SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2016

6th Sunday After Pentecost
The Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils;
The Holy Martyrs Emilian and Hyacinth

RESURRECTIONAL TROPARION - TONE FIVE:  Let us, the faithful, praise and worship the Word, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit; born for our salvation from the Virgin.  For He willed to be lifted up on the Cross in the flesh, to endure death, and to raise the dead by His glorious Resurrection.

TROPARION TO THE FATHERS OF THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS - TONE EIGHT: You are most glorious, O Christ our God.  You have established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth.  Through them You have guided us to the true faith.  O greatly Compassionate One, glory to You!

RESURRECTIONAL KONTAKION - TONE FIVE: You descended into hell, O my Savior, shattering its gates as Almighty; resurrecting the dead as Creator, and destroying the sting of death.  You have delivered Adam from the curse, O Lover of Mankind, and we all cry to You: O Lord, save us!

KONTAKION TO THE FATHERS OF THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS - TONE EIGHT: The apostles’ preaching and the fathers’ doctrines have established one faith for the Church.  Adorned with the robe of truth, woven from heavenly theology, it defines and glorifies the great mystery of piety.

HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD - TONE SIX: Steadfast Protectress of Christians and constant advocate before the Creator, do not despise the cry of us sinners; but in your goodness come speedily to help us who call on you in faith.  Hasten to hear our petition and to intercede for us, O Theotokos, for you always protect those who honor you!

THE READING FROM THE EPISTLE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE PAUL TO THE ROMANS  (12: 6-14)

Brethren, having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:  if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.  Let love be without hypocrisy.  Abhor what is evil.  Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

For the Fathers of the Councils: Hebrews 13:7-16

Brethren, remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  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.  We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.  For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.  Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.  Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.  For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.  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.  But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.  

THE GOSPEL READING FROM SAINT MATTHEW  (9: 1-8)

            At that time, Jesus got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city.  Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”  And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”  But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?  For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” - then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”  And he arose and departed to his house.  Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

For the Fathers of the Councils: John 17: 1-13

At that time, Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come.  Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had before the world was.  I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.  They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.  Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.  For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.  I pray for them.  I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.  And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.  Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You.  Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name.  Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.  But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves."   

ЧИТАЊЕ ИЗ ПОСЛАНИЦЕ РИМЉАНИМА СВ. АП. ПАВЛА (12: 6-14)

Браћо! А имамо различите дарове по благодати која нам је дана: ако пророштво, нека буде по мери вере;  Ако ли службу, нека служи; ако је учитељ, нека учи;  Ако је тешитељ, нека теши; који даје нека даје просто; који управља нека се брине; који чини милост нека чини с добром вољом. Љубав да не буде лажна. Мрзећи на зло држите се добра. Братском љубави будите један к другом љубазни. Чашћу један другог већег чините. Не будите у послу лени; будите огњени у духу, служите Господу. Надањем веселите се, у невољи трпите, у молитви будите једнако.  Делите потребе са светима; примајте радо путнике. Благосиљајте оне који вас гоне: благосиљајте, а не куните.

ЧИТАЊЕ СВЕТОГ ЈЕВАНЂЕЉА ПО МАТЕЈУ (9: 1-8)

У време оно Исус ушавши у лађу пређе и дође у свој град. И гле, донесоше Му узета који лежаше на одру. И видевши Исус веру њихову рече узетом: Не бој се, синко, опраштају ти се греси твоји. И гле, неки од књижевника рекоше у себи: Овај хули на Бога. И видећи Исус помисли њихове рече: Зашто зло мислите у срцима својим? Јер шта је лакше рећи: Опраштају ти се греси; или рећи: Устани и ходи? Али да знате да власт има Син човечији на земљи опраштати грехе (тада рече узетом): Устани, узми одар свој и иди дома. И уставши отиде дома. А људи видећи чудише се, и хвалише Бога, који је дао власт такву људима. И одлазећи Исус оданде виде човека где седи на царини, по имену Матеја, и рече му: Хајде за мном. И уставши отиде за Њим.