Friday, November 22, 2024 | Hathor 13, 1741
Annual | Herbs and plants
Yesterday | Today | TomorrowVespers Raising of Incense
Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet. May his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 109:4,7
The LORD has sworn And will not relent, "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.
Alleluia.
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 16:13-19
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
And Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Prime Raising of Incense
Gospel
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. From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet. May his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 72:23,24,28
Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.
Alleluia.
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 15:17-25
These things I command you, that you love one another. "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My names sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, They hated Me without a cause.
And Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Divine Liturgy
Pauline Epistle
Paul, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed to the Gospel of God. A reading from the 2 Epistle of our teacher Paul to the Corinthians. May his blessings be upon us. Amen.
2 Corinthians 4:5-5:11
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake.
The grace of God the Father be with you all. Amen.
Catholic Epistle
A Reading from the 1 Epistle of St. Peter. May his blessing be upon us. Amen.
1 Peter 2:18-3:7
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
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.
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of our fathers the apostles, may their blessings be with us. Amen.
Acts of the Apostles 20:17-38
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no ones silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they all wept freely, and fell on Pauls neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God. Amen.
Synaxarium
The Thirteenth Day of the Blessed Coptic Month of Hathor, may God make it always received, year after year, with reassurance and tranquility, while our sins are forgiven by the tender mercies of our God my fathers and brothers, Amen.
Departure of Saint Timothy the Bishop of Ansena
On this day, the saint Abba Timothy, Bishop of Ansena, departed. He was righteous and chaste from his youth. He became a monk at a young age and lived a righteous life. Because of his chastity, righteousness, knowledge and his good character, he was chosen bishop for the city of Ansena (Antinoe). He preached to the believers and guided the people to believe in Christ. The Governor however, seized him and tortured him in various ways, inside the prison and outside it, for three consecutive years. There were many others with him in prison who were seized because of their faith. The tyrant Governor continued to bring several of them out of prison and shed their blood after torturing them, until only a few remained in prison, this father was one of them. When the Lord destroyed Diocletian, and Constantine (the Emperor who loved Christ) reigned, he ordered all the prisoners who were persecuted for the sake of their faith in Christ to be set free, in all the countries under his authority. Father Timothy was also released and went to his diocese and gathered all the priests of his diocese. They prayed to the Lord all night. Father Timothy asked for the salvation of the soul of the Governor who had tortured him saying, 'Because 0 Lord, he is the one who has brought me great blessing by bringing me close to You, be good to him so he might become close to You.' The people who were gathered marvelled at the purity of this father's heart, who was fulfilling his Master's words, 'Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.' (Matthew 5:44)
When the Governor heard that, he marvelled saying, 'I had thought that he would curse me for what I inflicted upon him, for I had ill treated him greatly, but instead he is blessing me. Truly the faith of these people is a 'Divine Faith'.' He sent for Abba Timothy. He inquired about the principles of the Christian faith. The father revealed to him the cause of the Incarnation of the Son of God and what the prophets had spoken many years before, concerning Him and how their prophesies were fulfilled, giving him proofs from the scriptures. Consequently, the Governor believed in Christ and the father the Bishop baptized him. The Governor subsequently resigned the governorship and became a monk. As for St. Timothy, he continued to teach his flock, guarding them until he departed in peace.
May His prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of Pope Zacharias (1004-1032) the 64th Patriarch of Alexandria and the See of Saint Mark
On this day also of the year 1032 A.D., the great St. Abba Zacharias, 64th Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was a native of Alexandria and was an ordained priest there. He was chaste and gentle in disposition. When St. Philotheus, 63rd Pope, departed, the bishops assembled to choose, with God's guidance, the person who was fit to succeed him. While they were gathered in the church of St. Mark, discussing who was the most suitable man, they were informed that a rich man from Alexandria called Ibrahim Ben-Bishr, who was close to El-Khalifa (Governor) had given him a bribe and obtained a decree from him to be appointed Patriarch. El-Khalifa sent him, accompanied with some soldiers, to Alexandria. The bishops were saddened and they entreated God in one accord to keep away from His church the one who was coming to shepherd His church through bribery and the sultan's influence. They asked God to choose the person who was fit for this honor. While they were on this subject, Abba Zacharias came down the stairs of the church carrying a vessel. His foot slipped and he fell and came tumbling down the stairs to the floor while still holding the unbroken vessel in his hand. The bishops and the priests marveled at this and they asked the opinion of the people of Alexandria. Everyone agreed on Abba Zacharias' righteousness and his knowledge. They all agreed, along with the bishops, to ordain him Patriarch.
When Ibrahim Ben-Bishr arrived, he found that they had already ordained Abba Zacharias as Patriarch. When the bishops read the King's letter, they appeased Ibrahim and ordained him priest, then hegumen. They promised to ordain him bishop when one of the dioceses became available. Abba Zacharias, had suffered many tribulations. As an example, a monk had made many accusations against him before El-Hakem (Be-Amr-Allah) who became El-Khalifa (Governor) in the year 989 AD. El-Hakem seized the Pope and cast him to the lions, but they did not harm him. The Governor was angered with the keeper of the lions and thought that he had taken a bribe from the Pope. The Governor kept the lions for a period of time without food, then he slaughtered a sheep and smeared the clothes of the Patriarch with its blood. He then cast him a second time to the lions, but again, they did not harm him, for the Lord had domesticated them. The Governor marveled and ordered that he be lifted up. The Governor then cast him into prison for three months during which he threatened him with death and casting in fire if he did not forsake his Christian faith. The Patriarch was not afraid. The Governor tried again bribing him by promising to appoint him a judge with jurisdiction over all other judges but he was not impressed with these earthly ranks and did not hearken to the order of the Governor. Finally, because of the mediation of one of the princes, he released him. Abba Zacharias went to the desert of Scete, stayed there for nine years during which the people suffered great tribulations and experienced many troubles. Also, several churches were destroyed during that time.
Christ the Lord had compassion on His church and removed these tribulations from the people. He also turned the Governor away from his injustice. Subsequently, the Governor ordered the churches that were destroyed to be rebuilt. He also ordered that everything that was taken from them be returned and that the bells of the churches ring again. Abba Zacharias lived 12 years, after his return from the desert, during which he took interest in building churches and restoring those that were destroyed. He remained in the papacy for 28 years and departed to the Lord in peace.
May his prayers and blessings be with us all, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Gospel
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. From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet. May his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 106:32,41,42
Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, And praise Him in the company of the elders. Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, And makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice, And all iniquity stops its mouth.
Alleluia.
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 10:1-16
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
And Glory be to God forever. Amen