Courage During Repentance
“Recollect the fall of the strong, that thou mayest remain humble under thy virtues. And think of the heavy sins of those who fell and repented; and of the praise and honour they received afterwards, so that thou mayest acquire courage during repentance.”
Saint Isaac the Syrian
#courage #history #humility
Wednesday April 30, 2025 / April 17, 2025
Second Week of Pascha. Tone one.
Fast. Wine and Oil Allowed.
Hieromartyr Simeon, bishop in Persia, and those with him: Martyrs Abdechalas and Ananias presbyters, Usthazanes, Fusicus (Pusicius), Ascitrea, and Azat the Eunuch (341).
Venerable Acacius, bishop of Melitene (435).
Venerable Zosimas of Solovki (1478).
New Hieromartyr John priest (1918).
New Hieromartyr Michael confessor, priest (1935).
New Hieromartyr Theodore priest (1942).
Uncovering of the relics (1641) of Venerable Alexander of Svir (1533).
Martyr Adrian of Corinth (151).
St. Paisius, fool-for-Christ of Kiev (1893).
St. Agapitus, pope of Rome (536).
Venerable Macarius of Corinth (1805).
St. Ephraim the Great of Matskveri Monastery (9th c.) (Georgia).
Monk-martyr Donnan of Eigg and those with him (618) (Celtic & British).
The Scripture Readings
13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
14
And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16
saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17
But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.
18
So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19
But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
20
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21
So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.
22
For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
17
But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18
Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
19
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
20
For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21
For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.
22
For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
23
that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.