Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee
Beginning of the Lenten Triodion
Tone 1. Fast-free. What this means
The Epistle for St. Theodore
Ephesians 2:4–10
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The Gospel
Luke 18:10–14
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Commemorated today
- Greatmartyr Theodore Stratelates
- Nicephoros & Stephanos the Martyrs
- Cuthman of Steyning
- Holy Prophet Zechariah (6th c. BC)
- St Sabbas II, Archbishop of Serbia (1271)
Hymns and lives of the saints are on the Online Chapel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.