1And the hand of the Lord came upon me, and the Lord brought me forth by the Spirit, and set me in the midst of the plain, and it was full of human bones.
2And he led me round about them every way: and, behold, there were very many on the face of the plain, very dry.
3And he said to me, Son of man, will these bones live? and I said, O Lord God, you know this.
4And he said to me, Prophesy upon these bones, and you shall say to them, You⌃ dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
5Thus says the Lord to these bones; Behold, I will bring upon you the breath of life:
6and I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and will spread skin upon you, and will put my Spirit into you, and you⌃ shall live; and you⌃ shall know that I am the Lord.
7So I prophesied as the Lord commanded me: and it came to pass while I was prophesying, that, behold, there was a shaking, and the bones approached each one to his joint.
8And I looked, and behold, sinews and flesh grew upon them, and skin came upon them above: but there was not breath in them.
9And he said to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus says the Lord; Come from the four winds, and breathe upon these dead men, and let them live.
10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, a very great congregation.
11And the Lord spoke to me, saying, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: and they say, Our bones are become dry, our hope has perished, we are quite spent.
12Therefore prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord; Behold, I will open your tombs, and will bring you up out of your tombs, and will bring you into the land of Israel.
13And you⌃ shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, that I may bring up my people from their graves.
14And I will put my Spirit within you, and you⌃ shall live, and I will place you upon your own land: and you⌃ shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and will do it, says the Lord.
6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?
7Purge out the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.
8Therefore let’s keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”
14that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Matthew 27.62-66
(Matins Gospel)
62Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,
63saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’
64Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.
Genesis 1.1-13
(Vespers, 1st reading)
1In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth.
2But the earth was unsightly and unfurnished, and darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God moved over the water.
3And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.
4And God saw the light that it was good, and God divided between the light and the darkness.
5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night, and there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the water, and let it be a division between water and water, and it was so.
7And God made the firmament, and God divided between the water which was under the firmament and the water which was above the firmament.
8And God called the firmament Heaven, and God saw that it was good, and there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
9And God said, Let the water which is under the heaven be collected into one place, and let the dry land appear, and it was so. And the water which was under the heaven was collected into its places, and the dry land appeared.
10And God called the dry land Earth, and the gatherings of the waters he called Seas, and God saw that it was good.
11And God said, Let the earth bring forth the herb of grass bearing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and the fruit tree bearing fruit whose seed is in it, according to its kind on the earth, and it was so.
12And the earth brought forth the herb of grass bearing seed according to its kind and according to its likeness, and the fruit tree bearing fruit whose seed is in it, according to its kind on the earth, and God saw that it was good.
13And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
Isaiah 60.1-16
(Vespers, 2nd reading)
1Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
2Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and there shall be gross darkness on the nations: but the Lord shall appear upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you.
3And kings shall walk in your light, and nations in your brightness.
4Lift up your eyes round about, and behold your children gathered: all your sons have come from far, and your daughters shall be borne on men's shoulders.
5Then shall you see, and fear, and be amazed in your heart; for the wealth of the sea shall come round to you, and of nations and peoples; and herds of camels shall come to you,
6and the camels of Madiam and Gaepha shall cover you: all from Saba shall come bearing gold, and shall bring frankincense, and they shall publish the salvation of the Lord.
7And all the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered, and the rams of Nabaeoth shall come; and acceptable sacrifices shall be offered on my altar, and my house of prayer shall be glorified.
8Who are these that fly as clouds, and as doves with young ones to me?
9The isles have waited for me, and the ships of Tharsis among the first, to bring your children from afar, and their silver and their gold with them, and that for the sake of the holy name of the Lord, and because the Holy One of Israel is glorified.
10And strangers shall build your walls, and their kings shall wait upon you: for by reason of my wrath I struck you, and by reason of mercy I loved you.
11And your gates shall be opened continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; to bring in to you the power of the Gentiles, and their kings as captives.
12For the nations and the kings which will not serve you shall perish; and those nations shall be made utterly desolate.
13And the glory of Libanus shall come to you, with the cypress, and pine, and cedar together, to glorify my holy place.
14And the sons of them that afflicted you, and of them that provoked you, shall come to you in fear; and you shall be called Sion, the city of the Holy One of Israel.
15Because you have become desolate and hated, and there was no helper, therefore I will make you a perpetual gladness, a joy of many generations.
16And you shall suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shall eat the wealth of kings: and shall know that I am the Lord that saves you and delivers you, the Holy One of Israel.
Exodus 12.1-11
(Vespers, 3rd reading)
1And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2This month shall be to you the beginning of months: it is the first to you among the months of the year.
3Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, On the tenth of this month let them take each man a lamb according to the houses of their families, every man a lamb for his household.
4And if they be few in a household, so that there are not enough for the lamb, he shall take with himself his neighbor that lives near to him, —as to the number of souls, every one according to that which suffices him shall make a reckoning for the lamb.
5It shall be to you a lamb unblemished, a male of a year old: you⌃ shall take it of the lambs and the kids.
6And it shall be kept by you till the fourteenth of this month, and all the multitude of the congregation of the children of Israel shall kill it toward evening.
7And they shall take of the blood, and shall put it on the two door-posts, and on the lintel, in the houses in which soever they shall eat them.
8And they shall eat the flesh in this night roast with fire, and they shall eat unleavened bread with bitter herbs.
9You⌃ shall not eat of it raw nor sodden in water, but only roast with fire, the head with the feet and the appurtenances.
10Nothing shall be left of it till the morning, and a bone of it you⌃ shall not break; but that which is left of it till the morning you⌃ shall burn with fire.
11And thus shall you⌃ eat it: your loins girded, and your sandals on your feet, and your staves in your hands, and you⌃ shall eat it in haste. It is a passover to the Lord.
Jonah 1.1-4.11
(Vespers, 4th reading)
1Now the word of the Lord came to Jonas the son of Amathi, saying,
2Rise, and go to Nineve, the great city, and preach in it; for the cry of its wickedness is come up to me.
3But Jonas rose up to flee to Tharsis from the presence of the Lord. And he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tharsis: and he paid his fare, and went up into it, to sail with them to Tharsis from the presence of the Lord.
4And the Lord raised up a wind on the sea; and there was a great storm on the sea, and the ship was in danger of being broken.
5And the sailors were alarmed, and cried every one to his god, and cast out the wares that were in the ship into the sea, that it might be lightened of them. But Jonas was gone down into the hold of the ship, and was asleep, and snored.
6And the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, Why snore you? arise, and call upon your God, that God may save us, and we perish not.
7And each man said to his neighbor, Come, let us cast lots, and find out for whose sake this mischief is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonas.
8And they said to him, Tell us what is your occupation, and whence come you, and of what country and what people are you?
9And he said to them, I am a servant of the Lord; and I worship the Lord God of heaven, who made the sea, and the dry land.
10Then the men feared exceedingly, and said to him, What is this that you have done? for the men knew that he was fleeing from the face of the Lord, because he had told them.
11And they said to him, What shall we do to you, that the sea may be calm to us? for the sea rose, and lifted its wave exceedingly.
12And Jonas said to them, Take me up, and cast me into the sea, and the sea shall be calm to you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
13And the men tried hard to return to the land, and were not able: for the sea rose and grew more and more tempestuous against them.
14And they cried to the Lord, and said, Forbid it, Lord: let us not perish for the sake of this man's life, and bring not righteous blood upon us: for you, Lord, have done as you would.
15So they took Jonas, and cast him out into the sea: and the sea ceased from its raging.
16And the men feared the Lord very greatly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord, and vowed vows.
1Now the Lord had commanded a great whale to swallow up Jonas: and Jonas was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights.
2And Jonas prayed to the Lord his God out of the belly of the whale,
3and said, I cried in my affliction to the Lord my God, and he listened to me, even to my cry out of the belly of hell: you heard my voice.
4You did cast me into the depths of the heart of the sea, and the floods compassed me: all your billows and your waves have passed upon me.
5And I said, I am cast out of your presence: shall I indeed look again toward your holy temple?
6Water was poured around me to the soul: the lowest deep compassed me, my head went down
7to the clefts of the mountains; I went down into the earth, whose bars are the everlasting barriers: yet, O Lord my God, let my ruined life be restored.
8When my soul was failing me, I remembered the Lord; and may my prayer come to you into your holy temple.
9They that observe vanities and lies have forsaken their own mercy.
10But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of praise and thanksgiving: all that I have vowed I will pay to you, the Lord of my salvation.
11And the whale was commanded by the Lord, and it cast up Jonas on the dry land.
1And the word of the Lord came to Jonas the second time, saying,
2Rise, go to Nineve, the great city, and preach in it according to the former preaching which I spoke to you of.
3And Jonas arose, and went to Nineve, as the Lord had spoken. Now Nineve was an exceeding great city, of about three days' journey.
4And Jonas began to enter into the city about a day's journey, and he proclaimed, and said, Yet three days, and Nineve shall be overthrown.
5And the men of Nineve believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloths, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
6And the word reached the king of Nineve, and he arose from off his throne, and took off his raiment from him, and put on sackcloth, and sat on ashes.
7And proclamation was made, and it was commanded in Nineve by the king an by his great men, saying, Let not men, or cattle, or oxen, or sheep, taste any thing, nor feed, nor drink water.
8So men and cattle were clothed with sackcloths, and cried earnestly to God; and they turned every one from their evil way, and from the iniquity that was in their hands, saying,
9Who knows if God will repent, and turn from his fierce anger, and so we shall not perish?
10And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil ways; and God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did it not.
1But Jonas was very deeply grieved, and he was confounded.
2And he prayed to the Lord, and said, O Lord, were not these my words when I was yet in my land? therefore I made haste to flee to Tharsis; because I knew that you are merciful and compassionate, longsuffering, and abundant in kindness, and repent of evil.
3And now, Lord God, take my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
4And the Lord said to Jonas, Are you very much grieved?
5And Jonas went out from the city, and sat over against the city; and he made for himself there a booth, and he sat under it, until he should perceive what would become of the city.
6And the Lord God commanded a gourd, and it came up over the head of Jonas, to be a shadow over his head, to shade him from his calamities: and Jonas rejoiced with great joy for the gourd.
7And God commanded a worm the next morning, and it struck the gourd, and it withered away.
8And it came to pass at the rising of the sun, that God commanded a burning east wind; and the sun struck on the head of Jonas, and he fainted, and despaired of his life, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
9And God said to Jonas, Are you very much grieved for the gourd? And he said, I am very much grieved, even to death.
10And the Lord said, You had pity on the gourd, for which you have not suffered, neither did you rear it; which came up before night, and perished before another night:
11and shall not I spare Nineve, the great city, in which dwell more than twelve myriads of human beings, who do not know their right hand or their left hand; and also much cattle?
Joshua 5.10-15
(Vespers, 5th reading)
10And the children of Israel kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, to the westward of Jericho on the opposite side of the Jordan in the plain.
11And they ate of the grain of the earth unleavened and new corn.
12In this day the manna failed, after they had eaten of the corn of the land, and the children of Israel no longer had manna: and they took the fruits of the land of the Phoenicians in that year.
13And it came to pass when Joshua was in Jericho, that he looked up with his eyes and saw a man standing before him, and there was a drawn sword in his hand; and Joshua drew near and said to him, Are you for us or on the side of our enemies?
14And he said to him, I am now come, the chief captain of the host of the Lord.
15And Joshua fell on his face upon the earth, and said to him, Lord, what command you your servant?
Exodus 13.20-15.19
(Vespers, 6th reading)
20And the children of Israel departed from Socchoth, and encamped in Othom by the wilderness.
21And God led them, in the day by a pillar of cloud, to show them the way, and in the night by a pillar of fire.
22And the pillar of cloud failed not by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, before all the people.
1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2Speak to the children of Israel, and let them turn and encamp before the village, between Magdol and the sea, opposite Beel-sepphon: before them shall you encamp by the sea.
3And Pharao will say to his people, As for these children of Israel, they are wandering in the land, for the wilderness has shut them in.
4And I will harden the heart of Pharao, and he shall pursue after them; and I will be glorified in Pharao, and in all his host, and all the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord. And they did so.
5And it was reported to the king of the Egyptians that the people had fled: and the heart of Pharao was turned, and that of his servants against the people; and they said, What is this that we have done, to let the children of Israel go, so that they should not serve us?
6So Pharao yoked his chariots, and led off all his people with himself:
7having also taken six hundred chosen chariots, and all the cavalry of the Egyptians, and rulers over all.
8And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharao king of Egypt, and of his servants, and he pursued after the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went forth with a high hand.
9And the Egyptians pursued after them, and found them encamped by the sea; and all the cavalry and the chariots of Pharao, and the horsemen, and his host were before the village, over against Beel-sepphon.
10And Pharao approached, and the children of Israel having looked up, saw, and the Egyptians encamped behind them: and they were very greatly terrified, and the children of Israel cried to the Lord;
11and said to Moses, Because there were no graves in the land of Egypt, have you brought us forth to kill us in the wilderness? What is this that you have done to us, having brought us out of Egypt?
12Is not this the word which we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? for it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in this wilderness.
13And Moses said to the people, Be of good courage: stand and see the salvation which is from the Lord, which he will work for us this day; for as you⌃ have seen the Egyptians today, you⌃ shall see them again no more for ever.
14The Lord shall fight for you, and you⌃ shall hold your peace.
15and the Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to me? speak to the children of Israel, and let them proceed.
16And do you lift up your rod, and stretch forth your hand over the sea, and divide it, and let the children of Israel enter into the midst of the sea on the dry land.
17And behold! I will harden the heart of Pharao and of all the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them; and I will be glorified upon Pharao, and on all his host, and on his chariots and his horses.
18And all the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I am glorified upon Pharao and upon his chariots and his horses.
19And the angel of God that went before the camp of the children of Israel removed and went behind, and the pillar of the cloud also removed from before them and stood behind them.
20And it went between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel, and stood; and there was darkness and blackness; and the night passed, and they came not near to one another during the whole night.
21And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the Lord carried back the sea with a strong south wind all the night, and made the sea dry, and the water was divided.
22And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the water of it was a wall on the right hand and a wall on the left.
23And the Egyptians pursued them and went in after them, and every horse of Pharao, and his chariots, and his horsemen, into the midst of the sea.
24And it came to pass in the morning watch that the Lord looked forth on the camp of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and troubled the camp of the Egyptians,
25and bound the axle-trees of their chariots, and caused them to go with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.
26And the Lord said to Moses, Stretch forth your hand over the sea, and let the water be turned back to its place, and let it cover the Egyptians coming both upon the chariots and the riders.
27And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the water returned to its place toward day; and the Egyptians fled from the water, and the Lord shook off the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
28and the water returned and covered the chariots and the riders, and all the forces of Pharao, who entered after them into the sea: and there was not left of them even one.
29But the children of Israel went along dry land in the midst of the sea, and the water was to them a wall on the right hand, and a wall on the left.
30So the Lord delivered Israel in that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead by the shore of the sea.
31And Israel saw the mighty hand, the things which the Lord did to the Egyptians; and the people feared the Lord, and they believed God and Moses his servant.
1Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song to God, and spoke, saying, Let us sing to the Lord, for he is very greatly glorified: horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
2He was to me a helper and protector for salvation: this is my God and I will glorify him; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
3The Lord bringing wars to nothing, the Lord is his name.
4He has cast the chariots of Pharao and his host into the sea, the chosen mounted captains: they were swallowed up in the Red Sea.
5He covered them with the sea: they sank to the depth like a stone.
6Your right hand, O God, has been glorified in strength; your right hand, O God, has broken the enemies.
7And in the abundance of your glory you have broken the adversaries to pieces: you sent forth your wrath, it devoured them as stubble.
8And by the breath of your anger the water parted asunder; the waters were congealed as a wall, the waves were congealed in the midst of the sea.
9The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoils; I will satisfy my soul, I will destroy with my sword, my hand shall have dominion.
10You sent forth your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty water.
11Who is like to you among the gods, O Lord? who is like to you? glorified in holiness, marvelous in glories, doing wonders.
12You stretched forth your right hand, the earth swallowed them up.
13You have guided in your righteousness this your people whom you have redeemed, by your strength you have called them into your holy resting-place.
14The nations heard and were angry, pangs have seized on the dwellers among the Phylistines.
15Then the princes of Edom, and the chiefs of the Moabites hasted; trembling took hold upon them, all the inhabitants of Chanaan melted away.
16Let trembling and fear fall upon them; by the greatness of your arm, let them become as stone; till your people pass over, O Lord, till this your people pass over, whom you have purchased.
17Bring them in and plant them in the mountain of their inheritance, in your prepared habitation, which you, O Lord, have prepared; the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have made ready.
18The Lord reigns for ever and ever and ever.
19For the horse of Pharao went in with the chariots and horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought upon them the water of the sea, but the children of Israel walked through dry land in the midst of the sea.
Zephaniah 3.8-15
(Vespers, 7th reading)
8Therefore wait upon me, says the Lord, until the day when I rise up for a witness: because my judgment shall be on the gatherings of the nations, to draw to me kings, to pour out upon them all my fierce anger: for the whole earth shall be consumed with the fire of my jealousy.
9For then will I turn to the peoples a tongue for her generation, that all may call on the name of the Lord, to serve him under one yoke.
10From the boundaries of the rivers of Ethiopia will I receive my dispersed ones; they shall offer sacrifices to me.
11In that day you shall not be ashamed of all your practices, wherein you have transgressed against me: for then will I take away from you your disdainful pride, and you shall no more magnify yourself upon my holy mountain.
12And I will leave in you a meek and lowly people;
13and the remnant of Israel shall fear the name of the Lord, and shall do no iniquity, neither shall they speak vanity; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed, and lie down, and there shall be none to terrify them.
14Rejoice, O daughter of Sion; cry aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem; rejoice and delight yourself with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15The Lord has taken away your iniquities, he has ransomed you from the hand of your enemies: the Lord, the King of Israel, is in the midst of you: you shall not see evil any more.
3[1] Kings 17.8-24
(Vespers, 8th reading)
8And the word of the Lord came to Eliu, saying,
9Arise, and go to Sarepta of the Sidonian land: behold, I have there commanded a widow-woman to maintain you.
10And he arose and went to Sarepta, and came to the gate of the city: and, behold, a widow-woman was there gathering sticks; and Eliu cried after her, and said to her, Fetch me, I pray you, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11And she went to fetch it; and Eliu cried after her, and said, Bring me, I pray you, a morsel of the bread that is in your hand.
12And the woman said, As the Lord your God lives, I have not a cake, but only a handful of meal in the pitcher, and a little oil in a cruse, and, behold, I am going to gather two sticks, and I shall go in and dress it for myself and my children, and we shall eat it and die.
13And Eliu said to her, Be of good courage, go in and do according to your word: but make me thereof a little cake, and you shall bring it out to me first, and you shall make some for yourself and your children last.
14For thus says the Lord, The pitcher of meal shall not fail, and the cruse of oil shall not diminish, until the day that the Lord gives rain upon the earth.
15And the woman went and did so, and did eat, she, and he, and her children.
16And the pitcher of meal failed not, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord which he spoke by the hand of Eliu.
17And it came to pass afterward, that the son of the woman the mistress of the house was sick; and his sickness was very severe, until there was no breath left in him.
18And she said to Eliu, What have I to do with you, O man of God? have you come in to me to bring my sins to remembrance, and to kill my son?
19And Eliu said to the woman, Give me your son. And he took him out of her bosom, and took him up to the chamber in which he himself lodged, and laid him on the bed.
20And Eliu cried aloud, and said, Alas, O Lord, the witness of the widow with whom I sojourn, you have wrought evil for her in slaying her son.
21And he breathed on the child thrice, and called on the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, let, I pray you, the soul of this child return to him.
22And it was so, and the child cried out,
23and he brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; and Eliu said, See, your son lives.
24And the woman said to Eliu, Behold, I know that you are a man of God, and the word of the Lord in your mouth is true.
Isaiah 61.10-62.5
(Vespers, 9th reading)
10and they shall greatly rejoice in the Lord. Let my soul rejoice in the Lord; for he has clothed me with the robe of salvation, and the garment of joy: he has put a mitre on me as on a bridegroom, and adorned me with ornaments as a bride.
11And as the earth putting forth her flowers, and as a garden its seed; so shall the Lord, even the Lord, cause righteousness to spring forth, and exultation before all nations.
1For Sion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as light, and my salvation burn as a torch.
2And the Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and kings your glory: and one shall call you by a new name, which the Lord shall name.
3And you shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4And you shall no more be called Forsaken; and your land shall no more be called Desert: for you shall be called My Pleasure, and your land Inhabited: for the Lord has taken pleasure in you, and your land shall be inhabited.
5And as a young man lives with a virgin, so shall your sons dwell in you: and it shall come to pass that as a bridegroom will rejoice over a bride, so will the Lord rejoice over you.
Genesis 22.1-18
(Vespers, 10th reading)
1And it came to pass after these things that God tempted Abraam, and said to him, Abraam, Abraam; and he said, Behold! I am here.
2And he said, Take your son, the beloved one, whom you have loved—Isaac, and go into the high land, and offer him there for a whole burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.
3And Abraam rose up in the morning and saddled his ass, and he took with him two servants, and Isaac his son, and having split wood for a whole burnt offering, he arose and departed, and came to the place of which God spoke to him,
4on the third day; and Abraam having lifted up his eyes, saw the place afar off.
5And Abraam said to his servants, Sit you⌃ here with the ass, and I and the lad will proceed thus far, and having worshipped we will return to you.
6And Abraam took the wood of the whole burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took into his hands both the fire and the knife, and the two went together.
7And Isaac said to Abraam his father, Father. And he said, What is it, son? And he said, Behold the fire and the wood, where is the sheep for a whole burnt offering?
8And Abraam said, God will provide himself a sheep for a whole burnt offering, my son. And both having gone together,
9came to the place which God spoke of to him; and there Abraam built the altar, and laid the wood on it, and having bound the feet of Isaac his son together, he laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10And Abraam stretched forth his hand to take the knife to kill his son.
11And an angel of the Lord called him out of heaven, and said, Abraam, Abraam. And he said, Behold, I am here.
12And he said, Lay not your hand upon the child, neither do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, and for my sake you have not spared your beloved son.
13And Abraam lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold! a ram caught by his horns in a plant of Sabec; and Abraam went and took the ram, and offered him up for a whole burnt offering in the place of Isaac his son.
14And Abraam called the name of that place, The Lord has seen; that they might say today, In the mount the Lord was seen.
15And an angel of the Lord called Abraam the second time out of heaven, saying, I have sworn by myself, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and on my account have not spared your beloved son,
16surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is by the shore of the sea, and your seed shall inherit the cities of their enemies.
17And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have listened to my voice.
18And Abraam returned to his servants, and they arose and went together to the well of the oath; and Abraam lived at the well of the oath.
Isaiah 61.1-9
(Vespers, 11th reading)
1The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; he has sent me to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken in heart, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind;
2to declare the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of recompence; to comfort all that mourn;
3that there should be given to them that mourn in Sion glory instead of ashes, the oil of joy to the mourners, the garment of glory for the spirit of heaviness: and they shall be called generations of righteousness, the planting of the Lord for glory.
4And they shall build the old waste places, they shall raise up those that were before made desolate, and shall renew the desert cities, even those that had been desolate for many generations.
5And strangers shall come and feed your flocks, and aliens shall be your plowmen and vine-dressers.
6But you⌃ shall be called priests of the Lord, the ministers of God: you⌃ shall eat the strength of nations, and shall be admired because of their wealth.
7Thus shall they inherit the land a second time, and everlasting joy shall be upon their head.
8For I am the Lord who love righteousness, and hate robberies of injustice; and I will give their labor to the just, and will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring in the midst of peoples: every one that sees them shall take notice of them, that they are a seed blessed of God;
4[2] Kings 4.8-37
(Vespers, 12th reading)
8And a day came, when Elisaie passed over to Soman, and there was a great lady there, and she constrained him to eat bread: and it came to pass as often as he went into the city, that he turned aside to eat there.
9And the woman said to her husband, See now, I know that this is a holy man of God who comes over continually to us.
10Let us now make for him an upper chamber, a small place; and let us put there for him a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall come to pass that when he comes in to us, he shall turn in there.
11And a day came, and he went in there, and turned aside into the upper chamber, and lay there.
12And he said to Giezi his servant, Call me this Somanite. and he called her, and she stood before him.
13And he said to him, Say now to her, Behold, you have taken all this trouble for us; what should I do for you? Have you any request to make to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she said, I dwell in the midst of my people.
14And he said to Giezi, What must we do for her? and Giezi his servant said, Indeed she has no son, and her husband is old.
15And he called her, and she stood by the door.
16And Elisaie said to her, At this time next year, as the season is, you shall be alive, and embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, do not lie to your servant.
17And the woman conceived, and bore a son at the very time, as the season was, being alive, as Elisaie said to her.
18And the child grew: and it came to pass when he went out to his father to the reapers,
19that he said to his father, My head, my head. and his father said to a servant, carry him to his mother.
20And he carried him to his mother, and he lay upon her knees till noon, and died.
21And she carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of god; and she shut the door upon him, and went out.
22And she called her husband, and said, Send now for me one of the young men, and one of the asses, and I will ride quickly to the man of God, and return.
23And he said, Why are you going to him today? It is neither new moon, nor the Sabbath. And she said, It is well.
24And she saddled the ass, and said to her servant, Be quick, proceed: spare not on my account to ride, unless I shall tell you. Go, and you shall proceed, and come to the man of God to mount Carmel.
25And she rode and came to the man of God to the mountain: and it came to pass when Elisaie saw her coming, that he said to Giezi his servant, See now, that Somanite comes.
26Now run to meet her, and you shall say, Is it well with you? is it well with your husband? is it well with the child? and she said, It is well.
27And she came to Elisaie to the mountain, and laid hold of his feet; and Giezi drew near to thrust her away. And Elisaie said, Let her alone, for her soul is much grieved in her, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told it me.
28And she said, Did I ask a son of my lord? For did I not say, Do not deal deceitfully with me?
29And Elisaie said to Giezi, Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go: if you meet any man, you shall not salute him, and if a man salute you you shall not answer him: and you shall lay my staff on the child's face.
30And the mother of the child said, As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you. And Elisaie arose, and went after her.
31And Giezi went on before her, and laid his staff on the child's face: but there was neither voice nor any hearing. So he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.
32And Elisaie went into the house, and, behold, the dead child was laid upon his bed.
33And Elisaie went into the house, and shut the door upon themselves, the two, and prayed to the Lord.
34And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and bowed himself upon him, and the flesh of the child grew warm.
35And he returned, and walked up and down in the house: and he went up, and bowed himself on the child seven times; and the child opened his eyes.
36And Elisaie cried out to Giezi, and said, Call this Somanite. So he called her, and she came in to him: and Elisaie said, Take your son.
37And the woman went in, and fell at his feet, and did obeisance bowing to the ground; and she took her son, and went out.
Isaiah 63.11-64.5
(Vespers, 13th reading)
11Then he remembered the ancient days, saying, Where is he that brought up from the sea the shepherd of the sheep? where is he that put his Holy Spirit in them?
12who led Moses with his right hand, the arm of his glory? he forced the water to separate from before him, to make himself an everlasting name.
13He led them through the deep, as a horse through the wilderness, and they fainted not,
14and as cattle through a plain: the Spirit came down from the Lord, and guided them: thus you led your people, to make yourself a glorious name.
15Turn from heaven, and look from your holy habitation and from your glory: where is your zeal and your strength? where is the abundance of your mercy and of your compassions, that you have withholden yourself from us?
16For you are our Father; for though Abraham knew us not, and Israel did not acknowledge us, yet do you, O Lord, our Father, deliver us: your name has been upon us from the beginning.
17Why have you caused us to err, O Lord, from your way? and has hardened our hearts, that we should not fear you? Return for your servants' sake, for the sake of the tribes of your inheritance,
18that we may inherit a small part of your holy mountain.
19We are become as at the beginning, when you did not rule over us, and your name was not called upon us.
1If you would open the heaven, trembling will take hold upon the mountains from you, and they shall melt,
2as wax melts before the fire; and fire shall burn up the enemies, and your name shall be manifest among the adversaries: at your presence the nations shall be troubled,
3whenever you shall work gloriously; trembling from you shall take hold upon the mountains.
4From of old we have not heard, neither have our eyes seen a God beside you, and your works which you will perform to them that wait for mercy.
5For these blessings shall happen to them that work righteousness, and they shall remember your ways: behold, you were angry and we have sinned; therefore we have erred,
Jeremiah 31.31-34
(Vespers, 14th reading)
31Therefore howl you⌃ for Moab on all sides; cry out against the shorn men in a gloomy place. I will weep for you,
32O vine of Aserema, as with the weeping of Jazer: your branches are gone over the sea, they reached the cities of Jazer: destruction has come upon your fruits, and upon your grape gatherers.
33Joy and gladness have been utterly swept off the land of Moab: and though there was wine in your presses, in the morning they trod it not, neither in the evening did they raise the cry of joy.
34From the cry of Esebon even to Aetam their cities uttered their voice, from Zogor to Oronaim, and their tidings as a heifer of three years old, for the water also of Nebrin shall be dried up.
Daniel 3.1-23; Song of the Three 1-66 with verses
(Vespers, 15th reading)
1In his eighteenth year Nabuchodonosor the king made a golden image, its height was sixty cubits, its breadth six cubits: and he set it up in the plain of Deira, in the province of Babylon.
2And he sent forth to gather the governors, and the captains, and the heads of provinces, chiefs, and princes, and those who were in authority, and all the rulers of districts, to come to the dedication of the image.
3So the heads of provinces, the governors, the captains, the chiefs, the great princes, those who were in authority, and all the rulers of districts, were gathered to the dedication of the image which king Nabuchodonosor had set up; and they stood before the image.
4Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, you⌃ peoples, tribes, and languages,
5at what hour you⌃ shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and pipe, and harp, and sackbut, and lute, and every kind of music, you⌃ shall fall down and worship the golden image which king Nabuchodonosor has set up.
6And whoever shall not fall down and worship, in the same hour he shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace.
7And it came to pass when the nations heard the sound of the trumpet, and pipe, and harp, and sackbut, and lute, and all kinds of music, all the nations, tribes, and languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image which king Nabuchodonosor had set up.
8Then came near certain Chaldeans, and accused the Jews to the king, saying,
9O king, live for ever.
10You, O king, have made a decree that every man who shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and pipe, and harp, sackbut, and lute, and all kinds of music,
11and shall not fall down and worship the golden image, shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace.
12There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, who have not obeyed your decree, O king: they serve not your gods, and worship not the golden image which you have set up.
13Then Nabuchodonosor in wrath and anger commanded to bring Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago: and they were brought before the king.
14And Nabuchodonosor answered and said to them, Is it true, Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, that you⌃ serve not my gods, and worship not the golden image which I have set up?
15Now then if you⌃ be ready, whenever you⌃ shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and pipe, and harp, and sackbut, and lute, and harmony, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the golden image which I have made; well: but if you⌃ worship not, in the same hour you⌃ shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace; and who is the God that shall deliver you out of my hand?
16Then answered Sedrach, Misach and Abdenago and said to king Nabuchodonosor, We have no need to answer you concerning this matter.
17For our God whom we serve is in the heavens, able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will rescue us from your hands, O king.
18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the image which you have set up.
19Then Nabuchodonosor was filled with wrath, and the form of his countenance was changed toward Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago: and he gave orders to heat the furnace seven times more than usual, until it should burn to the uttermost.
20And he commanded mighty men to bind Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21Then those men were bound with their coats, and caps, and hose, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace,
22forasmuch as the king's word prevailed; and the furnace was made exceeding hot.
23Then these three men, Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, fell bound into the midst of the burning furnace, and walked in the midst of the flame, singing praise to God, and blessing the Lord.
1Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said,
2Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers: your name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore:
3For you are righteous in all the things that you have done to us: yes, true are all your works, your ways are right, and all your judgments truth.
4In all the things that you have brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, you have executed true judgment: for according to truth and judgment did you bring all these things upon us because of our sins.
5For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from you.
6In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed your commandments, nor kept them, neither done as you have commanded us, that it might go well with us.
7Therefore all that you have brought upon us, and every thing that you have done to us, you have done in true judgment.
8And you did deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world.
9And now we can’t open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to your servants; and to them that worship you.
10Yet deliver us not up wholly, for your name's sake, neither disannul you your covenant:
11And cause not your mercy to depart from us, for your beloved Abraham's sake, for your servant Isaac's sake, and for your holy Israel's sake;
12To whom you have spoken and promised, that you would multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lies upon the seashore.
13For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins.
14Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before you, and to find mercy.
15Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted.
16Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be in your sight this day, and grant that we may wholly go after you: for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in you.
17And now we follow you with all our heart, we fear you, and seek your face.
18Put us not to shame: but deal with us after your lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of your mercies.
19Deliver us also according to your marvelous works, and give glory to your name, O Lord: and let all them that do your servants hurt be ashamed;
20And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken;
21And let them know that you are God, the only God, and glorious over the whole world.
22And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood;
23So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits.
24And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace.
25But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows, and struck the flame of the fire out of the oven;
26And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them.
27Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed, God in the furnace, saying,
28Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
29And blessed is your glorious and holy name: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
30Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.
31Blessed are you that behold the depths, and sit upon the cherubims: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever.
32Blessed are you on the glorious throne of your kingdom: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever.
33Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be praised and glorified for ever.
34O all you⌃ works of the Lord, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever,
35O you⌃ heavens, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
36O you⌃ angels of the Lord, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
37O all you⌃ waters that be above the heaven, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
38O all you⌃ powers of the Lord, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
39O you⌃ sun and moon, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
40O you⌃ stars of heaven, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
41O every shower and dew, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
42O all you⌃ winds, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever,
43O you⌃ fire and heat, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
44O you⌃ winter and summer, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
45O you⌃ dews and storms of snow, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
46O you⌃ nights and days, bless you⌃ the Lord: bless and exalt him above all for ever.
47O you⌃ light and darkness, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
48O you⌃ ice and cold, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
49O you⌃ frost and snow, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
50O you⌃ lightnings and clouds, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
51O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
52O you⌃ mountains and little hills, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
53O all you⌃ things that grow in the earth, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
54O you⌃ mountains, bless you⌃ the Lord: Praise and exalt him above all for ever.
55O you⌃ seas and rivers, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
56O you⌃ whales, and all that move in the waters, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
57O all you⌃ fowls of the air, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
58O all you⌃ beasts and cattle, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
59O you⌃ children of men, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
60O Israel, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
61O you⌃ priests of the Lord, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
62O you⌃ servants of the Lord, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
63O you⌃ spirits and souls of the righteous, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
64O you⌃ holy and humble men of heart, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
65O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever: for he has delivered us from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire has he delivered us.
66O give thanks to the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy endures for ever.
Romans 6.3-11 (Epistle)
3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
5For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;
6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.
7For he who has died has been freed from sin.
8But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him,
9knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over him!
10For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.
11Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 28.1-20 (Gospel)
1Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
2Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it.
3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
4For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.
5The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.
6He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
7Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”
8They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.
9As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.
12When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,
13saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept.
14If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.”
15So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.
16But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.
17When they saw him, they bowed down to him; but some doubted.
18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
19Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Commemorations
Martyr Nikon and 199 Disciples
He was born in Neapolis (Naples) to a pagan father and a Christian mother, and became an officer in the Roman army. Though he was not baptised, his mother had secretly instructed him in the Christian faith. Once, in a battle, his company was completely surrounded by the enemy, and Nikon recalled his mother’s counseling that, whenever he was in trouble, he should make the sign of the Cross and call upon Christ. This he did, and was immediately filled with strength and resolution, so that the enemy’s army was routed. Nikon went home, openly crying out ‘Great is the God of the Christians!’ to the great joy of his mother.
He traveled secretly to Cyzicus in Asia, where the bishop Theodosius baptised him. He then entered a monastery to spend his days in prayer and study. But some years later Theodosius, who was near death, had a vision in which he was told to consecrate Nikon as his successor. He summoned Nikon from the monastery and, to the monk’s amazement, immediately ordained him a deacon, then a priest, then a bishop.
Later, bishop Nikon returned to Italy to preach the Gospel of Christ. In Naples, he found his mother still alive, and remained with her until her death. He then set out with nine disciples, former fellow-soldiers, to proclaim the Faith. Through the Saint’s grace-filled preaching and example, many more disciples were soon added to this number. At that time a great persecution of Christians was underway, and Quintinianus, ruler of that region, seized Nikon and his companions and handed them over to the torturers. One hundred ninety of Nikon’s companions perished under torture. Nikon himself was beaten, flayed, and even thrown from a high cliff, but was miraculously preserved. Finally he was slain by the sword and his body thrown in a field to be eaten by the beasts. A shepherd boy, possessed by a spirit of madness, found the body, fell on it, and was instantly healed. He told his story to some Christians, who found the body and gave it honorable burial. Saint Nikon contested during the reign of the Emperor Decius.