Paul. In the Epistle Philemon, Paul mentions St. Archippus as his companion, and mentions him again in the Epistle to the Colossians (Col. 4:17). St. Archippus was bishop of Colossae in Phrygia. During the persecution against Christians under the emperor Nero (54-68), the holy Apostle Archippus, along with his fellow apostles Philemon and Apphia, were brought to trial by the ruler Artocles for confessing faith in Christ. St. Archippus was brutally slashed with knives. Saints Philemon and Apphia were tortured, buried up to the waist, then stoned to death. 

Troparion

O holy apostle Archippus, intercede with the all-merciful God that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins.

Kontakion

The Church sees you, O Archippus, as a major star, and she has been enlightened by the rays of your miracles. Therefore, she cries out to you: Save those who fervently honor your memory.

Readings for the day

Genesis 3:21- 4:7

The Lord God made for the man and his wife garments of skins, with which he clothed them. Then the Lord God said: See! The man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil! Now, what if he also reaches out his hand to take fruit from the tree of life, and eats of it and lives forever? The Lord God therefore banished him from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he had been taken. He expelled the man, stationing the cherubim and the fiery revolving sword east of the garden of Eden, to guard the way to the tree of life.

The man had intercourse with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, saying, “I have produced a male child with the help of the Lord.” Next she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel became a herder of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground, while Abel, for his part, brought the patty portion of the firstlings of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry and dejected. Then the Lord said to Cain: Why are you so angry? Why are you dejected? If you act rightly, you will be accepted; but if not, sin lies in wait at the door: its urge is for you, yet you can rule over it. 

Proverbs 3:34 – 4:22

Those who scoff, he scoffs at, but the lowly he favors.

The wise will possess glory, but fools will bear shame.

Hear, O children, a father’s instruction, be attentive, that you may gain understanding!

Yes, excellent advice I give you; my teaching do not forsake.

When I was my father’s child, tender, the darling of my mother,

He taught me and said to me: “Let your heart hold fast my words: keep my commands, and live!

Get wisdom, get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth.

Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will safeguard you;

The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; whatever else you get, get understanding.

Extol her, and she will exalt you; she will bring you honors if you embrace her;

She will put on your head a graceful diadem; a glorious crown will she bestow on you.”

Hear, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life shall be many.

On the way of wisdom I direct you, I lead you on straight paths.

When you walk, your step will not be impeded, and should you run, you will not stumble.

Hold fast to instruction, never let it go; keep it, for it is your life.

The path of the wicked do not enter, nor walk in the ways of the evil;

Shun it, do not cross it, turn aside from it, pass on.

For they cannot rest unless they have done evil; if they do not trip anyone they lose sleep.

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 

But the path of the just is like shining light, that grows in brilliance till perfect day.

The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know on what they stumble.

My son, to my words be attentive, to my sayings incline your ear;

Let them not slip from your sight, keep them within your heart;

For they are life to those who find them, bringing health to one’s whole being. 

With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the source of life.

Dishonest mouth put away from you, deceitful lips put far from you.

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Feb. 18 Our Father among the Saints Leo, Pope of Rome

Our holy father Leo, Pope of Rome who was born in Etruria [Tuscany], first stood out as a diligent deacon of Rome. He was then elevated to the chair of Peter, where rightly and by his  merit he deserved to be called “the Great.” He nourished his flock by his excellent and prudent discourse. He exerted all his influence to put an end to the unrest by the heretics in the Church, and by his letters to the holy emperors Theodosius II (408-450) and Marcia (450-457), he actively promoted the convening of the Fourth Ecumenical council in 451, to condemn the heresy of the Monophysites. At the Council, at which 630 bishops were present, a letter of St. Leo wrote to the deceased Saint Flavian, Patriarch of Constantinople was read. Saint Flavian had suffered for orthodoxy under the “Robber Council” of Ephesus In the year 49. And the letter of Saint Theo the orthodox teaching about the two natures in the Lord Jesus Christ was that fourth. All bishops present at the council were in agreement with this teaching and saw the Heretics Eutyche, Discorus were excommunicated from the church. He rested in the Lord at Rome, where he was buried on this day (471). 

 

Troparion

O guide of the true faith, mirror of piety and commendable behavior, bright star of the universe, and adornments of pontiffs, you enlightened us all by your teachings. O wise Leo, inspired by God and lyre of the Holy Spirit, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls. 

 

Kontakion

O glorious Leo, when you rose to the episcopal see, you stopped the mouths of lions by exposing your flock with the knowledge of God. Therefore, you were glorified, O contemplator of things divine.

 

Epistle

Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40, 12: 1-2a

Brothers and sisters: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; he wished to be ill-treated along with God’s people rather than enjoy the fleeting rewards of sin. Moses considered the reproach borne by God’s Anointed greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

What more shall I recount? I have no time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was just, obtained the promises; they broke the jaws of lions; put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; though weak they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders. Women received back their dead through resurrection. Others were tortured and would not receive deliverance, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Still others endured mockery, scourging, even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned; sawed in two, put to death at sword’s point; they went about garbed in the skins of sheep or goats, needy, afflicted, tormented. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and on mountains, they dwelt in caves and in holes of the earth. Yet despite the fact that all of these were approved because of their faith, they did not obtain what had been promised. God had made a better plan, a plan which included us. Without us, they were not to be made perfect. 

Therefore, since we for our part are surrounded by this cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every encumbrance of sin which clings to us and persevere in running the race which lies ahead; let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who inspires and perfects our faith. 

 

Gospel

John 1: 43-51

At that time Jesus wanted to set out for Galilee, but first he came upon Philip. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. Philip sought out Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses spoke of in the law– the prophet too– Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” Nathanael’s response to that was, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  and Philip replied, “Come, see for yourself.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he remarked: “This man is a true Israelite. There is no guile in him.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked Jesus. “Before Philip called you,” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree.” “Rabbi,” said Nathanael, “you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” Jesus responded: “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see much greater things than that.”

Jesus went on to tell them, “I solemnly assure you, you shall see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Feb. 17 The Holy Great Martyr Theodore the Recruit

The holy Great martyr Theodore the Recruit (Tyro) was a soldier in the city of Alasium of the Pontine district (a northeastern province of Asia Minor along the Black Sea), under command of a certain Brincus. They commanded him to offer sacrifice to idols. St. Theodore firmly confessed his faith in Christ the Savior in a loud voice. The commander gave him several days to think it over, during which time St.Theodore prayed.  They charged him with setting the pagan temple on fire, and threw him into prison to starve to death. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him there, comforting and encouraging him. Brought to the governor, St. Theodore boldly and fearlessly confessed his faith, for which he was subjected to new torments and condemned to burning. The martyr Theodore climbed onto the fire without hesitation, and with prayer gave up his holy soul to God in 306. 

 

Troparion

Marvels  of faith! The holy martyr Theodore rejoiced amid the licking flames, just as if he were splashing in cool water. Made a holocaust in the fire, he was offered like sweetbreads to the Trinity. Save our souls through his prayers, O Christ our God. 

 

Kontakion

Believing in Christ with all your might, you struck a mighty blow to the enemy. You received an eternal crown of glory, O long-suffering and victorious Theodore. 

 

Epistle

Hebrews 1: 1-12

In the past, God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways to our fathers through the prophets; in this, the final age, he has spoken to us through his Son, who he has made heir of all things and through whom he first created the universe. The Son is the reflection of the Father’s glory, the exact representation of the Father’s being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven, as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

To which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my son; today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be his father, and he shall be my son”? And again, when he leads his first-born into the world, he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers flaming fire”; but of the Son, “Your throne, O God, stands forever and ever; a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved justice and hated wickedness, therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellow kings.” And, “Lord, of old you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; all of them will grow old like a garment. You will roll them up like a cloak, like a garment they will be changed; but you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

 

Gospel

Mark 2:23- 3:5

At that time Jesus was walking through standing grain on the sabbath, and his disciples began to pull off the heads of grain as they went along. At this the Pharisees protested: “Look! Why do they do a thing not permitted on the sabbath?” Jesus said to them: “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his men were hungry? How he entered God’s house in the days of Abiathar the high priest and ate the holy bread which only the high priests were permitted to eat? He even gave it to his men.” Then Jesus said to them: “The sabbath was made for man, not man for sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

Jesus returned to the synagogue where there was a man whose hand was shriveled up. They kept an eye on Jesus to see whether he would heal the man on the sabbath, hoping to be able to bring an accusation against him. Jesus addressed the man with the shriveled hand: “Stand up here in front!” Then he said to them: “Is it permitted to do a good deed on the sabbath– or an evil one? To preserve life– or destroy it?” At this they remained silent. Jesus looked around at them with anger, for he was deeply grieved that they had closed their minds against him. Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man did so and his hand was perfectly restored.

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Feb. 16 The Holy Martyrs the Presbyter Pamphilius, Porphyrius, and their Companions

The holy martyrs: the presbyter Pamphilius, Porphyry, and their companions, who received the crowns of martyrdom: Pamphilus the priest; Valentine, a deacon of Jerusalem; Paul, born in the city of Jamnia, who passed two years in prison; Porphyry, a servant of Pamphilus; Seleucus the Cappadocian, who was of high military rank; Theodulus, an old man from the family of the governor Firmilian; and finally, Julian the Cappadocian, who, coming from abroad that very same hour, when he kissed the martyrs’ bodies, was accused of being a Christian and ordered by the governor to be burned over a slow fire. 

 

Troparion

Your martyrs, O Lord our God, in their struggles received incorruptible crowns from you. With Your strengths, they brought down the tyrants and broke the cowardly valor of demons. Through their prayer, O Christ our God, save our souls.

 

Kontakion

The courageous martyrs of Christ went with joy and unbending determination to the frightful tortures prepared for them from which they obtained eternal glory. They are constantly interceding for us who praise their struggle.

 

Readings for the day

Genesis 2:20 – 3:20

The man gave names to all the tame animals, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be a helper suited to the man.

So the Lord God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one  of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The Lord God then built the rib which he had taken from the man into a woman. When he brought her to the man, the man said”

“This one, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;

This one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man this one has been taken.”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.

The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame. 

Now the snake was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He asked the woman,” Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any of the trees in the garden’?” The woman answered the snake: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, or else you will die.’” But the snake said to the woman: “You certainly will not die! God knows well that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, who know good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

When they heard the sound of the Lord God walking about in the garden at the breezy time of the day, the man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God then called to the man and asked him: Where are you? He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I am naked, so I hid.” Then God asked: Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat? The man replied, “The woman who you put here with me– she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate it.” The Lord God then asked the woman: What is this you have done? The woman answered, “The snake tricked me, so I ate it.”  

Then the Lord God said to the snake: 

Because you have done this, cursed are you among all the animals, tame or wild;

On your belly you shall crawl, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;

They will strike at your head, while you strike at their heel.

To the woman he said:

I will intensify your toil in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.

Yet your urge shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.

To the man he said: Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, You shall not eat from it,

Cursed is the ground because of you!

In toil you shall eat its yield all the days of your life.

Thorns and thistles it shall bear for you,

And you shall eat the grass of the field.

By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread,

Until you return to the ground, from which you were taken;

For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

The man gave his wife the name “Eve,” because she was the mother of all the living.

 

Proverbs 3: 19-34

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, established the heavens by understanding;

By his knowledge the depths are split, and the clouds drop down dew. 

My son, do not let these slip from your sight: hold deliberation and planning;

So will they be life to your soul, and an adornment for your neck.

Then you may go your way securely; your foot will never stumble;

When you lie down, you will not be afraid, when you rest, your sleep will be sweet. 

Do not withhold any goods from the owner when it is in your power to act. 

Say not to your neighbor, “Go, come back tomorrow, and I will give it to you,” when all the while you have it.

Do not plot evil against your neighbors, when they live at peace with you.

Do not contend with someone without cause, with one who has done you no harm. 

Do not envy the violent and choose none of their ways:

To the Lord the devious are an abomination, but the upright are close to him.

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but the dwelling of the just he blesses;

Those who scoff, he scoffs at, but the lowly he favors. 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Feb. 15 The Holy Apostle Onesimus

The holy apostle Onesimus was one of the Seventy Apostles. He was a slave but transgressed against his master and fled to Rome. There he heard the Gospel from Apostle Paul and was baptized. Later, Onesimus was consecrated a bishop by the apostles themselves, and he accepted the episcopal throne at Ephesus at the death of the Apostle Timothy. At the time of Trajan’s persecution, Onesimus, already an old man, was arrested and brought to Rome. In Rome Onesimus gave an account of himself before the judge Tertulus, and he was imprisoned and finally beheaded. A wealthy woman removed his body, placed it in a silver coffin and buried it honorably in the year 109.  

 

Troparion

O holy Apostle Onesimus, intercede with the merciful God that He may grant our souls forgiveness of sins. 

 

Kontakion

You came upon the world like a radiant glow, and you shine with the rays of the sun, O blessed saint. You followed the illumined world of blessed Paul, and for this we honor you, O glorious Onesimus.

 

Readings for the day

Genesis 2: 4-19

This the story of the heavens and the earth at their creation. When the Lord God made the earth and the heavens– there was no field shrub on earth and no grass of the field had sprouted, for the Lord God had sent no rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the ground, but a stream was welling up out of the earth watering all the surface of the ground– then the Lord God formed the man out of dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 

The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom he formed. Out of the ground the Lord God made grow every tree that was delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

A river rises in Eden to water the garden; beyond there it divides and becomes four branches. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one that winds through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is good; bdellium and lapis lazuli are also there. The name of the second river is the Gihon; it is the one that winds all through the land of Cush. The name of the third river is the Tigris; it is the one that flows east of Asshur. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. The Lord God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die. 

The Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him. So the Lord God formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever he called each living creature was then its name. 

 

Proverbs 3: 1-18 

My son, do not forget my teaching, take to heart my commands;

For many days, and years of life, and peace, will they bring you.

Do not let love and fidelity forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them in the tablet of your heart.

Then will you win favor and esteem before God and human beings. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely;

In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths. 

Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord and turn away from evil;

This will mean health for your flesh and vigor for your bones. 

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with first fruits of all your produce;

Then will your barns be filled with plenty, with new wine your vats will overflow.

The discipline of the Lord, my son, do not spurn; do not disdain his reproof;

For whom the Lord loves he reproves, as a father, the son he favors.

Happy the one who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding!

Her profit is better than profit in silver, and better than gold is her revenue;

She is more precious than corals, and no treasure of yours can compare to her. 

Long life is her right hand, in her left are riches and honor;

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace;

She is a tree of life to those who grasp her, and those who hold her fast are happy.

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Feb. 14 Our Venerable Father Auxentius; The Passing of Our Venerable Father Constantine, called Cyril the Apostle to the Slavs

Our venerable father Auxentius on Mount Skopa in Bithynia, priest and archimandrite, who argued the Chalcedonian faith with a strong voice in a prominent place as if established in a place of authority.

The passing of our venerable father Constantine, whose monastic name was Cyril, the Apostle of the Slavs. This man from Thessalonica, along with his brother Methodius, was sent by Photius the bishop of Constantinople to Moravia, where he preached the Christian faith and devised an alphabet that they might translate the sacred books from Greek to the Slavic language. When they came to Rome, Cyril, who was previously known as Constantine, was afflicted by an illness. He was made a monk and the same day fell asleep in the Lord in 869. 

 

Troparion – Auxentius

You made the wilderness your dwelling, O Auxentius, the bearer of God. You became an angel in the flesh and a wonder-worker. Through prayers, fast, and vigils, you obtained from God special graces to heal the sick and to sanctify the souls of those who come to you with trust. Glory to the One who gave you strength! Glory to the One who crowned you! Glory to the One who through your intercession grants healing to all!

 

Troparion – Cyril

From your childhood you made wisdom your sister, and you took her to wife as a radiant virgin. You adorned your mind and soul with it like gold. You became a second great Cyril, O voice of God. You became a martyr by name and a blessed thinker. 

 

Kontakion – Auxentius

You found your paradise in asceticism and mastered your body’s passions; you grew stronger in faith and blossomed as a flower in the midst of the Garden, O Auxentius.

 

Kontakion – Cyril

Enlightening the world by your divinely inspired teachings, you have extended your sway like lightning over the world. You sow the brilliant Word of God everywhere you go; all the corners of the world shine with your miracles, the north, south, east and west, O blessed Cyril.

 

Readings for the day

Genesis 1:24 – 2:3

Then God said: let the earth bring forth every kind of living creature: tame animals, crawling things, and every kind of wild animal. And so it happened: God made every kind if wild animal, every kind of tame animal, and every kind of thing that crawls on the ground. God saw that it was good. Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the tame animals, all the wild animals, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth. 

God created mankind in his image;

In the image of God he created them;

Male and female he created them.

God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth. God also said: See, I give you every seed-bearing plant on all the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the wild animals, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the earth, I give all the green plants for food. And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed– the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. On the seventh day God completed the work he had been doing; he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.

 

Proverbs 2: 1-22

My son, if you receive my words and treasure my command,

Turning your ear to wisdom, inclining your heart to understanding;

Yes, if you call for intelligence, and to understanding raise your voice;

If you seek her like silver, and like hidden treasure search her out,

Then will you understand the fear of the Lord; the knowledge of God you will find;

For the Lord give wisdom, from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding;

He has success in store for the upright, in the shield of those who walk honestly,

Guarding the paths of justice, protecting the way of his faithful ones, 

Then you will understand what is right and just, what is fair, every good path;

For wisdom will enter your heart, knowing will be at home in your soul, 

Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you;

Saving you from the way of the wicked, from those whose speech is perverse.

From those who have left the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,

Who delight in doing evil and celebrate perversity;

Whose ways are crooked whose paths are devious;

Saving you from a stranger, from a foreign woman with her smooth words,

One who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;

For her path sinks down to death, and her footsteps lead to the shades.

None who enter there come back, or gain the paths of life.

Thus you may walk in the way of the good, and keep to the paths of the just. 

For the upright will dwell in the land, people of integrity will remain in it;

But the wicked will be cut off from the land, the faithless will be rooted out of it. 

Sunday Bulletin 2/18/24

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Saturday, Feb. 17  –  Commemoration of the Miracle of the Great-Martyr Theodore       

5:00 PM          Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy

5:30 PM          Reader Vespers

Sunday, Feb. 18  –  Sunday of Orthodoxy – 1st Sunday of the Great Fast         

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

Tuesday, Feb. 20  –  Leo if Catania, Bishop        

5:30 PM          Akathist* for those suffering Addictions & Mental Illness

Wednesday, Feb. 21  –  Timothy, Venerable  

6:30 PM          Presanctified Divine Liturgy

7:30 PM          Firepit Social

Friday, Feb. 23  –  Polycarp, Bishop-Martyr            

6:00 PM          Santa Paula Outreach Presanctified Divine Liturgy

Saturday, Feb. 24  –  1st & 2nd Findings of the Head of John the Baptist       

5:00 PM          Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy

Sunday, Feb. 25  –  2nd Sunday of the Great Fast         

8:30 AM          Matins

9:30 AM          Divine Liturgy

*Add first names to this prayer service by emailing niemirick@gmail.com

MYSTERY OF REPENTANCE (Confession)

St. Mary’s: Sundays 8:45 AM or by appointment

Santa Paula: Saturdays 4:15 PM or by appointment

PRAYER REQUESTS

(Please resubmit or submit names to admin@ByzantineLA.com)

The Carlin Family, Michael Hefferon, Shirley Kunze, Michael Mina, Peter Mina, Fr. John Mina, Mila Mina, Lana Zimmerman, Patrick Zimmerman, Shannon O’Neill, Fern Bonowicz, Carolina Chirdon, All the sick and suffering of St. Mary’s

WEEKLY DEPOSIT:

Collection: $2,197.00; Santa Paula: $575.00; Online: $155.00; Candles: $55.00; Parish Socials: $80.00; Holydays: $30.00; Church Improvements: $180.00

Total: $3,272.00 / Attendance – PSM: 68    SPO: 91  

 

Quotes from St. John of Damascus, champion of the orthodoxy of icons used in worship

“The whole earth is a living icon of the face of God. … I do not worship matter. I worship the Creator of matter who became matter for my sake, who willed to take His abode in matter, who worked out my salvation through matter. Never will I cease honoring the matter which wrought my salvation! I honor it, but not as God. Because of this I salute all remaining matter with reverence, because God has filled it with his grace and power. Through it my salvation has come to me.” —John of Damascus

 

“Of old, God the incorporeal and uncircumscribed was never depicted. Now, however, when God is seen clothed in flesh, and conversing with men, I make an image of the God whom I see. I do not worship matter, I worship the God of matter, who became matter for my sake, and deigned to inhabit matter, who worked out my salvation through matter. I will not cease from honoring that matter which works my salvation.” ― John of Damascus

 

“Yes, O Lord, we adore all that belongs to Thee, and we take to our hearts Thy Godhead, Thy power and goodness, Thy mercy towards us, Thy condescension and Thy Incarnation. And as men fear touching red-hot iron, not because of the iron but because of the heat, so do we worship Thy flesh, not for the nature of flesh, but through the Godhead united to that flesh according to substance. We worship Thy sufferings. Who has ever known death worshipped, or suffering venerated? Yet we [54] truly worship the physical death of our God and His saving sufferings. We adore Thy image and all that is Thine; Thy servants, Thy friends, and most of all Thy Mother, the Mother of God. We beseech, therefore, the people of God, the faithful flock, to hold fast to the ecclesiastical traditions. The gradual taking away of what has been handed down to us would be undermining the foundation stones, and would in no short time overthrow the whole structure.” ― John of Damascus

 

“We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law and also the prophets.” Finding our Savior during this Great Lent, we see that our “soiled image was restored to its original form, commingled with divine beauty.” God may be helping you find that a vocation to monasticism or holy orders is the beauty meant for you. To learn more, contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

Feb. 13 Our Venerable Father Martinian

At the age of 18, our venerable father Martinian retreated to a mountain in Cappadocia called the Place of the Ark, where he lived for 25 years in fasting, vigil and prayer, struggling with many temptations. When a woman came to tempt him, Martinian, perceiving that he would succumb to sin with her, jumped into the fire barefoot and remained in the fire until the pain brought tears to his eyes and subdued all lust within himself. When another temptation erupted, Martinian fled to an isolated rock in the sea and lived there. Following a shipwreck, a young woman swam to this rock. Martinian jumped into the sea to avoid any further temptation, but a dolphin rescued him in its back and by God’s providence brought him back to shore. Martinian then decided to never make any place his permanent home but to continually travel. In two years, he passed through 164 towns, correcting and counseling the people. He finally reached Athens, where he reposed in the year 422.

 

Troparion

O blessed Martinian, you appeased the flames of passion with streams of tears; you calmed the waves of the sea and stopped the assault of the wild beasts. You cried out: Glorified are You, O almighty God. You saved me from fire and storm. 

 

Kontakion

Let us praise with hymns the ever-blessed Martinian who trod on the serpent, the pious and experienced ascetic, the earnest defender of truth, and the courageous dweller in the desert. 

 

Readings for the day

Genesis 1: 14-23

The God said: Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to separate the day from night. Let them mark the seasons, the days, and the years, and serve as lights in the dome of the sky, to illuminate the earth. And so it happened: God made two great lights, the greater to govern the day, the lesser one to govern the night, and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky, to illuminate the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from darkness. God saw that it was good. Evening came, and morning followed– the fourth day.

Then God said: Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky. God created the great sea monsters and all kinds of crawling living creatures with which the water teems, and all kinds of winged birds. God saw that it was good, and God blessed them, saying: Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the earth. Evening came, and morning followed– the fifth day. 

 

Proverbs 1: 20-33

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the open squares she raises her voice;

Down the crowded ways she calls out, at the city gates she utters her words:

“How long, you naïve ones, will you love naivete,

How long will you turn away at my reproof? [The arrogant delight in their arrogance, and fools hate knowledge.] Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will acquaint you with my words:

‘Because I called and you refused, extended my hand and no one took notice;

Because you disdained all my counsel, and my reproof you ignored– 

I, in my turn, will laugh at your doom; will mock when terror overtakes you;

When terror comes upon you like a storm, and you doom approaches like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish befall you.’

Then they will call me, but I will not answer; they will seek me, but will not find me,

Because they hated knowledge, and the fear of the Lord they did not choose.

They ignored my counsel, they spurned all my reproof;

Well, then, they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and with their own devices be glutted.

For the straying of the naïve kills them, the smugness of fools destroys them. 

But whoever obeys me dwells in security, in peace, without fear of harm.”

 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Feb. 12 Our father among Saints Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch

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