Katameros
The Coptic Orthodox Church readings follow a structured daily cycle of Psalms, Gospel, Pauline, Catholic, Acts, and Synaxarium readings for prayer, reflection, and worship.
Today's Readings
Vespers
Psalm & Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Matthew the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 40:2-3
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.
Matthew 7:22-25
22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Matins
Psalm & Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 89:24,19
24 "But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted.
19 Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one, And said: "I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
Luke 13:23-30
23 Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them,
24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'
26 then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'
27 But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'
28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.
29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last."
Liturgy
Pauline Epistle
1 Corinthians 3:1-8
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Catholic Epistle
2 Peter 1:1-11
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Acts of the Apostles
Acts 15:13-29
13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:
14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:
16 'After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.'
18 "Known to God from eternity are all His works.
19 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
22 Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
23 They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law"--to whom we gave no such commandment--
25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Synaxarium
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit One God. Amen Day 15th of the Blessed Coptic Month of Abib. May God begin it in goodness and renew it for us in peace and tranquility, while our sins and iniquities are forgiven through the tender mercies of our Lord, O my fathers and my brethren. Amen.
On this day of the year 95 of the martyrs (379 A.D.) the saint Mar Ephrem (Ephraim) the Syrian, departed. He was born in the year 306 A.D. in the city of Nisibis to Christian parents who raised him up well. He became a disciple in his youth to St. James (Mar Jacob) bishop of Nisibis and stayed with him for a while during which he grew in knowledge and godliness. He accompanied his teacher St. James to attend the First Ecumenical council at Nicaea.
The Holy Father Mar Ephrem faced many tribulations during which he was an example of endurance and meekness. When the Persians seized the city of Nisibis, he left it and settled in the city of el-Raha. He worked in a modest job to support himself. He spent most of his time in reading, writing and preaching to the pagans. Shortly after he left the city and joined one of the hermits at el-Raha mount. During his seclusion he devoted himself to fasting, prayer, studying the Holy Bible and writing insightful interpretations for some of its books.
According to a heavenly vision, St. Ephrem went down to the city of el-Raha where he exhorted its people and taught them. The rulers of the city seized him, painfully scourged and offended him. As a result he went back to his cell and dedicated himself to writing and many gathered around him and he became a father and guide for them.
One day while he was in his seclusion, he saw a pillar of light which extended up to heaven and he heard a voice telling him, "As you see this pillar of light so is the great St. Basil.” He went to Caesarea of Cappadocia to see him. He met St. Basil and stayed with him for about two weeks. St. Basil wanted to ordain St. Ephrem a priest however he refused so he ordained him a deacon.
Mar Ephrem visited the wilderness of Shiheet which was known for its monks and its well-versed teachers as Anba Pishoy and Anba John the short. He spent about 8 years among them then he returned to his country where he became one of the well known teachers of the Syrian church and one of the great Syrian writers. He composed many spiritual hymns, discourses and many homilies. He fulfilled his good endeavor in his cave at el-Raha mount and departed in peace in the year 379 A.D.
The blessing of his prayers be with us all. Amen.
On this day also of the year 21 of the martyrs (305 A.D.) the two great saints Cyriacus (Qyriacus) and Julitta, his mother, were martyred. The martyr Cyriacus considered to be the youngest martyr to confess the Lord Christ after the children of Bethlehem.
St. Cyriacus was born in the city of Iconium in Asia Minor in the year 302 A.D. to wealthy Christian parents from the nobles of the city. His father departed leaving the child Cyriacus, who was a very handsome child to the care of his mother St. Julitta. She took care of raising him up on the principals of the Christian faith. The first words that she taught him to say were “I am Christian.”
When Diocletian denied the faith, he ordered to persecute the Christians everywhere. St. Julitta was worried that she might be harmed leaving her young child to an unknown future. She left the city along with her three years old son Cyriacus and two of her handmaidens. She went to Seleucia however she faced the same situation there so she decided to go to Tarsus.
As she arrived to Tarsus, Iskandrus the governor was informed that she was Christian. He seized her while she was carrying her child on her arms. When the two handmaidens saw what had happened to St. Julitta they hid themselves from the eyes of the guards following the two saints from afar.
When they came before the governor, he asked her about her name, nationality and her religion. She courageously replied: “I am Christian.” She was proud to declare her faith in the Lord Christ. The governor was exceedingly exasperated and told her: “Did not you know that the emperor had brought out all the instruments of torturing and death for the Christians. I feel pity for you and your little child and it seems like you are from a noble family.” The saint replied saying; “Yes, did not you know also that the Christians are ready for torturing and death and your torment only increase our faith and courage.”
The governor became very angry and ordered to snatch her child away from her arms however Cyriacus as any child clanged to his mother. The gladiator cruelly pulled the child away from her arms. The child continued to cry intensely while throwing his body toward his mother and looking to her. After that the governor ordered to scourge her with ox tail mercilessly until her blood flew on ground and the child did not take his eyes off her while crying and screaming.
The governor tried to befriended her and steer the motherly emotions in her to forsake her conviction and worship the idols to save herself and be able to raise her child. She utterly refused and told him: "What you said cannot be accepted by a three years old child." The Governor said to her, "We can ask your child." God made the child Cyriacus talk, who cried out saying, "Your gods are made of stone and wood by the hands of men and there is no other God except my Lord Jesus Christ." Those who heard the child, were amazed, and the lies of the Governor were exposed which made him increase the torment of St. Julitta.
While they were torturing the saint, the governor tried to kindly treat the child and play with him expressing signs of love and gentleness then embraced the child and tried to kiss him. However Cyriacus did not pay any attention to him fixing his eyes on his mother. He was able with his little hands to push away the unclean mouth of the governor from coming near his pure face. He hit the governor with his hands and feet, scratching his face with his nails. Instead of crying as the children he cried out with clear words were heard by everyone saying: “I am Christian … I am Christian.” The governor, who was full of rage, held the child from his feet and violently threw him on the ground from his elevated chair. The head of Cyriacus hit one of the steps of that elevated chair and was smashed thus he delivered his spirit and received the crown of martyrdom and he was no more than three years old.
When his mother St. Julitta saw that her son received the crown of martyrdom, she rejoiced and thanked the Lord and her endurance for the harsh tortures increased. The governor ordered to tear her flesh with iron hooks and poured boiled tar over her.
Finally they beheaded her with the sword thus she received the crown of martyrdom which was in the year 305 A.D. The two handmaidens came, took the two pure bodies and hid them in one of the caves nearby the city of Tarsus. When Emperor Constantine reigned, they took the pure bodies, shrouded them with costly spices and splendid shrouds and buried them with great veneration.
Parts of the relics of the two saints, Cyriacus and Julitta, located in the Syrian monastery in the wilderness of Shiheet and also in the church of the Virgin (el-Muallaqa – Hanging) in Old Cairo. There is a church after the name of the two martyrs Cyriacus and Julietta his mother in the city of Tahta, its history goes back to the year 550 A.D.
The blessing of their prayers be with us all. Amen.
On this day also the honorable saint Anba Horesius of Soul was martyred.
The blessing of his prayers be with us all and glory be to our God for ever. Amen.
Psalm & Gospel
Stand in the fear of God and listen to the Holy Gospel. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke the Evangelist. May His Blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalms 61:1-3
1 Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.
Luke 14:25-35
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,
26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.
27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--
29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish'?
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
34 "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?
35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
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