2024

On Monday | April 1

   

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THE PROPHECY

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 41 (42).

Hope in God, for I will give thanks to Him.

As the deer longs for the springs of waters. [SAAS]

The reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah.

PRIEST

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Is 8:13-9:6

“Sanctify the Lord Himself, and He shall be your fear. So if you trust in Him, He shall be as a sanctuary for you, and you shall not come against Him as a stumbling stone nor as a rock of disaster. But the house of Jacob lies in wait with a snare, and those in Jerusalem with a trap. Therefore many among them shall be powerless and fall, and be broken, and men who are in safety shall draw near and be conquered.” Then they who seal the law so as not to learn it themselves shall be evident. But One will say, “I shall wait for God who turned His face away from the house of Jacob, and I will trust in Him, behold, I and the children God gave me.” This will be for signs and wonders in the house of Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion. So if they should say to you, “Seek those who call from the earth and are ventriloquists, who speak from the belly,” should not a nation seek their God? Why do they seek the dead on behalf of the living? He gave the law to help them, so as not to speak such a word as this, concerning which word there are no gifts to offer with it. Thus a harsh famine will come upon you, and it shall be, when you are hungry, you will be grieved, and speak badly of your ruler and the idols. Then they shall look up to heaven above, and on the earth below, and behold, tribulation, distress, and darkness. There will be severe despair and darkness, so dark one cannot see. And the one who is in despair shall be perplexed, but only for a time. Do this first and do it quickly: O country of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, and the rest dwelling along the seacoast and parts of Judea, and the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, a people who walk in darkness, behold a great light; and you who dwell in the country of the shadow of death, upon you a light will shine. The multitude of the people, whom You brought down in Your joy, they shall also rejoice in Your presence, as those who rejoice in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoils. For the yoke lying upon them and the rod upon their neck is taken away, for the Lord broke the rod of the exactors as in the day of Midian. For every robe and garment gathered by deceit, they shall repay with money, and they shall be willing to do this, even though they were burned with fire. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. His name will be called the Angel of Great Counsel, for I shall bring peace upon the rulers, peace and health by Him. Great shall be His government, and of His peace there is no end. His peace shall be upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order and establish it with righteousness and judgment, from that time forward and unto ages of ages. The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall perform this. [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 42 (43).

My God is the salvation of my countenance.

Judge me, O God, and pass judgment in my cause. [SAAS]

The Readings from Vespers

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 43 (44).

We shall praise God all day long.

O God, we heard with our ears. [SAAS]

The reading is from the book of Genesis.

PRIEST

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Gn 6:9-22

Noah was a righteous man, who was perfect in his generation and well-pleasing to God. So Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt before God and filled with unrighteousness. Thus the Lord God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh corrupted their way on the earth. Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with unrighteousness through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of square timber. You shall make the ark in compartments, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. Thus you shall make the ark: three hundred cubits in length, fifty cubits in breadth, and thirty cubits in height. Now when you assemble the ark, you shall gradually finish it up to a cubit at the top, and set the door in its side. You shall make the ark with lower, second, and third stories. And behold, I am bringing a flood of water on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life. Whatever is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark – you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. From every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing on the earth after its kind, two of every kind, they will enter into the ark with you, male and female, to keep them alive. You shall also take for yourself all kinds of food to eat, and you shall gather it both for yourself and for them.” Thus Noah did according to all the Lord God commanded him, so he did. [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2.

Psalm 44 (45).

They shall remember your name from generation to generation.

My heart overflowed with a good word. [SAAS]

The reading is from the Proverbs of Solomon.

PRIEST

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Pr 8:1-21

[Son,] You shall proclaim wisdom that discernment may obey you; for she is on the lofty summit and stands in the midst of the paths. For she sits beside the gates of princes and sings at the entrances, “You, O men, I exhort, and I utter my voice to the sons of men; understand astuteness, O simple ones, and put it in your heart, O uninstructed ones. Obey me, for I speak sacred things, and from my lips I will bring forth things that are true. For my mouth shall speak the truth, but false lips are an abomination before me. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; there is nothing in them crooked or twisted. All things are evident to those who understand and true to those who find knowledge. Lay hold of instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than tested gold, and choose perception rather than pure gold. For wisdom is better than precious stones, and every costly thing is not worthy of her. I, wisdom, dwell with counsel, and I call upon knowledge and understanding. The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and both rudeness and arrogance, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverted ways of evil men. Counsel and safety are mine; discernment is mine, and strength is mine; by me, kings reign, and princes write of righteousness; by me, noblemen become great, and by me, monarchs have power in the land. I love those who love me, and those who seek me shall find me. Riches and glory belong to me, and abundant possessions, and righteousness; it is better to enjoy my fruits than gold and precious stones, and my fruits are better than choice silver. I walk in the ways of righteousness, and I am conversant with the paths of judgment; that I may distribute substance to those who love me, and may fill their treasuries with good things. [SAAS]

   

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On April 1 we commemorate our devout Mother Mary of Egypt.

On this day we also commemorate our devout Father Makarios the Confessor, Abbot of the Hewn Monastery.

On this day we also commemorate the holy martyrs Gerontios and Vasilides.

On this day we also commemorate the holy and righteous Ahaz.

We also commemorate our devout Russian father Efthymios of Suzdal, the wonder-worker.

By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

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

It is a weekday in Lent.