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DAILY VERSE

Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. Psalm 34:9

Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

—Psalm 34:9

"Fear of the LORD" is one of the great themes of the Old Testament. The phrase is particularly hard to translate, especially in light of the repeated message of the Bible to "fear not" and John's reminder that "perfect love casts out all fear." It means more than "hold God in reverence." Generally, "fear of the LORD" means that we remember our place in the order of things. We know we are deeply loved by our holy Father in heaven. We recognize that we are weak and sinful in comparison and are saved by God's mercy and grace. We acknowledge that his majesty and holiness are far beyond us and that we pale in significance before God. We come to God acknowledging our need for him and our unworthiness to demand anything from him. The incredible reality is that when we approach God with this sense of awe and profound respect, he in turn welcomes us with open arms and brings us close. (See Isaiah 57:15)

DAILY SYNEXARIUM

29 Tute 1740

Day 29 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Tute, 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 Twenty-Ninthe Day of the Blessed Month of Tute

Martyrdom of St.Arbsima the Virgin and Her Sisters the Virgins

On this day was the martyrdom of the holy virgins Arbsima and Agatha and their sisters during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. This infidel sought out the most beautiful damsel to marry. He sent the painters to every country and ordered them to paint a picture of the most beautiful damsel that their sights fell on and to give him an accurate description of her. When they arrived nearby Rome, they entered a monastery for the virgins and they found Saint Arbsima and thought that their was none like her in beauty. They painted a portrait of her and sent it to the Emperor who rejoiced at it. He then sent to the kings and governors to invite them to the wedding celebrations.

When Arbsima and the virgins knew this thing, they wept, and they went forth form the monastery entreating the Lord Christ to help them and to keep their virginity. They came to the country of Armenia, and entered the city of Tridatah. There they dwelt in a winery in a ruined garden. They had great tribulation in getting their food so one of them made glass and sold it, and with the money they paid for their food. When Diocletian sought for Arbsima, he did not find her. Later he heard that she was in the country of Armenia so he sent to Tridatah the governor to inform him about her and to keep her. When the virgins heard that, they left their shelter and hid themselves in the city. But some men told about them. Tridatah then commanded to bring Arbsima to him and when she did not wish to go, they abducted her and brought her to him. When he saw her beauty, he wanted to have her for himself, but she did not let him. He brought her mother to persuade her but instead she besought her to endure patiently, she comforted her, told her that she must not forsake her true Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, and that she must not defile her virginity. When he knew what her mother had done, he commanded to break her teeth, but God gave St.Arbsima power to overcome the governor; she pushed him forcefully and he fell on his back. She went away and left him lying on the floor although he was well known in war for his strength and bravery. He was ashamed of having been vanquished by a virgin damsel and ordered his men to cut off her head. The soldiers came and tied her, tore out her tongue, plucked out her eyes, and then cut her into pieces. When the governor rose up from his fall and his senses returned to him, he repented having killed the saint. He ordered to slay the rest of the virgins. The soldiers bored in the soles of their feet, flayed them, cut them in pieces, and then cast them out. One of them was sick and was lying on a bed, and she cried out to the soldiers to make her join her sisters. So, they cut off her head also and thus, all the virgins received crowns of martyrdom. The soldiers also slew all who had come with them from Rome. After their departure, the governor became mad and doctors could not help him until Saint Gregory, Bishop of Armenia, came to him and prayed over him. By this he was healed of his affliction and believed in the Lord Christ. And he took the bodies of the holy and pure virgins and laid them in a holy place.

May their prayers and blessings be with us all, and Glory be to God forever. Amen.

DAILY KATEMAROS

- 29 Tute 1740

Vespers

Vespers Psalm

From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.

Psalms 68 : 25 - 26

Chapter 68

25	The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; Among them were the maidens playing timbrels.

26	Bless God in the congregations, The Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

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 26 : 6 - 13

Chapter 26

6	And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,

7	a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.

8	But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?

9	For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor."

10	But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.

11	For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.

12	For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.

13	Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."

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 8 : 2 - 3

Chapter 8

2	Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

3	When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

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 John the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.

John 4 : 15 - 24

Chapter 4

15	The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw."

16	Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."

17	The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, "I have no husband,'

18	for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly."

19	The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

20	Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."

21	Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22	You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

23	But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

24	God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

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 Ephesians .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.

Ephesians 5 : 8 - 21

Chapter 5

8	For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

9	(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

10	finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

11	And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

12	For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

13	But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

14	Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."

15	See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

16	redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17	Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

18	And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

19	speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

20	giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

21	submitting to one another in the fear of God.

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 3 : 5 - 14

Chapter 3

5	For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,

6	as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

7	Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

8	Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

9	not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

10	For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.

11	Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

12	For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

13	And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

14	But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."

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 21 : 5 - 14

Chapter 21

5	When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed.

6	When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.

7	And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.

8	On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

9	Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

10	And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

11	When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, "So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."'

12	Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13	Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

14	So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."

The word of the Lord shall grow, multiply, be mighty, and be confirmed, in the holy Church of God.
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 45 : 14 - 15

Chapter 45

14	She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors; The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.

15	With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought; They shall enter the King's palace.

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 : 1 - 13

Chapter 25

1	"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2	Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3	Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

4	but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5	But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

6	"And at midnight a cry was heard: "Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'

7	Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

8	And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'

9	But the wise answered, saying, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'

10	And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

11	"Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!'

12	But he answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'

13	"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

And Glory be to God forever.

DAILY CONTEMPLATION

أقوال قداسة البابا شنودة . . ..........

For he did not need grace to receive good, because he had not yet lost it; but he needed the aid of grace to continue in it, and without this aid he could not do this at all; and he had received the ability if he would, but he had not the will for what he could; for if he had possessed it, he would have persevered. For he could persevere if he would; but that he would not was the result of free will, which at that time was in such wise free that he was capable of willing well and ill. For what shall be more free than free will, when it shall not be able to serve sin? And this should be to man also as it was made to the holy angels, the reward of deserving. But now that gooddeserving has been lost by sin, in those who are delivered that has become the gift of grace which would have been the reward of deserving.