[Magdalen] Theophany Wed, Jan 06, 2016

[Kate Conant]

A blessed Theophany to all!

Kate


"What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk
humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8

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From: <dailyreadings at goarch.org>
Date: Wed, Jan 6, 2016 at 12:01 AM
Subject: [DAILYREADINGS] Daily Readings for Wed, Jan 06, 2016
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Daily Scripture Readings and Lives of the Saints for Wednesday, January 6,
2016

Fast Free

Feasts and Saints celebrated today:

     The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
     Theophan the Recluse


Readings for today:

     Mark 1:9-11
     St. Paul's Letter to Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
     Matthew 3:13-17


The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Reading from the Synaxarion:

About the beginning of our Lord's thirtieth year, John the Forerunner, who
was some six months older than Our Saviour according to the flesh, and had
lived in the wilderness since his childhood, received a command from God
and came into the parts of the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance
unto the remission of sins. Then our Saviour also came from Galilee to the
Jordan, and sought and received baptism though He was the Master and John
was but a servant. Whereupon, there came to pass those marvellous deeds,
great and beyond nature: the Heavens were opened, the Spirit descended in
the form of a dove upon Him that was being baptized and the voice was heard
from the Heavens hearing witness that this was the beloved Son of God, now
baptized as a man (Matt. 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:1-22). From these
events the Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the great mystery of the
Trinity were demonstrated. It is also from this that the present feast is
called "Theophany," that
 is, the divine manifestation, God's appearance among men. On this
venerable day the sacred mystery of Christian baptism was inaugurated;
henceforth also began the saving preaching of the Kingdom of the Heavens.

Apolytikion of Holy Epiphany in the First Tone
Lord, when You were baptized in the Jordan, the veneration of the Trinity
was revealed. For the voice of the Father gave witness to You, calling You
Beloved, and the Spirit, in the guise of a dove, confirmed the certainty of
His words. Glory to You, Christ our God, who appeared and enlightened the
world.


Kontakion of Holy Epiphany in the Fourth Tone
You appeared to the world today, and Your light, O Lord, has left its mark
upon us. With fuller understanding we sing to You: "You came, You were made
manifest, the unapproachable light."


 The content on this page is under copyright and is used by permission. All
rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, in print or on
other websites or in any other form, without the prior written
authorization of the copyright holder:
     Reading (c) Holy Transfiguration Monastery - Brookline, MA
     Apolytikion of Holy Epiphany (c) Narthex Press
     Kontakion of Holy Epiphany (c) Narthex Press



Prayer Before Reading Scripture

Shine within our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of Your divine
knowledge and open the eyes of our minds that we may comprehend the message
of Your Gospel. Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments,
so that having conquered all sinful desires, we may pursue a spiritual
life, thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You. For
You, Christ our God, are the light of our souls and bodies, and to You we
give glory together with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all
holy, good, and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of
ages. Amen.

Orthros Gospel Reading

The reading is from Mark 1:9-11

At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John
in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the
heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice
came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with whom I am well pleased."

Epistle Reading

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7

TITUS, my son, the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men,
training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober,
upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the
appearing of the glory of the great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave
himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a
people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he
saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue
of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy
Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of
eternal life.

Gospel Reading

The reading is from Matthew 3:13-17

At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized
by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by
you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for
thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.
And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and
behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying,
"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

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