March 29 - Mark, Bishop of Arethusa
AGGreen
On Tuesday, March 29, 2005 we celebrate:
OLD TESTAMENT ORTHROS READING
The Reading is from Isaiah 9:9-10:4
Thus says the LORD: "And all the people will know, Ephraim and the
inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart: 'The
bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores
have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.'" So the LORD
raises adversaries against them, and stirs up their enemies. The Syrians on
the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For
all this his anger is not turned away and his hand is stretched out still.
The people did not turn to him who smote them, nor seek the LORD of hosts.
So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one
day - the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches
lies is the tail; for those who lead this people lead them astray, and those
who are led by them are swallowed up. Therefore the Lord does not rejoice
over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows;
for every one is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For
all this his anger is not turned away and his hand is stretched out still.
For wickedness burns like a fire, it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles
the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is burned, and the people
are like fuel for the fire; no man spares his brother. They snatch on the
right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not
satisfied; each devours his neighbor s flesh, Manasseh Ephraim, and Ephraim
Manasseh, and together they are against Judah. For all this his anger is not
turned away and his hand is stretched out still.
Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing
oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my
people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may
make the fatherless their prey! What will you do on the day of punishment,
in the storm which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and
where will you leave your wealth? Nothing remains but to crouch among the
prisoners or fall among the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away
and his hand is stretched out still.
(C) 2005 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Mark, Bishop of Arethusa
March 29
Apolytikion:
Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Since they had slain through their abstinence and struggles the fiery
ragings and fierce motions of the passions, the staunch Martyrs of Christ
God laid hold on the graces to drive off the pains and illnesses of the sick
and work wonders both while living and after death. Strange indeed is the
miracle! That these bare bones should pour forth such overflowing streams of
cures. Glory be to our only God.
Reading:
Saint Mark was Bishop of Arethusa in Syria. In the days of Saint Constantine
the Great, Saint Mark, moved with divine zeal, destroyed a temple of the
idols and raised up a church in its stead. When Julian the Apostate reigned,
in 361, as the pagans were now able to avenge the destruction of their
temple, Saint Mark, giving way to wrath, hid himself; but when he saw that
others were being taken on his account, he gave himself up. Having no regard
to his old age, they stripped him and beat his whole body, cast him into
filthy sewers, and pulling him out, had children prick him with their iron
writing-pens. Then they put him into a basket, smeared him with honey and a
kind of relish of pickled fish, and hung him up under the burning sun to be
devoured by bees and wasps. But because he bore this so nobly, his enemies
repented, and unloosed him.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA
(C) 2005 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Martyr Cyril the Deacon and Those with him
March 29
Apolytikion:
Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Since they had slain through their abstinence and struggles the fiery
ragings and fierce motions of the passions, the staunch Martyrs of Christ
God laid hold on the graces to drive off the pains and illnesses of the sick
and work wonders both while living and after death. Strange indeed is the
miracle! That these bare bones should pour forth such overflowing streams of
cures. Glory be to our only God.
Reading:
Saint Cyril was a deacon from Heliopolis in Phoenicia. During the reign of
the Emperor Constantius, son of Saint Constantine, he had also broken the
idols in pieces. When Julian came to power, Saint Cyril was seized by the
idolaters and his belly was ripped open. The other holy Martyrs celebrated
today, martyred in Gaza and Ascalon during the reign of Julian, were men of
priestly rank and consecrated virgins; they were disemboweled, filled with
barley, and set before swine to be eaten. The account of all the above
Saints is given in Book III, ch. 3, of Theodoret of Cyrrhus' "Ecclesiastical
History."
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA
(C) 2005 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Jonah & Mark the Martyrs
March 29
Apolytikion:
Plagal of the Fourth Tone
Since they had slain through their abstinence and struggles the fiery
ragings and fierce motions of the passions, the staunch Martyrs of Christ
God laid hold on the graces to drive off the pains and illnesses of the sick
and work wonders both while living and after death. Strange indeed is the
miracle! That these bare bones should pour forth such overflowing streams of
cures. Glory be to our only God.
Reading:
As for the holy Martyrs Jonas and Barachesius, they were monks from Persia
who lived in the reign of Sapor II, King of Persia from 325 to 379. These
Saints found nine Christians in prison suffering for their faith, and
comforted them, encouraging them to stand fast till the end, which they did,
and received the crown of martyrdom. Because of this, Saints Jonas and
Barachesius also were seized, and commanded to worship the fire, the sun,
and the water. When they refused, Jonas, among other tortures, had his hands
and feet cut off, was crushed in a device that broke his bones, and was sawn
asunder. Barachesius was dragged naked over thorns, his whole body was
pierced with sharp reeds and then broken in the same device employed upon
Jonas, and when boiling pitch was poured down his throat, he gave up his
soul into the hands of God.
Reading courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA
Apolytikion courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA
(C) 2005 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
OLD TESTAMENT VESPERS READING
The Reading is from Genesis 7:1-5
Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your household,
for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. Take
with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate; and a pair
of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate; and seven pairs of
the birds of the air also, male and female, to keep their kind alive upon
the face of all the earth. For in seven days I will send rain upon the earth
forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will
blot out from the face of the ground." And Noah did all that the LORD had
commanded him.
(C) 2005 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
OLD TESTAMENT VESPERS READING
The Reading is from Proverbs 8:32-9:11
And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. Hear
instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Happy is the man who listens
to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For he who finds
me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD; but he who misses me injures
himself; all who hate me love death." Wisdom has built her house, she has
set up her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her
wine, she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids to call from
the highest places in the town, "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"
To him who is without sense she says, "Come, eat of my bread and drink of
the wine I have mixed. Leave simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of
insight." He who corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves
a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man,
and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man and he will increase in
learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge
of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and
years will be added to your life.
(C) 2005 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
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