Let God Do It
Want to drop the religion and pick up the way of Life? It is easier said than done.
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Tuesday May 6, 2025 / April 23, 2025
Third Week of Pascha. Tone two.
Holy Glorious Great-martyr, Victory-bearer and Wonderworker George (303).
Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (Second finding of the copy 2012).
New Hieromartyr Priest Egor (George) of Spas Chekriak village, Russia (1918).
New Hieromartyr John priest (1940).
New Hieromartyr Priest Sergius Zacharczuk of Nabroz (Chelm and Podlasie, Poland) (1943).
Martyr Alexandra the Empress, wife of Diocletian (303).
Martyrs Anatolius and Protoleon, soldiers converted by witnessing the martyrdom of St. George.
Venerable Sophia (1974).
Martyrs Glycerius, Athanasius the Magician, Valerius, and Donatus at Nicomedia.
Martyr Therinus of Bothrotus in Epirus (250).
New Martyr George of Ptolomais (1752).
New Martyr Lazarus of Bulgaria, who suffered at Pergamus (1802).
Blessed George of Shenkursk, fool-for-Christ (1462).
The Scripture Readings
Luke 12:2-12 Matins, Gospel
2
For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
3
Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
4
And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5
But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
6
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
7
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
8
Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.
9
But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10
And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
11
Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.
12
For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
5
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
6
And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7
For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8
And there was great joy in that city.
9
But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great,
10
to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.”
11
And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.
12
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
13
Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
14
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15
who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
16
For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
17
Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
1
Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
2
Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3
And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
4
So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
5
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
6
And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
7
Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
8
Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
9
So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10
When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11
And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
Acts 12:1-11 St. George
1
Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
2
Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3
And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
4
So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
5
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
6
And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
7
Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands.
8
Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”
9
So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.
10
When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
11
And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
John 15:17-16:2 St. George
17
These things I command you, that you love one another.
18
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21
But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
22
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23
He who hates Me hates My Father also.
24
If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.
25
But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
26
But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
27
And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
1
These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.
2
They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.