Sunday February 9, 2025 / January 27, 2025
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. Tone eight.
New Martyrs and Confessors of Russian Church (movable holiday on the Sunday closest to January 25th).
0Remembrance of all the departed who suffered in the years of persecution for faith in Christ.
Translation of the relics (437) of St. John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople.
Venerable Peter of Egypt (5th c.).
New Martyr Demetrius at Constantinople (1784) (Greek).
Venerable Titus the Soldier, monk of the Kiev Caves.
New Hieromartyr Peter (Zverev) of Voronezh (1929).
St. Demetrius Klepinine, priest of Paris (1944).
Venerable Leonty (Stasevich) of Ivanovo (1972).
The Scripture Readings
John 21:15-25 (11th Matins Gospel)
15
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
18
Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
19
This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
20
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
21
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22
Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
23
Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
24
This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
10
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,
11
persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra-what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
10
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
12
‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’
13
And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
14
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Romans 8:28-39 Martyrs
28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
31
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33
Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36
As it is written:”For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39
nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Luke 21:8-19 Martyrs
8
And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.
9
But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.
10
Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11
And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
12
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
13
But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.
14
Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;
15
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
16
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
17
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
18
But not a hair of your head shall be lost.
19
By your patience possess your souls.