Day 8 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Baramhat, 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 Eighth Day of the Blessed Month of Baramhat
Martyrdom of St.Matthias, the Apostle
On this day St. Matthias, the apostle was martyred about 63 A.D. He was born in Bethlehem, followed the apostles and was chosen in place of Judas Iscariot in the upper room on the mount of Zion. Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, "Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; "for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry." (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) "For it is written in the book of Psalms: 'Let his habitation be desolate, and let no one live in it'; and, 'Let another take his office.' "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, "beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection." And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen "to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place." And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:15-26)
Afterwards he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and went to preach the Gospel until he came to the country of cannibals. The custom of those people was whenever they seized a stranger, they put him in prison for thirty days feeding him grass, then they bring him out and eat him. When St.Matthias came to them and preached among them the massage of love they seized him, plucked out his eyes and put him in prison. Before the thirty days were over God sent to him Andrew the apostle and his disciple. They came to the prison and saw the prisoners and what abominable things the people of the city did to them. Satan inspired the people of the city to seize them also and kill them. When they were about to seize them, the two Saints prayed to the Lord, and a stream of water flowed from under one of the pillar of the prison. The water flowed out into the city, and rose up until it reached the necks of the people. When the people of the city gave up all hope of saving their lives, they came to the apostles, and wept before them confessing their sins. The apostles told them "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." They all believed and they released St. Matthias. St. Matthias, along with St. Andrew and his disciple taught them the mystery of the Incarnation of the Lord Christ. The Apostles prayed and entreated God Who made the water to cease then they baptized them in the Name of the Holy Trinity. They also prayed to The Lord Christ Who removed from them their barbaric nature. The Apostles appointed over them bishops and priests.
They tarried with them for a while during which they instructed them and confirmed them in the faith, then they left. The people of the city entreated them to come back to them speedily. St. Matthias went to the city of Damascus and preached there in the Name of the Lord Christ. The people of the city became angry so they took him and laid him upon an iron bed, they lighted a fire under it which did not harm him but his face was shining with light like the sun. They marvelled exceedingly and they all believed on the Lord Christ through St. Matthias the apostle who baptized them, and appointed priests for them. He tarried many days with them confirming them in the faith. Afterward he departed in peace in one of the city of the jews called Falawon (Pilawon) where his body was laid.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Julian, the Eleventh Pope of Alexandria
On this day also of the year 188 A.D. (3rd of march) the holy father Pope Julian the Eleventh Pope of Alexandria departed. This father was a student in the seminary established by St. Mark, and was ordained priest in the city of Alexandria. He surpassed many in knowledge, righteousness, and purity so he was ordained Patriarch on the 9th of Baramhat (Year 178 A.D.) After his enthronement he saw that the pagans did not allow the bishops to leave the city of Alexandria, so he used to leave the city in secret to ordain priests everywhere. Before his departure the angel of the lord announced to him that the one who will bring him a cluster of grapes, is the one to succeed him on the Patriarchal Chair. One day, while Demetrius the vine dresser was trimming his trees, he found a cluster of grapes and was not in season. He took the cluster and gave it to the Patriarch Abba Julian who was pleased with the present. He gathered the bishops and told them about the vision and commanded them to enthrone him Patriarch after him. This father composed many homilies and discourses, he taught the people continually, preached and visited them. He stayed on the Apostolic Chair for ten years then departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
Martyrdom of St.Arianus, the Governor of Ansena
On this day also St. Arianus, the governor of Ansena was martyred. When he ordered to shoot St. Apollonius with arrows, and one of the arrows glanced back and struck his eye and destroyed it, as it is mentioned in the Seventh day of Baramhat, one of the believers told him: "If you take some of his blood and smear your eye with it, you will receive your sight." The Governor took some of his blood, smeared his eye, and immediately he was able to see. Arianus believed on the Lord Christ, with great sorrow for all the evil things which he had done to the holy martyrs and the severity with which he tortured them. Then he rose up, destroyed his idols, and he refrained from torturing any of the believers. When Diocletian heard the report of Arianus, he brought him, and asked him why he had forsaken the worship of his idols. Arianus began to tell him about the signs and wonders which God was working by the hands of the holy martyrs, and how, in spite of the tortures which he had inflicted upon them, and the cutting of their bodies, they rose up again whole. The Emperor became furious with him because of what he said and ordered him to be tortured severely, and to cast him into a pit and to cover it until he dies.
The Lord Christ sent His angel, who brought him out from the pit, and took him by the bed of the Emperor. The Emperor woke up from his sleep, and when he saw and recognized that he was Arianus, he was amazed and terrified. Diocletian again ordered him to be placed into a hair sack, and to cast him into the sea, so they did. Arianus the martyr delivered up his soul while he was in the hair sack. The Saint had told his kinsfolk when he bid them farewell that the Lord had told him in a vision of the night that He would take care of his body, return it to his town, and they could find it on the shore of Alexandria. The Lord ordered a sea creature who carried the Saint, and brought him to the city of Alexandria, where it casted him on the shore. His men took his body, brought it to Ansena, and laid it with the bodies of the Saints Philemon and Apollonius. Thus, he finished his good fight and received the heavenly crown.
May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Readings for Thursday of third week of Great Lent
Matins
Genesis 18 : 17 - end Genesis 19 : 1 - 29 Proverbs 2 : 16 - end Proverbs 3 : 1 - 4 Isaiah 11 : 10 - end Isaiah 12 : 1 - 2
Genesis 18 : 17 - end
Chapter 18
| 17 | And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, |
| 18 | since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? |
| 19 | For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." |
| 20 | And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, |
| 21 | I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know." |
| 22 | Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. |
| 23 | And Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? |
| 24 | Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? |
| 25 | Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" |
| 26 | So the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes." |
| 27 | Then Abraham answered and said, "Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: |
| 28 | Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?" So He said, "If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it." |
| 29 | And he spoke to Him yet again and said, "Suppose there should be forty found there?" So He said, "I will not do it for the sake of forty." |
| 30 | Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?" So He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." |
| 31 | And he said, "Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?" So He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty." |
| 32 | Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten." |
| 33 | So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place. |
Genesis 19 : 1 - 29
Chapter 19
| 1 | Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. |
| 2 | And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square." |
| 3 | But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. |
| 4 | Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. |
| 5 | And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally." |
| 6 | So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, |
| 7 | and said, "Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! |
| 8 | See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof." |
| 9 | And they said, "Stand back!" Then they said, "This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them." So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. |
| 10 | But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. |
| 11 | And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door. |
| 12 | Then the men said to Lot, "Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city--take them out of this place! |
| 13 | For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it." |
| 14 | So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, "Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking. |
| 15 | When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city." |
| 16 | And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. |
| 17 | So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed." |
| 18 | Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords! |
| 19 | Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. |
| 20 | See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live." |
| 21 | And he said to him, "See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. |
| 22 | Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. |
| 23 | The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. |
| 24 | Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. |
| 25 | So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. |
| 26 | But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. |
| 27 | And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. |
| 28 | Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. |
| 29 | And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt. |
Proverbs 2 : 16 - end
Chapter 2
| 16 | To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words, |
| 17 | Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God. |
| 18 | For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead; |
| 19 | None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life-- |
| 20 | So you may walk in the way of goodness, And keep to the paths of righteousness. |
| 21 | For the upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless will remain in it; |
| 22 | But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it. |
Proverbs 3 : 1 - 4
Chapter 3
| 1 | My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; |
| 2 | For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. |
| 3 | Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, |
| 4 | And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. |
Isaiah 11 : 10 - end
Chapter 11
| 10 | "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious." |
| 11 | It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea. |
| 12 | He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth. |
| 13 | Also the envy of Ephraim shall depart, And the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, And Judah shall not harass Ephraim. |
| 14 | But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west; Together they shall plunder the people of the East; They shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; And the people of Ammon shall obey them. |
| 15 | The LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the Sea of Egypt; With His mighty wind He will shake His fist over the River, And strike it in the seven streams, And make men cross over dryshod. |
| 16 | There will be a highway for the remnant of His people Who will be left from Assyria, As it was for Israel In the day that he came up from the land of Egypt. |
Isaiah 12 : 1 - 2
Chapter 12
| 1 | And in that day you will say: "O LORD, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. |
| 2 | Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; "For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation."' |
Matins
Matins Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 9 : 11 - 12
Chapter 9
| 11 | Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. |
| 12 | When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. |
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 Luke the Evangelist.
May His Blessings be with us all.
Luke 20 : 20 - 26
Chapter 20
| 20 | So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. |
| 21 | Then they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: |
| 22 | Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" |
| 23 | But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me? |
| 24 | Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." |
| 25 | And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." |
| 26 | But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent. |
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 Romans .
May his blessings be upon us.
Amen.
Romans 4 : 6 - 11
Chapter 4
| 6 | just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: |
| 7 | "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; |
| 8 | Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." |
| 9 | Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. |
| 10 | How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. |
| 11 | And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, |
The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. James .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
James 4 : 1 - 10
Chapter 4
| 1 | Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? |
| 2 | You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. |
| 3 | You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. |
| 4 | Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. |
| 5 | Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? |
| 6 | But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." |
| 7 | Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. |
| 8 | Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. |
| 9 | Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. |
| 10 | Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. |
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 28 : 1 - 6
Chapter 28
| 1 | Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. |
| 2 | And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. |
| 3 | But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. |
| 4 | So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live." |
| 5 | But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. |
| 6 | However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. |
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 9 : 7 - 8
Chapter 9
| 7 | But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. |
| 8 | He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. |
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.
John 12 : 44 - 50
Chapter 12
| 44 | Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. |
| 45 | And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. |
| 46 | I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. |
| 47 | And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. |
| 48 | He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. |
| 49 | For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. |
| 50 | And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak." |
And Glory be to God forever.