The Apostle Timothy, who was from Lystra of Lycaonia, was born of a Greek (that is, pagan) father and a Jewish mother. His mother's name was Eunice, and his grandmother's name was Lois (II Tim. 1:5). He became the disciple of the Apostle Paul when the latter first preached there, and he followed St. Paul during the whole period of the Apostle's preaching. Afterwards, Timothy was consecrated by him as first Bishop of the church in Ephesus. Under the supervision of John the Evangelist, who governed all the churches in Asia, he completed his life as a martyr in the year 97. He was stoned to death by the heathens, because, as some surmise, he opposed the festival held in honor of Artemis (Diana). The Apostle Paul's First and Second Epistles to Timothy were written to him.

February 04

Anastasios, the Persian Righteous Monk-martyr

Saint Anastasius was a Persian by race, the son of a Magus, and a soldier in the Persian army in the days of Chosroes II, King of Persia, and Heraclius, Emperor of New Rome. The Saint's Persian name was Magundat.

When Chosroes captured Jerusalem in the year 614 and took the Precious Cross away captive, Magundat heard the report of the miracles that came to pass through the Cross of our salvation. Being of a prudent mind, perplexed that an instrument of torture should be so highly honored by the Christians, yet seized with longing to learn their Faith, he diligently sought out instruction in the whole divine dispensation of Christ: His Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection. When he learned what he sought to know, his soul was filled with wonder and joy. Withdrawing to the Holy City, he was baptized by Saint Modestus, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and became a monk, receiving the new name of Anastasius.

As he read the lives of the Saints and the accounts of the holy Martyrs, his heart was kindled with love for them to such a degree that he prayed to be counted worthy of a martyr's end like unto theirs. Finally, unable to contain his longing, he left his monastery. Encountering certain Persian Magi at Caesarea, he rebuked them for their delusion. Since Palestine was still held in the captivity of the Persians, he was taken before the Persian ruler, questioned, beaten, and imprisoned. He was then taken with other captives to Persia, where, after many tortures, refusing to espouse again the error of his fathers, he was hanged up by one hand, strangled with a noose, and beheaded. The translation of his holy relics is celebrated on the 24th of this month.

February 04

Joseph the Sanctified

Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back - it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, He is not here; see the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see Him, as He told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Second Orthros Gospel
مرقس 16: 1-8

1وَبَعْدَمَا مَضَى السَّبْتُ، اشْتَرَتْ مَرْيَمُ الْمَجْدَلِيَّةُ وَمَرْيَمُ أُمُّ يَعْقُوبَ وَسَالُومَةُ، حَنُوطاً لِيَأْتِينَ وَيَدْهَنَّهُ. 2وَبَاكِراً جِدّاً فِي أَوَّلِ الأُسْبُوعِ أَتَيْنَ إِلَى الْقَبْرِ إِذْ طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ. 3وَكُنَّ يَقُلْنَ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُنَّ: ((مَنْ يُدَحْرِجُ لَنَا الْحَجَرَ عَنْ بَابِ الْقَبْرِ؟)) 4فَتَطَلَّعْنَ وَرَأَيْنَ أَنَّ الْحَجَرَ قَدْ دُحْرِجَ! لأَنَّهُ كَانَ عَظِيماً جِدّاً. 5وَلَمَّا دَخَلْنَ الْقَبْرَ رَأَيْنَ شَابّاً جَالِساً عَنِ الْيَمِينِ لاَبِساً حُلَّةً بَيْضَاءَ، فَانْدَهَشْنَ. 6فَقَالَ لَهُنَّ: ((لاَ تَنْدَهِشْنَ! أَنْتُنَّ تَطْلُبْنَ يَسُوعَ النَّاصِرِيَّ الْمَصْلُوبَ. قَدْ قَامَ! لَيْسَ هُوَ هَهُنَا. هُوَذَا الْمَوْضِعُ الَّذِي وَضَعُوهُ فِيهِ. 7لَكِنِ اذْهَبْنَ وَقُلْنَ لِتَلاَمِيذِهِ وَلِبُطْرُسَ: إِنَّهُ يَسْبِقُكُمْ إِلَى الْجَلِيلِ. هُنَاكَ تَرَوْنَهُ كَمَا قَالَ لَكُمْ)). 8فَخَرَجْنَ سَرِيعاً وَهَرَبْنَ مِنَ الْقَبْرِ، لأَنَّ الرِّعْدَةَ وَالْحَيْرَةَ أَخَذَتَاهُنَّ. وَلَمْ يَقُلْنَ لأَحَدٍ شَيْئاً لأَنَّهُنَّ كُنَّ خَائِفَاتٍ.

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. 6th Tone. Psalm 27.9,1.
O Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance.
Verse: To you, O Lord, I have cried, O my God.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to Timothy 1:15-17.

Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And I am the foremost of sinners; but I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory to the ages of ages. Amen.

البروكيمنون. 6th Tone. مزمور 27: 9، 1.
خلص يالله شعبك وبارك ميراثك
Verse: إليك يا رب صرخت، إلهي

فصل من رسالة بولس الاولى الى تيموثاوس 1: 15-17.

يَا وَلَدي تِيمُوثَاوُس، صَادِقَةٌ هِيَ الْكَلِمَةُ وَمُسْتَحِقَّةٌ كُلَّ قُبُولٍ: أَنَّ الْمَسِيحَ يَسُوعَ جَاءَ إِلَى الْعَالَمِ لِيُخَلِّصَ الْخُطَاةَ الَّذِينَ أَوَّلُهُمْ أَنَا. لَكِنَّنِي لِهَذَا رُحِمْتُ: لِيُظْهِرَ يَسُوعُ الْمَسِيحُ فِيَّ أَنَا أَوَّلاً كُلَّ أَنَاةٍ، مِثَالاً لِلْعَتِيدِينَ أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهِ لِلْحَيَاةِ الأَبَدِيَّةِ. وَمَلِكُ الدُّهُورِ الَّذِي لاَ يَفْنَى وَلاَ يُرَى، الإِلَهُ الْحَكِيمُ وَحْدَهُ، لَهُ الْكَرَامَةُ وَالْمَجْدُ إِلَى دَهْرِ الدُّهُورِ. آمِينَ.

Gospel Reading

The Reading is from Luke 18:35-43

At that time, as Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

لوقا 18: 35-43

³⁵ في ذلك الزمان فيما يسوع بالقْرَبَ مِنْ أَرِيحَا كَانَ أَعْمَى جَالِساً علَى الطَّرِيقِ يَسْتَعْطِي. ³⁶فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ الْجَمْعَ مُجْتَازاً سَأَلَ: ((مَا عَسَى أَنْيَكُونَ هَذَا؟)) ³⁷فَأَخْبَرُوهُ أَنَّ يَسُوعَ النَّاصِرِيَّ مُجْتَازٌ. ³⁸فَصَرَخَ قَائِلاً : ((يَا يَسُوعُ ابْنَ دَاوُدَ ، ارْحَمْنِي!)). ³⁹فَانْتَهَرَهُ الْمُتَقَدِّمُونَ لِيَسْكُتَ ، أَمَّا هُوَ فَصَرَخَ أَكْثَرَ كَثِيراً: ((يَا ابْنَ دَاوُدَ ، ارْحَمْنِي! )). ⁴⁰فَوَقَفَ يَسُوعُ وَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ. وَلَمَّا اقْتَرَبَ سَأَلَهُ ⁴¹قَائِلاً ((مَاذَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ أَفْعَلَ بِكَ؟)) فَقَالَ: ((يَا سَيِّدُ ، أَنْ أُبْصِرَ! )). ⁴²فَقَالَ لَهُ يَسُوعُ: ((أَبْصِرْ. إِيمَانُكَ قَدْ شَفَاكَ)). ⁴³وَفِي الْحَالِ أَبْصَرَ ، وَتَبِعَهُ وَهُوَ يُمَجِّدُ اللهَ. وَجَمِيعُ الشَّعْبِ إِذْ رَأَوْا سَبَّحُوا اللهَ.

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the 2nd Tone

When Thou didst descend unto death, O Life Immortal, then didst Thou slay Hades with the lightning of Thy Divinity. And when Thou didst also raise the dead out of the nethermost depths, all the powers in the Heavens cried out: O Life-giver, Christ our God, glory be to Thee.

عندما انحدرت إلى الموت ايها الحياة الذي لايموت ، حينئذ أمتّ الجحيم ببرق لاهوتك، وعندما أقمت الاموات من تحت الثرى صرخ نحوك جميع القوات السماويين : ايها المسيح الاله المعطي الحياة المجد لك.

Apolytikion of Timothy of the 70 in the Fourth Tone

Since thou hadst been instructed in uprightness thoroughly and wast vigilant in all things, thou wast clothed with a good conscience as befitteth one holy. Thou didst draw from the Chosen Vessel ineffable mysteries; and having kept the Faith, thou didst finish a like course, O Hieromartyr and Apostle Timothy. Intercede with Christ God that our souls be saved.

Apolytikion of Martyr Anastasius the Persian in the Fourth Tone

Thy Martyr, O Lord, in his courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since he possessed Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by his prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful.

Apolytikion of St Stephen in the 1st Tone

For the struggles you endured for Christ God, a royal diadem crowns your head, O First Champion of Martyrs. For you refuted the folly of the Jews and beheld your Savior on the right of the Father. Ever beseech Him, therefore, for our souls.

Kontakion of Timothy of the 70 in the First Tone

With hymns let us, the faithful, sing Timothy's praises as Paul's divine disciple and faithful companion; with him let us also laud Anastasius the godly-wise, who shone forth with splendor like a star out of Persia and doth drive away from us our bodily sickness and spiritual maladies.

Kontakion of Martyr Anastasius the Persian in the First Tone

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Wisdom of the Fathers

The perfect peace of the holy angels lies in their love for God and their love for one another. This is also the case with all the saints from the beginning of time. Most truly therefore is it said that 'on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets' (Matt. 22:40).

St. Maximos the Confessor

Fourth Century on Love no. 36, Philokalia Vol. 2 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 104, 7th century

When a man reveres God with all his heart and with faith, he receives through God's providence the power to control anger and desire; for it is desire and anger which are the cause of all evils.

St. Antony the Great

On the Character of Men no. 12, Philokalia Vol. 1 edited by Palmer, Sherrard and Ware; Faber and Faber pg. 331, 4th century

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