Prayer Before Reading Holy Scripture
O Master Who loves mankind, illuminate our hearts with the pure light of Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our mind to understand the teachings of Your Gospel. Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments, that we may overcome all carnal desires, entering upon a spiritual life and understanding and acting in all things according to Your holy will. For You are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, O Christ God, and to You we give glory together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.
Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:39-45
All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one
kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fish, and another
of birds.
There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial
bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the
terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the
moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another
star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is
sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.
It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is
sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual
body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a
living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Gospel Reading: Luke 4:31-36
Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was
teaching them on the Sabbaths.
And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with
authority.
Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an
unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,
saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of
Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know You, who You are; the Holy One
of God!"
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"
And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and
did not hurt him.
So they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "
What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean
spirits, and they come out."
Saints and Feasts
The Conception of St. John the Baptist; Xanthippe & Polyxene the Righteous; John the New Martyr of Epiros; Nicholas the New Martyr
