Orthocalendar

Sunday, February 3, 1957

Sunday of the Canaanite Woman

Tone 7. No fast. What this means

The Epistle for Afterfeast of Presentation

Hebrews 9:11–14

But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The Gospel

Matthew 15:21–28

Jesus went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!”

23But he answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.”

24But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

26But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

27But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Commemorated today

  • Righteous Simeon the Godbearer and Anna the Prophetess
  • Stamatios, John, & Nicholas, New Martyrs of Spetses
  • Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos
  • Ansgar of Hamburg-Bremen
  • Our Father among the Saints, Nikolai (Nicholas), Archbishop and Enlightener of Japan (1912)

Hymns and lives of the saints are on the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

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