Isaiah 65.8-16 (6th Hour)

8Thus says the Lord, As a grape-stone shall be found in the cluster, and they shall say, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for the sake of him that serves me, for his sake I will not destroy them all. 9And I will lead forth the seed that came of Jacob and of Juda, and they shall inherit my holy mountain: and my elect and my servants shall inherit it, and shall dwell there. 10And there shall be in the forest folds of flocks, and the valley of Achor shall be for a resting-place of herds for my people, who have sought me. 11But you⌃ are they that have left me, and forget my holy mountain, and prepare a table for the devil, and fill up the drink-offering to Fortune. 12I will deliver you up to the sword, you⌃ shall all fall by slaughter: for I called you, and you⌃ listened not; I spoke, and you⌃ refused to hear; and you⌃ did evil in my sight, and chose the things wherein I delighted not. 13Therefore thus says the Lord, Behold, my servants shall eat, but you⌃ shall hunger: behold, my servants shall drink, but you⌃ shall thirst: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you⌃ shall be ashamed: 14behold, my servants shall exult with joy, but you⌃ shall cry for the sorrow of your heart, and shall howl for the vexation of your spirit. 15For you⌃ shall leave your name for a loathing to my chosen, and the Lord shall destroy you: but my servants shall be called by a new name, 16which shall be blessed on the earth; for they shall bless the true God: and they that swear upon the earth shall swear by the true God; for they shall forget the former affliction, it shall not come into their mind.

Genesis 46.1-7 (Vespers)

1And Israel departed, he and all that he had, and came to the well of the oath; and he offered sacrifice to the God of his father Isaac. 2And God spoke to Israel in a night vision, saying, Jacob, Jacob; and he said, What is it? 3And he says to him, I am the God of your fathers; fear not to go down into Egypt, for I will make you there a great nation. 4And I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will bring you up at the end; and Joseph shall put his hands on your eyes. 5And Jacob rose up from the well of the oath; and the sons of Israel took up their father, and the baggage, and their wives on the wagons, which Joseph sent to take them. 6And they took up their goods, and all their property, which they had gotten in the land of Chanaan; they came into the land of Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him. 7The sons, and the sons of his sons with him; his daughters, and the daughters of his daughters; and he brought all his seed into Egypt.

Proverbs 23.15-24.5 (Vespers)

15Son, if your heart be wise, you shall also gladden my heart; 16and your lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right. 17Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the Lord all the day. 18For if you should keep these things, you shall have posterity; and your hope shall not be removed. 19Hear, my son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of your heart. 20Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh: 21for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments. 22Listen, my son, to your father which begot you, and despise not your mother because she is grown old. 24A righteous father brings up his children well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son. 25Let your father and your mother rejoice over you, and let her that bore you be glad. 26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. 27For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow. 28For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off. 29Who has woe? who trouble? who has quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who has bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid? 30Are not those of them that stay long at wine? are not those of them that haunt the places where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse with them openly. 31For if you should set your eyes on bowls and cups, you shall afterwards go more naked than a pestle. 32But at last such a one stretches himself out as one struck by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent. 33Whenever your eyes shall behold a strange woman, then your mouth shall speak perverse things. 34And you shall lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm. 35And you shall say, They struck me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?

1My son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them. 2For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs. 3A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding. 4By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth. 5A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate.

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.