Lenten Services, Readings, and the Saint of the Day

Saturday, March 3, 2008

Part 1: 6th Hour and Vespers Readings

Saturday

LITURGY

Hebrews 3:12-16

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

Mark 1:35-44

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. 40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Commemoration of the Dead

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

John 5:24-30

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

1. THE PRIEST-MARTYR BASIL, PRESBYTER OF ANCYRA

Under Emperor Constantius, Basil endured and suffered much at the hands of the Arians. At that time he was renown as a great zealot of Orthodoxy and a true shepherd of his entrusted flock in Ancyra. When Julian the Apostate ascended the throne, he began to persecute Christians. Because Basil openly unmasked this latest impurity and strengthened his people in the Faith, he was cast into prison. When Emperor Julian came to Ancyra, Basil was brought before him and the emperor tried to persuade him to abandon his faith in Christ, promising him honors and riches. Basil answered the emperor; "I believe in my Christ, Whom you denied and Who gave you this earthly kingdom; but, that will be taken away from you, shortly. Have you no shame of the sacred altar under which you were saved when they sought to kill you as an eight year old child? That is why this temporary kingdom will be taken from you shortly and your body will not be buried when your soul is violently wrested from you in bitter pains." Julian became enraged and ordered that seven strips of skin be pealed from his body everyday. The tormentors did this for several days. When Basil appeared again before the emperor, he took a belt of his own skin and threw it into the face of Julian and crying out to him said, "Take it, Julian, and eat if this kind of food is sweet to you but, for me, Christ is Life." This incident was proclaimed throughout the towns, and the emperor, out of shame, secretly departed from Ancyra to Antioch. They continued to torture Basil with red hot irons until he gave up his soul to God, for Whom he suffered in the year 363 A.D.

2. SAINT DROSIDA

Drosida was the daughter of Emperor Trajan. She was captured with five other women at night while they were gathering the bodies of the tortured martyrs for Christ. For this she was severely disfigured by the emperor. Those five women were horribly tortured and, in the end, were thrown into a vat of molten copper, where they gave up their souls to their Lord. Drosida remained under the strict guard of the emperor. She escaped from the palace and baptized herself in a river. After eight days she gave up her soul to God.

3. THE VENERABLE MARTYR, EUTHYMIUS

Euthymius was born in the village of Dimitsana in the Peloponnese. As a child, Euthymius lived as a Christian but, later on, he went to Romania where he gave himself over to a life of great debauchery. In this debauchery an evil spirit lead him to become a Muslim. As soon as he did that, Euthymius began to repent bitterly. He again returned to the Faith of Christ and was tonsured a monk in Athos, the Holy Mountain. After several years spent in strict fasting and prayer, he decided to die for Christ. With the blessing of his spiritual father, he traveled to Constantinople where he succeeded somehow to come before the Grand Vezir. Euthymius began to cross himself, to praise Christ and to insult Mohammed in the presence of the Vezir. After prolonged torture he was sentenced to death and beheaded on Palm Sunday, March 22, 1814 A.D. Many miraculous healings of the sick occurred over his relics. His honorable head is preserved in the Russian Monastery of St. Panteteimom [Pantaleon] in the Holy Mountain. And so, this twenty-year old youth, at first, died to Christ and after that died for Christ.

HYMN OF PRAISE

CHRIST THE LORD AS A FISHERMAN

A wonderful Fisherman, O Christ the Lord, You are,

Throughout the entire world, the nets You spread,

For pure pearls You trawl from the waters deep,

Invisible net, by the Spirit woven,

Woven with love, moistened with tears,

By angelic hands, everywhere upheld.

Everyone to whom a mother gave birth and by the Spirit reared,

Most beautiful souls all, that the world can give.

All that into the numbers of Your rich catch entered,

All that Your silk net caught.

When nets from the sea of life, You raise

Nothing will remain except the muddy scum.

O, Fisherman, Most Wonderful, of pure pearls,

And we sinners, Your pearls, at one time were,

Now, from Your Throne, we are far away,

Under the sediment of dark passions, covered are we,

But, may Your net also us, to seize,

From Your countenance, we will shine as the stars.

REFLECTION

Even in His pain on the cross, the Lord Jesus did not condemn sinners but offered pardon to His Father for their sins saying, "They know not what they do!"(St. Luke 23:34). Let us not judge anyone so that we will not be judged. For no one is certain that before his death he will not commit the same sin by which he condemns his brother. Saint Anastasius of Sinai teaches, "Even if you see someone sinning, do not judge him for you do not know what the end of his life will be like. The thief, crucified with Christ, entered Paradise and the Apostle Judas went to Hell. Even if you see someone sinning, bear in mind that you do not know his good works. For many have sinned openly and repented in secret; we see their sins, but we do not know their repentance. That is why, brethren, let us not judge anyone so that we will not be judged."

CONTEMPLATION

To contemplate the Lord Jesus crucified on the cross:

1. How infinite is His sorrow for mankind blinded by sin;

2. How His thoughts on the cross are directed more to His Heavenly Father than to Himself;

3. How His concern on the cross is directed more at mankind than to Himself;

4. How on the cross He is certain of His Victory and Resurrection.

HOMILY

About the majesty of Christ the Victor

"The hair of His head wasas white wool or as snow andHis eyes were like a fiery flame" (Revelation 1:14).

That is how John the Theologian (the one who gazed upon God) saw Jesus after His resurrection and victory. He saw Him as the Son of Man, clothed in a lengthy garment, girded about with a golden sash, with seven stars in His right hand, and His face "shone like the sun at its brightest" (Revelation 1:16). It was with this kind of power and glory that He appeared, Who on the cross was not radiant and Who seemed to be as the weakest of the sons of men to all the passersby. Why were His hairs like white wool and white as snow? Was not our Lord barely thirty-four years old when they killed Him? From where, then, His white hair? Does not white hair indicate old age? It is true that white hair does indicate old age with mortal man, but with Christ in Glory it indicated more than old age; it indicated eternity. Eternal youthful age! Old age is the past and youth is the future. At the same time, is He not the one and the other? More than all the times past and all future times and even beyond time, Christ is eternity beyond time. Why were His eyes like a flame of fire? Because He is the All-seeing. All sorts of things can be hidden from the sun, but of all that is in the heavens, on the earth or under the earth, nothing can be hidden from His sight. He perceives all the threads of the fabric of nature; He perceives all the atoms in the stones, every drop of water in the sea, every particle of air and all thoughts and all desires of every created soul. This is the One and the same and no other; He who out of compassion for the human race came to earth, clothed Himself in a mortal and suffering body, was ridiculed, was mocked and was spat upon by sinful men. That is the same One, and no other, Who, without radiance, hung on the cross between thieves and, as a dead man, was buried by Joseph and Nicodemus.

O brethren, how awesome it is to think what a great and majestic Visitor the earth had! It is even more awesome to think against Whom the deranged men raised their hands!

O Majestic Lord, forgive us our sins and remember us all in Your Power and Glory.

To You all glory and thanks always. Amen.

Part 3: Matins and Vespers

TRIODION
SECOND WEEK OF LENT SATURDAY VESPERS
 
 "LORD I CALL..."
 
 (Six stikhera of the Resurrection)
 
(The texts for this office, except for the two canons, were written by
Patriarch Philotheos of Constantinople in 1368 when the feast of St.
Gregory Palamas was appointed for this Sunday of Lent.)
 
 TONE 2
 
WHAT HYMNS OF PRAISE SHALL WE SING TO HONOR THE HOLY BISHOP,
THE TRUMPET OF THEOLOGY, THE FLAMING MOUTHPIECE OF GRACE,
THE HONORABLE RECEIVER OF THE SPIRIT,
THE UNSHAKEN PILLAR OF THE CHURCH,
THE GREAT JOY OF THE INHABITED EARTH,
THE RIVER OF WISDOM, THE CANDLESTICK OF LIGHT,//
THE SHINING STAR THAT HAS MADE ALL OF CREATION BRIGHT!(Twice)
 
WHAT WORDS OF SONG SHALL WE WEAVE AS A GARLAND,
THAT WE MAY CROWN THE HOLY BISHOP?
HE IS THE CHAMPION OF TRUE DEVOTION,
THE ADVERSARY OF IMPIETY,
THE FERVENT PROTECTOR OF THE FAITH,
THE GREAT GUIDE AND TEACHER,
THE WELL-TUNED HARP OF THE SPIRIT,
THE GOLDEN TONGUE, THE FOUNTAIN FLOWING WITH WATERS
FOR HEALING THE FAITHFUL;//
THE GREAT AND HONORABLE GREGORY!
 
WITH WHAT WORDS SHALL WE EARTH-DWELLERS PRAISE THE HOLY BISHOP?
HE IS THE TEACHER OF THE CHURCH,
THE HERALD OF THE LIGHT OF GOD,
THE INITIATE OF THE HEAVENLY MYSTERIES OF THE TRINITY,
THE CHIEF ADORNMENT OF THE MONASTIC LIFE,
KNOWN BOTH IN ACTION AND CONTEMPLATION,
THE GLORY OF THESSALONICA!
NOW TOGETHER WITH THE GREAT MARTYR DEMETRIUS, FROM THAT SAME CITY,
WHERE HIS RELICS FLOW WITH THE OIL OF HEALING,//
HE DWELLS FOREVER IN HEAVEN!
 
 GLORY...  TONE 6
 
THRICE-BLESSED SAINT, MOST HOLY FATHER,
EXCELLENT PASTOR AND GREAT SHEPHERD, DISCIPLE OF CHRIST,
YOU HAVE LAID DOWN YOUR LIFE AND SOUL FOR THE SHEEP,
AND NOW, GOD-BEARING GREGORY, BY YOUR INTERCESSIONS,//
PRAY TO OUR FATHER TO BESTOW ON US MIGHTY MERCY!
 
 NOW AND EVER... (Of the Resurrection tone of the week)
 
 
 TRIODION
SECOND SATURDAY IN LENT ST. GREGORY PALAMAS
 
 LITYA
 
 GLORY...  TONE 6
 
YOUR LIPS ARE FULL OF GRACE, HOLY FATHER!
YOU HAVE BECOME A SHEPHERD OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
TEACHING YOUR SPIRITUAL FLOCK TO BELIEVE IN THE TRINITY,//
CONSUBSTANTIAL IN ONE DIVINITY!
 
 NOW AND EVER... (Theotokion)
 
MY MAKER AND REDEEMER, CHRIST THE LORD,
WAS BORN OF YOU, MOST PURE VIRGIN!
BY ACCEPTING MY NATURE HE FREED ADAM FROM HIS ANCIENT CURSE!
UNCEASINGLY WE MAGNIFY YOU AS THE MOTHER OF GOD!
REJOICE, CELESTIAL JOY!
REJOICE, O LADY,//
THE PROTECTION, INTERCESSION AND SALVATION OF OUR SOULS!
 
 TRIODION
SECOND WEEK OF LENT SATURDAY VESPERS
 
 APOSTIKHA
 
 (Of the Resurrection)
 
 GLORY... TONE 8
 
YOUR TONGUE, WATCHFUL IN TEACHING, RANG IN THE HEART,
AND AWAKENED THE SOULS OF MEN FROM SLOTHFULNESS,
AND BY YOUR DIVINELY-SOUNDING WORD,
WE FIND A LADDER LEADING US FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN.
THEREFORE, GREGORY, WONDER OF THESSALONICA,//
NEVER CEASE ENTREATING CHRIST TO ENLIGHTEN THOSE WHO HONOR YOU!
 
 NOW AND EVER... (Theotokion)
 
UNWEDDED VIRGIN,
WHO INEFFABLY CONCEIVED GOD IN THE FLESH!
O MOTHER OF GOD MOST HIGH!
ACCEPT THE CRIES OF YOUR SERVANTS, BLAMELESS ONE!
GRANT CLEANSING OF TRANSGRESSIONS TO ALL!//
RECEIVE OUR PRAYERS AND PRAY TO SAVE OUR SOULS!
 
 
 TRIODION
SECOND WEEK OF LENT SUNDAY
 
 
  TROPARION (Of the Resurrection)
 
 
 TROPARION TONE 8
 
LIGHT OF ORTHODOXY, TEACHER OF THE CHURCH; ITS CONFIRMATION!
 
IDEAL OF MONKS AND INVINCIBLE CHAMPION OF THEOLOGIANS.
 
WONDER-WORKING GREGORY, GLORY OF THESSALONICA AND PREACHER OF GRACE://
 
ALWAYS INTERCEDE BEFORE THE LORD THAT OUR SOULS MAY BE SAVED!
 
 
 KONTAKION TONE 4
 
NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION!
 
JUDGMENT IS AT THE DOORS!
 
SO LET US RISE AND FAST,
 
OFFERING ALMS WITH TEARS OF COMPUNCTION AND CRYING:
 
OUR SINS ARE MORE IN NUMBER THAN THE SANDS OF THE SEA,
 
BUT FORGIVE US, MASTER OF ALL,//
 
SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWNS.
 
 
 KONTAKION TONE 8
 
TOGETHER WE SING YOUR PRAISES, DIVINELY-INSPIRED GREGORY:
 
GOD'S HOLY INSTRUMENT OF WISDOM; THE JOYFUL TRUMPET OF THEOLOGY!
 
AS YOU NOW STAND IN MIND AND SPIRIT BEFORE THE CREATING WISDOM,
 
GUIDE OUR MINDS TO HIM, FATHER, THAT WE MAY CRY OUT TO YOU://
 
REJOICE, PREACHER OF GRACE!