۲۶ نوامبر ۲۰۲۵
چهارشنبه هفته بیست‌وپنجم بعد از پنطیکاست

روزه میلاد

یادبودها

پدر مقدس ما اینوسنت, اسقف ایرکوتسک (۱۷۳۱)
قدیس آلیپیوس ستونی
قدیس نیکون توبه‌کار ("توبه!") (حدود ۱۰۰۰)
شهید جدید مقدس جرجیس خیوس (۱۸۹۷)

خوانش‌های کتاب مقدس

دوم تسالونیکیان ۲.۱-۱۲ (رساله)

۱ای برادران، دربارۀ آمدن خداوند ما عیسی مسیح و گِرد آمدن ما نزد او، استدعا داریم ۲از پیام نبوّتی یا گفته یا نامه‌ای که گویا از ما باشد، بدین مضمون که روز خداوند هم‌اکنون فرا رسیده است، زود متزلزل یا مشوّش مشوید. ۳مگذارید هیچ‌کس به هیچ طریقی شما را فریب دهد. زیرا تا نخست آن عِصیان واقع نشود و آن مرد بی‌دین که فرزند هلاکت است به ظهور نرسد، آن روز فرا نخواهد رسید. ۴او با هرآنچه خدا خوانده می‌شود و مورد پرستش قرار می‌گیرد، مخالفت می‌ورزد و خود را بالاتر قرار می‌دهد، تا آنجا که در معبد خدا جلوس می‌کند و خود را خدا معرفی می‌نماید. ۵آیا به یاد ندارید هنگامی که با شما بودم اینها را به شما می‌گفتم؟ ۶شما می‌دانید که اکنون چه چیزی مانع است و سبب می‌شود که او تنها در زمان مناسب خود ظهور کند. ۷زیرا سِرّ بی‌دینی هم‌اکنون نیز عمل می‌کند، امّا فقط تا وقتی که آن که تا به حال مانع است از میان برداشته شود. ۸آنگاه آن بی‌دین ظاهر خواهد شد، که خداوندْ عیسی با نَفَس دهان خود او را هلاک خواهد کرد و با درخشندگیِ ظهور خویش او را نابود خواهد ساخت. ۹ظهور آن بی‌دین به نیروی شیطان و همراه با همه گونه معجزات و آیات و عجایبِ گمراه‌کننده خواهد بود، ۱۰و نیز همراه با همه گونه شرارت که راهیان طریق هلاکت را فریفته می‌سازد. ایشان از آن رو هلاک می‌شوند که نخواستند حقیقت را دوست بدارند تا نجات یابند. ۱۱پس خدا ایشان را به توهّمی بزرگ دچار خواهد کرد، به گونه‌ای که دروغ را باور خواهند داشت، ۱۲تا همۀ کسانی که حقیقت را باور نکرده و از شرارت خشنود گشته‌اند، محکوم شوند.

لوقا ۱۸.۱۵-۱۷, ۲۶-۳۰ (انجیل)

۱۵مردم حتی نوزادان را نزد عیسی می‌آوردند تا بر آنها دست بگذارد. شاگردان چون این را دیدند، مردم را سرزنش کردند. ۱۶امّا عیسی آنان را نزد خود فرا خواند و گفت: «بگذارید کودکان نزد من آیند؛ ایشان را بازمدارید، زیرا پادشاهی خدا از آنِ چنین کسان است. ۱۷آمین، به شما می‌گویم، هر که پادشاهی خدا را همچون کودکی نپذیرد، هرگز بدان راه نخواهد یافت.» ۲۶کسانی که این را شنیدند، پرسیدند: «پس چه کسی می‌تواند نجات یابد؟» ۲۷فرمود: «آنچه برای انسان ناممکن است، برای خدا ممکن است.» ۲۸پطرس گفت: «ما که خانه و کاشانۀ خود را ترک گفتیم تا از تو پیروی کنیم!» ۲۹عیسی به ایشان گفت: «آمین، به شما می‌گویم، کسی نیست که خانه یا زن یا برادران یا والدین یا فرزندان را به‌خاطر پادشاهی خدا ترک کند، ۳۰و در همین عصر چند برابر به دست نیاورد، و در عصر آینده نیز از حیات جاویدان بهره‌مند نگردد.»

یادبودها

پدر مقدس ما اینوسنت, اسقف ایرکوتسک (۱۷۳۱)

He was descended from a noble family near Chernigov. He became a monk at the Lavra of the Kiev Caves in 1706 and in 1721 was consecrated bishop. He was sent as a missionary to China but, due to political complications, could not gain entry into the country and settled temporarily near Lake Baikal in Siberia. He and his companions soon ran out of money and were forced to live for a time on alms and by day- labor. Rather than become discouraged, Saint Innocent made use of this time to learn the native language and found a school for the local Mongol people, many of whom he brought to the faith. In 1722 he was appointed Bishop of Irkutsk, a diocese that covered all the huge area of eastern Siberia. At the time of his appointment there were only about thirty churches in the whole diocese. For ten years the bishop devoted himself to converting the Mongol peoples, preaching to them and catechizing them in their own language. At the same time he worked for moral reform among the Russian Orthodox people of the region. As bishop, he lived in the Monastery of the Ascension in Irkutsk, where he established a firm ascetical life, in which he himself took a full part. He spent every night in prayer, meditation on the writings of the Fathers, and preparing sermons in both Russian and the local languages. Under the strain of the cruel Siberian climate the Saint fell ill and reposed in 1731. Many miracles take place to this day at his tomb. Among the people of Siberia he is honored as highly as Saint Nicholas and counted as the Enlightener of their land.

قدیس آلیپیوس ستونی

He was from Adrianopolis in Bythinia, and took up the ascetical life at a young age. After many spiritual struggles he took up residence on a pillar, where he dwelt for fifty-three years. Crowds came to seek his intercession and counsel, and in time a women’s monastery was founded near the pillar. At times an unearthly light was seen to radiate from the top of the pillar, accompanied by thunder and lightning. He owned nothing, and once threw his only tunic down to a poor man in need, leaving himself completely exposed to the elements until a recluse dwelling nearby saw his condition and came to his help. After fifty-three years, Alypius suffered a stroke which paralyzed half his body, but he continued to live on the pillar for another fourteen years, giving up his soul to God at the age of ninety-nine.

قدیس نیکون توبه‌کار ("توبه!") (حدود ۱۰۰۰)

He was born about 930 to a pious and wealthy family near Trebizond. Once, making an inspection of the family’s estates, he was so affected by the wretched conditions of the poor fieldworkers that he despaired of happiness in this world and determined to live a monastic life. After years spent in a monastery, where he shone in obedience, prayer and self-denial, the Saint was given leave to travel in the ministry of the Gospel of Christ. For three years he wandered the East, without home or possessions, crying to everyone he met, “Repent!” and proclaiming with tears the message of salvation in Christ. He then spent seven years in Crete, then went to Greece, walking barefoot from place to place, preaching repentance and becoming so well known that he acquired the nickname “Metanoite,” meaning “Repent!” After driving a great plague from Sparta through his prayers, he settled near that city, building a great church dedicated to Christ the Savior, and living in the church for the remainder of his life. In time, a monastery was attached to the church for his disciples. His last counsel to his disciples was: “Flee pride, cleave to humility; do not despise the poor; keep clear of all evil, of all envy and of the remembrance of wrongs; forgive your brethren. Go regularly to church and confess your sins often to the priests and spiritual fathers. If you keep to these counsels, I will never abandon you.” He then gave his soul back to God. Saint Nikon was immediately venerated as a saint by the people of Sparta, and is regarded as the protector of the city, where his relics are venerated to this day.

شهید جدید مقدس جرجیس خیوس (۱۸۹۷)

He was born of Christian parents on Chios. As a boy he was caught stealing melons from a garden with some companions. Brought before the Turkish judge, in fear of punishment he agreed to become a Muslim with the name Ahmed. (This was common practice under the Turkokratia: a Christian brought before the courts would be offered his freedom in return for conversion to Islam. Many gave in.) He returned home, weeping and lamenting his apostasy, and his parents put him (now aged ten) in the care of a good Christian woman to strengthen him in the faith and hide him from the Turkish authorities. At the age of twenty-one he was engaged to a young woman of the town, but quarreled with her brother who, knowing George’s past, went to the authorities and denounced him as an apostate from Islam. George was imprisoned and tortured, but rather than breaking him down his torments strengthened his love of Christ, and he resolved to offer up his life for Him. The priests and faithful of the town held all-night vigil, praying God to give courage to His New Martyr. At daybreak, George was led to the place of execution, saying over and over again the names of the Lord Jesus and his blessed Mother. He was shot, then beheaded, joining the ranks of the holy Martyrs.