Saturday, April 25 / April 12 (Church Calendar)
Bright Saturday
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Photo of the Day:
The Holy Table, with the Holy Shroud in place.
Saints of the Day
April 12 / 25. St. Basil the Confessor, Bishop of Parium. Virgin Anthusa of Constantinople. St. Athanasia, abbess of Aegina. Martyrs Menas, David, and John of Palestine. St. Isaac the Syrian, abbot of Spoleto. Hieromartyr Zeno, Bishop of Verona. New-Martyr Acacius of Kapsokalyvia Skete on Mt. Athos. St. Basil, Bishop of Ryazan. (Greek Calendar: Deposition of the Belt of the Most Holy Mother of God in Constantinople. Martyrs Demas, Protion, and those with them.)
Video of the Day: Orthodoxy around the world:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUF4i4WvaZ4&feature=related
Scripture Readings for the Day
Acts 3:11-16
Preaching in Solomon’s Portico
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
John 3:22-33
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.