Miracle of Miracles
So you want to see a miracle? Pay attention!
#jesuschrist #orthodoxy #miracle
Friday May 23, 2025 / May 10, 2025
Fifth Week of Pascha. Tone four.
Fast. Fish Allowed
Apostle Simon the Zealot (1st. c.).
St. Simon, bishop of Vladimir and Suzdal (Kiev Caves) (1226).
Martyrs Philadelphus, Cyprian, Alphaeus, Onesimus, Erasmus, and 14 others, in Sicily (251).
Martyr Hesychius of Antioch (4th c.).
Venerable Isidora the Fool of Tabenna (Egypt) (365).
Blessed Thais (Taisia) of Egypt (5th c.).
Blessed Simon of Yurievits and Zharki, fool-for-Christ (1584).
Icon of the Mother of God “Kiev-Bratsk” (1654).
Venerable Laurence, monk, of Egypt (6th c.). oVenerable Dionisius of Radonezh (14-15th c.).
Translation of relics (1670) of Martyr Basil of Mangazea (Siberia) (1602).
St. Synesius of Irkutsk, friend of St. Sophronius (1787).
St. Conleth, hermit and bishop of Kildare (520) (Celtic & British).
The Scripture Readings
John 21:15-25 Matins Gospel
15
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
18
Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.
19
This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
20
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
21
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22
Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
23
Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
24
This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
5
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6
Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
7
And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
8
So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,
9
and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10
Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.
12
Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.
13
And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me:
14
Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
15
And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16
After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;
17
So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.’
18
Known to God from eternity are all His works.
19
Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
20
but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
21
For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
22
Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23
They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24
Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” -to whom we gave no such commandment-
25
it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26
men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.
28
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29
that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
30
So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
31
When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
32
Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.
33
And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.
34
However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.
17
Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
18
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.
19
Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.
20
And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”
21
Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
22
Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.
23
And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.
24
Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25
Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.
26
But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
27
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
28
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
1 Corinthians 4:9-16 Apostle
9
For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
10
We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
11
To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
12
And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
13
being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
14
I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
15
For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16
Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
Matthew 13:54-58 Apostle
54
When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?
55
Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
56
And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?
57
So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”
58
Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.