Isaiah 37.33-38.6 (6th Hour)

33Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians, He shall not enter into this city, nor cast a weapon against it, nor bring a shield against it, nor make a rampart round it. 34But by the way by which he came, by it shall he return, and shall not enter into this city: thus says the Lord. 35I will protect this city to save it for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 36And the angel of the Lord went forth, and killed out of the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand: and they arose in the morning and found all these bodies dead. 37And Sennacherim king of the Assyrians turned and departed, and lived in Nineve. 38And while he was worshipping Nasarach his country's god in the house, Adramelech and Sarasar his sons struck him with swords; and they escaped into Armenia: and Asordan his son reigned in his stead.

1And it came to pass at that time, that Ezekias was sick even to death. And Esaias the prophet the son of Amos came to him, and said to him, Thus says the Lord, Give orders concerning your house: for you shall die, and not live. 2And Ezekias turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you in truth, with a true heart, and have done that which was pleasing in your sight. And Ezekias wept bitterly. 4And the word of the Lord came to Esaias, saying, Go, and say to Ezekias, 5Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, and seen your tears: behold, I will add to your time fifteen years. 6And I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians: and I will defend this city.

Genesis 13.12-18 (Vespers)

12And Lot lived in a city of the neighbouring people, and pitched his tent in Sodom. 13But the men of Sodom were evil, and exceedingly sinful before God. 14And God said to Abram after Lot was separated from him, Look up with your eyes, and behold from the place where you now are northward and southward, and eastward and seaward; 15for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your seed for ever. 16And I will make your seed like the dust of the earth; if any one is able to number the dust of the earth, then shall your seed be numbered. 17Arise and traverse the land, both in the length of it and in the breadth; for to you will I give it, and to your seed for ever. 18And Abram having removed his tent, came and lived by the oak of Mambre, which was in Chebrom, and he there built an altar to the Lord.

Proverbs 14.27-15.4 (Vespers)

27The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes men to turn aside from the snare of death. 28In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince. 29A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish. 30A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones. 31He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honors him has pity upon the poor. 32The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just. 33There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned. 34Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes. 35An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behavior he removes disgrace.

1Anger slays even wise men; yet a submissive answer turns away wrath: but a grievous word stirs up anger. 2The tongue of the wise knows what is good: but the mouth of the foolish tells out evil things. 3The eyes of the Lord behold both the evil and the good in every place. 4The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.

Leavetaking of Annunciation

Each of the Great Feasts of the Church is followed by a commemoration of some holy one who figures in the events of the Feast. So, today we commemorate the Holy Archangel Gabriel, who brought the glad news of the conception of Christ to Mary, the Theotokos. The Prologue gives the following teaching:

“The herald of the incarnation of the Son of God, he is one of the seven great angels who stand before the throne of God. He revealed to Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner, and said of himself: ‘I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God’ (Lk. 1:19). His name, Gabriel, signifies ‘man of God’. Speaking about the Annunciation, the holy Fathers comment that an angel with such a name was sent to signify who He was, and of what nature He was, who would be born of the most pure Virgin. He would be the Man of God, the Man-God, the strong and mighty God. Others have found that it was this same Gabriel who announced the conception of the Virgin Mary to Joachim and Anna, and that it was he who taught Moses in the wilderness to write the Book of Genesis. The holy Fathers consider that Gabriel belongs to the foremost and highest order of the heavenly powers, the seraphim, since the seraphim stand closest to God. And so he is one of the seven seraphim closest to God. The names of these seven are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selathiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel. Some would add Jeremiel to this number. Each has his own particular service, but all are equal in honour. Why did God not send Michael? For the reason that Michael’s service is the suppression of the enemies of God’s truth, while Gabriel’s is the annunciation of the salvation of the human race.”

Synaxis of Archangel Gabriel

On this day all the many visitations and miracles of the holy Archangel, recorded in Holy Scripture and ever since, are commemorated. This feast duplicates the Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel that is celebrated on March 26, the day after Annunciation; it is thought that it was added to the calendar here some time in the ninth century, so that it could be celebrated more festively outside of Great Lent.