Sunday 28th May 2023
Tone 6 - Eothinon 10
7th of Pascha – Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 1st Œcumenical Council
Afterfeast of the Ascension
Today we commemorate:
Hieromartyr Eutychius, bishop of Melitene (1st C). St. Nicetas, bishop of Chalcedon (9th C). St. Germanus (Germain), bishop of Paris (576). St. Ignatius, bishop and Wonderworker of Rostov (1288). Holy Martyrs Heliconidos and Daphne of Thessalonica (244).
Acts 20:16-18, 28-36; John 17:1-13
Readings in bold type are those appointed by the Typikon for use at the Liturgy
Acts 20:16-18, 28-36
Paul decided to sail past Ephesus so that he might not lose time in Asia, for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, by the Day of Pentecost. And so from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, summoning the presbyters of the church. When they reached him, he said to them, ‘You yourselves know how I was with you the whole time, from the first day I set foot in Asia. … Therefore be attentive to yourselves and to the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops. Shepherd the Church of our Lord and God which he has purchased with his own blood, for I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from among yourselves men will arise who will preach perverse things to draw away the disciples after them. For this reason be vigilant, remembering that for three years, night and day, I have not ceased warning each of you with tears. And now, brothers, I commit you to God and to the word of his grace which has the power to build up and to give you an inheritance with all who are sanctified. I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my needs and for those with me. I have revealed all this to you because it is necessary by labouring in this way to support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said it is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Having said this, he knelt down with them all and prayed.
John 17:1-13
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that your Son may also glorify you, for you have given him authority over all flesh to give everlasting life to all whom you have given him. And this is everlasting life: that they may know you, the only true God, and him whom you have sent, Jesus Christ. I have glorified you on the earth; I have completed the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me beside yourself with the glory I had at your side before the world came to be. I have revealed your name to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything, all you that you have given me, is from you, for I have given them the words you gave to me and they have accepted them. They truly understand that I came from your side, and they believe that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf. I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All that is mine is yours and yours is mine, and I am glorified in them. I am to be no longer in the world, for I am coming to you. But they are in the world. Holy Father, watch over those whom you gave me in your name so that they, like us, may be one. While I was with them in the world, I watched over them in your name. Those whom you gave me I have kept safe and none of them has been lost, except the son of perdition so that the Scripture may be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. And I am saying these things in the world so that they may have my joy made perfect in them.’