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
1 Timothy 5:22–6:11
§ 287
1 Timothy 5:22–6:11 § 287
My son Timothy, do not lay hands on any man hastily, neither share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden… Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the Name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are faithful and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. If any man teach otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things …
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 11.22-26
§ 51
Mark 11.22-26 § 51
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἔχετε πίστιν Θεοῦ.
И҆ ѿвѣща́въ і҆и҃съ гл҃а и҆̀мъ:
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ὃς ἂν εἴπῃ τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ, ἄρθητι καὶ βλήθητι εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ μὴ διακριθῇ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ πιστεύσει ὅτι ἃ λέγει γίνεται, ἔσται αὐτῷ ὃ ἐὰν εἴπῃ.
[Заⷱ҇ 51] и҆мѣ́йте вѣ́рꙋ бж҃їю: а҆ми́нь бо гл҃ю ва́мъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ, и҆́же а҆́ще рече́тъ горѣ̀ се́й: дви́гнисѧ и҆ ве́рзисѧ въ мо́ре: и҆ не размы́слитъ въ се́рдцы свое́мъ, но вѣ́рꙋ и҆́метъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ є҆́же глаго́летъ, быва́етъ: бꙋ́детъ є҆мꙋ̀, є҆́же а҆́ще рече́тъ:
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
διὰ τοῦτο λέγω ὑμῖν, πάντα ὅσα ἂν προσευχόμενοι αἰτεῖσθε, πιστεύετε ὅτι λαμβάνετε, καὶ ἔσται ὑμῖν.
сегѡ̀ ра́ди гл҃ю ва́мъ: всѧ̑ є҆ли̑ка а҆́ще молѧ́щесѧ про́сите, вѣ́рꙋйте, ꙗ҆́кѡ прїе́млете: и҆ бꙋ́детъ ва́мъ:
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
καὶ ὅταν στήκητε προσευχόμενοι, ἀφίετε εἴ τι ἔχετε κατά τινος, ἵνα καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς ἀφῇ ὑμῖν τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν.
и҆ є҆гда̀ стоитѐ молѧ́щесѧ, ѿпꙋща́йте, а҆́ще что̀ и҆́мате на кого̀, да и҆ ѻ҆ц҃ъ ва́шъ, и҆́же є҆́сть на нб҃сѣ́хъ, ѿпꙋ́ститъ ва́мъ согрѣшє́нїѧ ва̑ша:
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
εἰ δὲ ὑμεῖς οὐκ ἀφίετε, οὐδὲ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ἀφήσει τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν.
а҆́ще ли же вы̀ не ѿпꙋща́ете, ни ѻ҆ц҃ъ ва́шъ, и҆́же є҆́сть на нб҃сѣ́хъ, ѿпꙋ́ститъ ва́мъ согрѣше́нїй ва́шихъ.
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
My soul magnifies the Lord / and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
VFor He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden, for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Alleluia
Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear.
VThe rich among the people shall pray before thy face.
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
I will receive the cup of salvation and call on the Name of the Lord.