2 Afterfeast of the Nativity of Christ
Holy First Martyr and Archdeacon Stephen (Protomartyr Stephen)Our Righteous Father Theodore the Branded, brother of St Theophanes the Hymnographer
Divine Liturgy
2 Timothy
§ 290
2 Timothy § 290
of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved son: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord… Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began … But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an Apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day. Hold fast the form of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. This you know, that all they which were in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygéllus and Hermógenes. The Lord grant mercy unto the house of Onesíphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day: and in how many ways he ministered unto me at Éphesus, you know very well.
Acts (St Stephen) § 17
St Stephen
, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrénians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilícia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an Angel. Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: the God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotámia, before he dwelt in Háran, and said unto him, ‘Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred, and come to a land that I will show thee.’ Then he came out of the land of the Chaldéans and dwelt in Háran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. And [God] gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough [as] to set his foot on… But Solomon built Him a house. However, the Most High dwells not in temples made with hands, as the Prophet says: ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? saith the Lord, or what is the place of My rest? Hath not My hand made all these things?’ You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always do resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the Prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the disposition of Angels and have not kept it.” When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Behold! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord; and [they] cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling upon God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And then he knelt down and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Mark 12.1-12
§ 53
Mark 12.1-12 § 53
AND he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
Καὶ ἤρξατο αὐτοῖς ἐν παραβολαῖς λέγειν· ἀμπελῶνα ἐφύτευσεν ἄνθρωπος καὶ περιέθηκε φραγμὸν καὶ ὤρυξεν ὑπολήνιον καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε πύργον, καὶ ἐξέδοτο αὐτὸν γεωργοῖς καὶ ἀπεδήμησε.
[Заⷱ҇ 53] И҆ нача́тъ и҆̀мъ въ при́тчахъ гл҃ати: вїногра́дъ насадѝ человѣ́къ, и҆ ѡ҆градѝ ѡ҆пло́томъ, и҆ и҆скопа̀ точи́ло, и҆ созда̀ сто́лпъ, и҆ предадѐ є҆го̀ тѧжа́телємъ {дѣ́лателємъ}, и҆ ѿи́де.
And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
καὶ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς τοὺς γεωργοὺς τῷ καιρῷ δοῦλον, ἵνα παρὰ τῶν γεωργῶν λάβῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ καρποῦ τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος.
И҆ посла̀ къ тѧжа́телємъ во вре́мѧ раба̀, да ѿ тѧжа́тєль прїи́метъ ѿ плода̀ вїногра́да:
And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
καὶ λαβόντες αὐτὸν ἔδειραν καὶ ἀπέστειλαν κενόν.
ѻ҆ни́ же є҆́мше є҆го̀ би́ша и҆ ѡ҆тосла́ша тща̀.
And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
καὶ πάλιν ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἄλλον δοῦλον· κἀκεῖνον λιθοβολήσαντες ἐκεφαλαίωσαν καὶ ἀπέστειλαν ἠτιμωμένον.
И҆ па́ки посла̀ къ ни̑мъ дрꙋга́го раба̀: и҆ того̀ ка́менїемъ би́вше, проби́ша главꙋ̀ є҆мꙋ̀ и҆ посла́ша безче́стна.
And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
καὶ πάλιν ἄλλον ἀπέστειλε· κἀκεῖνον ἀπέκτειναν, καὶ πολλοὺς ἄλλους, οὓς μὲν δέροντες, οὓς δὲ ἀποκτέννοντες.
И҆ па́ки и҆но́го посла̀: и҆ того̀ ᲂу҆би́ша: и҆ мнѡ́ги и҆́ны, ѡ҆́вы ᲂу҆́бѡ бїю́ще, ѡ҆́вы же ᲂу҆бива́юще.
Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
ἔτι οὖν ἕνα υἱὸν ἔχων, ἀγαπητὸν αὐτοῦ, ἀπέστειλε καὶ αὐτὸν ἔσχατον πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγων ὅτι ἐντραπήσονται τὸν υἱόν μου.
Є҆щѐ ᲂу҆̀бо є҆ди́наго сы́на и҆мѣ̀ возлю́бленнаго своего̀, посла̀ и҆ того̀ къ ни̑мъ послѣдѝ, глаго́лѧ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ᲂу҆срамѧ́тсѧ сы́на моегѡ̀.
But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's.
ἐκεῖνοι δὲ οἱ γεωργοί, θεασάμενοι αὐτὸν ἐρχόμενον, πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς εἶπον ὅτι οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ κληρονόμος· δεῦτε ἀποκτείνωμεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἡμῶν ἔσται ἡ κληρονομία.
Ѻ҆́ни же тѧжа́телє рѣ́ша къ себѣ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ се́й є҆́сть наслѣ́дникъ: прїиди́те, ᲂу҆бїе́мъ є҆го̀, и҆ на́ше бꙋ́детъ наслѣ́дствїе.
And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
καὶ λαβόντες ἀπέκτειναν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν ἔξω τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος.
И҆ є҆́мше є҆го̀ ᲂу҆би́ша и҆ и҆зверго́ша є҆го̀ во́нъ и҆з̾ вїногра́да.
What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
τί οὖν ποιήσει ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος; ἐλεύσεται καὶ ἀπολέσει τοὺς γεωργοὺς τούτους, καὶ δώσει τὸν ἀμπελῶνα ἄλλοις.
Что̀ ᲂу҆̀бо сотвори́тъ госпо́дь вїногра́да; Прїи́детъ и҆ погꙋби́тъ тѧжа́тєли и҆ да́стъ вїногра́дъ и҆нѣ̑мъ.
And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
οὐδὲ τὴν γραφὴν ταύτην ἀνέγνωτε, λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας·
Ни писа́нїѧ ли сегѡ̀ члѝ є҆стѐ: ка́мень, є҆го́же не въ рѧдꙋ̀ сотвори́ша зи́ждꙋщїи, се́й бы́сть во главꙋ̀ ᲂу҆́гла:
This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστι θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν;
ѿ гдⷭ҇а бы́сть сїѐ, и҆ є҆́сть ди́вно во ѻ҆́чїю на́шєю;
And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
Καὶ ἐζήτουν αὐτὸν κρατῆσαι, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν τὸν ὄχλον· ἔγνωσαν γὰρ ὅτι πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὴν παραβολὴν εἶπε. καὶ ἀφέντες αὐτὸν ἀπῆλθον.
И҆ и҆ска́хꙋ є҆го̀ ꙗ҆́ти, и҆ ᲂу҆боѧ́шасѧ наро́да: разꙋмѣ́ша бо, ꙗ҆́кѡ къ ни̑мъ при́тчꙋ речѐ: и҆ ѡ҆ста́вльше є҆го̀ ѿидо́ша.
Matthew 21.33-42 (St Stephen) § 87
St Stephen
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
Ἄλλην παραβολὴν ἀκούσατε. ἄνθρωπός τις ἦν οἰκοδεσπότης, ὅστις ἐφύτευσεν ἀμπελῶνα καὶ φραγμὸν αὐτῷ περιέθηκε καὶ ὤρυξεν ἐν αὐτῷ ληνὸν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε πύργον, καὶ ἐξέδοτο αὐτὸν γεωργοῖς καὶ ἀπεδήμησεν.
[Заⷱ҇ 87] И҆́нꙋ при́тчꙋ слы́шите. Человѣ́къ нѣ́кїй бѣ̀ домови́тъ, и҆́же насадѝ вїногра́дъ, и҆ ѡ҆пло́томъ ѡ҆градѝ є҆го̀, и҆ и҆скопа̀ въ не́мъ точи́ло, и҆ созда̀ сто́лпъ, и҆ вдадѐ и҆̀ дѣ́лателємъ, и҆ ѿи́де.
And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
ὅτε δὲ ἤγγισεν ὁ καιρὸς τῶν καρπῶν, ἀπέστειλε τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ πρὸς τοὺς γεωργοὺς λαβεῖν τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτοῦ.
Є҆гда́ же прибли́жисѧ вре́мѧ плодѡ́въ, посла̀ рабы̑ своѧ̑ къ дѣ́лателємъ прїѧ́ти плоды̀ є҆гѡ̀:
And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
καὶ λαβόντες οἱ γεωργοὶ τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ὃν μὲν ἔδειραν, ὃν δὲ ἀπέκτειναν, ὃν δὲ ἐλιθοβόλησαν.
и҆ є҆́мше дѣ́лателє рабѡ́въ є҆гѡ̀, ѻ҆́ваго ᲂу҆́бѡ би́ша, ѻ҆́ваго же ᲂу҆би́ша, ѻ҆́ваго же ка́менїемъ поби́ша.
Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους πλείονας τῶν πρώτων, καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς ὡσαύτως.
Па́ки посла̀ и҆́ны рабы̑ мно́жайшѧ пе́рвыхъ: и҆ сотвори́ша и҆̀мъ та́коже.
But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
ὕστερον δὲ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ λέγων· ἐντραπήσονται τὸν υἱόν μου.
Послѣди́ же посла̀ къ ни̑мъ сы́на своего̀, глаго́лѧ: ᲂу҆срамѧ́тсѧ сы́на моегѡ̀.
But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
οἱ δὲ γεωργοὶ ἰδόντες τὸν υἱὸν εἶπον ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ κληρονόμος· δεῦτε ἀποκτείνωμεν αὐτὸν καὶ κατάσχωμεν τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ.
Дѣ́лателє же ви́дѣвше сы́на, рѣ́ша въ себѣ̀: се́й є҆́сть наслѣ́дникъ: прїиди́те, ᲂу҆бїе́мъ є҆го̀ и҆ ᲂу҆держи́мъ достоѧ́нїе є҆гѡ̀.
And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
καὶ λαβόντες αὐτὸν ἐξέβαλον ἔξω τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, καὶ ἀπέκτειναν.
И҆ є҆́мше є҆го̀ и҆зведо́ша во́нъ и҆з̾ вїногра́да и҆ ᲂу҆би́ша.
When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
Ὅταν οὖν ἔλθῃ ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, τί ποιήσει τοῖς γεωργοῖς ἐκείνοις;
Є҆гда̀ ᲂу҆̀бо прїи́детъ господи́нъ вїногра́да, что̀ сотвори́тъ дѣ́лателємъ тѣ̑мъ;
They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· κακοὺς κακῶς ἀπολέσει αὐτούς, καὶ τὸν ἀμπελῶνα ἐκδώσεται ἄλλοις γεωργοῖς, οἵτινες ἀποδώσουσιν αὐτῷ τοὺς καρποὺς ἐν τοῖς καιροῖς αὐτῶν.
Глаго́лаша є҆мꙋ̀: ѕлы́хъ ѕлѣ̀ погꙋби́тъ и҆̀хъ, и҆ вїногра́дъ преда́стъ и҆́нымъ дѣ́лателємъ, и҆̀же воздадѧ́тъ є҆мꙋ̀ плоды̀ во времена̀ своѧ̑.
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε ἐν ταῖς γραφαῖς, λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας· παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστι θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν;
Гл҃а и҆̀мъ і҆и҃съ: нѣ́сте ли члѝ николи́же въ писа́нїихъ: ка́мень, є҆гѡ́же не въ рѧдꙋ̀ сотвори́ша {небрего́ша} зи́ждꙋщїи, се́й бы́сть во главꙋ̀ ᲂу҆́гла; ѿ гдⷭ҇а бы́сть сїѐ, и҆ є҆́сть ди́вно во ѻ҆́чїю ва́шєю {на́шєю}.
Reader's reference
Divine Liturgy
Prokeimena
Extol the Lord our God / worship at His footstool for it is holy!
VThe Lord reigns, let the people tremble!
Alleluia
Remember Thy congregation, which Thou hast purchased of old.
VGod is our King before the ages; He has worked salvation in the midst of the earth!
The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the congregation of the Saints!
VGod is glorified in the council of the Saints!
Communion Hymn
Thou didst work salvation in the midst of the earth.