Paul is possibly facing death. Yet he knows that his life, his future, is securely in the Lord's hands. The Holy Spirit will help empower him to be what he needs to be in the face of persecution and hardship. The Spirit will also work for his deliverance; either he will be delivered from prison and death to serve others, or he will be delivered into the presence of the Lord he loves. Either way, he awaits and expects deliverance!
Day 11 of the Blessed Coptic Month of Bashans, 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 Eleventh Day of the Blessed Month of Bashans
Martyrdom of St.Theoclia, the wife of St.Justus
On this day, St. Theoclia, the wife of St. Justus (Whose commemoration is on the 10th. day of Amshir) was martyred. After the Roman Emperor Diocletian had sent them to the Governor of Alexandria, he separated them. He sent St. Justus to Ansena (Antinoe), where he was martyred, and he sent St. Theoclia to Sa El-Hagar. When the Governor saw, her he was astonished, for those who leave the kingdom preferring to die instead. He first tried to persuade her, but she refused to accept his words saying: "I have left my kingdom, accepted the separation of my husband since my youth, and I have been comforted for my son for the sake of the Lord Christ, so what could you give me?" He ordered her to be beaten until her flesh was torn and then placed her in prison. The angel of the Lord appeared to her, comforted and strengthened her. When the prisoners witnessed that her wounds had been healed, they believed in the Lord Christ, and they received the crown of martyrdom. Then the Governor ordered her beheaded and she received the crown of martyrdom. Some believers came, paid the soldier silver, took her body, shrouded and placed it in a coffin until the end of the days of persecution.
May Her prayers be with us. Amen.
Departure of St.Paphnotius (St.Paphnuti), the Bishop
On this day also St. Paphnuti, the Bishop, departed. He became a monk in the wilderness of St.Macarius. He exerted himself in asceticism and worship and lived his monastic life eating dry beans and fasted for days. He learned how to read and write, and learned the doctrines of the church. He was ordained a priest, and stayed in the wilderness for thirty-five years. His virtues became known to everyone, and Pope Philotheos I, the sixty-third Patriarch of Alexandria, called him, and ordained him bishop. He did not change his clothing except on the day of celebrating the Eucharist, then he put on his sackcloth that made of hair again. His spiritual fighting and asceticism were so intense that his body languished and he became ill. He asked God in his prayer: "O My Lord Jesus Christ, do not take away from me Your blessings for the sake of my office of bishop." The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: "You know that when you were in the wilderness, there was no one to take care of you in your sickness, there was no one to minister to you, you could not find medications to relieve you, but God supported, sustained you, and kept sickness away from you. However, you are now in the world, and there are many who can take care of you, and offer you medications in your sickness." He was a bishop for thirty two years. When the day of his departure drew near, he called the priests and the deacons, handed over to them the sacred property of the church and all its possessions, and told them: "Behold know that I am departing to the Lord Christ. I have walked among you, and the Lord Jesus to Whom I am about to stand before, testifies that I have never taken even one dinar from all the money which came to me from the bishop's office." He blessed them, then departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us and glory be to God forever. Amen.
Readings for Friday of fifth week of fifty Joyous Days
Vespers
Vespers Psalm
From the Psalms of our teacher David the prophet.
May his blessings be with us all.
Psalms 118 : 8 - 9
Chapter 118
| 8 | It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. |
| 9 | It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes. |
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 14 : 7 - 11
Chapter 14
| 7 | So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: |
| 8 | "When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; |
| 9 | and he who invited you and him come and say to you, "Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. |
| 10 | But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, "Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. |
| 11 | For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." |
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 118 : 28,21
Chapter 118
| 28 | You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. |
| 21 | I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. |
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 14 : 12 - 15
Chapter 14
| 12 | Then He also said to him who invited Him, "When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. |
| 13 | But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. |
| 14 | And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just." |
| 15 | Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" |
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 6 : 17 - 22
Chapter 6
| 17 | But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. |
| 18 | And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. |
| 19 | I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. |
| 20 | For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. |
| 21 | What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. |
| 22 | But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. |
The grace of God the Father be with you all.
Amen.
Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle 1 of St. John .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
1 John 5 : 1 - 6
Chapter 5
| 1 | Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. |
| 2 | By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. |
| 3 | For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. |
| 4 | For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. |
| 5 | Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? |
| 6 | This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. |
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 8 : 1 - 4
Chapter 8
| 1 | Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. |
| 2 | And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. |
| 3 | As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. |
| 4 | Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. |
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 119 : 145 - 146
Chapter 119
| 145 | I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. |
| 146 | I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. |
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 17 : 22 - 26
Chapter 17
| 22 | And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: |
| 23 | I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. |
| 24 | "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. |
| 25 | O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. |
| 26 | And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." |
And Glory be to God forever.
The Church herself addresses you out of the mouth of a mother's love: I, whom you view with wonder throughout the whole world, bearing fruit and increasing, was not once such as you now behold me.
But, In your Seed shall all nations be blessed.
When God blessed Abraham, He gave the promise of me; for throughout all nations in the blessing of Christ am I shed abroad.