Lenten Lectionary: The Fifth Week

Monday in the Fifth Week - At the Sixth Hour

Reader: The Troparion of the Prophecy, in the 3rd Tone:

Choir: For our iniquities are risen against us, arise, O Lord, help us: for Thou art our Father, for we know none other beside Thee.

Glory…. Both Now… And the choir repeats the Troparion

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 83, in the 4th Tone: Even Thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

Stichos: How beloved are Thy dwellings, O Lord of hosts.

Is 37:33 - 38:6

33. Therefore thus saith the Lord concerning the king of the Assyrians, He shall not enter into this city, nor cast a weapon against it, nor bring a shield against it, nor make a rampart round it. 34. But by the way by which he came, by it shall he return, and shall not enter into this city: thus saith the Lord. 35. I will protect this city to save it for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 36. And the angel of the Lord went forth, and slew out of the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and eighty five thousand: and they arose in the morning and found all [these] bodies dead. 37. And Sennacherim king of the Assyrians turned and departed, and dwelt in Nineve. 38. And while he was worshipping Nasarach his country's god in the house, Adramelech and Sarasar his sons smote him with swords; and they escaped into Armenia: and Asordan his son reigned in his stead. 1. And it came to pass at that time, [that] Ezekias was sick even to death. And Esaias the prophet the son of Amos came to him, and said to him, Thus saith the Lord, Give orders concerning thy house: for thou shalt die, and not live. 2. And Ezekias turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3. Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before thee in truth, with a true heart, and have done that which was pleasing in thy sight. And Ezekias wept bitterly. 4. And the word of the Lord came to Esaias, saying, Go, and say to Ezekias, 5. Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, and seen thy tears: behold, I [will] add to thy time fifteen years. 6. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians: and I will defend this city.

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 84, in the 8th Tone:

Show us, O Lord, Thy mercy, and Thy salvation do Thou give unto us.

Stichos: Thou hast been gracious, O Lord, unto Thy land; Thou hast turned back the captivity of Jacob.

Monday in the Fifth Week - At Vespers

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 85, in the 4th Tone:

Guide me, O Lord, in Thy way, and I will walk in Thy truth.

Stichos: Bow down Thine ear, O Lord.

Gen 13:12-18

12. And Lot dwelt in a city of the neighboring people, and pitched his tent in Sodom. 13. But the men of Sodom were evil, and exceedingly sinful before God. 14. And God said to Abram after Lot was separated from him, Look up with thine eyes, and behold from the place where thou now art northward and southward and eastward and seaward; 15. for all the land which thou seest, I will give it to thee and to thy seed for ever. 16. And I will make thy seed like the dust of the earth; if any one is able to number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed be numbered. 17. Arise and traverse the land, both in the length of it and in the breadth; for to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 18. And Abram having removed his tent, came and dwelt by the oak of Mambre, which was in Chebrom, and he there built an altar to the Lord.

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 86, in the 4th Tone:

The Lord loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Stichos: His foundations are in the holy mountains.

Prov 14:27 - 15:4

27. The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes men to turn aside from the snare of death. 28. In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince. 29. A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish. 30. A meek spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones. 31. He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honors him has pity upon the poor. 32. The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just. 33. There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned. 34. Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes. 35. An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behavior he removes disgrace. 1. Anger slays even wise men; yet a submissive answer turns away wrath: but a grievous word stirs up anger. 2. The tongue of the wise knows what is good: but the mouth of the foolish tells out evil things. 3. The eyes of the Lord behold both the evil and the good in every place. 4. The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.

Tuesday in the Fifth Week - At the Sixth Hour

Reader: The Troparion of the Prophecy, in the 3rd Tone:

Our helper is the God of Jacob, and He is our defender in the day of affliction.

Choir: Glory…. Both Now… And the choir repeats the Troparion

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 87, in the 6th Tone:

A poor man am I, and in troubles from my youth.

Stichos: O Lord God of my salvation, by day have I cried and by night before Thee.

Is. 40:1-2, 9-31

1. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith God. 2. Speak, ye priests, to the heart of Jerusalem; comfort her, for her humiliation is accomplished, her sin is put away: for she has received of the Lord's hand double [the amount of] her sins. 9. O thou that bringest glad tidings to Zion, go up on the high mountain; lift up thy voice with strength, thou that bringest glad tidings to Jerusalem; lift it up, fear not; say unto the cities of Juda, Behold your God! 10. Behold the Lord! The Lord is coming with strength, and [his] arm is with power: behold, his reward is with him, and [his] work before him. 11. He shall tend his flock as a shepherd, and he shall gather the lambs with his arm and shall soothe them that are with young. 12. Who has measured the water in his hand, and the heaven with a span, and all the earth in a handful? Who has weighed the mourning in scales, and the forests in a balance? 13. Who has known the mind of the Lord? and who has been his counselor, to instruct him? 14. Or with whom has he taken counsel, and he has instructed him? or who has taught him judgment, or who has taught him the way of understanding ; 15. since all the nations are counted as a drop from a bucket, and as the turning of a balance, [and] shall be counted as spittle? 16. And Libanus is not enough to burn, nor all beasts enough for a whole burnt offering; 17. and all the nations are as nothing, and counted as nothing. 18. To whom have ye compared the Lord? and with what likeness have ye compared him? 19. Has not the artificer made an image, or the goldsmith having melted gold, gilt it over, [and] made it a similitude? 20. For the artificer chooses out a wood that will not rot, and will wisely inquire how he shall set up his image, and [that so] that it should not be moved. 21. Will ye not know? will ye not hear? has it not been told you of old? Have ye not known the foundations of the earth? 22. [It is] he that comprehends the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants in it are as grasshoppers; he that set up the heaven as a chamber, and stretched [it] out as a tent to dwell in: 23. that appoints princes to rule as nothing, and has made the earth as nothing. 24. For they shall not plant, neither shall they sow, neither shall their root be fixed in the ground: he has blown upon them, and they are withered, and a storm shall carry them away like sticks. 25. Now then to whom have ye compared me, that I may be exalted? saith the Holy One. 26. Lift up your eyes on high, and see, who has displayed all these things? [even] he that brings forth his host by number: he shall call them all by name by [means of his] great glory, and by the power of his might: nothing has escaped thee. 27. For say not thou, O Jacob, and why hast thou spoken, Israel, [saying], My way is hid from God, and my God has taken away [my] judgment, and has departed? 28. And now, hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? the eternal God, the God that formed the ends of the earth, shall not hunger, nor be weary, and there is no searching of his understanding. 29. He gives strength to the hungry, and sorrow to them that are not suffering. 30. For the young [men] shall hunger, and the youths shall be weary, and the choice [men] shall be powerless: but they that wait on God shall renew [their] strength; they shall put forth new feathers like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not hunger.

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 88, in the 6th Tone:

Blessed is the people that knoweth jubilation.

Stichos: O Lord, in the light of Thy face shall they walk.

Tuesday in the Fifth Week - At Vespers

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 89, in the 4th Tone:

Lord, Thou hast been our refuge in generation and generation.

Stichos: Before the mountains came to be and the earth was formed and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art.

Gen 15:1-15

1. And after these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I shield thee, thy reward shall be very great. 2. And Abram said, Master and Lord, what wilt thou give me? whereas I am departing without a child, but the son of Masek my home born female slave, this Eliezer of Damascus is mine heir. 3. And Abram said, I am grieved since thou hast given me no seed, but my Somoron servant shall succeed me. 4. And immediately there was a voice of the Lord to him, saying, This shall not be thine heir but he that shall come out of thee shall be thine heir. 5. And he brought him out and said to him, Look up now to heaven, and count the stars, if thou shalt be able to number them fully, and he said, Thus shall thy seed be. 6. And Abram believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. 7. And he said to him, I am God that brought thee out of the land of the Chaldeans, so as to give thee this land to inherit. 8. And he said, Master and Lord, how shall I know that I shall inherit it? 9. And he said to him, Take for me an heifer in her third year, and a she-goat in her third year, and a ram in his third year, and a dove and a pigeon. 10. So he took to him all these, and divided them in the midst, and set them opposite to each other, but the birds he did not divide. 11. And birds came down upon the bodies, even upon the divided parts of them, and Abram sat down by them. 12. And about sunset a trance fell upon Abram, and lo! a great gloomy terror falls upon him. 13. And it was said to Abram, Thou shalt surely know that thy seed shall be a sojourner in a land not their own, and they shall enslave them, and afflict them, and humble them four hundred years. 14. And the nation whomsoever they shall serve I will judge; and after this, they shall come forth hither with much property. 15. But thou shalt depart to thy fathers in peace, nourished in a good old age.

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 90, in the 4th Tone:

He that dwelleth in the help of the Most High shall abide in the shelter of the God of heaven.

Stichos: He shall say unto the Lord: Thou art my helper.

Prov 15:7-19

7. The lips of the wise are bound by discretion: but the hearts of the foolish are not safe. 8. The sacrifices of the ungodly are an abomination to the Lord; but the prayers of them that walk honestly are acceptable with him. 9. The ways of an ungodly man are an abomination to the Lord; but he loves those that follow after righteousness. 10. The instruction of the simple is known by them that pass by; but they that hate reproofs die disgracefully. 11. Hell and destruction are manifest to the Lord; how shall not also be the hearts of men? 12. An uninstructed person will not love those that reprove him; neither will he associate with the wise. 13. When the heart rejoices the countenance is cheerful; but when it is in sorrow, the countenance is sad. 14. An upright heart seeks discretion; but the mouth of the uninstructed will experience evils. 15. The eyes of the wicked are always looking for evil things; but the good are always quiet. 16. Better is a small portion with the fear of the Lord, than great treasures without the fear of the Lord. 17. Better is an entertainment of herbs with friendliness and kindness, than a feast of calves, with enmity. 18. A passionate man stirs up strife; but he that is slow to anger appeases even a rising one. A man slow to anger will extinguish quarrels; but an ungodly man rather stirs them up. 19. The ways of sluggards are strewn with thorns; but those of the diligent are made smooth.

Wednesday in the Fifth Week - At the Sixth Hour

Reader: The Troparion of the Prophecy, in the 1st Tone:

The pains of the saints, which they suffered for Thee, O Lord, be as supplications, and all our pains do Thou heal, O Lover of mankind, we pray.

Choir: Glory…. Both Now… And the choir repeats the Troparion

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 91, in the 4th Tone:

It is good to give praise unto the Lord, and to chant unto Thy name, O Most High

Stichos: To proclaim in the morning Thy mercy, and Thy truth by night.

Is 41:4-14

4. Who has wrought and done these things? he has called it who called it from the generations of old; I God, the first and to [all] futurity, I AM. 5. The nations see, and feared; the ends of the earth drew nigh, and came together, 6. every one judging for his neighbor and [that] to assist his brother: and one will say. 7. The artificer has become strong, and the coppersmith that smites with the hammer, [and] forges also: sometimes he will say, It is a piece well joined: they have fastened them with nails; they will fix them, and they shall not be moved. 8. But thou, Israel, art my servant Jacob, and he whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraam, whom I have loved: 9. whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and from the high places of it I have called thee. 10. Fear not; for I am with thee: wander not; for I am thy God, who have strengthened thee; and I have helped thee, and have established thee with my just right hand. 11. Behold, all thine adversaries shall be ashamed and confounded; for they shall be as if they were not: and all thine opponents shall perish. 12. Thou shalt seek them, and thou shalt not find the men who shall insolently rage against thee: for they shall be as if they were not, and they that war against thee shall not be. 13. For I am thy God, who holdeth thy right hand, who saith to thee, 14. Fear not, Jacob, [and thou] Israel few in number; I have helped thee, saith thy God, he that redeems thee, O Israel.

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 92, in the 6th Tone:

The Lord is King, He is clothed with majesty.

Stichos: The Lord is clothed with strength and He hath girt Himself.

Wednesday in the Fifth Week - At Vespers

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 93, in the 4th Tone:

The Lord is the God of vengeances; the God of vengeances hath spoken openly.

Stichos: Be Thou exalted, O Thou that judgest the earth; render the proud their due.

Gen 17:1-9

1. And Abram was ninety nine years old and the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am thy God, be well-pleasing before me, and be blameless. 2. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and I will multiply thee exceedingly. 3. And Abram fell upon his face, and God spoke to him, saying, 4. And I, behold! my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of a multitude of nations. 5. And thy name shall no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraam, for I have made thee a father of many nations. 6. And I will increase thee very exceedingly, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7. And I will establish my covenant between thee and thy seed after thee, to their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be thy God, and the God of thy seed after thee 8. And I will give to thee and to thy seed after thee the land wherein thou sojournest, even all the land of Chanaan for an everlasting possession, and I will be to them a God. 9. And God said to Abraam, Thou also shalt fully keep my covenant, thou and thy seed after thee for their generations.

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 95, in the 4th Tone:

O sing unto the Lord a new song.

Stichos: Sing unto the Lord, bless His name.

Deacon: Command:

Priest: Wisdom! Aright! The Light of Christ…(Prostration by all)

Prov 15:20 - 16:9

20. A wise son gladdens his father; but a foolish son sneers at his mother. 21. The ways of a foolish man are void of sense; but a wise man proceeds on his way aright. 22. They that honor not councils put off deliberation; but counsel abides in the hearts of counselors. 23. A bad man will by no means attend to counsel; neither will he say anything seasonable, or good for the common weal. 24. The thoughts of the wise are ways of life, that he may turn aside and escape from hell. 25. The Lord pulls down the houses of scorners; but he establishes the border of the widow. 26. An unrighteous thought is abomination to the Lord; but the sayings of the pure are held in honor. 27. A receiver of bribes destroys himself; but he that hates the receiving of bribes is safe. [By alms and by faithful dealings sins are purged away;] but by the fear of the Lord every one departs from evil. 28. The hearts of the righteous meditate faithfulness; but the mouth of the ungodly answers evil things. The ways of righteous men are acceptable with the Lord; and through them even enemies become friends. 29. God is far from the ungodly; but he hearkens to the prayers of righteous. Better are small receipts with righteousness, than abundant fruits with unrighteousness. 1. Let the heart of a man think justly, that his steps may be rightly ordered of God. 2. The eye that sees rightly rejoices the heart; and a good report fattens the bones. 3. He that rejects instruction hates himself; but he that minds reproofs loves his soul. 4. The fear of the Lord is instruction and wisdom; and the highest honor will correspond therewith. All the works of the humble man are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day. 5. Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless. The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace. All the works of the Lord are done with righteousness; and the ungodly man is kept for the evil day.

Thursday in the Fifth Week - At the Sixth Hour

Reader: The Troparion of the Prophecy, in the 6th Tone:

O compassionate, long-suffering, almighty Lord, send down Thy mercy on Thy people.

Choir: Glory…. Both Now… And the choir repeats the Troparion

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 96, in the 6th Tone:

The Lord is King, let the earth rejoice.

Stichos: Let the many islands be glad.

Is 42:5-16

5. Thus saith the Lord God, who made the heaven, and established it; who settled the earth, and the things in it, and gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to them that tread on it: 6. I the Lord God have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will strengthen thee; and I have given thee for the covenant of a race, for a light of the Gentiles: 7. to open the eyes of the blind, to bring the bound and them that sit in darkness out of bonds and the prison house. 8. I am the Lord God: that is my name: I will not give to another, nor my praises to graven images. 9. Behold, the ancient things have come to pass, and [so will] the new things which I tell you: yea, before I tell [them] they are made known to you. 10. Sing a new hymn to the Lord: ye his dominion, glorify his name from the end of the earth: ye that go down to the sea, and sail upon it: the islands, and they that dwell in them. 11. Rejoice, thou wilderness, and the villages thereof, the hamlets, and the dwellers in Kedar: the inhabitants of the rock shall rejoice, they shall shout from the top of the mountains. 12. They shall give glory to God, [and] shall proclaim his praises in the islands. 13. The Lord God of hosts shall go forth, and crush the war; he shall stir up jealousy, and shall shout mightily against his enemies. 14. I have been silent: shall I also always be silent and forbear: I have endured like a travailing [woman]: I will [now] amaze and wither at once. 15. I will make desolate mountains and hills, and will dry up all their grass: and I will make the rivers islands, and dry up the pools. 16. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not, and I will cause them to tread paths which they have not known: I will turn darkness into light for them, and crooked things into straight. These things will I do, and will not forsake them.

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 97, in the 6th Tone:

O sing unto the Lord a new song, for the Lord hath wrought wondrous things, His right hand His salvation.

Stichos: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Thursday in the Fifth Week - At Vespers

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 98, in the 7th Tone:

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship the footstool of His feet, for He is holy.

Stichos: The Lord is King, let the peoples rage.

Gen 18:20-33

20. And the Lord said, The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha has been increased towards me, and their sins are very great. 21. I will therefore go down and see, if they completely correspond with the cry which comes to me, and if not, that I may know. 22. And the men having departed thence, came to Sodom; and Abraam was still standing before the Lord. 23. And Abraam drew nigh and said, Wouldest thou destroy the righteous with the wicked and shall the righteous be as the wicked? 24. Should there be fifty righteous in the city, wilt thou destroy them? wilt thou not spare the whole place for the sake of the fifty righteous, if they be in it? 25. By no means shalt thou do as this thing is so as to destroy the righteous with the wicked, so the righteous shall be as the wicked: by no means. Thou that judgest the whole earth, shalt thou not do right? 26. And the Lord said, If there should be in Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole city and the whole place for their sakes. 27. And Abraam answered and said, Now I have begun to speak to my Lord, and I am earth and ashes. 28. But if the fifty righteous should be diminished to forty five, wilt thou destroy the whole city because of the five wanting? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I should find there forty five. 29. And he continued to speak to him still, and said, But if there should be found there forty? And he said, I will not destroy it for the forty's sake. 30. And he said, will there be anything against me, Lord, if I speak? but if there be found there thirty? And he said, I will not destroy it for the thirty's sake. 31. And he said, Since I am able to speak to the Lord, what if there should be found there twenty? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I should find there twenty. 32. And he said, Will there be anything against me, Lord, if I speak yet once? but if there should be found there ten? And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten's sake. 33. And the Lord departed when he left off speaking to Abraam, and Abraam returned to his place.

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 99, in the 6th Tone:

Shout with jubilation unto God, all the earth.

Stichos: Serve the Lord with gladness.

Prov 16:17-33

17. The paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth. 18. Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall. 19. Better is a meek spirited man with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud. 20. He who is skillful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed. 21. Men call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more. Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil. 23. The heart of the wise will discern the things which proceed from his own mouth; and on his lips he will wear knowledge. 24. Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul. 25. There are ways that seem to be right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell. 26. A man who labors, labors for himself, and drives from him his own ruin. 27. But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips. 28. A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends. 29. A transgressor tries to ensnare friends, and leads them in ways that are not good. 30. And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evils: he is a furnace of wickedness. 31. Old age is a crown of honor, but it is found in the ways of righteousness. 32. A man slow to anger is better than a strong man; and he that governs his temper better than the that takes a city. 33. All evils come upon the ungodly into their bosoms; but all righteous things come of the Lord.

Friday in the Fifth Week - At the Sixth Hour

Reader: The Troparion of the Prophecy, in the 8th Tone:

Supremely praised art Thou, O Christ our God, Who shakest the earth, to convert and to save them that dwell therein, and yet establishest it in Thy goodness and ineffable compassion; through the intercessions of the Theotokos, have mercy on us.

Choir: Glory…. Both Now… And the choir repeats the Troparion

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 100, in the 4th Tone:

Of mercy and judgement will I sing unto Thee, O Lord.

Stichos: I will chant and have understanding in a blameless path.

Is 45:11-17

11. For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, who has formed the things that are to come, Inquire of me concerning my sons, and concerning the works of my hands command me. 12. I have made the earth, and man upon it: I with my hand have established the heaven; I have given commandment to all the stars. 13. I have raised him up [to be] a king with righteousness, and all his ways are right: he shall build my city, and shall turn the captivity of my people, not for ransoms, nor for rewards, saith the Lord of hosts. 14. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Egypt has labored [for thee]; and the merchandise of the Ethiopians, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall pass over to thee, and shall be thy servants; and they shall follow after thee bound in fetters, and shall pass over to thee, and shall do obeisance to thee, and make supplication to thee: because God is in thee; and there is no God beside thee, 15. For thou art God, yet we knew [it] not, the God of Israel, the Savior. 16. All that are opposed to him shall be ashamed and confounded, and shall walk in shame: ye isles, keep a feast to me. 17. Israel is saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation: they shall not be ashamed nor confounded for ever more.

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 101, in the 4th Tone:

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto Thee.

Stichos: Turn not Thy face from me.

Friday in the Fifth Week - At Vespers

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 102, in the 4th Tone:

Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy.

Stichos: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.

Gen 22:1-18

1. And it came to pass after these things that God tempted Abraam, and said to him, Abraam, Abraam; and he said, Lo! I am here. 2. And he said, Take thy son, the beloved one, whom thou hast loved -- Isaac, and go into the high land, and offer him there for a whole burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3. And Abraam rose up in the morning and saddled his ass, and he took with him two servants, and Isaac his son, and having split wood for a whole burnt offering, he arose and departed, and came to the place of which God spoke to him, 4. on the third day; and Abraam having lifted up his eyes, saw the place afar off. 5. And Abraam said to his servants, Sit ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will proceed thus far, and having worshipped we will return to you. 6. And Abraam took the wood of the whole burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took into his hands both the fire and the knife, and the two went together. 7. And Isaac said to Abraam his father Father. And he said, What is it, son? And he said, Behold the fire and the wood, where is the sheep for a whole burnt offering? 8. And Abraam said, God will provide himself a sheep for a whole burnt offering, my son. And both having gone together, 9. came to the place which God spoke of to him and there Abraam built the altar and laid the wood on it, and having bound the feet of Isaac his son together, he laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10. And Abraam stretched forth his hand to take the knife to slay his son. 11. And an angel of the Lord called him out of heaven, and said Abraam, Abraam. And he said, Behold, I am here. 12. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the child, neither do anything to him, for now I know that thou fearest God, and for my sake thou hast not spared thy beloved son. 13. And Abraam lifted up his eyes and beheld, and lo! a ram caught by his horns in a plant of Sabec; and Abraam went and took the ram, and offered him up for a whole burnt offering in the place of Isaac his son. 14. And Abraam called the name of that place, The Lord hath seen; that they might say to-day, In the mount the Lord was seen. 15. And an angel of the Lord called Abraam the second time out of heaven, saying, I have sworn by myself, says the Lord, because thou hast done this thing, and on my account hast not spared thy beloved son, 16. surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is by the shore of the sea, and thy seed shall inherit the cities of their enemies. 17. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast hearkened to my voice. 18. And Abraam returned to his servants, and they arose and went together to the well of the oath; and Abraam dwelt at the well of the oath.

Reader: The Prokeimenon, Psalm 103, in the 4^th Tone:

How magnified are Thy works, O Lord! In wisdom hast Thou made them all.

Stichos: Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord my God, Thou hast been magnified exceedingly.

Deacon: Command:

Priest: Wisdom! Aright! The Light of Christ…(Prostration by all)

Prov 17:17 - 18:5

17. Have thou a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born. 18. A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, as he also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends. 19. A lover of sin rejoices in strifes; 20. and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs; 21. and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother. 22. A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up. 23. The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in his bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness. 24. The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool go to the ends of the earth. 25. A foolish son is a cause of anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him. 26. It is not right to punish a righteous man, nor is it holy to plot against righteous princes. 27. He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise. 28. Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible. 1. A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach. 2. A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly. 3. When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises them; but dishonor and reproach come upon him. 4. A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth. 5. It is not good to accept the person of the ungodly, nor is it holy to pervert justice in judgment.

Saturday in the Fifth Week - At Liturgy

Laudation of the Theotokos. Liturgy of St John Chrysostom

Hebrews 9:24-28

     24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Laudation of the Most Holy Theotokos. Hebrews 9:1-7

     1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Mark 8:27-31

     27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? 28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. 31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Laudation of the Most Holy Theotokos. Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28

     38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. 27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Sunday in the Fifth Week - At Liturgy

St Mary of Egypt. Liturgy of St Basil

Hebrews 9:11-14

     11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt. Galatians 3:23-29

     23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Mark 10:32-45

     32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, 33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. 35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt. Luke 7:36-50

     36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.