2024

On Friday | April 19

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THE PROPHECY

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode pl. 4.

Psalm 100 (101).

O Lord, I will sing to You of mercy and judgment.

I will sing and understand in a blameless way. [SAAS]

The reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah.

PRIEST

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Is 45:11-17

Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, who made the things that are to come: “Ask Me concerning My sons and daughters; and command Me concerning the works of My hands. I made the earth and mankind upon it. With My hand I established heaven and commanded all the stars. I raised him up to be a king with righteousness, and all his ways are right. He shall build My city and return the captivity of My people, not with ransoms or gifts,” says the Lord of hosts. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Egypt labored for you, and the merchandise of the Ethiopians and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall pass over to you. They shall be your servants and follow behind you, bound with handcuffs. They shall bow down and make supplication to you, because God is with you; and they shall say, ‘There is no God besides You. For You are God, the God of Israel, the Savior, yet we knew it not.’ All who oppose him shall be ashamed and disgraced and shall walk in shame. Be restored to Me, O coastlands. Israel is saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation. They will not be ashamed or disgraced forever.” For thus says the Lord, who made heaven. [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 101 (102).

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come to You.

Do not turn Your face from me. [SAAS]

The Readings from Vespers

READER

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 102 (103).

The Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. [SAAS]

The reading is from the book of Genesis.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Gn 22:1-18

Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham! Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your beloved son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a whole burnt offering on one of the mountains I tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split firewood for the whole burnt offering, and arose and went to the place God told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. Thus Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” So Abraham took the firewood of the whole burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. Then he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. Then Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the firewood, but where is the sheep for a whole burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the sheep for a whole burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. They came to the place where God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the firewood in order; and he bound Isaac his son hand and foot and laid him on the altar, upon the firewood. Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” He then replied, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him, for now I know you fear God, since for My sake you have not spared your beloved son.” Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him a ram was caught in a thicket by its horns. So he brought it for a whole burnt offering in the place of his son. Thus Abraham called the name of the place The-Lord-Has-Appeared; as it is said to this day, “In the mountain the Lord was seen.” Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said, “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you did this thing, and for My sake did not spare your beloved son, I will certainly bless you, and assuredly multiply your seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand on the seashore; and your seed shall inherit the cities of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you obeyed My voice.” [SAAS]

Prokeimenon. Mode 4.

Psalm 103 (104).

O Lord, Your works shall be magnified greatly.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. [SAAS]

The reading is from the Proverbs of Solomon.

DEACON

Wisdom. Let us be attentive.

READER

Pr 17:19b-30, 18:1-5

Let brethren be useful in necessities, for they are begotten for this reason. A man without discernment applauds and rejoices over himself, as also the one who gives himself as surety for his friend. He who loves sin rejoices in quarrels, and the hard-hearted man does not assemble with good men. A changeable man will fall into evils with his tongue, and a heart without discernment is grief to the one possessing it. A father does not delight in an uninstructed son; but a son with discernment gladdens his mother. A cheerful heart makes a man healthy, but the bones of a sorrowful man dry him up. The ways of a man who receives gifts unrighteously do not prosper, and the ungodly man shuns the ways of righteousness. The face of a wise man shows understanding, but the eyes of the man without discernment are upon the ends of the earth. A son without discernment is wrath to a father and grief to her who bore him. It is not good to punish a righteous man, nor is it holy to plot against righteous princes. He who refrains from uttering a harsh word is intelligent, and a longsuffering man has discernment. Wisdom shall be imputed to a man without understanding who asks for wisdom, and anyone who holds his peace will seem to have discernment. A man seeks a pretext when he wishes to separate from his friends, but he shall be reproached at every opportunity. A man lacking understanding has no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by lack of discernment. When an ungodly man comes into the depth of evil things, he acts contemptuously, but dishonor and reproach come upon him. A word in the heart of a man is deep water, and a river and a fountain of life spring up from it. It is not good to admire the person of the ungodly, nor is it holy to pervert righteousness in judgment. [SAAS]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On April 19, we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Pafnutius.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Theodore, who was in Perga, Pamphylia.

On this day the holy woman Martyr Philippa, the mother of St. Theodore, died by the sword.

On this day, Saints Socrates and Dionysius died when they were run through with a spear.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father George the Confessor, Bishop of Pissidia.

On this day we also commemorate our father among the saints Tryphon, Archbishop of Constantinople. The Synaxis in his honor is celebrated in the Most Holy Great Church.

On this day we also commemorate the holy and glorious monastic Martyr Agathangelos of Esphigmenou Monastery (Mt. Athos).

On this day, devout Saint Symeon, one time Abbot of the holy Monastery of Philotheou on Mt. Athos, and founder of Holy Trinity Monastery on Mt. Phlamurion, known for having only one garment and for going barefoot, died in peace.

By the intercessions of Your saints, 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.