Thou didst ascend the cross O Jesus
Thou Who didst descend from heaven
Thou camest unto death O Life Immortal
Thou camest unto those in darkness
Thou Who are the True Light
Thou camest unto the fallen O Resurrection of us all
Our Light and Savior Glory to Thee
PRAYER FOR THE WORLD
St. Hierótheos the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Athens
Hierotheos was a companion of St. Dionysius the Areopagite and received the Christian Faith from the Apostle Paul a short time after Dionysius did. Later, the Apostle appointed him bishop of Athens. At the time of the Dormition of the Most-holy Theotokos, Hierotheus arrived in Jerusalem and took part in her burial. With his divine chanting he inspired heartfelt worship in many, revealing himself as a man inspired from on high. He labored much in the work of evangelism, converted many pagans to the truth and governed well his rational flock. He finally died a martyr for Christ, Who granted him a twofold crown in His Heavenly Kingdom: the crown of a hierarch and the crown of a martyr.
Philippians 2:16-23 (KJV)
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
Saint Luke 6:37-45 (KJV)
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
ON GOD AND CHRIST
by St. Gregory of Nazianzus
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"As man our Lord was baptized, but He absolves sins as God;
He needed no purifying rites Himself - His purpose was to hallow water.
As man He was put to the test, but as God He came through victorious - yes,
He bids us be of good cheer, because He has conquered the world. He hungered - yet He fed thousands.
He is indeed "living, heavenly bread" (St Jn. 6:51).
He thirsted - yet He exclaimed: "Whoever thirsts, let him come to Me and drink (St Jn. 7:37).
Indeed He promised that believers would become fountains (St Jn. 7:38).
He was tired - yet He is the "rest" (St Mt. 11:28) of the weary and the burdened.
He was overcome by heavy sleep - yet He goes lightly over the sea, rebukes winds, and relieves the drowning Peter."
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