Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

Great-martyr James the Persian

Venerable Palladios of Thessalonica; Venerable Nathanael of     Nitria in Egypt; James the wonderworker, bishop of Rostov

November 27, 2016

Hymns of the Day

Troparion of the Resurrection – Tone 6

When Mary stood at Thy grave, looking for Thy sacred body, angelic powers shone above Thy revered tomb; and the soldiers who were to keep guard became as dead men. Thou led Hades captive and wast not tempted thereby. Thou didst meet the Virgin and didst give life to the world, O Thou, Who art risen from the dead, O Lord, glory to Thee.

Troparion of St James the Persian  – Tone 4

Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For, since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons’ strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

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 Preparation of Christ’s Nativity – Tone 3

The Virgin cometh today to the cave to give birth, ineffably to bring forth the Word eternal. Therefore, rejoice, O earth at the message, with the angels and shepherds give glory to him who shall appear by his own will as a young child, he who is from eternity God.

Epistle – Ephesians 2:4-10

Brethren, God, Who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not because of works, lest any man should boast.  For, we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Gospel – Luke 18:18-27

At that time, a man came testing Jesus and asking, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but God alone.  You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.’”  And the man said, “All these I have observed from my youth.”  And when Jesus heard it, he said to him, “One thing you still lack.  Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”  But when the man heard this he became sad, for he was very rich.  Jesus, seeing him sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!  For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”  Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

James the Great Martyr of Persia – November 27th

This Saint was from the city of Bythlaba and was of noble birth; he was the closest and most honored friend of Yazdegerd I, King of Persia (reigned 399-420). Though a Christian from his youth, James renounced Christ because he was allured by the King's friendship and flatteries. When his mother and his wife learned of this, they declared to him by letter that they would have nothing more to do with him, since he had preferred a glory that is temporal to the love of Christ. Wounded in soul by these words and coming to himself, the Saint wept over his error, and repudiated the worship of the idols. Therefore, becoming exceedingly wroth, the King - this was Varahran V (reigned 421-438), Yazdegerd's son and successor - condemned him to a most bitter death, the likes of which not even a brute beast was ever condemned to: that is, his body was dismembered at every joint of his arms and legs. And so, when he had been cut asunder limb by limb to his very hips and shoulders, the courageous Martyr was finally beheaded, in the year 421.

[goarch.org]