2024

On Friday | April 12

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THE PROPHECY

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 2.

Psalm 77 (78).

He is merciful and will atone for their sins.

Give heed, O my people, to my law. [SAAS]

The reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah.

PRIEST

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Is 29:13-23

So the Lord said, “These people draw near to Me and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and they worship Me in vain, teaching the commandments and doctrines of men. Therefore behold, I will proceed to remove this people, and I shall remove them. I shall destroy the wisdom of the wise and hide the understanding of the intelligent.” Woe to those who deepen their counsel, but not through the Lord! Woe to those who take counsel in secret and whose works are in darkness! They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us or what we do?” Shall you not be considered as the clay of the potter? Shall what is molded of clay say to him who molded it, “You did not create me”? Or shall the work say to him who made it, “You did not make me wisely”? Is it not yet a very little while until Lebanon shall be changed like Mount Carmel, and Mount Carmel be considered a forest? In that day, the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of those in darkness and in a fog shall see. The poor also shall rejoice exceedingly in gladness because of the Lord, and the hopeless among men shall be filled with gladness. The lawless man has come to an end, and the arrogant man has perished. Those who act lawlessly in malice are utterly destroyed, as well as those who cause men to sin in word. They shall make all who condemn at the gates an offense, because they turned aside the righteous man with wrongdoing. Therefore the Lord says this concerning the house of Jacob, whom He set apart out of Abraham: “Now Jacob shall not be ashamed, nor shall Israel now change his countenance. But when their children see My works, they shall sanctify My name for My sake, and will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the God of Israel.” [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 1.

Psalm 78 (79).

Help us, O God our savior.

O God, the nations entered Your inheritance. [SAAS]

The Readings from Vespers

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 79 (80).

Reveal Yourself, O You who sit upon the cherubim.

Give heed, O You who shepherd Israel. [SAAS]

The reading is from the book of Genesis.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Gn 12:1-7

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father’s house, to a land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you; and in you all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed.” Then Abram departed as the Lord said to him, and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. So Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son and all their possessions and every soul they acquired in Haran, and they departed for the land of Canaan. Thus they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your seed I will give this land.” And there Abram built an altar to the Lord, who appeared to him. [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode 2.

Psalm 80 (81).

Rejoice in God our helper.

Take up a psalm and sound a timbrel. [SAAS]

The reading is from the Proverbs of Solomon.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Pr 14:15-27

A simple man believes in every word, but an astute man comes to repentance. A wise man fears and turns away from evil, but a man without discernment persuades himself to mingle with a lawless man. A quick-tempered man acts with recklessness, but a man with discernment bears many things. Men without discernment will share in evil, but the astute will take hold of perception. Evil men will slip and fall in the presence of good men, and the ungodly shall serve at the gate of the righteous. Friends will hate poor friends, but the friends of the rich are many. He who dishonors the poor sins, but he who has mercy on the poor is very blessed. Deceivers devise evil things, but good men devise mercy and truth. Devisers of evil things do not understand mercy and faithfulness, but mercies and faithfulness are with devisers of good things. To everyone who is careful there is an abundance, but he who is pleasure-taking and slothful shall be in want. The crown of the wise is astuteness, but the pastime of the undiscerning is evil. A faithful witness will rescue a soul from evil men, but a deceitful man kindles lies. In the fear of the Lord there is hope of strength, and to His children there remains support. [SAAS]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On April 12, we commemorate our devout father Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parium.

On this day in the year 942, the precious Belt (also called sash, garment and cincture) of our most-holy Lady Theotokos was transferred from the Diocese of Zela to Constantinople, during the reign of Constantine and Romanos Porphyrogenitoi. Afterwards, on August 31, it was moved to the holy shrine of Chalcoprateia.

On this day we also commemorate our devout mother Anthousa, daughter of Emperor Constantine V.

On this day we also commemorate the holy martyrs Demes and Proteon.

On this day we also commemorate the holy hieromartyr Artemon.

On this day we also commemorate the three holy martyrs, Menas, David and John.

Devout Akakios the new, who lived as an ascetic in the Skete of Kafsokalivia on Mt. Athos in the 18th century, died in peace.

By their holy intercessions, O Christ 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.