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Daily Readings
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Wednesday, 13th December 2017 --- 4 Kiahk 1734
Readings for Wednesday, 13th December 2017 --- 4 Kiahk 1734
Vespers
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 68 : 11,35
Chapter 68
| 11 | The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it:
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| 35 | O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!
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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.
Vespers Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel.
A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Mark the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Mark 3 : 7 - 21
Chapter 3
| 7 | But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea
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| 8 | and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.
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| 9 | So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.
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| 10 | For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.
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| 11 | And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God."
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| 12 | But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.
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| 13 | And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.
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| 14 | Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,
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| 15 | and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
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| 16 | Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;
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| 17 | James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder";
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| 18 | Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite;
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| 19 | and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.
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| 20 | Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
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| 21 | But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."
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And Glory be to God forever.
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Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 145 : 10 - 12
Chapter 145
| 10 | All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You.
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| 11 | They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power,
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| 12 | To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
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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 6 : 12 - 23
Chapter 6
| 12 | Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
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| 13 | And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
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| 14 | Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;
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| 15 | Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot;
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| 16 | Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.
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| 17 | And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,
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| 18 | as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.
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| 19 | And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
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| 20 | Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
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| 21 | Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh.
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| 22 | Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake.
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| 23 | Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
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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 10 : 4 - 18
Chapter 10
| 4 | For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
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| 5 | For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."
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| 6 | But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?"' (that is, to bring Christ down from above)
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| 7 | or, Who will descend into the abyss?"' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
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| 8 | But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
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| 9 | that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
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| 10 | For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
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| 11 | For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
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| 12 | For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
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| 13 | For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
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| 14 | How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
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| 15 | And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
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| 16 | But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "LORD, who has believed our report?"
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| 17 | So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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| 18 | But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world."
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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 2 of St. Peter .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
2 Peter 1 : 12 - 21
Chapter 1
| 12 | For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.
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| 13 | Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
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| 14 | knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
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| 15 | Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
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| 16 | For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
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| 17 | For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
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| 18 | And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
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| 19 | And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
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| 20 | knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
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| 21 | for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
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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 3 : 1 - 16
Chapter 3
| 1 | Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
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| 2 | And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
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| 3 | who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
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| 4 | And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us."
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| 5 | So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
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| 6 | Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
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| 7 | And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
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| 8 | So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God.
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| 9 | And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
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| 10 | Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
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| 11 | Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed.
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| 12 | So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
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| 13 | The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
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| 14 | But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
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| 15 | and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
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| 16 | And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
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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 4 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Kiahk, 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 Fourth Day of the Blessed Month of Kiahk
Martyrdom of St.Andrew the Apostle, the
Brother of St.Peter
On this day, St. Andrew
the Apostle, the brother of St. Peter, was martyred. He was chosen to go
to the city of Lydd and to Kurdistan. He entered the city of Lydd, where
most of its people had believed at the hands of St. Peter. He was accompanied
by his disciple, Philemon, who had a sweet voice and was a good reader.
St. Andrew commanded Philemon to go up to the pulpit and read. When the
priests of the idols heard of the arrival of Andrew the Apostle, they took
their spears and went to the church. They stood outside the church to hear
if he was cursing their gods or not. They heard Philemon reading the words
of David the Prophet, "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's
hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak: eyes they have but they
do not see: They have ears, but they do not hear: noses they have, but
they do not smell: They have hands, but they do not handle: feet they have,
but they do not walk: nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who
make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them." (Psalms 115:4-8)
Their hearts rejoiced because
of his sweet voice and their emotions mellowed. They entered the church,
and bowed down at the feet of Andrew the Apostle. He preached to them and
they believed in the Lord Christ. Then he baptized them with the rest of
those who worshipped idols. Andrew the Apostle, then left them and went
to Kurdistan and to the cities of Aksis, Aregnas and Henefores, to preach
there. He also went with St. Bartholomew to the city of Azrinos. Its people
were wicked and knew not God. They went on preaching and teaching them
until they lead many of them to the knowledge of God, because of the signs
and wonders they performed before them. Those who did not believe plotted
against him. They sent for him so that when he arrived, they would attack
him and kill him. When their messengers came to St. Andrew and heard his
sincere teachings and saw his shining face, they believed in our Lord Christ
and did not return to those who had sent them. The unbelievers decided
to go to him and burn him. When they gathered around him to do what they
had intended, the Apostle prayed to the Lord, and immediately fire came
down from heaven and surrounded them. They were terrified and believed.
The report of St. Andrew the Apostle, was heard throughout all these countries
and many believed in the Lord. Nevertheless the priests of the idols did
not cease looking for him in order to kill him. Afterwards, they gathered
and went to him; they bound him and beat him severely. After they dragged
him around the city naked, they cast him into prison, so that they might
crucify him the following day. Their custom was to stone those who were
to be killed by crucifixion. The Apostle spent his night praying to God.
The Lord Christ appeared to him and strengthened him saying, "Do not fear
or worry for the time of your departure from this world is near." He gave
him peace and disappeared. St. Andrew's soul rejoiced for what he saw.
On the next day, they hanged him upon a tree and stoned him until he departed.
Certain believers came and took his holy body and laid it with great honor
in a private grave. Many signs and wonders were made manifest from his
body.
May His prayers be with us and Glory be to our 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 19 : 1,4
Chapter 19
| 1 | The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
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| 4 | Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
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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.
Matthew 10 : 1 - 15
Chapter 10
| 1 | And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
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| 2 | Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
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| 3 | Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
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| 4 | Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
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| 5 | These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
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| 6 | But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
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| 7 | And as you go, preach, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
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| 8 | Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
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| 9 | Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
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| 10 | nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
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| 11 | "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.
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| 12 | And when you go into a household, greet it.
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| 13 | If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
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| 14 | And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
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| 15 | Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
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And Glory be to God forever.
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Acknowledgement
Opening page