Readings for Sunday of El-Nasi
Vespers
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 41 : 13,12
Chapter 41
| 13 |
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen. |
| 12 |
As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And set me before Your face forever. |
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 Luke the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Luke 21 : 12 - 33
Chapter 21
| 12 |
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. |
| 13 |
But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. |
| 14 |
Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; |
| 15 |
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. |
| 16 |
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. |
| 17 |
And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. |
| 18 |
But not a hair of your head shall be lost. |
| 19 |
By your patience possess your souls. |
| 20 |
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. |
| 21 |
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. |
| 22 |
For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. |
| 23 |
But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. |
| 24 |
And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. |
| 25 |
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; |
| 26 |
men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. |
| 27 |
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. |
| 28 |
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." |
| 29 |
Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. |
| 30 |
When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. |
| 31 |
So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. |
| 32 |
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. |
| 33 |
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. |
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 102 : 12,24
Chapter 102
| 12 |
But You, O LORD, shall endure forever, And the remembrance of Your name to all generations. |
| 24 |
I said, "O my God, Do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your years are throughout all generations. |
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 Mark the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Mark 13 : 32 - 37
Chapter 13
| 32 |
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. |
| 33 |
Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. |
| 34 |
It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. |
| 35 |
Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- |
| 36 |
lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. |
| 37 |
And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" |
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 Thessalonians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
2 Thessalonians 2 : 1 - 17
Chapter 2
| 1 |
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, |
| 2 |
not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. |
| 3 |
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, |
| 4 |
who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. |
| 5 |
Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? |
| 6 |
And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. |
| 7 |
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. |
| 8 |
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. |
| 9 |
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, |
| 10 |
and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. |
| 11 |
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, |
| 12 |
that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. |
| 13 |
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, |
| 14 |
to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| 15 |
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. |
| 16 |
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, |
| 17 |
comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. |
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 3 : 1 - 18
Chapter 3
| 1 |
Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), |
| 2 |
that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, |
| 3 |
knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, |
| 4 |
and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." |
| 5 |
For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, |
| 6 |
by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. |
| 7 |
But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. |
| 8 |
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. |
| 9 |
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. |
| 10 |
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. |
| 11 |
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, |
| 12 |
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? |
| 13 |
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. |
| 14 |
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; |
| 15 |
and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, |
| 16 |
as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. |
| 17 |
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; |
| 18 |
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. |
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 2 : 14 - 21
Chapter 2
| 14 |
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. |
| 15 |
For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. |
| 16 |
But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: |
| 17 |
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. |
| 18 |
And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. |
| 19 |
I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. |
| 20 |
The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. |
| 21 |
And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.' |
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 5 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 Fifth Day of the Blessed Month of El-Nasi
Departure of St.James, Bishop of Misre
On this day, in the year 804 A.M. (August 28th, 1088 A.D.), and during the Papacy of Pope Kyrillos II, 67th Patriarch, the church celebrates the commemoration of the pure father, St. James, Bishop of Misre (Cairo). This saint longed for the monastic life from a young age, so he went to the wilderness of St. Macarius, and lived in a cell there for many years. Then he was ordained Archdeacon for the church of the monastery of St. John. Because of his virtuous life, great knowledge and piety, he was ordained bishop for Misre (Cairo). Having been seated upon the episcopal seat, he added to his prayer, asceticism, and worship. He was a teacher, spiritual advisor, and a deterrent to the sinners, during his episcopate. When he finished his good strife, he fell sick. He called his people, commanded them not to be negligent in the Divine commandments, and explained to them what the punishment of sinners would be. Then, he made the sign of the glorious Cross on his face, and delivered his pure soul in the hands of the Lord.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of the Righteous Amos, the Prophet
This day also marks, the departure of the righteous prophet Amos, one of the twelve minor prophets. He prophesied in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam the son of Joash, King of Israel. God had sent him to the children of Israel to caution them and advise them to bear fruit that befits repentance before the coming of the day of vengeance. He prophesied concerning the passion of the Lord and the darkness of the sun on that day. He also prophesied concerning the lamentation and sorrow which should come upon the children of Israel after this, how their festivals should be turned into days of sorrow, and their joy into weeping; how they should lack the help of God, and how they should hunger and thirst through the lack of teaching and knowledge, how they should be scattered in all countries among the nations. And all these things were fulfilled upon them. It was said that this prophet was killed because of his harsh rebuke for their sins. This prophet lived about eight hundred years before the advent of the Lord Christ.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Barsoma, the "Naked"
On this day also, in the year 1033 A.M., the great saint who was perfect in the love of God, Anba Barsoma the "Naked" (El-Erian), departed. He was born in Misre (Cairo). His father called El-Wageeh Moufdel, was the scribe of the Queen "Shagaret El-dor", and his mother was from the family of El-Taban. When his parents departed, his uncle took possession of all that they had left. Barsoma did not quarrel with him but forsook the world and lived the life of the righteous hermits. He lived outside the city for five years suffering the harshness of the summer heat and the winter cold. He wore no clothing except a hairy sackcloth, following the example of the Saint Anba Paul (Anba Paula), the first hermit. Then he shut himself in a cave inside the church of St. Marcurius Abu-Saifain for twenty years in ceaseless prayer and fasting, by day and night. There was a huge serpent in that cave. When he entered the cave and saw this serpent, he cried saying, "O my Lord Christ, the Son of the Living God, who gave us the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and every power of the enemy. You granted healing to the children of Israel, who were bitten by the serpents, when they looked to the brass serpent. Now I look to you, O You Who was hanged on the Cross, so that you might grant me power to be able to overcome this beast." Then he made the sign of the cross over himself, and moved toward the serpent saying, "You trampled the serpent and the snakes, and You tread upon the lion and the dragon.
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" Then he said to the serpent, "O blessed one stand still in your place," and then he made the sign of the cross over it. He prayed to God and asked Him to remove the beastly nature from it. As he finished his prayer, the serpent changed its nature and became tame. The saint said to the serpent, "Henceforth, O blessed one, you shall not have power or might to harm any man, but you shall be subject and obedient to what I say to you." The serpent manifested signs of submission and obedience, and became with the saint as the lion was with Daniel, the prophet, in the din. Then he left the cave and lived on the roof of the church. He endured the summer heat and the winter cold, until his skin became dark from much worship and asceticism. He remained in this state for fifteen years. During his days, a great persecution befell the Christian nation. The churches were shut and the Christians were forced to wear blue turbans. As for this saint, the ruler seized him, severely smote him, then cast him in prison. When he was released, he went to the monastery of El-Shahran, where he lived on the roof of the church and he increased in his asceticism. He did not replace his white turban. The rulers of that time from princes, judges and others, visited him and saw his white turban, but no one dared to force him to wear a blue one for they knew that the power of God was with him. The saint continually asked and supplicated God to take his anger away from His people. Having completed his strife, he departed at a good old age, in the year 1033 A.M. He was then sixty years old, and was buried in the monastery of El-Shahran.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Yoannis XV, the 99th Pope of Alexandria
Today also, in the year 1346 A.M. (September 7th, 1629 A.D.), Pope Yoannis XV (John), 99th Pope of Alexandria, departed. He was from Mallawy, and was known by the name of Yoannis El-Mallawany. He became a monk in St. Antonios monastery, and was ordained Patriarch in the 7th of Tute, 1336 A.M. (September 18th, 1619 A.D.). He was chaste, knowledgeable, and just in his judgements. He was modest, impartial, and only sought the truth. He was zealous about the church, compassionate to the priests, loving to the poor, and provided shelter for strangers. He did not desire anything of this world, but rather he was absorbed in prayer and worship, day and night. In the year 1340 A.M. (1623 A.D.), a grave epidemic befell Upper Egypt. It lasted from the month of Tubah (January) till the month of Baramoudah (April), which perished multitudes of people and devastated many families. Pope Yoannis was in Upper Egypt, and returned to Cairo in 1341 A.M. In year 1342 A.M. another severe epidemic spread through the land, which was less severe than the first. The Pope went to upper Egypt again in the second year of the epidemic, then returned to Cairo. On his way back, he passed by the city of Abnub, and he spent a night there. He suffered abdominal pain. It was said that he was given a poison where he spent that night. The owner of that house had concubines besides his wife and the Pope admonished him for that. When the Pope felt ill, he asked for a boat, which he sailed in. He ceased in the boat on his way, and was buried in the monastery of the Saint Anba Bishiah in El-Biadiah. He was on the Chair for nine years, eleven months and twenty-two days.
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 102 : 24 - 26
Chapter 102
| 24 |
I said, "O my God, Do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your years are throughout all generations. |
| 25 |
Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. |
| 26 |
They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. |
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 24 : 3 - 35
Chapter 24
| 3 |
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" |
| 4 |
And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. |
| 5 |
For many will come in My name, saying, "I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. |
| 6 |
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. |
| 7 |
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. |
| 8 |
All these are the beginning of sorrows. |
| 9 |
"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. |
| 10 |
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. |
| 11 |
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. |
| 12 |
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. |
| 13 |
But he who endures to the end shall be saved. |
| 14 |
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. |
| 15 |
"Therefore when you see the "abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), |
| 16 |
"then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. |
| 17 |
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. |
| 18 |
And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. |
| 19 |
But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! |
| 20 |
And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. |
| 21 |
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. |
| 22 |
And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. |
| 23 |
"Then if anyone says to you, "Look, here is the Christ!' or "There!' do not believe it. |
| 24 |
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. |
| 25 |
See, I have told you beforehand. |
| 26 |
"Therefore if they say to you, "Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or "Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. |
| 27 |
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. |
| 28 |
For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. |
| 29 |
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. |
| 30 |
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. |
| 31 |
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. |
| 32 |
"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. |
| 33 |
So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near--at the doors! |
| 34 |
Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. |
| 35 |
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. |
And Glory be to God forever.
