Stranger to Fear
“Whoever fears God stands above all manner of fear. He has become a stranger to all the fear of this world and placed it far from himself, and no manner of trembling comes near him.”
Saint Ephraim the Syrian
Wednesday April 2, 2025 / March 20, 2025
Fifth Week of the Great Lent. Tone seven.
Great Lent. By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
The Holy Fathers who were slain at the Monastery of St.Sabbas: Venerables John, Sergius, Patrick, and others (796).
New Hieromartyr Vladimir priest (1918).
New Hieromartyr Basil deacon (1938).
New Hieromartyr Priest Nicholas Holz of Novosiolki (Chelm and Podlasie, Poland) (1944).
Suffering of Venerable Euphrosynus of Blue-Jay Lake (Valaam) (1612).
Martyr Photina (Fatima, Svetlana) the Samaritan Woman and her sons: Martyrs Victor named Photinos, and Josiah with Anatolia, Photo, Photida, Paraskeva, Kyriakia, Domnina and Sebastian (66).
Seven Virgin-martyrs of Amisus (Samsun): Alexandra, Claudia, Euphrasia, Matrona, Juliana, Euphemia, and Theodosia (310).
St. Nicetas the Confessor, bishop of Apollonias in Bithynia (813).
New Martyr Myron of Crete (1793).
St. Martin of Braga in Iberia (580).
St. Wulfram, missionary (703) (Neth.).
St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, bishop (687) (Celtic & British).
Righteous Abel, first martyr in history of mankind.
St. Austreigiselis, bishop of Bourges (624) (Neth.).
Martyr Michael the Sabbaite, who suffered at Jerusalem (691).
St. Archil II, king of Georgia (744).
St. Herbert, hermit of Derwentwater.
Martyrs Rodion, Aquila the Eparch, Longinus, and Emmanuel (Greek).
The Scripture Readings
Isaiah 41:4-14 (6th Hour)
4
Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first; And with the last I am He.’ ”
5
The coastlands saw it and feared, The ends of the earth were afraid; They drew near and came.
6
Everyone helped his neighbor, And said to his brother, “Be of good courage!”
7
So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, Saying, “It is ready for the soldering”; Then he fastened it with pegs, That it might not totter.
8
“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
9
You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
10
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
11
“Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish.
12
You shall seek them and not find them— Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing.
13
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
14
“Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the Lord And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Genesis 17:1-9 (Vespers, 1st Reading)
1
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
2
“And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”
3
Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:
4
“As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
5
“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.
6
“I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
7
“And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
8
“Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
9
And God said to Abraham: “As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
Proverbs 15:20-16:9 (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
20
A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.
21
Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.
22
Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
23
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
24
The way of life winds upward for the wise, That he may turn away from hell below.
25
The Lord will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.
26
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, But the words of the pure are pleasant.
27
He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live.
28
The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
29
The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, And a good report makes the bones healthy.
31
The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise.
32
He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.
1
The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the spirits.
3
Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.
4
The Lord has made all for Himself,
5
Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
6
In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
7
When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8
Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice.
9
A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.