Sunday of the Pharisee and Publican &
Transfer of the Feast of the Presentation (Meeting) of Christ
February 1, 2015
Hymns of the Day
Resurrectional Troparion– Tone 1
While the stone was sealed by the Jews, and the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst arise on the third day, O Savior, granting life to the world. For which cause the heavenly powers cried aloud unto Thee, O giver of life. Glory to Thy Resurrection O Christ, glory to Thy kingdom, glory to Thy providence, O Thou Who alone art the lover of mankind.
Troparion of the Presentation of Christ– Tone 1
Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace, for from thee arose the Sun of justice, Christ our God, lighting those who are in darkness. Rejoice and be glad, O righteous elder, carrying in thine arms the Deliverer of our souls, Who granteth us Resurrection.
Troparion of St Joseph– Tone 2
Proclaim, O Joseph to David, the ancestor of God, the amazing wonder, for by the angel they were revealed unto thee. For thou hast seen a Virgin great with child, and thou gave glory with the shepherds and didst worship with the Magi. Wherefore, plead with Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion of the Presentation of Christ– Tone 1
O Christ God, Thou hast sanctified the virgin's womb by Thy birth and as was meet hast blessed the hands of Simeon. Thou hast also come to us to save us. Do Thou when wars prevail give peace to Thy people, and make mighty those whom Thou hast loved, for Thou alone art the Lover of mankind.
Koinonikon (Communion Hymn)
Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the highest. Alleluia.
Epistle – Hebrews 7:7-17
Brethren, it is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. Here tithes are received by mortal men; there, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there
have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Gospel – Luke 18:10-14
The Lord spoke this parable: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank Thee that I am not like other men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
St Agatha
of Palermo –
February 5th
The holy Martyr Agatha came from the city of Panormos
(today called Palermo) on the island of Sicily. She shined with bodily beauty
(which was not damaged by the ravages of time) and spiritual fairness, but was
also full of riches and material goods. She lived during the reign of the
Emperor Decius in 251. Because she was a Christian, she was handed over to the
governor, Cutianus. First she was delivered to another unfaithful woman, called
Aphrodisia, in order to be turned away from Christ's holy faith by her
exhortations. But the saint firmly kept her piety, desiring to suffer martyrdom
rather than deny Christ. So they beat her heavily and cut off her breasts, but
she was restored to health by the Apostle Peter, who appeared to her in prison.
In later Western art, Agatha is often depicted holding up her breasts on a
platter. Then they dragged her on bricks and burnt her badly. Next, they put
her in prison and, while she was there, she commended her soul to the hands of
God.
[orthodoxwiki.org]
The
Holy Virgin Martyr Agatha was the fifteen-year-old daughter of rich and
respected Christian parents from the city of Palermo in Sicily. During the
persecutions of Christians under Emperor Decius, the city prefect of Catania by
the name of Quintianus, having heard about Agatha’s wealth and beauty, sent his
soldiers after her to bring her to trial. At Catania, St. Agatha was housed
with a certain rich woman, who had five daughters. They all attempted to tempt
St. Agatha with fine clothes, amusements and entertainment, urging her to offer
sacrifice to the pagan gods, but the saint disdained all these things. The more
they tried to move her, the more resolute she became. She prayed that she might
soon face martyrdom. During her interrogation under Quintianus, the holy martyr
was swayed neither by flattery nor threats, and was subjected to cruel
torments. They tried to remove her breasts with metal tongs, and when this
failed, used knives. The holy Apostle Peter appeared to her in prison and
healed her wounds. St. Agatha was led to be tortured again, and Quintianus was
astonished to see her completely healed. The tortures began once more, but an
earthquake took place in the city at that moment, and many buildings were
destroyed. Among those killed were two of Quintianus’s advisors. The terrified
inhabitants of the city rushed to Quintianus, demanding an end to Agatha’s tortures.
Fearing a revolt by the people, Quintianus sent St. Agatha to prison. There the
martyr, offering thanks to God, peacefully surrendered her soul to the Lord.
[antiochian.org]