Summit of Wisdom
“The fear of God illumines the soul, annihilates evil, weakens the passions, drives darkness from the soul and makes it pure. The fear of God is the summit of wisdom. Where it is not you will find nothing good. Whoever does not have the fear of God is open to diabolical falls.”
Saint Ephraim Syrian
#God #wisdom #fear
Thursday May 1, 2025 / April 18, 2025
Second Week of Pascha. Tone one.
Venerable John, disciple of St. Gregory of Decapolis (820).
New Hieromartyr Bessarion priest (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Priests Nicholas (1937) and Basil (Derzhavin) (1930) and lay people of the city of Gorodets, Nizhni-Novgorod.
Virgin-martyr Tamara (1942).
Martyrs Victor, Zoticus, Zeno, Acindynus, and Severian of Nicomedia (ca. 303).
Venerable Cosmas, bishop of Chalcedon, and his fellow-ascetic Venerable Auxentius (815-820).
New Martyr John the Tailor of Ioannina, at Constantinople (1526).
“Maximov” Icon of the Mother of God (1299).
Venerable Euthymius the Enlightener of Karelia (1435), and Venerables Anthony and Felix of St. Nicholas Monastery in Karelia.
Monks John and Athanasius of Aegina (Greek).
St. Naucratius, abbot of the Studion (848).
St. Athanasia the Wonderworker of Aegina (9th c.).
St. Basil Ratishvili of the Holy Mountain (13th c.) (Georgia).
Martyr Sabbas the Goth (372).
The Scripture Readings
23
And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24
So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
25
who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26
The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’
27
For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28
to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30
by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.
31
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
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.
25
Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
26
For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
27
and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
28
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
29
and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
30
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.