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Sunday Bulletin 2/25/24

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

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

5:00 PM Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy

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

8:30 AM Matins

9:30 AM Divine Liturgy

Monday, Feb. 26 – Porphry of Gaza, Bishop

8:30 AM Morning Prayer

Tuesday, Feb. 27 – Procopius Decapolite, Venerable Confessor

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

Wednesday, Feb. 28 – Basil, Venerable-Confessor

8:30 AM Morning Prayer

6:30 PM Presanctified Divine Liturgy +Fr. John Kachuba from Mother Natalia

7:30 PM Firepit Social

Friday, Mar. 1 – Eudoxia, Venerable-Martyr

6:00 PM Santa Paula Outreach Presanctified Divine Liturgy

Saturday, Mar. 2 – 3^rd All Souls Saturday

9:30 AM All Souls Saturday Divine Liturgy

5:00 PM Santa Paula Outreach Divine Liturgy

5:30 PM Reader Vespers

Sunday, Mar. 3 – 3^rd 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: $1,871.00; Santa Paula: $785.00; Online: $605.00; Candles: $84.21; Parish Socials: $30.00

Total: $3,375.21 / Attendance – PSM: 70 SPO: 100

Polycarp (“Many Fruits” or “Abundantly Fruitful”) celebrated on the second Sunday of the Great Fast along with Gregory Palamas

Saint Polycarp was a close disciple of John the Theologian and Evangelist, together with Ignatius the God-bearer. He became Bishop of Smyrna after Saint Boukolos, who had prophesied concerning the episcopacy he was to receive. When the impious Antoninus Pius (138-161)* instituted a persecution against the Christians in the year 143, then this divine Polycarp was captured and brought before the proconsul, namely the second under the highest in command. Having boldly confessed Christ, he was perfected in martyrdom by fire, and so the blessed one received from the Lord the unfading crown of martyrdom.

This Saint also received from the Lord the grace of wonderworking. Thus before he became a Hierarch, through his prayers he filled the storerooms with grain of that woman that raised him, whose storerooms he had beforehand emptied and distributed for the needs of the poor brethren. After he became a Hierarch, he prevailed over a rapid fire, and through his prayers brought rain upon the earth during a time of drought, and he also prevented the rain from being too excessive. His Synaxis is celebrated in the most-holy Great Church.

-Synaxarion

“Arise, take up your mat and go to your house.” Our Lord healed the paralysis of the suffering man brought through the roof. His words of healing centered on spiritual healing by forgiving his sins. In response to God’s love and forgiveness, are you being called to a life of prayer and intercession as a religious, monastic, or a priestly life? Contact the Vocations Office at 206-329-9219 or email: vocations@ephx.org

Feb. 24 The First and Second Finding of the Head of the Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John

The great and glorious Baptist John was beheaded at the wish and instigation of the wicked Herodias, the wife of Herod. When John was beheaded, Herodias ordered that his head not be buried with his body, for she feared that this awesome prophet would somehow resurrect. Therefore, she took his head and buried it deep in the ground in a secluded and dishonorable place. Her maidservant was Joanna, the wife of Chuza, a courtier of Herod. The good and devout Johanna could not tolerate that the head of the man of God should remain in this dishonorable place. She secretly unearthed it, took it to Jerusalem and buried it on the Mount of Olives. After a considerable period of time, an eminent land owner came to faith in Christ, left his position and the vanity of the world and became a monk, taking the name Innocent. As a monk, he took up his abode of the Mount of Olives, in the exact place where the head of the Baptist was buried. Wanting to build a cell for himself, he dug deeply and discovered an earthen vessel containing a head, which was mysteriously revealed to him to be the head of the Baptist. He reverenced it and re-buried it in the same spot. Later, according to God‘s providence, this miracle-working head traveled from place to place, then sank into the darkness of forgetfulness and was again re-discovered. Finally, at the time of Patriarch Ignatius, during the reign of the pious Empress Theodora, it was translated to Constantinople.

Troparion

The head of the forerunner arose from the earth like a star, sending out rays of healing and immortality. In heaven, it gathers together the choirs of angels, while on earth, it assembles the human race in a single voice to sing the glory of Christ our God.

Kontakion

O prophet of God and forerunner of grace, within the earth we have discovered your head, a rose of great holiness from which healing always comes to us. As you did of old, now also preach repentance to the world.

Epistle

2 Corinthians 4: 6-15

Brothers and sisters: God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts, that we in turn might make known the glory of God shining on the face of Christ. This treasure we possess in earthen vessels to make it clear that its surpassing power comes from God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way possible, but we are not crushed; full of doubts, we never despair. We are persecuted but never abandoned; we are struck down but never destroyed. Continually, we carry about in our bodies the dying of Jesus, so that in our bodies the life of Jesus may also be revealed. While we live we are constantly being delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh. Death is at work in us, but life in you. We have that spirit of faith of which the Scripture says, “Because I believed, I spoke out.” We believe and so we speak, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up along with Jesus and place both of us and you in his presence. Indeed, everything is ordered to your benefit, so that the grace bestowed in abundance may bring greater glory to God because they who give thanks are many.

Gospel

Matthew 11: 2-15

At that time when John, in prison, heard about the works Christ was performing, he sent a message by his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you ‘He who is to come’ or do we look for another?” In reply, Jesus said to them: “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life, and the poor have good news preached to them. Blest is the man who finds no stumbling block in me.”

As the messengers set off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out to the wasteland to see – a reed swaying in the wind? Tell me, what did you go out to see– someone luxuriously dressed? Remember, those who dress luxuriously are to be found in royal palaces. Why then did you go out – to see a prophet? A prophet indeed, and something more! It is about this man that Scripture says, ‘I send my messenger ahead of you to prepare your way before you.’

I solemnly assure you, history has not known a man born of a woman greater than John the Baptizer. Yet the least born into the kingdom of God is greater than he. From John the Baptizer’s time until now the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. All the prophets as well as the law spoke prophetically about John. If you are prepared to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who was certain to come. Heed carefully what you hear!”

Readings for the day

Epistle

Hebrews 3: 12-16

Brothers and sisters, take care lest any of you have an evil and unfaithful spirit and fall away from the living God. Encourage one another daily while it is still “today,” so that no one grows hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partners of Christ only if we maintain to the end that confidence with which we began. When Scripture says, “Today, if you should hear his voice, harden not your hearts as at the revolt,” who were those who revolted when they heard that voice? Was it not all whom Moses had led out of Egypt?

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

Feb. 23 The Holy Priest Martyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna

The holy priest martyr Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, who was “fruitful in every good work” (Col. 1:10), was born in the first century, and lived in Smyrna in Asia Minor. He was orphaned at an early age, but at the direction of an angel, he was raised by the pious widow Kallista. After the death of his adoptive mother, Polycarp gave away his possessions and began to lead a chaste life, caring for the sick and infirm. He was very fond of and close to St. Bucolus, Bishop of Smyra (who we celebrate Feb. 6). He ordained Polycarp as deacon, entrusting him to preach the Word of God in church. He also ordained him to the holy priesthood. Under the emperors Marcus Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, at about the age of 90, St. Polycarp was given over to the flames in the amphitheater at Smyrna. Before the proconsul and the whole people, he gave thanks to God the Father because he had deemed worthy to be numbered among martyrs and to receive a portion from the cup of Christ.

Troparion

O holy priest-martyr Polycarp, you lent yourself to the apostles’ way of life and succeeded them on their throne. Inspired by God, you found the way to contemplation through the practice of virtue. Therefore, you became a perfect teacher of truth, fighting for the faith unto the shedding of your blood. Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

Kontakion

O wise priest-martyr Polycarp, you offered spiritual fruits to God and became worthy of Him because of your virtues. Therefore, we who have been enlightened by your teachings, honor your memory and glorify the Lord.

Readings for the day

Genesis 5:32- 6:8

When Noah was five hundred years old, he begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

When human beings began to grow numerous on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw how beautiful the daughters of human beings were, and so they took for their wives whomever they pleased. Then the Lord said: My spirit shall not remain in human beings forever, because they are only flesh. Their days shall comprise one hundred and twenty years.

The Nephilim appeared on earth in those days, as well as later, after the sons of God had intercourse with the daughters of human beings, who bore them sons. They were the heroes of old, the men renown.

When the Lord saw how great the wickedness of human beings was on earth, and how every desire that their heart conceived was always nothing but evil, the Lord regretted making human beings on the earth, and his heart was grieved.

So the Lord said: I will wipe out from the earth the human beings I have created, and not only the human beings, but also the animals and the crawling things and the birds of the air, for I regret that I made them. But Noah found favor with the Lord.

Proverbs 6:20 – 7:1

Observe, my son, your father’s command, and do not reject your mother’s teaching;

Keep them fastened over your heart always, tie them around your neck.

When you lie down they will watch over you, when you wake, they will share your concerns; wherever you turn, they will guide you.

For the command is a lamp, and the teaching a light, and a way to life are the reproofs that discipline,

Keeping you from another’s wife, from the smooth tongue of a foreign woman.

Do not lust in your heart after her beauty, do not let her captivate you with her glance!

For the price of a harlot may be scarcely a loaf of bread, but a married woman is a trap for your precious life.

Can a man take embers into his bosom, and his garments not be burned?

Or can a man walk in live coals, and his feet not be scorched?

So with him who sleeps with another’s wife– none who touches her shall go unpunished.

Thieves are not despised if out of hunger they steak to satisfy their appetite.

Yet if caught they must pay back sevenfold, yield up all the wealth of their house.

But those who commit adultery have no sense; those who do it destroy themselves.

They will be beaten and disgraced, and their shame will not be wiped away;

For passion enraged the husband, he will have no pity on the day of vengeance;

He will not consider any restitution, nor be satisfied by your many bribes.

My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands.

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

Feb. 22 The finding of the Venerable Relics of the Martyrs of Eugenia

During the persecution against Christians the relics of holy martyrs were usually buried by believers in hidden places. So at Constantinople, near the gates and tower in the Eugenia quarter, the bodies of several martyrs were found. Their names remain unknown by the Church. When miracles of healing began to occur at this spot, the relics of the saints were discovered and transferred to a church with great honor. It was revealed to a pious clergyman, Nicholas Kalligraphos, that among the relics discovered at Eugenia were the relics of the holy Apostle Andronicus of the Seventy and his helper Junia. In the twelfth century, a great domed church was built on the spot where the relics were discovered. This work was undertaken by the emperor Andronicus, whose patron saint was the holy Apostle Andronicus.

Troparion

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.

Kontakion

O mighty pillars of faith and martyrs fighting for truth, you endured a host of pain for the sake of Christ, and you lay hidden for so long. Now you have been uncovered like a hidden treasure and are carried into the church by the bishop. You are generous with those who honor you. Therefore, pray for the salvation of our souls.

Readings for the day

Genesis 5: 1-24

This is the record of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, he made them in the likeness of God; he created them male and female. When they were created, he blessed them and named them mankind.

Adam was one hundred and thirty years old when he begot a son in his likeness, after his image; and he named him Seth. Adam lived eight hundred years after he begot Seth, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Adam was nine hundred and thirty years; then he died.

When Seth was one hundred and five years old, he begot Enosh. Seth lived eight hundred and seven years after he begot Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Seth was nine hundred and twelve years; then he died.

When Enosh was ninety years old, he begot Kenan. Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years after he begot Kenan, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Enosh was nine hundred and five years; then he died.

When Kenan was seventy years old, he begot Mahalalel. Kenan lived eight hundred and forty years after he begot Mahalalel, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Kenan was nine hundred and ten years; then he died.

When Mahalalel was sixty-five years old, he begot Jared. Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years after he begot Jared, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Mahalalel was eight hundred and ninety-five years; then he died.

When Jared was one hundred and sixty-two years old, he begot Enoch. Jared lived eight hundred years after he begot Enoch, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Jared was nine hundred and sixty-two years; then he died.

When Enoch was sixty-five years old, he begot Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he begot Methuselah for three hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters. The whole lifetime of Enoch was three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God, and he was no longer here, for God took him.

Proverbs 6: 3-19

So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s power: Go, hurry, rouse your neighbor!

Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids;

Free yourself like a gazelle from the hunter, or like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Go to the ant, O sluggard, study her ways and learn wisdom;

For though she has no chief, no commander or ruler,

She procures her food in the summer, stores up her provisions in the harvest.

How long, O sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest–

Then poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like a brigand.

Scoundrels, villains, are they who deal in crooked talk.

Shifty of eye, feet ever moving, pointing with fingers,

They have perversity in their hearts, always plotting evil, sowing discord.

Therefore their doom comes suddenly; in an instant they are crushed beyond cure.

There are six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to him,

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that plots wicked schemes, feet that are quick to run to evil,

The false witness who utters lies, and the one who sows discord among kindred.

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

Feb. 21 Our Venerable Father Timothy of Symbola; Our Father among the Saints Eustathius, Archbishop of Antioch

Our venerable father Timothy of Symbola was of Italian descent. He became a monk at a young age and pursued asceticism at a monastery called “Symbola”, in Asia Minor near Mount Olympus. At that time Theoctistus was the archimandrite of the monastery. St. Timothy was a disciple of Theoctistus and also of St. Platon of the Studion Monastery. He spent many years as a hermit, roaming the wilderness, the mountains and forests, both day and night offering up prayers to the Lord God. He died at a great old age, in the year 795.

Our father among the saints Eustathius, Archbishop of Antioch (323-331) was born in Side, Pamphylia. He was Bishop of Beroa (modern Aleppo), and enjoyed the love and esteem of the people, and at the request of his flock he was elevated by the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council (325) to the See of Antioch. St. Eustathius was the first to preside over the First Ecumenical Council. The Council condemned the heretical teachings of Arius and incorporated the Orthodox confession into the Symbol of Faith (the Nicene Creed).

Troparion

O God of our ancestors, You always deal with us according to your everlasting compassion, take not your mercy away from us; but through the prayers of our ancestors, guide our lives along the ways of peace.

Kontakion – Timothy

Rising in the east like a radiant star, you illumine the hearts of the faithful by your miracles. O vessel of miracles, O most blessed Timothy.

Kontakion – Eustathius

You preached that the Word had one nature with the Father and the Spirit, O pastor Eustathius. You defeated Arius with the cords of your dogma. You were a heavenly light to the fathers of the Council and have become a champion of the Trinity. As you stand before them, pray for the salvation of our souls.

Readings for the day

Genesis 4: 16-26

Cain then left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Cain had intercourse with his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. Cain also became the founder of a city, which he named after his son Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad became the father of Mehujael; Mahujael became the father of Methusael, and Methusael became the father of Lamech. Lamech took two wives; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal, who became the ancestor of those who dwell in tents and keep livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal, who became the ancestor of all who play the lyre and the reed pipe. Zillah, on her part, gave birth to Tubalcain, the ancestor of all who forge instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. Lamech said to his wives:

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

Wives of Lamech, listen to my utterance:

I have killed a man for wounding me.

If Cain is avenged seven times,

Then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

Adam again had intercourse with his wife, and she gave birth to a son who she called Seth. “God has granted me another offspring in place of Abel,” she said, “because Cain killed him.” To Seth, in turn, a son was born, and he named him Enosh.

At that time people began to invoke the Lord by name.

Proverbs 5:15- 6:3

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

Should your water sources be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets?

Let them be yours alone, not shared with outsiders;

Let your fountain be blessed and have joy of the wife of your youth, your lovely hind, your graceful doe. Of whose love you will ever have your fill, and by her ardor always be intoxicated.

Why then, my son, should you be intoxicated with a stranger, and embrace another woman?

Indeed, the ways of each person are plain to the Lord’s sight; all their paths he surveys;

By their own iniquities the wicked will be caught, in the meshes of their own sin they will be held fast;

They will die from lack of discipline, lost because of their great folly.

My son, if you have become surety to your neighbor, given your hand in pledge to another,

You have been snared by the utterance of your lips, caught by the words of your mouth.

So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s power: Go, hurry, rouse your neighbor!

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).