Saturday 26th April 2025
Bright Saturday
Today we commemorate:
Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Amasea (c.322). Righteous virgin Glaphyra (322). St. Stephen, bishop of Perm (1396). St. George of Cyprus (1091). St. Joannicius of Devich in Serbia (13th C).
British Isles and Ireland:
St. Trudpert of Muenstethal (644).
Acts 3:11-16; John 3:22-33
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Acts 3:11-16
As the lame man who had been healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran up to them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade; they were utterly astounded. Seeing this, Peter began to speak to the people. ‘Men, Israelites, why are you so astonished by this? Why are you staring at us as though it is by our own power or holiness that we have made him walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our ancestors glorified his servant Jesus, whom you betrayed and disowned before Pilate when he passed judgement to release him. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and begged for a man, a murderer, to be pardoned for you. You killed the Author of Life whom God then raised from the dead. Of this we are witnesses. And through faith in his name, that name of his strengthened this man whom you see and recognise. Yes, the faith that comes from him gave him this perfect health in front of you all.’
John 3:22-33
At that time Jesus went into the Judaean countryside with his disciples, and he remained there with them and baptised. John was also baptising at Aenon near Salim because there was plenty of water there and they came to be baptised, for John had not yet been thrown into prison. Then a question arose between John’s disciples and a Jew concerning purification. They went to John and told him, ‘Rabbi, the one to whom you testified, who was with you across the Jordan, he is baptising and everyone is going to him.’ John’s response was to say, ‘No one can receive anything unless it has been given from heaven. You yourselves bear witness that I said, “I am not the Christ, but I have been sent ahead of him.” He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the bridegroom’s friend who stands listening to him is filled with joy by the bridegroom’s voice. And so this joy of mine is complete. It is necessary for him to increase and for me to decrease.’ He who comes from above is over all; he who is from the earth is of the earth, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above everything and testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Those who do accept his testimony attest that God is Truth.