Sunday June 23 / July 6 ns 2025 Holy Martyr Agrippína, St. Bárbaros the Myrrh-Gusher ~ Fish, wine, and olive oil are permitted ~ 4th Matins Gospel: St. Luke 24:1-12 Rom. 6:18-23 (4th Sunday of Epistles); St. Matt. 8:5-13 ~ A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN edited from Saint Nikolai Velimirovich

H O L Y

A P O S T L E S'

F A S T

Today we honor

The Holy Martyr Agrippína

and

St. Bárbaros the Myrrh-Gusher

Agrippína was born and educated in Rome. From her childhood she trained herself to live an evangelical life, driving away the stench of passions from her heart and filling her heart with the sweet-smelling fragrance of purity, of virginity and chastity. She was betrothed to Christ the Lord and, as the Bride of Christ, suffered during the reign of Emperor Valerian. She endured flogging with rods until her bones were crushed. An angel of God appeared to her and strengthened her. While being tortured, St. Agrippína gave up her soul to God. Her companions, Bássa, Paula and Agathoníke, translated her relics to the island of Sicily and honorably buried them there. A Church was later built there in St. Agrippina's honor. Countless miracles were wrought from her relics. By the power of her relics, even the Hagarenes were turned away from the town where her relics reposed. St. Agrippína rested in the year 275 A.D. and was crowned with glory.

Orthros Gospel

Saint Luke 24:1-12 KJV

24 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.

3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

8 And they remembered his words,

9 And returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Romans 6:18-23 KJV

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Saint Matthew 8:5-13 KJV

5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN

edited from Saint Nikolai Velimirovich

O All-Plenteous Lord Jesus Christ, Who wast once even Thyself a child and Who loves and blesses children, have mercy upon the children of our time and save them so that unbaptized children may be baptized, and so the baptized children may be strengthened in their faith in Thee, who art love Ineffable and Truth Eternal. 

Save, O Lord, those children whose unbelieving parents corrupt them with atheism to turn away from Thee, their only Savior and Salvation.

Save, O all meek Lord, also those children whose teachers are  without God and who alienate the children from their Creator.

Save, O Lord also those children whose pure soul is defiled by all the immorality in the streets, in the theaters, and on television.   

Save, all merciful Lord also those children who are orphans and who have fallen into the hands of cruel guardians, who do not save them from hearing blasphemous words and from seeing malicious deeds.

Save, O Son of God, the sons of the sons of men, who lure the children into a world of passions and attaches them to transitory things without giving them any training in proper thoughts, in truth and mercy, in deeds of goodness and righteousness or in Thy Holy Law.

Help the children of this age, O Almighty One, so that they may grow up and mature to Divine Sonship and heavenly citizenship, for their Eternal Salvation and for Thy Glory.