Praise is the direct address of God that lets him know we recognize him for who he is, what he has done, and what he is doing. But more than informing God of his greatness, praise is rejoicing before him in his greatness and recognizing that not only is his grace without comparison, his majesty and might and holiness and faithfulness and righteousness and mercy and love and forgiveness and justice and... without comparison. God is God and praise is thankful celebration that he is God, and even more importantly, that he is our God.
Day 3 of the Blessed Coptic Month of El-nasi, 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 Third Day of the Blessed Month of El-Nasi
Commemoration of the Angel Raphael, the Archangel
On this day, the church celebrates the commemoration of the honorable Angel Raphael, the third of the Archangels, and the dedication of his church outside the city of Alexandria. During the time of Pope Theophilus, the twenty-third Patriarch, a faithful woman came from Rome, with her children and had with her a picture of the honorable Archangel Raphael. She had inherited much money from her husband. She revealed to the Pope her desire to build many churches. He showed her a large heap, which was in front of the patriarchate, which she removed and built a church in its place. Then she built another church in the name of the Angel Raphael, which was consecrated on this day.
May The intercession of this honorable angel be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Andrianus
On this day also, St. Andrianus, one of the commanders of the army of the emperor, was martyred. This saint, whenever he saw a martyr he would ask him, "Why do you do that to yourself?" They answered him, "In the hope of the eternal life, and the everlasting kingdom." He went to the emperor and confessed the Lord Christ. The Emperor tortured him much then imprisoned him with many martyrs. Anatolia, the wife of this saint, cut off her hair, and dressed in a man's apparel. She came to the prison and ministered to the martyrs. She strengthened her husband, comforted and consoled him. When other women heard about what she did, they did the same. Later on the emperor ordered the legs of the prisoners broken until they die. This saint came and encouraged her husband until he delivered his soul to the hand of the Lord. After all the martyrs had delivered up their souls, the emperor ordered their bodies burned, but God brought down dew which put out the fire. Some believers carried the bodies to Pisidia. A prince asked to marry St. Anatolia, but she refused. When she finished her strife, she departed in peace.
May their prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Yoannis XIV, the 96th Pope of Alexandria
On this day also, of the year 1302 A.M. (September 6, 1586 A.D.), and during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Mourad III, Pope Yoannis XIV, 96th Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was from Manfalout, and he was known by Yoannis El-Manfalouty. He became a monk at El-Baramous monastery, in Wadi El-Natroun. He was ordained Patriarch during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Selim II, on the 22nd day of Baramoudah, 1287 A.M. (April 17th, 1571 A.D.). During his Papacy the Christians were forced to wear black turbans (head cover). He received a letter from the Pope of Rome and he answered him back. Sultan Selim asked him to collect head taxes from the Christians, and every one complied. He went to Alexandria, and on his way back, he felt weak and ill at the city of El-Nahrawiah. He departed there and was buried at the Church of St. George in Birma. His body was relocated later on to El-Sourian monastery. He was on the Chair for fifteen years, four months, and nineteen days.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
Vespers
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 34 : 7 - 8
Chapter 34
| 7 | The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. |
| 8 | Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! |
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 Matthew the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Matthew 16 : 24 - 28
Chapter 16
| 24 | Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. |
| 25 | For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. |
| 26 | For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? |
| 27 | For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. |
| 28 | Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." |
And Glory be to God forever.
Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 97 : 7 - 9
Chapter 97
| 7 | Let all be put to shame who serve carved images, Who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods. |
| 8 | Zion hears and is glad, And the daughters of Judah rejoice Because of Your judgments, O LORD. |
| 9 | For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods. |
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 Matthew the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Matthew 18 : 10 - 20
Chapter 18
| 10 | "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. |
| 11 | For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. |
| 12 | "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? |
| 13 | And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. |
| 14 | Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. |
| 15 | "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. |
| 16 | But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that "by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' |
| 17 | And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. |
| 18 | "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. |
| 19 | "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. |
| 20 | For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." |
And Glory be to God forever.
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 Hebrews .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
Hebrews 2 : 5 - 18
Chapter 2
| 5 | For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. |
| 6 | But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? |
| 7 | You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. |
| 8 | You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. |
| 9 | But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. |
| 10 | For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. |
| 11 | For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, |
| 12 | saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." |
| 13 | And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." |
| 14 | Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, |
| 15 | and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. |
| 16 | For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. |
| 17 | Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. |
| 18 | For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. Peter .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
1 Peter 1 : 3 - 12
Chapter 1
| 3 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, |
| 4 | to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, |
| 5 | who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. |
| 6 | In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, |
| 7 | that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, |
| 8 | whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, |
| 9 | receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. |
| 10 | Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, |
| 11 | searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. |
| 12 | To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into. |
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.
Acts 10 : 21 - 33
Chapter 10
| 21 | Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?" |
| 22 | And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you." |
| 23 | Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. |
| 24 | And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. |
| 25 | As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. |
| 26 | But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man." |
| 27 | And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. |
| 28 | Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. |
| 29 | Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?" |
| 30 | So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, |
| 31 | and said, "Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. |
| 32 | Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.' |
| 33 | So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God." |
The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
Amen.
Synaxarium
Day 3 of the Blessed Coptic Month of El-nasi, 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 Third Day of the Blessed Month of El-Nasi
Commemoration of the Angel Raphael, the Archangel
On this day, the church celebrates the commemoration of the honorable Angel Raphael, the third of the Archangels, and the dedication of his church outside the city of Alexandria. During the time of Pope Theophilus, the twenty-third Patriarch, a faithful woman came from Rome, with her children and had with her a picture of the honorable Archangel Raphael. She had inherited much money from her husband. She revealed to the Pope her desire to build many churches. He showed her a large heap, which was in front of the patriarchate, which she removed and built a church in its place. Then she built another church in the name of the Angel Raphael, which was consecrated on this day.
May The intercession of this honorable angel be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Andrianus
On this day also, St. Andrianus, one of the commanders of the army of the emperor, was martyred. This saint, whenever he saw a martyr he would ask him, "Why do you do that to yourself?" They answered him, "In the hope of the eternal life, and the everlasting kingdom." He went to the emperor and confessed the Lord Christ. The Emperor tortured him much then imprisoned him with many martyrs. Anatolia, the wife of this saint, cut off her hair, and dressed in a man's apparel. She came to the prison and ministered to the martyrs. She strengthened her husband, comforted and consoled him. When other women heard about what she did, they did the same. Later on the emperor ordered the legs of the prisoners broken until they die. This saint came and encouraged her husband until he delivered his soul to the hand of the Lord. After all the martyrs had delivered up their souls, the emperor ordered their bodies burned, but God brought down dew which put out the fire. Some believers carried the bodies to Pisidia. A prince asked to marry St. Anatolia, but she refused. When she finished her strife, she departed in peace.
May their prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Yoannis XIV, the 96th Pope of Alexandria
On this day also, of the year 1302 A.M. (September 6, 1586 A.D.), and during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Mourad III, Pope Yoannis XIV, 96th Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was from Manfalout, and he was known by Yoannis El-Manfalouty. He became a monk at El-Baramous monastery, in Wadi El-Natroun. He was ordained Patriarch during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Selim II, on the 22nd day of Baramoudah, 1287 A.M. (April 17th, 1571 A.D.). During his Papacy the Christians were forced to wear black turbans (head cover). He received a letter from the Pope of Rome and he answered him back. Sultan Selim asked him to collect head taxes from the Christians, and every one complied. He went to Alexandria, and on his way back, he felt weak and ill at the city of El-Nahrawiah. He departed there and was buried at the Church of St. George in Birma. His body was relocated later on to El-Sourian monastery. He was on the Chair for fifteen years, four months, and nineteen days.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.
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 138 : 1 - 2
Chapter 138
| 1 | I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. |
| 2 | I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. |
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 25 : 32 - 47
Chapter 25
| 32 | All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. |
| 33 | And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. |
| 34 | Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: |
| 35 | for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; |
| 36 | I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' |
| 37 | "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? |
| 38 | When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? |
| 39 | Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' |
| 40 | And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' |
| 41 | "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: |
| 42 | for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; |
| 43 | I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' |
| 44 | "Then they also will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' |
| 45 | Then He will answer them, saying, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' |
| 46 | And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." |
And Glory be to God forever.
Because in that very fact, that he is not said never to have been without sin, but he is said not to have continued without sin, beyond all doubt it is demonstrated that he was without sin, seeing that he is blamed for not having continued in that goodness. But it should rather be asked and discussed with greater pains in what way we can answer those who say, If in that uprightness in which he was made without sinhe had perseverance, beyond all doubt he persevered in it; and if he persevered, he certainly did not sin, and did not forsake that his uprightness.