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 2:20–26
§ 294
2 Timothy 2:20–26 § 294
My son Timothy, in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle unto all men, able to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God perhaps will grant them repentance, to the acknowledgment of the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
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 10.46-52
§ 48
Mark 10.46-52 § 48
And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
Καὶ ἔρχονται εἰς Ἱεριχώ. καὶ ἐκπορευομένου αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ Ἱεριχὼ καὶ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ ὄχλου ἱκανοῦ, ὁ υἱὸς Τιμαίου Βαρτιμαῖος τυφλὸς ἐκάθητο παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν προσαιτῶν.
[Заⷱ҇ 48] И҆ прїидо́ша во і҆ерїхѡ́нъ. И҆ и҆сходѧ́щꙋ є҆мꙋ̀ ѿ і҆ерїхѡ́на, и҆ ᲂу҆чн҃кѡ́мъ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ наро́дꙋ мно́гꙋ, сы́нъ тїме́овъ варті́мей слѣпы́й сѣдѧ́ше при пꙋтѝ, просѧ̀.
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
καὶ ἀκούσας ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖός ἐστιν, ἤρξατο κράζειν καὶ λέγειν· υἱὲ Δαυῒδ Ἰησοῦ, ἐλέησόν με.
И҆ слы́шавъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ і҆и҃съ назѡрѧни́нъ є҆́сть, нача́тъ зва́ти и҆ глаго́лати: сн҃е дв҃довъ і҆и҃се, поми́лꙋй мѧ̀.
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
καὶ ἐπετίμων αὐτῷ πολλοὶ ἵνα σιωπήσῃ· ὁ δὲ πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἔκραζεν· υἱὲ Δαυΐδ, ἐλέησόν με.
И҆ преща́хꙋ є҆мꙋ̀ мно́зи, да ᲂу҆молчи́тъ: ѻ҆́нъ же мно́жае па́че зва́ше: сн҃е дв҃довъ, поми́лꙋй мѧ̀.
And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
καὶ στὰς ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπε· φωνήσατε αὐτόν· καὶ φωνοῦσι τὸν τυφλὸν λέγοντες αὐτῷ· θάρσει, ἔγειρε· φωνεῖ σε.
И҆ ста́въ і҆и҃съ, речѐ є҆го̀ возгласи́ти. И҆ возгласи́ша слѣпца̀, глаго́люще є҆мꙋ̀: дерза́й, воста́ни, зове́тъ тѧ̀.
And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
ὁ δὲ ἀποβαλὼν τὸ ἱμάτιον αὐτοῦ ἀναστὰς ἦλθε πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν.
Ѻ҆́нъ же ѿве́ргъ ри̑зы своѧ̑, воста́въ прїи́де ко і҆и҃сови.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· τί σοι θέλεις ποιήσω; ὁ δὲ τυφλὸς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ραββουνί, ἵνα ἀναβλέψω.
И҆ ѿвѣща́въ гл҃а є҆мꙋ̀ і҆и҃съ: что̀ хо́щеши, да сотворю̀ тебѣ̀; Слѣпы́й же глаго́ла є҆мꙋ̀: ᲂу҆чт҃лю, да прозрю̀.
And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ὕπαγε, ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέ σε. καὶ εὐθέως ἀνέβλεψε, καὶ ἠκολούθει τῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ.
І҆и҃съ же речѐ є҆мꙋ̀: и҆дѝ: вѣ́ра твоѧ̀ сп҃се́ тѧ. И҆ а҆́бїе прозрѣ̀ и҆ по і҆и҃сѣ и҆́де въ пꙋ́ть.
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
He makes His Angels spirits / and His ministers a flaming fire.
VBless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God, Thou art very great!
Alleluia
Praise the Lord, O ye Angels of His! Praise Him all His hosts!
VFor He spoke and they came into being; He commanded and they were created.
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
He makes His Angels spirits, and His ministers a flaming fire.