Daily Devotional

Scripture Readings

Paschalion — Movable Calendar

Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week

Epistle

The Reading is from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Hebrews [§ 323]. Brethren:

10 ¹The law, having a shadow of the coming good things, not the very image of the things, is never able to perfect those who approach with the same sacrifices, which they offer year by year in perpetuity. ²Otherwise would they not have ceased being offered, on account of those worshipping no longer having any consciousness of sins once they were purified? ³But in these sacrifices there is a remembrance of sins year by year. ⁴For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins. ⁵Wherefore, when He came into the world, He saith, “Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not wish, but Thou didst prepare for Thyself a body for Me [Ps. 39(40):9(6)]; ⁶“in whole burnt offerings also for sin Thou didst not take pleasure [cf. Ps. 39(40):10(6)]. ⁷“Then I said, ‘Behold, I come, in the roll of the book it hath been written concerning Me, to do Thy will, O God [cf. Ps. 39(40):11(7, 8)].’” ⁸Above when He saith, “Sacrifice and offering, and whole burnt offerings also for sin, Thou didst not wish, nor didst Thou take pleasure therein [cf. Ps. 39(40):9, 10(6)],” which are being offered according to the law, ⁹then He said, “Behold, I come to do Thy will, O God [cf. Ps. 39(40):11(7, 8)].” He taketh away the first, in order that He might establish the second: ¹⁰By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ¹¹And indeed every priest standeth day by day ministering and offering often the same sacrifices, which are never able to take away sins. ¹²But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins in perpetuity, “sat down on the right of God [cf. Ps. 109(110):1],” ¹³henceforth waiting until His enemies should be placed as a footstool of His feet. ¹⁴For by one offering He hath perfected in perpetuity those being sanctified. ¹⁵And the Holy Spirit also beareth witness to us; for after having said before, ¹⁶“‘This is the covenant which I will covenant with them after those days,’ saith the Lord, ‘I will give My laws into their hearts, and write them upon their minds [cf. Jer. 38(31):33],’” ¹⁷and “‘Their sins and their lawlessnesses in no wise will I remember any more [cf. Jer. 38(31):34].’” ¹⁸Now where there is remission of these, there is no more offering for sin.

Gospel

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [§ 104]. At that time:

For Gk. usage, see Lk. 21:5-8, 10, 11, 20-24; for Sl. usage, see Lk. 21:5-7, 10, 11, 20-24.

21 ⁵As some spoke to Jesus about the temple, that it had been adorned with goodly stones and votive offerings, He said, ⁶“As for these things which ye behold, the days will come in which not a stone shall be left upon a stone, which shall not be put down.” ⁷And they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, when then shall these things be, and what shall be the sign when these things are about to take place?” ⁸And He said, “Be taking heed lest ye be led astray; for many shall come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and ‘The time hath drawn near.’ Do not then begin to go after them.”... ¹⁰Then He was saying to them, “Nation shall be stirred up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹“And there shall be great earthquakes in place after place, and famines, and plagues; there shall be both terrors and great signs from heaven.... ²⁰“But whenever ye see Jerusalem being encircled by encamped armies, then know that her desolation hath drawn near. ²¹“Then those in Judæa, let them flee to the mountains. And those in the midst of her, let them depart. And those in the fields, cease entering into her. ²²“For these are the days of avenging, in order that all things that have been written might be fulfilled. ²³“And woe to those with child and to those who give suck in those days! For there shall be great anguish upon the land and wrath on this people. ²⁴“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden underfoot by the nations, until the times of the nations should be fulfilled.”

Menaion — Fixed Calendar

The commemoration of the holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes, and Evgraphos of Alexandria, and St. Ioasaph, Bishop of Belgorad.

Epistle

For the Martyrs:

The Reading is from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians [§ 233].

6 ¹⁰Brethren, keep on being empowered in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, for you to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; ¹²because for us the wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the cosmic rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of evil on account of the heavenly things. ¹³For this cause take up the full armor of God, in order that ye might be able to withstand in the evil day, and having counteracted all things, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having girt your loins with truth, and having put on for yourselves the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having shod your feet in readiness of the Gospel of peace; ¹⁶on the whole, take up the shield of faith, with which ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

For the Hierarch:

The Reading is from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Hebrews [§ 318]. Brethren:

7 ²⁶Such a High Priest was fitting for us: holy, guileless, undefiled, Who hath been separated from the sinners and hath become higher than the heavens, ²⁷Who hath no need daily, even as the high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, then for those of the people; for this He did once for all after He offered up Himself. ²⁸For the law appointeth men high priests who have weakness; but the word of the oath, which is after the law, appointeth the Son, Who hath been perfected forever.

8 ¹Now in reference to the things being spoken of, the chief point is: We have such a High Priest, Who sat down on the right of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, ²a Liturgist of the holies and of the tabernacle, the true one, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Gospel

For the Martyrs:

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [§ 106]. The Lord said to His disciples, “Be taking heed of men:

21 ¹²“For they shall lay their hands upon you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors on account of My name; ¹³“but it shall prove to be a testimony for you. ¹⁴“Therefore settle it for yourselves in your hearts not to premeditate to make a defense; ¹⁵“for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all those who oppose you shall not be able to contradict nor withstand. ¹⁶“And ye shall be delivered up also by parents, and kinfolk, and friends, and brethren; and they shall put some of you to death. ¹⁷“And ye shall be hated by all for My name’s sake. ¹⁸“But a hair of your head in no wise shall perish. ¹⁹“In your patience win your souls.”

For the Hierarch:

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John [§ 36]. The Lord said to the Jews who had come to Him:

10 ⁹“I am the door; by Me if anyone should enter, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰“The thief cometh not, except that he might steal, and slay, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. ¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. ¹²“But the hireling, who indeed is not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep and fleeth; and the wolf seizeth them and scattereth the sheep. ¹³“Now the hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling and careth not about the sheep. ¹⁴“I am the good shepherd; and I know those that are Mine, and am known of those that are Mine. ¹⁵“Even as the Father knoweth Me, I also know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶“And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; them also it is needful for Me to bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.”

Lives of the Saints (Prologue)

December 23rd – Civil Calendar
December 10th – Church Calendar

1. The Holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes and Evgraphus.

Both Menas and Hermogenes were born in Athens. They both lived in Byzantion, where they enjoyed the high favor of the emperor and the honor of the people. Menas was known for his great learning and gift of speech, and although he acted outwardly as a pagan, he was in his heart a convinced Christian. Hermogenes was Eparch of Byzantion, and was a pagan through and through. He was, however, a merciful man and performed many good deeds. When dissension broke out between the Christians and the pagans in the city of Alexandria, the Emperor Maximinus (308-313) sent Menas to calm the turmoil and drive the Christians from the city. Menas went and restored peace, but he also declared himself to be a Christian and brought many of the pagans to the true Faith by the power of his words and the witness of his many miracles. When the emperor heard this, he sent Hermogenes to punish Menas and to liquidate the Christians. Hermogenes brought Menas to trial, and he cut off his feet and his tongue, gouged out his eyes and then threw him into prison. The Lord Jesus Himself appeared to him there, to heal and console His suffering servant. When he saw Menas miraculously healed, Hermogenes was baptized and began to preach the mighty Faith of Christ, being made Bishop of Alexandria. Then the furious Emperor Maximinus came himself to Alexandria and put Menas and Hermogenes to harsh torture, which they endured courageously with the help of God’s grace. Beholding the fortitude of these soldiers of Christ and the miracles God wrought upon them, Evgraphus, Menas’ secretary, went into the judgement-hall and shouted to the emperor’s face: ‘I too am a Christian!’ The emperor flew into a rage, took a sword and beheaded Evgraphus himself, and then he commanded the executioner to behead Menas and Hermogenes. Their holy relics, thrown into the sea, floated in a miraculous way to Byzantion, where the bishop, forewarned in a dream, met them with great ceremony and buried them with honor.

2. Our Holy Mother Angelina and St. John the Despot.

The daughter of Prince George Skenderbeg of Albania and the wife of Stefan, Despot of Serbia and son of Despot George (Đurađ), she endured exile with her husband and shared with him all the vicissitudes of life in Serbia, and also in Albania and Italy. She brought up her two sons, Maxim and John, in a truly Christian spirit. Becoming a nun on her husband’s death, she devoted herself to prayer, works of charity and the building and repair of churches. A faithful wife, a good mother and a perfect Christian, she indeed merited the title ‘Mother Angelina’ given her by the people. Her wonder-working relics are preserved, along with the relics of her righteous husband Stefan and her devoted sons Maxim and John, in the monastery of Krušedol, though some of them were destroyed by the Turks. She entered into rest and into life eternal at the beginning of the sixteenth century.

3. The Holy Martyr Gemellos.

An honored citizen of Ankyra, Gemellos appeared before the Emperor Julian the Apostate when he visited the city, and openly reproached him for his apostasy. For this, he was tortured and crucified in the year 361. While he was enduring his passion on the cross, a voice was heard from heaven: ‘Blessed art thou, Gemellos!’

4. Our Holy Father Thomas of Bithynia.

A great faster, a conqueror of demons and a clairvoyant, he once received a letter from the Emperor Leo the Wise, and replied without opening it. He entered into rest in the Lord in great old age, in the ninth century.

FOR CONSIDERATION

The living Lord has innumerable ways of knowing when to be gentle and when to chastise, to deliver the faithful from temptation, to bring unbelievers to the Faith and to punish its incorrigible persecutors. When the wicked Maximian had slain Christ’s martyrs Menas, Hermogenes and Evgraphus, he set sail with his retinue from Alexandria en route for Constantinople. He was at that moment blinded, as his soul and mind had long been blind, and began to complain to those around him of invisible hands that were beating him. He soon died an evil death, as he had lived an evil life. In the time of St. Ambrose, the following incident occurred: The heretical Empress Justina had persuaded Euthymius, a great Milanese landowner, to seize the bishop she hated and take him somewhere far off into exile. Euthymius prepared a cart, and found lodgings in a house close to the church, the more easily to keep watch on Ambrose and bear him off in the cart. On the very day on which he had everything prepared to seize St. Ambrose, an imperial order arrived, sending Euthymius into instant exile for some crime. The soldiers came, seized the wicked man and took him off to exile in the very cart that he had prepared for Ambrose. On another occasion, an Arian came into the church where St. Ambrose was celebrating, bent on hearing Ambrose say something for which they could condemn him. Looking around, the heretic saw God’s saint teaching the people, and an angel of light alongside him, whispering in his ear. This made the Arian greatly afraid and ashamed, and casting off his heresy, he returned to Orthodoxy.

Daily Scripture Readings taken from The Orthodox New Testament, translated and published by Holy Apostles Convent, Buena Vista, Colorado, copyright © 2000, used with permission, all rights reserved.

Daily Prologue Readings taken from The Prologue of Ochrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic, translated by Mother Maria, published by Lazarica Press, Birmingham, England, copyright © 1985, all rights reserved. Edited by Dormition Skete.