Purging The Passions
This culture would keep you a slave to the passions, but Christ shows us the path to freedom.
#passion #freedom #jesuschrist
Friday February 7, 2025 / January 25, 2025
33rd Week after Pentecost. Tone seven.
Fast. Fish Allowed
St. Gregory the Theologian, archbishop of Constantinople (389).
Venerable Anatole I (Zertsalov, the “Elder”) of Optina (1894).
New Hieromartyr Vladimir, metropolitan of Kiev, proto-martyr of the communist yoke in Russia (1918).
New Martyr Abbess Margaret (Gunaronulo) of Menzelino (1918).
New Hieromartyr Peter archbishop of Voronezh (1929).
New Hieromartyr Basil bishop of Priluksk. 1930).
New Martyr Abbess Athanasia (Lepeshkin) of Zosima Hermitage (1931).
St. Stephen priest, martyr Boris (1938).
St. Moses, archbishop of Novgorod (1362).
Martyrs Felicitas of Rome and seven sons: Januarius, Felix, Philip, Silvanus, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martial (164).
Venerable Publius, ascetic of Syria (380).
Venerable Mares the Singer of Syria (430).
Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos “Assuage My Sorrow” and “Unexpected Joy.”.
New Martyr Auxentius of Constantinople (1720) (Greek).
Martyr Medula and her companions (Greek).
St. Castinus, bishop of Byzantium (240) (Greek).
Venerable Demetrius Skevophylax (“Keeper of the Sacred Vessels”) of Constantinople (8th c.) (Greek).
Venerable Apollo of the Thebaid, monk (4th c.) (Greek).
St. Bretanion (Vetranion), bishop of Tomis (380) (Romania).
St. Gregory of Golutvin (15th c.).
St. Dwyn, virgin of Llandwyn.
The Scripture Readings
John 10:1-9 Matins Gospel
1
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2
But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5
Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
6
Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
7
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8
All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
1
Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3
as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4
by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6
to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7
to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
8
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9
For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
1
Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”
2
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
3
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,
4
Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?
5
And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
6
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.
7
But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.
8
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 St. Gregory
7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
8
for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
9
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
John 10:9-16 St. Gregory
9
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
12
But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13
The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
14
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
15
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Hebrews 13:7-16 St. Vladimir
7
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9
Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
10
We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11
For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
12
Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13
Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
14
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.
15
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
16
But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
John 10:9-16 St. Vladimir
9
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
12
But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13
The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
14
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
15
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.