Saints and Feasts: Mary of Egypt; Gerontios & Vasilides the Martyrs; Euthemios of Suzdal
Epistle: I Cor. 11:23-32
Gospel: Matthew 26:1-20; John 13:3-17; Matthew 26:21-39; Luke 22:43-44; Matthew 26:40-75; 27:1-2
To ponder and mediate on: Today, Christ’s holy passion dawns upon the world as a saving light, for He comes of His goodness to suffer. He who holds all things in His hand consents to be hung upon the cross in order to save humanity (from the Matins of Holy Thursday).
Saints and Feasts: Hypatios the Wonderworker; Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia & Alaska; Akakios the Confessor
G: John 12:17-50
To ponder and mediate on: The sacrament of Holy Unction is for the forgiveness of sins and for the restoration of our health. As you receive Holy Unction today, allow it to bring you to spiritual and physical completion.
Saints and Feasts: John Climacus the Righteous, author of The Divine Ladder of Ascent; Sosthenes Apollos, Cephas, Caesar, & Epaphroditos, the Apostles of the 70; Zacharias the New Martyr
G: Matthew 22:15-46; 23:1-39
Saints and Feasts: Mark, Bishop of Arethusa; Martyr Cyril the Deacon and Those with him; Jonah & Mark the Martyrs ; Eustathios the Confessor, Bishop of Bithynia
G: Matthew 24:3-35
G: Matthew 21:14-43
Saints and Feasts: Hilarion the New; Herodion the Apostle of the 70; Stephen the Wonderworker
G: John 12:1-18
To ponder and mediate on: Out of the mouths of the spotless babes and infants, You have brought forth perfect praise. By your Cross and Passion destroy the enemy, avenge the fall of old Adam (from the Matins of Palm Sunday).
Challenge: The challenges for Holy Week will be the following: Read the daily scriptures, fast hard, try to make it to all the extra Church services, buy a book and follow along in the services. Spend today figuring out a plan to make this happen.
Saints and Feasts: Lazarus, the friend of the Lord; Matrona of Thessaloniki; Paul, Bishop of Corinth
G: John 11:1-45
To ponder and mediate on: Before your passion, you raised Lazarus from the dead. Giving us an assurance of the common resurrection O Christ our God. Therefore like the children we offer symbols of victory, as we cry to you, the conqueror of death. Hosannah in the highest, blessed are you who comes, in the name of the Lord (Apolitkion of the Saturday of Lazarus).
Challenge: The forty days are over . . . you made it this far. The Church enters a two-day period before the Passion – Saturday of Lazarus and Palm Sunday. Enjoy the day.
Saints and Feasts: Synaxis in honor of the Archangel Gabriel; 26 Martyrs in Crimea; Irenaeus the Hieromartyr of Hungary
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 66:10-24
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 49:33-50:26
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 31:8-31
To ponder and mediate on: Since man is made in the image and likeness of God, there is something divine about the act of painting an icon (St. Theodore the Studite).
Challenge: Spend 3 minutes meditating on an icon you have in your home.
G: Luke 1:24-38
To ponder and mediate on: You alone, O Jesus, with your Mother are beautiful in every way. For there is no blemish with You, My Lord, and no stain in your Mother (St. Ephraim the Syrian).
Challenge: Go to Liturgy today and live the Feast All Day Long!
Saints and Feasts: Forefeast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos; Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow; Artemon the Presbyter; Our Holy Father Theonas, Archbishop of Thessolonica; Zachariah the Recluse
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 58:1-11
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 21:23-22:4
To ponder and mediate on: Before the fall, Adam shed no tears, and in the same way there will be no tears after the resurrection from the dead, when sin has been destroyed. For pains, sorrow, and lamentation will then have fled away (St. John Climacus).
Challenge: Say an extra special prayer today for those who have passed from this life to the next.
Saints and Feasts: Nikon the Holy Martyr & his 200 Companion Martyrs; Anatolios & Protoleon the Martyrs converted by the martyrdom of St. George; Luke the New Martyr of Mytilene
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 49:6-10
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 31:3-16
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 21:3-21
To ponder and mediate on: All the troubles of life on earth will seem like a drop of salt water in a fresh water river when compared to life in Paradise (Saint Nikolai of Zica).
Challenge: In the morning, write down all the things that are troubling you right now. Before the end of the day, decide how you will handles each of these.
Saints and Feasts: Basil the Holy Martyr of Ancyra; Kalliniki & Vassilisa the Martyrs; Euthemios the New Martyr
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 48:17-49:4
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 27:1-41
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 19:16-25
Challenge: Find a way to put someone you are at odds with or who you have a hard time being with first. It is a spiritual discipline that will make you a better person.
Saints and Feasts: Saint Mary of Egypt, James the Confessor; Thomas I, Patriarch of Constantinople
To ponder and mediate on: Love is the kingdom which the Lord mystically promised to his disciples, when He said that they would eat in His kingdom: “You shall eat and drink at My table in My kingdom (Luke 22:30). What should they eat and drink, if not love? (St. Isaac the Syrian)
Challenge: Following Liturgy, enjoy the Feast. Make it a point to be in a good mood today and live the “liturgy after the liturgy”.
Saints and Feasts: Righteous Fathers slain at the Monastery of St. Savas; Saint Cuthbert the Wonderworker, Bishop of Lindisfarne; Myron the New Martyr of Crete; Photini the Samaritan Woman
Epistle: Hebrews 9:1-7
Gospel: Luke 1:39-49, 56
To ponder and mediate on: On Sundays and feast days come to the Church, and falling down with reverence before God, be mindful of all the mercies you may ever have received from Him. Thank Him for them with all your heart, and as a sign of your thankfulness, promise to live as He commanded you (St. Tikhon of Zadonsk).
Challenge: Make plans to be at Church tomorrow morning . . . try not to stay out late tonight . . . but truly prepare yourself.
Saints and Feasts: Chrysanthos & Daria the Martyrs; Demetrios the New Martyr
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 45:11-17
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 22:1-18
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 17:17-18:5
To ponder and mediate on: Be zealous within your soul, without showing it in the least, either by visible sign or by word, or by hint. And you will only do this when you stop looking down on your neighbor (St. John Climacus).
Challenge: Each Friday in Great Lent, we celebrate the service of Salutations to the Theotokos. This service is celebrated in the evening. Make plans to go to this evening’s service. Follow along in the service, it is a beautiful prayer.
Saints and Feasts: Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem; Trophimos & Eukarpion, Monk-martyrs of Nicomedea
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 42:5-16
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 18:20-33
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 16:17-17:17
To ponder and mediate on: His angels tremble, the Cherubim are terrified, the Seraphim are in fear, and all the heavenly powers continually give praise; and you, often remain lazy. . . Arise and do not put off, my beloved soul, holy repentance, contrition of hear and penance for your sins (St. Paisius Velichkovsky).
Challenge: Today, make an appointment with your parish priest or spiritual father, to receive the Sacrament of Confession.
Saints and Feasts: Alexios the Man of God; Saint Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland; Marinos the Martyr; Theocteristos the Confessor
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 41:4-14
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 17:1-9
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 15:20-16:9
To ponder and mediate on: Let us charge into the good fight with joy and love without being afraid of our enemies. For the cunning creatures have observed that we are scared. So let us take up arms against them courageously. No one will fight with a determined fighter (St. John Climacus).
Challenge: Abstain from food from after lunch. Go to the Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts at your Church and receive Holy Communion. Listen for the above prayer.
Saints and Feasts: Savinos the Martyr of Egypt; Christodoulos the Wonderworker of Patmos; Aristovoulos, Apostle of the 70; Julian the Martyr
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 15:1-15
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 15:7-19
Saints and Feasts: Agapios the martyr & his Companions; Manuel the New Martyr of Crete; Holy Apostle Aristobulus of the Seventy, Bishop of Britain
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 37:33-38:6
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 13:12-18
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 14:27-15:4
Epistle: Hebrews 6:13-20
Gospel: Mark 9:17-31
Saints and Feasts: Removal of the relics of Nicephoros, Patriarch of Constantinople; Pouplios the Martyr, Bishop of Athens
Epistle: Hebrews 6:9-12
Gospel: Mark 7:31-37
To ponder and mediate on: Curb your tongue which rages to leap into arguments. Seventy times seven wrestle with this bully (St. John Climacus).
Saints and Feasts: Theophanes the Confessor; Symeon the New Theologian; Gregory Dialogos, Bishop of Rome
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 29:13-23
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 12:1-7
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 14:15-26
To ponder and mediate on: As a light bearing candle, shining upon those in darkness we behold the Holy Virgin; for igniting the heavenly light, She guides everyone to Divine Knowledge (from the 4th Salutation to the Theotokos).
Challenge: Each Friday in Great Lent, we celebrate the service of Salutations to the Theotokos. This service is celebrated in the evening. Make plans to go to this evening’s service. Follow along in the service, it is a beautiful prayer.
Saints and Feasts: Sophronios, Patriarch of Jerusalem; Theodora the Righteous; Pionios the Presbyter; George the New Wonderworker of Constantinople
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 28:14-22
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 10:32-11:9
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 13:19-14:6
To ponder and mediate on: Almsgiving has been introduced not for the sake of the receivers, but of the givers, for the latter are theywhich make the greatest gain (Saint John Chrysostom).
Challenge: Do something good for a family member today.
Saints and Feasts: Kodratos the Martyr & his Companions; Anastasia of Alexandria
OLD TESTAMENT READING 1: Isaiah 26:21-27:9
OLD TESTAMENT READING 2: Genesis 9:18-10:1
OLD TESTAMENT READING 3: Proverbs 12:23-13:9
To ponder and mediate on: The knowledge of the Cross is concealed in the sufferings of the Cross (Saint Isaac the Syrian).
Challenge: Abstain from food from after lunch. Go to the Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts at your Church and receive Holy Communion.
