Gospels of Great Lent – Orthodox magazine “Thomas”

“Reading for Every Day of Lent” is a book compiled for reading during the period of Lent for a deep understanding of its days.

A person who goes through the days of Great Lent from beginning to end, every day, as if on a ladder of spiritual ascent, step by step approaches the mystery of Christ's Pascha. The book provides explanations of the meaning of each day of fasting, sayings of the holy fathers, special instructions, examples of the ascetic life of saints and selected hymns from church services. All this helps to tune in to the spiritual awareness of the days of Great Lent, supports and warms up a prayerful repentant feeling in those who are fasting. The book “Reading for Every Day of Lent” is a serious helper for those entering its days.

Lent is the most important and strictest among the fasts. It begins seven weeks before the holiday of Holy Easter and consists of Lent (forty days) and Holy Week (the week before Easter). Each week of Lent and each day of fasting is dedicated to a specific event or saint and has its own spiritual meaning, its own spiritual orientation. Great Lent for a person living a church life is a path of transformation of the human soul. In accordance with this, the structure of the book “Reading for Every Day of Lent” was built, describing each day of Lent separately, and covering the entire period of Lent, starting from its preparatory weeks until the feast of feasts - Holy Easter.

Gospel for the Preparatory Week of Lent

Week about Zacchaeus. Gospel of Luke, chapter 19, verses 1-10

Then Jesus entered Jericho and passed through it. And so, someone named Zacchaeus, the chief of publicans and a rich man, sought to see Jesus who He was, but he could not follow the people, because he was small in stature, and, running ahead, he climbed up a fig tree to see Him, because He had to pass by her. When Jesus came to this place, he looked, saw him and said to him: Zacchaeus! come down quickly, for today I need to be in your house. And he hastened down and received Him with joy. And everyone, seeing this, began to murmur and said that He had come to a sinful man; Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord: Lord! I will give half of my property to the poor, and if I have offended anyone, I will repay him fourfold. Jesus said to him, “Now salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

The Gospel reading about the tax collector Zacchaeus calls for a different look at those whom everyone despises, and raises the question of whether we have the right to judge others. Zacchaeus wanted to see Christ so much that he was not afraid to expose himself to ridicule, and even climbed a tree because he was tired of the suffocating atmosphere that reigned in his life. But when Christ decided to enter his house, the crowd condemned both - the official and the Savior. Did these people have the right to consider themselves righteous? Priest Stefan Domuschi reflects.

Reading the Gospel of the preparatory week of Great Lent in Russian and complete interpretation.

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Hieromonk Dorofey (Baranov), rector of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the village of Sokolovy, Saratov district:

— The days of Lent do not stand out for me in terms of reading; I read the same books as during the year. I am re-reading Abba Dorotheus, “The Fatherland” by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, “The Ancient Patericon,” and the books of Paisius the Holy Mountain. They help to hear the voice of conscience, which a person often tries to dodge, and help to concentrate.

I recommend books by Valentin Rasputin, Vasily Belov, Vasily Shukshin to everyone. Their works can, indeed, be called an encyclopedia of the Russian soul, which form the inner world of a person, his soul. This is pure literature, which, in our times, can be considered spiritual.

Newspaper "Orthodox Faith", No. 8 (484)

Gospel for the 1st Preparatory Week of Lent

Week about the publican and the Pharisee. Gospel of Luke, chapter 18, verses 10-14

Two people entered the temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: God! I thank You that I am not like other people, robbers, offenders, adulterers, or like this publican: I fast twice a week, I give a tenth of everything I acquire. The publican, standing in the distance, did not even dare to raise his eyes to heaven; but, striking himself on the chest, he said: God! be merciful to me, a sinner! I tell you that this one went to his house justified more than the other: for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

This passage says that the tax collector went away “more justified,” although Christ did not condemn the Pharisee. How can we understand which righteousness is superior—that of the Pharisees (“from the Law”) or that of the publican (“by faith”), and can personal righteousness “guarantee” God’s mercy? Archpriest Pavel Velikanov comments.

Reading the Gospel of the 1st preparatory week of Lent in Russian and complete interpretation.

Sermons and Teachings

“Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco”, Sretensky Monastery Publishing House

Probably the most complete publication about Father John. The book contains the life, sermons, memoirs of the saint’s contemporaries, and evidence of his help.

“Man before God” Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh

Collection of oral speeches of Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh from 1969 to 1991. About faith and unbelief, about a person’s calling, about meetings with Christ, about self-knowledge and humility, about spiritual life and the work of the heart - Metropolitan Anthony in his time formulated important messages and thoughts and, thank God, we have the opportunity to join them.

Gospel for the 2nd Preparatory Week of Lent

Week of the Prodigal Son. Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 11-32

He also said: a certain man had two sons; and the youngest of them said to his father: Father! give me the next part of the estate. And the father divided the estate for them. After a few days, the youngest son, having collected everything, went to a far side and there squandered his property, living dissolutely. When he had lived through everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need; and he went and accosted one of the inhabitants of that country, and he sent him to his fields to graze pigs; and he was glad to fill his belly with the horns that the pigs ate, but no one gave it to him. When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have an abundance of bread, but I am dying of hunger; I will get up and go to my father and say to him: Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you and am no longer worthy to be called your son; accept me as one of your hired servants. He got up and went to his father. And while he was still far away, his father saw him and had compassion; and, running, fell on his neck and kissed him. The son said to him: Father! I have sinned against heaven and before you and am no longer worthy to be called your son. And the father said to his servants: Bring the best robe and dress him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fatted calf, and kill it; Let's eat and have fun! For this son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found. And they started having fun. His eldest son was in the field; and returning, when he approached the house, he heard singing and rejoicing; and calling one of the servants, he asked: what is this? He said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he received him healthy.” He became angry and did not want to enter. His father came out and called him. But he answered his father: Behold, I have served you for so many years and have never violated your orders, but you never gave me even a kid so that I could have fun with my friends; and when this son of yours, who had wasted his wealth with harlots, came, you killed the fatted calf for him. He said to him: My son! You are always with me, and all that is mine is yours, and it was necessary to rejoice and be glad that this brother of yours was dead and came to life, was lost and was found.

This Gospel passage suggests that holiness is not always equal to moral perfection and the absence of experience of sin. Often, holiness is the ability to return home from a “distant country” and open up to God again. What is wrong with the youngest son, and what is wrong with the eldest? Priest Dmitry Baritsky comments.

Reading the Gospel of the 2nd preparatory week of Lent and interpretation in full.

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Natalya Gerasimova, proofreader, parishioner of the church in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Quench My Sorrows”:

— Mostly I re-read the holy fathers, sometimes the lives of saints, including the new martyrs. The patristic texts are so deep and “intense” in thought that sometimes several pages read a day require thinking and “getting used to” in them. I am very grateful to one priest, now deceased, who blessed me with this reading at the beginning of my churching. During Great Lent, I repeatedly re-read the works of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov - these are very psychological and sobering books that allow you to see your spiritual level without embellishment. But sometimes the consciousness cannot stand this spectacle - you want something comforting. Therefore, now I am reading the interpretation of St. Theophan the Recluse on the Epistles of the Holy Apostle Paul - with great interest and, I hope, not without benefit for myself.

It would be presumptuous of me to give anyone advice regarding spiritual reading. But in general, I like to “advertise” and give to my friends - especially those of them who are just entering the Church - books by such authors who, on the one hand, belong to the Church, and on the other hand, know how to talk about it with a modern man, ironic and skeptical, in his language. These are books by Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov), priest Yaroslav Shipov, and Abbot Nektary (Morozov).

Gospel for the 3rd preparatory week of Lent

Week about the Last Judgment. Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31-46

When the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory, and all nations will be gathered before Him; and will separate one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right hand, and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand: Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you accepted Me; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him: Lord! when did we see you hungry and feed you? or to the thirsty and gave them something to drink? when did we see you as a stranger and accept you? or naked and clothed? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? And the King will answer them, “Truly I say to you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did it to Me.” Then He will also say to those on the left side: Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger, and they did not accept Me; I was naked, and they did not clothe Me; sick and in prison, and they did not visit Me. Then they too will answer Him: Lord! when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not serve You? Then he will answer them, “Truly I say to you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4NqBO1jrVw

We hear terrible words about the Last Judgment shortly before the start of Lent in order to focus on its goals. Active charity does not guarantee “eternal life,” but it does give hope for it. How to fast in order to experience God's mercy? Bishop Feoktist of Pereslavl and Uglich explains.

Reading the Gospel of the 3rd preparatory week of Lent in Russian and complete interpretation.

Books about the history and meaning of Lent

“Great Lent” Protopresbyter Alexander Shmeman, publishing house “Tatiana Temple at Moscow State University”

In the first days of Great Lent, I suggest you read a small book of the same name by Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann, which answers all the important questions: what is Lent, how to fast, why to fast. In addition, Father Alexander very clearly and intelligibly explains the features of Lenten services, the meaning of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, and gives an interpretation of the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian.

“Great Lent” Archpriest Alexei Uminsky, Nikeya Publishing House

Archpriest Alexei Uminsky is always a pleasure to read - everything is clear, concise, written in modern language. The author talks about the history of fasting, worship, emphasizes the deep content, calls for meaningfulness, and inspires.

Gospel for the 4th preparatory week of Lent

Forgiveness Sunday, a memory of Adam's expulsion from Paradise. Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 14-21

For if you forgive people their sins, then your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive people their sins, then your Father will not forgive you your sins. Also, when you fast, do not be sad like the hypocrites, for they put on gloomy faces in order to appear to people as fasting. Truly I tell you that they are already receiving their reward. And you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to men as you fast, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break through and steal, for where your treasure is, there it will be and your heart.

The sad appearance of a fasting person is only a veiled search for praise, so it is important to remain cheerful and joyful during fasting. This is possible if you fast out of love for God, says priest Anthony Borisov. It is also important, when fasting yourself, not to demand it from others.

Reading the Gospel of the 4th preparatory week of Lent in Russian and complete interpretation.

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Archpriest Dimitry Usoltsev, candidate of theology, head of the SPDS correspondence education sector, secretary of the seminary Academic Council:

— During Lent, we, teachers, work more intensely, because just in the spring, term papers and theses and sessions for correspondence seminarians fall. And a textbook on liturgical theology becomes a favorite book at this time. I usually read fiction in the summer, but now science is on my list. I am interested in new books and articles that are now being published on theology.

When I prepare for a sermon during Lent, I usually re-read Saints Theophan the Recluse and Ignatius Brianchaninov. Of the holy fathers, they are closest to me. They provide rich food for thought. Their books help me not only prepare for a sermon, but also put my life in order.

Gospel for the 1st week of Lent

Triumph of Orthodoxy. Gospel of John, Chapter 1, verses 43-51

The next day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and he found Philip and said to him: follow me. Philip was from Bethsaida, from the same city as Andrew and Peter. Philip finds Nathanael and says to him: We have found the One about whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote, Jesus the son of Joseph from Nazareth. But Nathanael said to him: Can anything good come from Nazareth? Philip says to him: come and see. Jesus, seeing Nathanael coming to Him, said of him: Behold, truly an Israelite, in whom there is no guile. Nathanael says to Him: Why do You know me? Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him: Rabbi! You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said to him, “You believe because I said to you: I saw you under the fig tree; you will see more of this. And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, from now on you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

The earthly homeland of Christ - the city of Nazareth - had a bad reputation. It was believed that rude, uneducated, cruel people lived there, and the morals there were terrible. This is what the future apostle Nathanael said (“Can anything good come from Nazareth”)? But for some reason the Savior liked Nathanael’s skeptical attitude. Priest Anthony Borisov tells how Christ’s conversation with Nathanael explains the purpose of the Church.

Reading the Gospel of the 1st week of Lent in Russian and complete interpretation.

Gospel for the 2nd week of Lent

The week is about being relaxed. Gospel of Mark, chapter 2, verses 1-12

A few days later He came again to Capernaum; and it was heard that He was in the house. Many immediately gathered, so that there was no longer room at the door; and He spoke the word to them. And they came to Him with the paralytic, who was carried by four; and, not being able to approach Him due to the crowds, they opened the roof of the house where He was, and, having dug through it, lowered the bed on which the paralytic lay. Jesus, seeing their faith, says to the paralytic: child! your sins are forgiven you. Some of the scribes sat there and thought in their hearts: Why does He blaspheme so much? who can forgive sins except God alone? Jesus, immediately knowing in His spirit that they were thinking this way in themselves, said to them, “Why are you thinking this way in your hearts?” What's easier? Should I say to the paralytic: your sins are forgiven? or should I say: get up, take your bed and walk? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins, he says to the paralytic: I say to you, get up, take up your bed and go to your house. He immediately got up and, taking the bed, went out in front of everyone, so that everyone was amazed and glorified God, saying: we have never seen anything like this.

What does Christ say about the connection between illness and sin? Why did the Savior heal a paralyzed man who did not ask Him to do so? How did the friends of the paralytic prove themselves and what can we learn from them? The meaning of the Gospel passage is commented on by Bishop Theoktist of Pereslavl and Uglich.

Reading the Gospel of the 2nd week of Lent in Russian and full interpretation.

Books on the Holy Scriptures

“Behold Judas, betraying Me. Motives and meanings of the gospel drama" Daria Sivashenkova

In the format of artistic theology, based on the texts of the Holy Scriptures, interpretations of the holy fathers and research by modern authors, Daria Sivashenkova step by step reconstructs the tragedy of the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, explores the motives that caused his fall, and fills in the missing puzzles in the history of the world's most famous treason. The Gospel story comes alive before your eyes.

“Gospel parables” Archpriest Vladimir Khulap, Nikeya Publishing House

Archpriest Vladimir Hulap included in the collection parables that touch on different areas of human life: from work and leisure to relationships with family. Even a person unfamiliar with the Bible will find these topics close and interesting. The book is written in modern language and is rich in examples from our lives: with social networks, stress, progress. Which once again proves that Christ and his sermons are true at all times. And that the word of God is addressed to all people living now and 2000 years ago.

Gospel for the 3rd week of Lent

The week of veneration of the cross. Gospel of Mark, chapter 8, verses 34-38, chapter 9, verse 1

And calling the people with His disciples, He said to them: If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for the sake of Me and the Gospel will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what ransom will a man give for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy Angels. And he said to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

This Gospel reading is about friendship. Having tested his disciples in various circumstances, Christ directly says that he expects imminent execution, and it is dangerous to be with him. At the same time, the Savior does not try to keep the apostles close to Him, leaving them the right to choose. He gives the same freedom to each of us. Priest Anthony Borisov comments.

Reading the Gospel of the 3rd week of Lent in Russian and full interpretation.

Gospel for the 4th week of Great Lent (Sunday of St. John Climacus)

Gospel of Mark, chapter 9, verses 17-31

One of the people answered: Teacher! I brought to You my son, possessed by a dumb spirit: wherever he seizes him, he throws him to the ground, and he emits foam, and grinds his teeth, and becomes numb. I told Your disciples to drive him out, but they could not. Answering him, Jesus said: O faithless generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I tolerate you? Bring him to Me. And they brought him to Him. As soon as the demoniac saw Him, the spirit shook him; he fell to the ground and lay there, emitting foam. And Jesus asked his father, “How long ago did this happen to him?” He said: since childhood; and many times the spirit threw him into both fire and water to destroy him; but, if you can, take pity on us and help us. Jesus said to him: if you can believe as much as possible, all things are possible to him who believes. And immediately the boy’s father exclaimed with tears: I believe, Lord! help my unbelief. Jesus, seeing that the people were running, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him: the spirit is dumb and deaf! I command you, come out of it and do not enter it again. And, screaming and shaking him violently, he went out; and he became as if dead, so that many said that he was dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him up; and he stood up. And when Jesus entered the house, His disciples asked Him privately: Why could we not drive him out? And he said to them: This generation cannot come out except through prayer and fasting. Coming out from there, they passed through Galilee; and He didn't want anyone to find out. For He taught His disciples and told them that the Son of Man would be delivered into the hands of men and they would kill Him, and after He was killed He would rise again on the third day.

The apostles failed to heal the demon-possessed young man because they were too carried away by the success, which they unfairly appropriated to themselves - after all, they had the gift of healing from God, and not through their own efforts. But at the same time, this story consoles us - when we find ourselves in a situation from which we see no way out, we can do the same as the unfortunate father - pray and believe. Then help will definitely come. Priest Anthony Borisov comments.

Reading the Gospel of the 4th week of Lent in Russian and complete interpretation.

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Priest Vitaly Kolpachenko, dean of the Khvalynsk district, director of the Khvalynsk gymnasium in the name of the holy martyr Alexander Medem, rector of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross:

— My favorite book during fasting days is “Soulful Teachings” by Abba Dorotheus, I re-read it constantly. Now I’m reading the books of Elder Ephraim Philotheus (Moraitis): “My life with Elder Joseph”, the recently published “The Art of Salvation. Conversations with Elder Ephraim." I started reading “Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit” by Elder Thaddeus (Vitovnitsky). I read new books from the publishing house of the Saratov Metropolitanate: memoirs about Archbishop Alexander (Timofeev) “The Lord is my fortress”, about St. Nektarios of Aegina - “Nectarios of Pentapolis - a saint of our days.”

With the children we read the collection of stories and fairy tales “The Spark of God.” I re-read the works of St. John Chrysostom, St. Silouan of Athos, letters from Abbot Nikon (Vorobiev), books by Sergei Fudel, Nikolai Pestov. For me, the main thing in these books is the burning of the spirit: we all need to try to feed the spirit so that it does not “cool down.” I am close to the thought of Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain, who said that you need to read in order to do it.

Gospel for the 5th week of Lent

Sunday of the Venerable Mary of Egypt. Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, verses 32-45

When they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, Jesus walked ahead of them, and they were terrified and, following Him, were in fear. Calling the twelve, He again began to tell them what would happen to Him: behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the high priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and hand Him over to the pagans, and they will mock Him, and beat Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him; and on the third day he will rise again. Then the sons of Zebedee, James and John, came up to Him and said: Teacher! We want You to do for us whatever we ask. He said to them: what do you want me to do to you? They said to Him: Let us sit at Your side, one on your right hand and the other on your left, in Your glory. But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking.” Can you drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized? They answered: we can. Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized.” but to let you sit on My right side and on My left does not depend on Me, but on whom it is prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be angry with James and John. Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that those who are considered princes of the nations rule over them, and their nobles rule over them. But let it not be like this among you: but whoever wants to be great among you, let us be your servant; and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His soul as a ransom for many.

In this passage, two logics collide - earthly and heavenly. Christ speaks openly to his disciples about the suffering that awaits Him and asks if they can bear it. The apostles do not fully understand His words, and make plans about how they will reign together with the Savior. At the same time, this episode shows how to live in the world and not belong to it and gives an answer to the question of whether a Christian can be happy. Priest Anthony Borisov reflects.

Reading the Gospel of the 5th week of Lent in Russian and complete interpretation.

Orthodox Life

Remembering the Holy Saving Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Father! forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

OK. 23, 34

On Great Friday, the holy, saving and terrible suffering and death of the Lord Jesus Christ, which He willingly endured for our sakes, took place and is remembered by the Church.

Good Friday. Crucifixion. Fresco of the Church of St. Nicholas in Prilep, Macedonia. XII-XIII centuries

Celebrating on Good Friday “the following of the holy and saving passions of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the Orthodox Church on this great day marked all times of the sacred events of the salvation of the world with a divine service: the time of the capture of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane and the condemnation of Him by the bishops and elders to suffering and death (Matt. 27, 1) – the service of Matins; the time of leading the Savior to Pilate for trial - the Divine Service of the first hour (Matthew 27:2); the time of the condemnation of the Lord at the trial of Pilate - by the completion of the third hour; the time of Christ's suffering on the cross - the sixth hour; time of death - ninth hour; and the removal of the body of Christ from the cross at vespers.

There is no Liturgy on Good Friday, because on this day the Lord Himself sacrificed Himself, and the Royal Hours are celebrated. Vespers is celebrated at the third hour of the day, at the hour of the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, in remembrance of the taking down of the body of Christ from the cross and His burial. At Vespers, the clergy lift the Shroud (that is, the image of Christ lying in the tomb) from the Throne, as if from Golgotha, and carry it out of the altar into the middle of the temple. The Shroud is placed on the tomb, on a specially prepared table. Then the clergy and all worshipers bow before the Shroud and kiss the wounds of the Lord depicted on it - the perforation of His ribs, arms and legs. The shroud is in the middle of the temple for three (incomplete) days, reminiscent of the three-day stay of Jesus Christ in the tomb.

At the morning service on Good Friday, the Church solemnly proclaims the gospel of the suffering and death of the God-man, divided into 12 Gospel readings, called the Passionate Gospels. The reading of the 12 Gospels on Good Friday originated from the Apostolic tradition. St. John Chrysostom mentions the reading of the 12 Passion Gospels on Good Friday. He says: “The Jews attack Jesus Christ with fury, and on their own they torture Him, bind Him, lead Him away, become the perpetrators of insults inflicted by soldiers, nail Him to the cross, reproach Him, mock Him. Pilate did not add anything here on his part: they do everything themselves. And this is read to us when we are all in assembly, so that the pagans do not say to us: you show the people only the brilliant and glorious, for example, signs and wonders, but hide the shameful. The grace of the Holy Spirit has arranged it in such a way that all this is read among us on a national holiday - precisely on Maundy Thursday of Easter (that is, on Friday of Holy Week), when men and women stand in great numbers, when the whole universe flocks together, then this is preached in a loud voice; and with such and such public reading and preaching, we believe that Christ is God.” “Now all of us,” said Saint John of Damascus on Great Friday, “have gathered to hear about the cross, we are filling the Church, crowding each other, sweating and exhausting ourselves.”

The readings of the passionate Gospels are preceded and accompanied by the singing: “Glory to Your long-suffering, O Lord.” Indeed, His long-suffering was extreme, His sufferings were terrible. According to the Church and St. John Chrysostom, during the terrible and saving suffering of the Lord, each member of His holy flesh “suffered dishonor for our sake: the head from the crown of thorns and the reed; face from blows and spitting; cheeks from strangulation; mouth from the offering of vinegar mixed with bile; ears from the blasphemies of the wicked; shoulders from beating; the right hand is from the reed that they gave Him to hold instead of a scepter; hands and feet from nails; ribs from copy; the whole body from nudity, scourging, robe, feigned worship and crucifixion.”

Each reading of the Gospel is heralded with good news, and at each reading those present light lamps: this significantly indicates the triumph and glory that accompanied the Son of God even during His extreme humiliation among reproach and suffering and testifying to His highest holiness and Divinity. The Lord, going to voluntary suffering and death, Himself predicted: now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God was glorified in Him, then God will glorify Him in Himself, and will soon glorify Him (John 13:31-32), that is, “along with the cross,” says John Chrysostom. The Lord's suffering for our sins was as painful as it was glorious for the Lord. Enemies go to take Him to suffering and death - and they fall before His Divine omnipotence and are healed of their wounds. They are angry against the Savior, but His innocence and highest holiness triumphs over their blinded malice. Those who, either out of fear or greed, have renounced the Lord, confess their sin against Him either with tears of repentance, or with the death of despair. The Apostle Peter washes his renunciation of Christ with bitter tears of sincere repentance. Judas the traitor, seeing that the Lord was condemned to death, gives in to despair and returns 30 pieces of silver to the high priests, saying: he sinned by betraying innocent blood. The high priests, instead of consoling the person who served them, only increase his despair and show their weakness and indecisiveness before the truth, saying to Judas: “What is that to us? take a look yourself". “Are these not the words of those who themselves testify to their villainy and madness, covering themselves with a meaningless mask of feigned ignorance”? Desperate Judas threw the pieces of silver into the church and hanged himself. But the pieces of silver, as the price of blood, on the advice of the high priests, were not put into the church treasury. “Do you understand,” says St. John Chrysostom, “how they are condemned by their conscience? They themselves see that they bought the murder, and that’s why they didn’t put it in the corvan.”

God-man on the cross; one of the thieves crucified with Him, denouncing the other for blasphemous words, confesses Jesus Christ as Lord, and His innocence and Divinity. Finally, for the glory of the Crucified One, terrible signs follow one after another, announcing the atoning suffering and death of the Most Holy Saints and admonishing the crucifiers (1 Cor. 2:8). In the Temple of Jerusalem, the curtain is torn in two, showing that with the death of the universal Sacrifice on the cross, the end of the ancient tabernacle came and the way to the sanctuary itself was opened for everyone (Heb. 9:8).

Archpriest G.S. Debolsky, “Days of Worship of the Orthodox Church,” vol. 2

Hymns from the service on Friday of Holy Week of Great Lent

Today he hangs on a tree, Who hung the earth on the waters: He is crowned with thorns, He who is the King of Angels: he dresses in a false scarlet, he clothes the sky with clouds: he is accepted to be strangled, He who freed Adam in the Jordan: the Bridegroom of the Church was nailed with nails: the Son of the Virgin was pierced with a spear. We worship Your Passion, Christ: we worship Your Passion, Christ: we worship Your Passion, Christ, show us Your glorious Resurrection.

“Now He hangs on a tree, He who hung (established) the earth on the waters; The King of Angels is covered with a crown of thorns; The one who dresses the sky with clouds dresses in clownish purple; He who liberated (from sin) Adam in the Jordan accepts strangulation (slapped); the Bridegroom of the Church is nailed; The Son of the Virgin is pierced by a spear. We worship Your sufferings, Christ, we worship Your sufferings, Christ, we worship Your sufferings, Christ, show us Your all-glorious Resurrection.”

Troparion

Gospel of Luke

They also led two villains with Him to death. And when they came to a place called Lobnoye, they crucified Him and the villains there, one on the right, the other on the left. Jesus said: Father! forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. And they divided His garments by casting lots. And the people stood and watched. The leaders also mocked them, saying: He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ, God's chosen one. Likewise, the soldiers mocked Him, coming up and offering Him vinegar and saying: If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself. And there was an inscription over Him, written in Greek, Roman and Hebrew words: This is the King of the Jews. One of the hanged villains slandered Him and said: if You are the Christ, save Yourself and us. The other, on the contrary, calmed him down and said: Or are you not afraid of God, when you yourself are condemned to the same thing? and we are condemned justly, because we accepted what was worthy of our deeds, but He did nothing bad. And he said to Jesus: remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom! And Jesus said to Him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Now it was about the sixth hour of the day, and there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour: and the sun was darkened, and the curtain of the temple was torn in the middle. Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said: Father! I commit My spirit into Your hands. And having said this, he gave up the ghost. The centurion, seeing what was happening, glorified God and said: Truly this man was a righteous man. And all the people who had gathered to see this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests. Yet those who knew Him, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood in the distance and looked at this.

OK. 23, 32-49

And all the people who had gathered to see this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests.

OK. 23, 48

What kind of spectacle was there that left the audience completely bewildered? What was that spectacle that captured the lips of the spectators with silence, and at the same time shook their souls? They came to the spectacle to satisfy their curiosity; they left the spectacle, hitting their chests and taking with them terrible bewilderment... What was this spectacle like?

Not only people looked at this spectacle: all the Angels of God looked at it with horror and deepest reverence; celestial objects no longer attracted their attention; their gazes were directed, riveted to the spectacle that opened on the ground. The sun saw something it had never seen, and, unable to bear what it saw, it hid its rays, just as a man closes his eyes at a sight unbearable to him: it was clothed in deep darkness, expressing with darkness a sadness as deep as death is bitter. The earth shook and shook under the event that took place on it. The Old Testament Church tore its magnificent veil to pieces; This is how the most precious clothes are tormented and not spared in the face of an inevitable, decisive disaster. And all the people who had gathered to see this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests... What kind of spectacle was this?

There was a spectacle that we now contemplate in memory, in the church service performed, in the sacred Image before our eyes. The spectacle was the Son of God, descending from heaven, becoming human to save men, cursed, killed by men.

What feeling, if not a feeling of horror, should completely embrace the heart at this sight? What state, if not a state of complete bewilderment, should be the state of mind? What word can be uttered at this sight? Will not every human word die in the mouth before it comes out of the mouth? And all the people who had gathered to see this spectacle, seeing what was happening, returned, beating their chests.

Those who came to look at the Savior, who hung on the tree of the cross, like ripe and scarlet fruit, returned in bewilderment and horror, who came to look with a testing mind, out of pompous and false conceit. Faith was silent in them. The darkened sun cried out to them, the trembling earth called out to them, the stones called out to them, parting with a crash and rising above the graves of the dead, suddenly revived by the death of the Savior. Those who were vainly curious returned in horror: in horror not from the perfect murder of God, but in horror from the menacing gaze and voice of the shuddering, insensitive nature, which expressed its knowledge of God before humanity that did not recognize Him. They returned, beating their chests in fear for themselves, for their flesh and blood, for the sake of which the blood was shed and the body of the God-Man was tormented.

While the Jews, who rested in the Law, boasting of an extensive and accurate knowledge of the Law, were perplexed, looking at the event predicted by the Law and the Prophets, looking at the spontaneous Sacrifice of which they were unconscious priests; while the Jews were perplexed and returned, agitated by fear and a gloomy premonition of their own disaster, a pagan centurion stood before the cross and the Sacrifice, standing without retreat. It was impossible for him to leave, because he commanded the guard guarding the Sacrifice: this happy impossibility was given to him, because hidden in his heart was faith, obvious to the Knower of the Heart. When nature proclaimed her confession of God, the centurion gave an answer to the mysterious voice of nature, gave an answer to the mysterious confession with a confession open and public. Truly He was the Son of God, he said about the executed stranger hanging before his eyes, recognizing God in the executed stranger. The Jews, proud of their knowledge of the letter of the Law and their ritual outward righteousness, were perplexed before the Son of Man and the Son of God crucified on the tree. On the one hand, they were struck by signs - an earthquake, the tearing of the church veil, deep darkness that came at noon; on the other hand, they were blinded and hardened by the carnal mind and proud self-delusion, representing the Messiah in the blaze of earthly glory, a magnificent king, conqueror of the universe, at the head of a large army, among a host of luxurious courtiers. At this time, a warrior, a pagan, confessed the executed wanderer as God; at this time, a criminal confessed Him as God. Come down from the cross! - the blind Jewish bishops and scribes mockingly said to the God-man, not understanding what all-holy Sacrifice, what all-holy and all-powerful Burnt Offering they offered to God, “let him come down from the cross, so that we can see and believe: at that time the rude, ignorant robber recognized Him as God, ascended to the cross because of His Divine righteousness, and not because of His sin. With his bodily eyes he saw a naked man, crucified near him, subject to the same fate as himself, a helpless beggar, condemned by both spiritual and civil authorities, tormented, executed, and still tormented and executed by all expressions of hatred: with the eyes of a humble heart he saw God. The strong, glorious, intelligent, righteous of the world showered God with curses and ridicule; the thief turned to Him with a well-intentioned and successful prayer: remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42).

The Ever-Virgin Mother of God stood at the cross and the Lord crucified on it. Her heart was pierced with sadness like a sword: the prediction of the holy elder Simeon was fulfilled. But She knew that Her Son, the Son of God, deigned to ascend to the cross and offer Himself as a sacrifice of peace for rejected humanity; She knew that the Lord, having completed the redemption of people by death, would resurrect and co-resurrect humanity with Himself; She knew this - and was silent. She was silent before the greatness of the event: she was silent from the abundance of sorrow: she was silent before the will of God that was taking place, against the definitions of which there is no voice.

The beloved disciple of the Lord stood at the cross. He looked at the height of the cross - in the incomprehensible love of a voluntary Sacrifice he contemplated Divine Love. Divine Love is the source of Theology. She is the gift of the Holy Spirit, and Theology is the gift of the Holy Spirit. She revealed to the Apostles the mysterious meaning of atonement. For the love of Christ embraces us, the disciple and messenger of Christ preaches the gospel, reasoning like this: if one died for all, then all died (2 Cor. 5:14). Because of the infinite love that the Lord has for humanity and which the Lord alone is capable of having, all humanity suffered on the cross in the person of the Lord and died in the person of the Lord. If humanity suffered in Him, then it was justified in Him; if it died in Him, it was also made alive in Him. The death of the Lord became the source of life.

Suddenly the voice of the crucified Lord came from the cross to the Ever-Virgin: Woman! Behold, Thy Son; then a voice to the beloved disciple: Behold, your Mother. Destroying on the tree of the cross the sin of the forefathers, committed by them at the tree of paradise, giving birth to humanity into a new life through life-giving death, the Lord enters into the rights of the Forefather of man, and declares His Mother, according to humanity, the matter of the disciple and all his disciples, the Christian tribe. The Old Adam is replaced by the New Adam, the fallen Eve is replaced by the immaculate Mary. Through the crime of one, the Apostle said, many were subjected to death; how much more does the grace of God and the gift by the grace of one Man, Jesus Christ, abound for many (Rom. 5:15). Through the mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ, countless and ineffable blessings have been poured out on the human race: not only has the redemption of men been accomplished, but their adoption as sons to God has been accomplished.

Good Friday. Lamentation of Christ. Fresco of the Dionysiates Monastery, Athos. Ser. XVI century

Enlightened by the contemplation of the great event, let us return, beloved brothers, to our homes, and take with us deep, saving thoughts, striking these thoughts into our hearts. We remembered, we vividly contemplated the act of Divine Love, an act that exceeded words, exceeded comprehension. The martyrs responded to this love with streams of their blood, which they shed like water; The saints responded to this Love by mortifying the flesh with passions and lusts; Many sinners responded to this Love with streams of tears, heartfelt sighs, confession of their sins, and drew healing for their souls from it; Many oppressed by sorrows and illnesses responded to this Love, and this love dissolved their sorrows with Divine consolation. Let us also respond to our Lord’s love for us with the sympathy of His love: by living according to His all-holy commandments. This is the sign of love He requires from us, and only this sign of love will He accept from us. He who loves Me will keep My word; He who does not love Me does not keep My words (John 14, 23, 24). If we do not respond to the Lord’s love for us with love for Him, then the blood of the God-man was not shed for us in vain? Was it not in vain that His all-holy Body was tormented for us? Was it not in vain that the Great Sacrifice was placed on the altar of the cross and sacrificed? Her intercession for us for salvation is omnipotent; Her complaint against those who neglect Her is omnipotent. The voice of the blood of righteous Abel ascended from earth to heaven, and appeared to God with an accusation against the one who shed this blood: the voice of the great Sacrifice is heard in the midst of heaven itself, on the very throne of the Divine, on which the great Sacrifice sits. The voice of Her complaint is at the same time God’s decree, pronouncing eternal punishment on the enemies and despisers of the Son of God. What is the use of My blood: should I never descend into decay? The all-holy Sacrifice speaks, accusing the Christians who were redeemed by Her, who took Her price into themselves, and cast Her along with them into the stench of sin. This terrible crime is committed by everyone who takes the hooks of Christ, their soul and body, redeemed by Christ and belonging to Christ, and creates their hooks of a harlot by various copulations with sin. Do you not know, says the Apostle, that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will punish him. Amen.

Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

based on materials from the website Pravoslavie.ru

Gospel for the 6th week of Lent

Gospel of John, chapter 12, verses 1-18

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was dead, whom He raised from the dead. There they prepared a supper for Him, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those who reclined with Him. Mary, taking a pound of pure precious ointment of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the world. Then one of His disciples, Judas Simon Iscariot, who wanted to betray Him, said: Why not sell this ointment for three hundred denarii and give it to the poor? He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He had a cash box with him and wore what was put in there. Jesus said: Leave her alone; She saved it for the day of My burial. For you always have the poor with you, but not always Me. Many of the Jews knew that He was there and came not only for Jesus, but to see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. The high priests decided to kill Lazarus too, because for his sake many of the Jews came and believed in Jesus. The next day, the multitude of people who had come to the festival, hearing that Jesus was going to Jerusalem, took palm branches, came out to meet Him and exclaimed: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel! Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: Fear not, daughter of Zion! Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a colt. His disciples did not understand this at first; but when Jesus became glorified, then they remembered that it was written about Him, and they did it to Him. The people who were with Him before testified that He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead. That is why the people met Him, because they heard that He had performed this miracle.

Christ visited Jerusalem many times, but only once entered it as the Messiah. This is both a solemn and tragic event. Not only strangers, but also those who were close to him for a long time (at least Judas) turn out to be strangers and embittered towards the Savior. The desire of the Pharisees to kill the newly resurrected Lazarus in order to stop the veneration of Christ also seems terrible and even irrational. This Gospel story illustrates how difficult it is for unconditional virtue to exist in our fallen world, says priest Stefan Domusci.

Reading the Gospel of the 6th week of Lent in Russian and complete interpretation.

Gospel in memory of Fyodor Tiron

The memory of the Great Martyr Theodore Tiron is celebrated by the church on Saturday of the first week of Great Lent.

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 2, verses 23 - 28, Chapter 3, verses 1 - 5

23 And it happened on the Sabbath that He passed through the sown fields, and His disciples began to pluck the ears of corn along the way. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him: Look, what are they doing on the Sabbath that ought not to be done? 25 He said to them: Have you never read what David did when he had need and was hungry, he and those who were with him? 26 How did he enter into the house of God in the presence of Abiathar the high priest and eat the showbread, which no one was to eat except the priests, and gave it to those who were with him? 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath is for man, and not man for the Sabbath; 28 Therefore the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Gospel of Mark, Chapter 3

01 And he came again to the synagogue; there was a man who had a withered hand. 02 And they watched Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, that they might accuse Him. 03 And he said to the man who had a withered hand, Stand in the middle. 04 And he said to them: Should one do good on the Sabbath, or should one do evil? save your soul or destroy it? But they were silent. 05 And he looked at them with anger, grieving over the hardness of their hearts, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched out, and his hand became as healthy as the other.

These Gospel passages show that pious talk about keeping the commandments turns out to be nothing more than a cover for hypocrisy. The appearance of Christ in a society with a distorted value system exposes the hypocrisy and unwillingness to show mercy among the Jews. At the same time, the Savior does not condemn his opponents, but only takes pity on them, notes priest Anthony Borisov (reading the Gospel in Russian and the full interpretation here).

The order of reading the Correct Canons for every day

The correct canons are read in pairs, first the senior canons to Jesus and the Mother of God (by day), then the minor canons to the Mother of God and the Angel (by day) in the following combination:

On Monday (starting from Sunday evening):

1-2) canon to Jesus + canon to the Theotokos Akathist;

3-4) canon to the Mother of God “Water passed through...” + canon to the Great Guardian Angel.

On Tuesday

1-2) canon to Jesus + canon to the Theotokos Akathist;