SUNDAY,  DECEMBER 31, 2017

THIRTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST: THE HOLY FATHERS; HOLY MARTYR SEBASTIAN & COMPANIONS; SAINT MODESTUS, ARCHBISHOP OF JERUSALEM; SERBIAN FATHER’S DAY 

On Tuesday January 2nd we celebrate Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-bearer

This holy man is called ``the God-bearer'' because he constantly bore the name of the Living God in his heart and on his lips. According to tradition, he was thus named because he was held in the arms of God Incarnate, Jesus Christ. On a day when the Lord was teaching His disciples humility, He took a child and placed him among them, saying: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:4). This child was Ignatius. Later, Ignatius was a disciple of St. John the Theologian, together with Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. As Bishop of Antioch, Ignatius governed the Church of God as a good shepherd and was the first to introduce antiphonal chanting in the Church, in which two choirs alternate the chanting. This manner of chanting was revealed to St. Ignatius by the angels in heaven. When Emperor Trajan was passing through Antioch on his way to do battle with the Persians, he heard of Ignatius, summoned him and counseled him to offer sacrifice to the idols. If Ignatius would do so, Trajan would bestow upon him the rank of senator. As the counsels and threats of the emperor were in vain, St. Ignatius was shackled in irons and sent to Rome in the company of ten merciless soldiers, to be thrown to the wild beasts. Ignatius rejoiced in suffering for his Lord, only praying to God that the wild beasts would become the tomb for his body and that no one would prevent him from this death. After a long and difficult journey from Asia through Thrace, Macedonia and Epirus, Ignatius arrived in Rome, where he was thrown to the lions in the circus. The lions tore him to pieces and devoured him, leaving only several of the larger bones and his heart. This glorious lover of the Lord Christ suffered in the year 106 in Rome at the time of the Christ-hating Emperor Trajan. Ignatius has appeared many times from the other world and worked miracles, even to this day helping all who call upon him for help.

THE READING FROM THE EPISTLE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE PAUL TO THE HEBREWS

Brethren, by faith Abraham dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” c concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.  By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.  And what more shall I say?  For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.  Women received their dead raised to life again.  Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.  Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword.  They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented - of whom the world was not worthy.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.  And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.  

THE GOSPEL READING FROM SAINT MATTHEW (1: 1-25)

A book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.  Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.  Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.  Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon and Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.  David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah and Abijah begot Asa.  Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah.  Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.  Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.  Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.  And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.  Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor.  Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud.  Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.  And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.  So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated: “God with us.”  Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.  And he called His name Jesus.

 ”Читање из посланице Светог Апостола Павла Јеврејима (11: 9-10, 17-23, 32-40)

Вером дође Авраам у земљу обећану, као у туђу, и у колибама живљаше с Исаком и с Јаковом, сунаследницима обећања тог. Јер чекаше град који има темеље, коме је зидар и Творац Бог. Вером приведе Авраам Исака кад би кушан, и јединороднога приношаше, пошто беше примио обећање, У коме беше казано: У Исаку назваће ти се семе; Помисливши да је Бог кадар и из мртвих васкрснути; зато га и узе за прилику. Вером благослови Исак Јакова и Исава у стварима које ће доћи. Вером благослови Јаков умирући сваког сина Јосифовог, и поклони се врху палице његове. Вером се опомиња Јосиф умирући изласка синова Израиљевих, и заповеда за кости своје. Вером Мојсија, пошто се роди, крише три месеца родитељи његови, јер видеше красно дете, и побојаше се заповести цареве. И шта ћу још да кажем? Јер ми не би достало времена кад бих стао приповедати о Гедеону, и о Вараку и Самсону и Јефтају, о Давиду и Самуилу, и о другим пророцима, Који вером победише царства, учинише правду, добише обећања, затворише уста лавовима, Угасише силу огњену, побегоше од оштрица мача, ојачаше од немоћи, посташе јаки у биткама, растераше војске туђе; Жене примише своје мртве из васкрсења; а други бише побијени, не примивши избављење, да добију боље васкрсење; А други ругање и бој поднесоше, па још и окове и тамнице; Камењем побијени бише, претрвени бише, искушани бише, од мача помреше; идоше у кожусима и у козјим кожама, у сиротињи, у невољи, у срамоти; Којих не беше достојан свет, по пустињама потуцаше се, и по горама и по пећинама и по рупама земаљским. И ови сви добивши сведочанство вером не примише обећања; Јер Бог нешто боље за нас одреди, да не приме без нас савршенства.

Читање Светог Јеванђеља по Матеју 1,1-25

Племе Исуса Христа, сина Давида Аврамовог сина. Авраам роди Исака. А Исак роди Јакова. А Јаков роди Јуду и браћу његову. А Јуда роди Фареса и Зару с Тамаром. А Фарес роди Есрома. А Есром роди Арама. А Арам роди Аминадава. А Аминадав роди Наасона. А Наасон роди Салмона. А Салмон роди Вооза с Рахавом. А Вооз роди Овида с Рутом. А Овид роди Јесеја. А Јесеј роди Давида цара. А Давид цар роди Соломуна с Уријиницом. А Соломун роди Ровоама. А Ровоам роди Авију. А Авија роди Асу. А Аса роди Јосафата. А Јосафат роди Јорама. А Јорам роди Озију. А Озија роди Јоатама. А Јоатам роди Ахаза. А Ахаз роди Езекију. А Езекија роди Манасију, а Манасија роди Амона. А Амон роди Јосију. А Јосија роди Јехонију и браћу његову, у сеоби вавилонској. А по сеоби вавилонској, Јехонија роди Салатиила. А Салатиило роди Зоровавела. А Зоровавел роди Авиуда. А Авиуд роди Елијакима. А Елијаким роди Азора. А Азор роди Садока. А Садок роди Ахима. А Ахим роди Елиуда. А Елиуд роди Елеазара, а Елеазар роди Матана. А Матан роди Јакова. А Јаков роди Јосифа, мужа Марије, која роди Исуса прозваног Христа. Свега дакле колена од Аврама до Давида, колена четрнаест, а од Давида до сеобе вавилонске, колена четрнаест, а од сеобе вавилонске до Христа, колена четрнаест. А рођење Исуса Христа било је овако: кад је Марија, мати Његова, била испрошена за Јосифа, а још док се нису били састали, нађе се да је она трудна од Духа Светог. А Јосиф муж њен, будући побожан и не хтевши је јавно срамотити, намисли је тајно пустити. Но кад он тако помисли, а то му се јави у сну анђео Господњи говорећи: Јосифе, сине Давидов! Не бој се узети Марије жене своје; јер оно што се у њој зачело од Духа је Светог. Па ће родити Сина, и надени Му име Исус; јер ће Он избавити свој народ од греха њихових. А ово је све било да се изврши шта је Господ казао преко пророка који говори: Ето, девојка ће затруднети, и родиће Сина, и наденуће Му име Емануило, које ће рећи: С нама Бог. Кад се Јосиф пробуди од сна, учини како му је заповедио анђео Господњи, и узме жену своју. И не знаше за њу док не роди Сина свог првенца, и надеде Му име Исус.

Преподобни новомученици: Пајсије и Авакум. Пајсије беше игуман ман. Трнаве код Чачка, а Авакум његов сабрат и ђакон. Обојица као хришћани набијени од Турака на колац, у Београду на Калемегдану 17. децембра 1814. године. Носећи свој колац кроз улице београдске храбри Авакум је певао. Кад га је мајка с плачем молила, да се потурчи, да би сачувао свој живот, одговори јој овај дивни Христов војник: "Мајко моја на мл'јеку ти хвала Ал' не хвала на твоме савјету: Срб је Христов, радује се смрти..."  

Свети Данило архиепископ српски. Син богатих и богољубивих родитеља. У младости добро васпитан. Краљ Милутин га узео на свој двор, но он из велике љубави према Богу одбегне и замонаши се у Кончулском манастиру украј Ибра. Доцније био игуман Хиландара и претрпео много од пљачкашких латинских крстоносаца. Био епископ бањски, потом хумски и најзад архиепископ српски. Од почетка па до краја био строги подвижник. Имао нарочити дар суза. Измирио краља Драгутина и Милутина, потом Милутина и Стевана Дечанског. Борио се крепко против Латина као и против богумила. Под његовим надзором зидани манастири Бања и Дечани. Обновио и сазидао многе цркве. Написао Родослов српских краљева и светитеља. Неуморан у служби Богу до краја живота он се упокојио мирно у време цара Душана, ноћу између 19. и 20. децембра 1338. године. Велики јерарх, велики подвижник, велики трудољубац и велики родољуб.

RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION - TONE FIVE:

Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, coeternal with the Father and the Spirit, born for our salvation from the Virgin; for He willed to be lifted upon the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

TROPARION TO THE HOLY FATHERS - TONE TWO:

Great are the accomplishments of faith, for the three holy youths rejoiced in the fountain of flames as though in the waters of rest; and the Prophet Daniel appeared a shepherd to the lions as though they were sheep.  Through their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

KONTAKION TO THE HOLY FATHERS - TONE ONE:

Rejoice, O Bethlehem!  Prepare yourself, O Ephratha!  The Lamb is on her way to give birth to the Chief Shepherd she carries in her womb.  The God-bearing forefathers will rejoice, beholding Him, and together with the shepherds, they will glorify the Virgin nursing Him.