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Daily Readings
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Wednesday, 4th April 2012 --- 26 Baramhat 1728
Readings for Wednesday of seventh week of Great Lent
Matins
Proverbs 10 : 32 - end Proverbs 11 : 1 - 13 Isaiah 58 : 1 - 11 Job 40 : 1 - end Job 41 : 1 - 25
Proverbs 10 : 32 - end
Chapter 10
| 32 | The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
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Proverbs 11 : 1 - 13
Chapter 11
| 1 | Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.
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| 2 | When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
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| 3 | The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
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| 4 | Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
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| 5 | The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
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| 6 | The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
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| 7 | When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.
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| 8 | The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.
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| 9 | The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
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| 10 | When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
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| 11 | By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
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| 12 | He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
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| 13 | A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
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Isaiah 58 : 1 - 11
Chapter 58
| 1 | "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.
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| 2 | Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.
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| 3 | "Why have we fasted,' they say, "and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?'"In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.
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| 4 | Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.
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| 5 | Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD?
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| 6 | "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
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| 7 | Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
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| 8 | Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
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| 9 | Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, "Here I am.'"If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
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| 10 | If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
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| 11 | The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
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Job 40 : 1 - end
Chapter 40
| 1 | Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:
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| 2 | "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it."
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| 3 | Then Job answered the LORD and said:
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| 4 | "Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.
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| 5 | Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further."
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| 6 | Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
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| 7 | "Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me:
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| 8 | "Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
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| 9 | Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
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| 10 | Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty.
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| 11 | Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
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| 12 | Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place.
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| 13 | Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
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| 14 | Then I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you.
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| 15 | "Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox.
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| 16 | See now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles.
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| 17 | He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
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| 18 | His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron.
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| 19 | He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
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| 20 | Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there.
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| 21 | He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh.
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| 22 | The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him.
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| 23 | Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
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| 24 | Though he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare.
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Job 41 : 1 - 25
Chapter 41
| 1 | "Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
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| 2 | Can you put a reed through his nose, Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
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| 3 | Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?
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| 4 | Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?
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| 5 | Will you play with him as with a bird, Or will you leash him for your maidens?
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| 6 | Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?
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| 7 | Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears?
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| 8 | Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle--Never do it again!
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| 9 | Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
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| 10 | No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?
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| 11 | Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.
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| 12 | "I will not conceal his limbs, His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
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| 13 | Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle?
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| 14 | Who can open the doors of his face, With his terrible teeth all around?
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| 15 | His rows of scales are his pride, Shut up tightly as with a seal;
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| 16 | One is so near another That no air can come between them;
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| 17 | They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted.
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| 18 | His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
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| 19 | Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out.
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| 20 | Smoke goes out of his nostrils, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
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| 21 | His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes out of his mouth.
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| 22 | Strength dwells in his neck, And sorrow dances before him.
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| 23 | The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.
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| 24 | His heart is as hard as stone, Even as hard as the lower millstone.
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| 25 | When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside themselves.
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Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 57 : 1 - 1
Chapter 57
| 1 | Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.
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Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
Matins Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Luke 14 : 28 - 35
Chapter 14
| 28 | For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--
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| 29 | lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
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| 30 | saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
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| 31 | Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
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| 32 | Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.
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| 33 | So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
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| 34 | "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?
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| 35 | It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
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And Glory be to God forever.
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Liturgy Gospel
Paulines Epistle
Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God.
A reading from the Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Romans .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
Romans 16 : 4 - 13
Chapter 16
| 4 | who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
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| 5 | Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.
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| 6 | Greet Mary, who labored much for us.
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| 7 | Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
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| 8 | Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord.
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| 9 | Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
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| 10 | Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
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| 11 | Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
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| 12 | Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
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| 13 | Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
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The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
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Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. James .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
James 1 : 13 - 21
Chapter 1
| 13 | Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
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| 14 | But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
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| 15 | Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
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| 16 | Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
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| 17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
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| 18 | Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
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| 19 | So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
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| 20 | for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
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| 21 | Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
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Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen.
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Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us.
Acts 19 : 23 - 26
Chapter 19
| 23 | And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.
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| 24 | For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen.
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| 25 | He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: "Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.
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| 26 | Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.
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The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.
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Synaxarium
Day 26 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramhat, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins after forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers.
Amen.
The Twenty-Sixth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Departure of St.Euphrasia (Eupraxia),
the virgin
On this day the blessed
St. Euphrasia (Eupraxia) the virgin departed. She was the daughter of a
noble family in the city of Rome, who was related to Emperor Honorius.
Before her father's departure, he asked the Emperor to care for her. Her
mother went to Egypt to collect the revenues and rent of her estates and
orchards, which her husband had left her. She took her daughter, who was
nine years of age, with her, and they lodged in one of the houses of virgins.
The nuns of that convent were on high degree of asceticism, piety and devoutness,
they never ate food with meat, oil, fruits, at no time drank wine and slept
on the floor. Eupraxia loved the life in that convent, and she was pleased
with the nun that served her. That nun told her: "Promise me that you will
not leave this convent"; and she promised her that. When her mother finished
her work that she came to achieve, her daughter refused to return with
her and she said to her mother: "I have vowed myself to Christ, and I have
no need for this world, for my true Bridegroom is the Lord Christ." When
her mother knew that, she gave all her money and goods to the poor and
needy, and she lived with her daughter in the convent for many years, then
departed in peace.
When Emperor Honorius heard
that, he sent asking for her. She answered back saying that she had vowed
her self to the Lord Christ, and she can not break her covenant. The Emperor
marvelled at her wisdom and righteousness and allowed her to stay. Eupraxia
contended strenuously in the ascetic life, she fasted two days at a time,
then three, then four, and afterwards she fasted for a week at a time,
and during the Holy Lent she did not eat anything which was cooked. Satan
was jealous of her, and he smote her with an illness in her feet, gave
her pain for a long time, until God had compassion on her and healed her.
God granted her the gift of healing the sick, and she was beloved by all
the sisters and the abbess for her humility and obedience to them. One
night the abbess saw in a vision crowns which had been prepared, and she
asked: "Who are these for?", and she was told: "These crowns for your daughter
Eupraxia, she will be coming to us after a short while." The abbess told
the nuns of the vision which she had seen, and commanded them not to tell
Eupraxia about it. When her time came to depart of this world, she fell
sick of a slight fever. The abbess and the nuns gathered around St. Eupraxia
and asked her to remember them before the Divine Throne, then she departed
in peace. Then right after her departure the nun her friend departed, and
shortly after, the abbess fell sick, so she gathered the nuns and told
them: "Choose whom will be abbess over you, for I am going to the Lord."
When they came on the following morning to visit her, they found that she
had departed.
May Their prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of Pope Peter VI, the One Hundred
and Fourth Pope of Alexandria
On this day also the church
commemorates the departure of Pope Peter VI (Petros), the one hundred and
fourth Patriarch in the year 1442 A.M. (April 2nd., 1726 A.D.). This blessed
father and spiritual angel was the son of pure and Christian parents from
the city of Assiut. They raised him well, educated him with ecclesiastic
subjects and manners and he excelled in them. His name was Mourgan, but
later on he became known by the name Peter El-Assuity. The grace of God
was on him since his young age, and when he came to the age of maturity,
he forsook the world and what in it, and longed to the monastic life. He
went to the monastery of the great St.Antonios in the mount of El-Arabah,
he dwelt there, became a monk and put on the monastic garb. He exerted
himself in worship, and when he achieved the ascetic life, purity, righteousness,
and humility, the fathers the monks chose him to be a priest. They took
him against his will to Cairo, and he was ordained a priest, for the monastery
of the great Saint Anba Paula the first hermit, among others, by the hand
of Pope Yoannis El-Toukhy (103), in the church of the Lady the Virgin in
Haret El-Roum. He increased in virtues and he became well known among the
people.
When Pope Yoannis, the above
mentioned, departed, the Chair became vacant after him for two month and
six days. They went on looking for whom was fit for this honorable rank
so they chose some priests and monks. They wrote their names on pieces
of papers, placed them over the alter and celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
On the third day after asking and supplicating God to raise the one He
chooses, the lot fell on this father, so they realized that he was the
chosen one by God. He was ordained Patriarch for the See of St. Mark on
sunday the 17th. of Mesra 1434 A.M. (August 21st., year 1718 A.D.) at the
church of St. Marcurius in Old Cairo. It was a great joy for his enthronement,
which was attended by the Christian mass, foreign dignitaries, Catholics,
Greeks, Armenians, and the military. Afterwards, Pope Peter went to visit
the cities of Lower Egypt, visited the churches, and at the end he arrived
to Alexandria to visit the church of St. Mark the evangelist in the 11th.
of Baramouda year 1438 A.M. He kissed the pure holy head of St. Mark, and
he did extensive renovation inside the church. When he was about to return
he was informed that a group in Alexandria planning to steal the holy head
so he hid it in the monastery since that time. Then he gave a lamb made
of silver as a gift and lit it over the tomb of the Evangelist, and he
encircled it by a partition with windows looking inside. He went to Lower
and Upper Egypt and the people of Egypt rejoiced.
During the days of this
father, a group of priests and deacons came, delegated by the Emperor of
Ethiopia, with extravagant gifts and a letter from the Emperor, asking
for a Metropolitan. He deliberated the subject with Mr. Lotf-Allah Abu-Yousif
a prominent notable of Cairo and others, and they all agreed on the honorable
father Khristozolo bishop of Jerusalem. He was a blessed father, and knowledgeable
teacher, so Pope Peter ordained him Metropolitan, and called him Khristozolo
III. They went with him to Ethiopia happy and joyful, and he cared for
that parish from 1720 - 1742 A.D. Pope Peter ordained Anba Athanasius bishop
for Jerusalem. During the papacy of this Pope many churches were built
and consecrated with his blessed hand. Among those churches, the church
of St. Mary on the Nile in the district of El-Maady, the church of Michael
the archangel in Babylon, and the church of St. Mina the wonder worker
in Fum El-Khalig - Cairo. The last two churches were built by the noble
and charitable Mr. Lotf-Allah Abu-Yousif by his private funds, also he
built the church of the Apostles in the monastery of St.Antonios, and also
assumed and paid the cost of the enthronement festivals of the Patriarch.
The days of this Pope were peaceful and tranquil, and he worked on implementing
the church cannons especially he stopped the divorce, for whatever the
reason. For that purpose he went to the Governor Ebn-Eiwaz and discussed
the subject with the Muslim scholars, so they gave him a formal legal opinion
and a decree that the No Divorce only apply to the Christians, and no one
can object him for that in courts. He ordered the priests not to wed except
in his presence. That was because a man, who was the son of a priest, protested
against him. The man had divorced his wife and married another without
the Patriarch's knowledge in the church. He ordered them to come before
him so he might dissolve the illegal marriage, but the man refused and
did not come. The Pope excommunicated the man, his wife and his father
the priest for he had married them. This man died after sever illness in
his mouth, and his father the priest went to the Pope, asked for his forgiveness,
the Pope absolved him and shortly after he died. This pope shepherded the
flock of Christ with the best of care, and when he completed his strife,
he fell sick for a short sickness and departed on the 26th. of Baramhat,
year 1442 A.M. in the Holy Lent. His body was placed in the tomb of the
Patriarchs in the church of St. Marcurius in Old Cairo. He remained on
the Chair for 7 years, 7 month and 11 days. He was charitable, generous
and merciful to his people as his predecessor. Pope Peter (Petros) El-Assuity
was approximately forty six years old, and he was a contemporary of Sultan
Ahmed III the Ottoman.
The Chair remained vacant for 9 month and 11 days after him. The year
this pope departed, there was an outbreak of Plaque in the land along with
severe drought, many bishops and priests departed and death befell the
people from Alexandria to Aswan.
May the lord have mercy on his people and benefit us with the prayers
and blessings of Pope Petros El-Asuity, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
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Divine Psalm
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet, and the Good King.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 51 : 2 - 3
Chapter 51
| 2 | Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
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| 3 | For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
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Hallelujah.
Divine Gospel
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Our Lord God, Savior, and King of us all, Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
John 6 : 35 - 45
Chapter 6
| 35 | And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
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| 36 | But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
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| 37 | All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
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| 38 | For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
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| 39 | This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
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| 40 | And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
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| 41 | The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down from heaven."
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| 42 | And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, "I have come down from heaven'?"
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| 43 | Jesus therefore answered and said to them, "Do not murmur among yourselves.
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| 44 | No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
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| 45 | It is written in the prophets, "And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
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And Glory be to God forever.
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Acknowledgement
Opening page