First Sunday of the Great Lent: Triumph of Orthodoxy 2025
(Pictured: guests and visitors of the monastery)
Sunday March 9, 2025 / February 24, 2025
First Sunday of the Great Lent: Triumph of Orthodoxy. Tone four.
Great Lent. Food with Oil
“Cyprus” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos from the village Staromniy, Moscow region (movable holiday on the 1st Sunday of the Great Lent).
First (4th c.) and Second (452) Findings of the Precious Head of St. John the Baptist.
Venerable Erasmus of the Kiev Caves (1160).
Uncovering of the relics (1486) of St. Romanus, prince of Uglich.
Martyrs Montanus, Lucias, Julian, Victoricus, Flavian and their companions at Carthage (259).
St. Cummain Ailbe, abbot of Ilona (669) (Celtic & British).
The Scripture Readings
Luke 24:1-12 (4th Matins Gospel)
1
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
2
But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
3
Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4
And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
5
Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6
He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
7
saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’
8
And they remembered His words.
9
Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
10
It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.
11
And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.
12
But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
24
By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26
esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
32
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:
33
who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35
Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36
Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-
38
of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
40
God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
43
The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”
44
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46
And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48
Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49
Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50
Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
51
And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
2 Corinthians 4:6-15 Forerunner
6
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-
10
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12
So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
14
knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
Matthew 11:2-15 Forerunner
2
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples
3
and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5
The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6
And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.
7
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
8
But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
9
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
10
For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11
Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
13
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14
And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.
15
He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Vespers Forerunner
1) Isaiah 40:1-3,9; 41:17-18; 45:8; 48:20-21; 54:1
1
“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God.
2
“ Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double for all her sins.”
3
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “ Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
9
O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
17
“ The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18
I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water.
8
“ Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, And let righteousness spring up together. I, the LORD, have created it.
20
Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing, Declare, proclaim this, Utter it to the end of the earth; Say, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!”
21
And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.
1
“Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the LORD.
2) Malachi 3:1-2,5-7,12,17; 4:4-6
1
“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts.
2
“ But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap.
5
And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien— Because they do not fear Me,” Says the LORD of hosts.
6
“ For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
7
Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the LORD of hosts. “ But you said, ‘ In what way shall we return?’
12
And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts.
17
“ They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “ On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
4
“ Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.
5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
6
And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”
3) Wisdom of Solomon 4:7,16,17,19,20; 5:1-7
7
But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.
16
Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which are living; and youth that is soon perfected the many years and old age of the unrighteous.
17
For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to what end the Lord hath set him in safety.
19
For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the foundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish.
20
And when they cast up the accounts of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.
1
Then shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have afflicted him, and made no account of his labours.
2
When they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the strangeness of his salvation, so far beyond all that they looked for.
3
And they repenting and groaning for anguish of spirit shall say within themselves, This was he, whom we had sometimes in derision, and a proverb of reproach:
4
We fools accounted his life madness, and his end to be without honour:
5
How is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints!
6
Therefore have we erred from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness hath not shined unto us, and the sun of righteousness rose not upon us.
7
We wearied ourselves in the way of wickedness and destruction: yea, we have gone through deserts, where there lay no way: but as for the way of the Lord, we have not known it.