2024

On Friday | March 29

__________

THE PROPHECY

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 37 (38).

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your anger.

For Your arrows are fixed in me, and Your hand rests on me. [SAAS]

The reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Is 7:1-14

And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, there came up Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, against Jerusalem to war against it; but they could not conquer it. Then it was reported to the house of David, saying, “Syria’s forces made an agreement with Ephraim.” So his soul and the soul of his people was confounded, as a tree of the woods is shaken by the wind. Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub your son, at the end of the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller’s Field, and say to him, ‘Guard yourself and be silent; do not fear, neither let your soul be disheartened because of these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for when My fierce anger is over, again I shall heal. The son of Syria and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying, “Let us go up against Judah and talk with them, and let us turn them to our side, and let us make the son of Tabel king of it.” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “This counsel shall not continue, nor shall it come to pass. But the head of Syria is Damascus; nevertheless, in sixty-five years the kingdom of Ephraim will cease being a people. Also the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son, and if you do not believe this, neither will you understand it.” ’” Moreover the Lord added this to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I tempt the Lord.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David, is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary the Lord also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign.” [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2.

Psalm 38 (39).

Hear my prayer, O Lord.

I said, “I will guard my ways.” [SAAS]

The Readings from Vespers

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 39 (40).

O Lord, may Your mercy and Your truth take hold of me.

I waited patiently for the Lord. [SAAS]

The reading is from the book of Genesis.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Gn 5:32, 6:1-8

And Noah was five hundred years old, and he begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now it came to pass that men began to exist in great numbers on the earth, and daughters were born to them. So when the sons of God saw the daughters of men were beautiful, they took wives for themselves of all they chose. Then the Lord God said, “My Spirit shall not remain with these people forever, for they are flesh. So their days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” Now there were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men of old, men of renown. Then the Lord God saw man’s wickedness, that it was great in the earth, and every intent of the thoughts within his heart was only evil continually. So God was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and He thought this over. Then God said, “I will blot out man whom I created from the face of the earth, from man to cattle, and from the creeping things to the birds of heaven, for I am grieved I made them.” But Noah found grace in the presence of the Lord God. [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2.

Psalm 40 (41).

O Lord, I said, “Have mercy on me.”

Blessed is he who understands the poor. [SAAS]

The reading is from the Proverbs of Solomon.

PRIEST

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Pr 6:24-35, 7:1-2

My son, guard the laws of your father, and do not depart from the rules of your mother. But fasten them to your soul continually and wear them as a collar upon your neck. When you walk about, bring along this commandment and let it be with you; and as you sleep, let it guard you, that when you arise, it may speak to you. For a commandment of law is a lamp and a light, and the way of life is reproof and instruction, that you may keep yourself from a married woman and from the slanderous tongue of a strange woman. Do not let the desire of beauty conquer you; neither be caught by her eyes, nor captivated by her eyelids; for the value of a prostitute is only one loaf, and such a woman hunts for the precious souls of men. Shall anyone bind fire to his bosom and his garments not burn? Or will anyone walk about on coals of fire and not burn his feet? Likewise is the one who goes in to a married woman; he shall not be guiltless, nor any who touch her. It is not surprising if anyone who steals is caught, for he steals that he may fill his hungry soul; but if he is caught, he will repay sevenfold, and by giving all his goods, he shall deliver himself. But the adulterer through his lack of discernment obtains the destruction of his soul; he bears both pain and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away forever. For the anger of her husband is full of jealousy; he will not spare in the day of judgment; he will not take any ransom in exchange for his hatred, nor will he be reconciled by many gifts. My son, guard my words, and hide my commandments within yourself; my son, honor the Lord, and you shall be strong, and fear none other but Him. [SAAS]

__________

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On March 29 we commemorate the holy martyrs Mark, Bishop of Arethusa, Cyril the deacon, and many others.

On this day we also commemorate the holy martyrs Jonah, Barachisios, and the seven martyrs with them.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father and confessor Eustathios of Bithynia.

By the intercessions of Your Saints, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

__________

Fasting Rule

Strict: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, dairy, and eggs.

It is a weekday in Lent.