For the Church, the Holy Gospel Always Represents Christ Himself; It Is the Written Image

Preface

The Holy Gospel is the Book wherein the Four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are broken down into daily readings for the whole year. In Orthodox Churches, the Holy Gospel is always kept on the Holy Altar, usually with a gold or silver covering and seals [clasps] that hold it shut until the time for the reading. On the front cover it is usual to see at each corner, Icons or engravings of the Four Evangelist and the Crucified Christ in the centre. On the back cover is portrayed the Resurrection. For the Church, the Holy Gospel always represents Christ Himself; it is the written Image of the God-Man. Thus, in many of her services, the Book of the Holy Gospel is used to show the Very presence of Christ. To acknowledge the presence of Christ, it is needful to understand the very essence of time. In Genesis, we read that the heavens and the earth were created ‘in the beginning’. Time therefore began from the onset of creation, but there is an earthly time and a heavenly time, a temporal and a non-temporal. Earthly time is measured by change and motion. Its nature is to begin, to endure and to have an end. Heaven and the angels, exist outside of earthly time. They are not eternal, for they have a beginning, but have their existence ‘in the age’ [aeon, αιώνι], which according to St. Maximus is motionless time, for it remains without any change. God Himself, being uncreated, exists outside of time as we know it and outside of the aeon, for God has no beginning or end, but is eternal. The Church is not only the visible congregation worshipping here on earth, but also the invisible congregation of the saints and the angels worshipping in heaven. The Church visible on earth lives in complete communion and unity with the whole body of the Church of which Christ is the Head. It stands at a point of intersection where the past, present and future of our earthly existence are merged with the unchanging and motionless time of the aeon. All the events of Christ’s life, from His Birth to His Resurrection and Ascension, are re-acted by the Church, but they cease to be just an act and become a reality in that all the events are forever taking place in the motionless time of the Kingdom of heaven. Therefore, we become witnesses of His birth together with the wise men and the shepherds, we follow His earthly life, hearing His divine words of salvation and bear witness to the countless miracles He performed; we stand and gaze at His crucified body, in pain and disbelief that the Jews preferred the murderer Barrabas to Christ; and we become co- mourners with the Mother of God, the Apostles, the Myrrhbearers and all His followers; we follow Mary Magdalene and the Apostles to the empty tomb and rejoice with them at the news of the Resurrection. During the Divine Liturgy, the Priest raising the Gospel Book high and showing it to the people, carries it in Procession for the Little Entrance. At this point the Gospel symbolizes the first appearance of the Lord, when, while He Himself remained silent, was manifested by the Father. This first appearance we read of in the Gospel account of the Lord’s Baptism when, though He was still unknown to the multitude, the Father made Him manifest when He said, “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. The actual reading of the Gospel represents His more perfect manifestation, when He mingled with the crowd and made Himself known through His own words. Thus, Christ, through his Priests, continues His ministry, teaching, commanding and bestowing upon us His eternal words of salvation, even at this present time, as He taught the multitudes and His Apostles. During Sunday Mattins, after the reading of the resurrection Morning Gospel, the Priest holding the Holy Gospel and showing the cover with the Resurrection, stands in the centre of the Church so that the people may venerate it. But it is not a book that the people venerate, for as Christ appeared to his disciples after His Resurrection, so now he appears among the people, and as St. Matthew tells us that after the resurrection “Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.” [28: 9] so now the people come and worship Him. On Holy and Great [Good] Friday, the Gospel, together with the material Icon of the Entombment, is taken in procession and placed in the Sepulchre of the Epitaphios. Here, the Gospel is itself the image of the buried Christ and takes precedence over the material Icon. Thus, the people venerate first the Gospel Book and then the Icon of the Entombment. At the Easter Resurrection service, the Gospel is carried in procession around the Church and after the Gospel reading and the singing of ‘Christ is Risen’, is again carried into the Church. The procession around the Church is symbolic of Christ earthly life and the people following the procession are the multitudes that believed on Him and followed Him. The reading of the Gospel is the Good News of the Resurrection announced by the angel to the Myrrhbearers and the entering again into the Church is symbolic of Christ Ascension into Heaven, but at the same time it is also symbolic of Christ Second Coming when He shall judge both the quick and the dead and shall lead the faithful into the Kingdom of Heaven, the New Jerusalem, where they shall reign with him forever and ever. Amen.

The Prayer before the Gospel O Lord and lover of mankind: make the imperishable light of Thy divine knowledge to shine in our hearts; and open the eyes of our understanding that we may apprehend the preaching of Thy Gospel. Implant in us likewise awe of Thy blessed commandments, that trampling under feet all the lusts of the flesh we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking and doing always such things as are pleasing in Thy sight. For Thou art the enlightening of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thine eternal Father and Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and for ever: world without end. Amen. TABLE OF THE HOLY GOSPELS READ THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN

Sunday of Pascha [Easter] 2 Thursday of the Fourth Week 19 Sunday of Pascha at Vespers 2 Friday of the Fourth Week 19 Monday of Bright Week 3 Saturday of the Fourth Week 20 Tuesday of Bright Week 3 Fifth Sunday of Samaritan Woman 20 Wednesday Of Bright Week 5 Monday of the Fifth Week 22 Thursday Of Bright Week 6 Tuesday of the Fifth Week 22 Friday of Bright Week 6 Wednesday of the Fifth Week 23 Saturday of Bright Week 7 Thursday of the Fifth Week 24 Second Sunday Thomas Sunday 8 Friday of the Fifth Week 24 Monday of the Second Week 9 Saturday of the Fifth Week 25 Tuesday of the Second Week 9 Sixth Sunday of the Blind Man 25 Wednesday of the Second Week 10 Monday of the Sixth Week 27 Thursday of the Second Week 10 Tuesday of the Sixth Week 28 Friday of the Second Week 11 Wednesday of the Sixth Week 28 Saturday of the Second Week 11 Ascension Thursday 29 Third Sunday of the Myrrhbearers 12 Friday of the Sixth Week 30 Monday of the Third Week 13 Saturday of the Sixth Week 31 Tuesday of the Third Week 14 Seventh Sunday of the Holy Fathers 31 Wednesday of the Third Week 14 Monday of the Seventh Week 32 Thursday of the Third Week 14 Tuesday of the Seventh Week 33 Friday of the Third Week 15 Wednesday of the Seventh Week 33 Saturday of the Third Week 15 Thursday of the Seventh Week 34 Fourth Sunday of the Paralytic 16 Friday of the Seventh Week 34 Monday of the Fourth Week 17 Saturday of the Seventh Week 35 Tuesday of the Fourth Week 17 Sunday of Pentecost 36 Wednesday of Mid-Pentecost 18

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW

Monday of the Holy Spirit 39 Friday of the Second Week 44 Tuesday of the First Week 39 Saturday of the Second Week 44 Wednesday of the First Week 40 Second Sunday 45 Thursday of the First Week 41 Monday of the Third Week 45 Friday of the First Week 41 Tuesday of the Third Week 46 Saturday of the First Week 41 Wednesday of the Third Week 46 First Sunday of All Saints 42 Thursday of the Third Week 46 Monday of the Second Week 42 Friday of the Third Week 47 Tuesday of the Second Week 43 Saturday of the Third Week 47 Wednesday of the Second Week 43 Third Sunday 48 Thursday of the Second Week 43 Monday of the Fourth Week 49 Tuesday of the Fourth Week 49 Saturday of the Tenth Week 71 Wednesday of the Fourth Week 50 Tenth Sunday 72 Thursday of the Fourth Week 50 Monday of the Eleventh Week 72 Friday of the Fourth Week 50 Tuesday of the Eleventh Week 73 Saturday of the Fourth Week 51 Wednesday of the Eleventh Week 74 Fourth Sunday 51 Thursday of the Eleventh Week 74 Monday of the Fifth Week 52 Friday of the Eleventh Week 75 Tuesday of the Fifth Week 52 Saturday of the Eleventh Week 76 Wednesday of the Fifth Week 53 Eleventh Sunday 76 Thursday of the Fifth Week 53 Monday of the Twelfth Week 77 Friday of the Fifth Week 54 Tuesday of the Twelfth Week 78 Saturday of the Fifth Week 54 Wednesday of the Twelfth Week 78 Fifth Sunday 55 Thursday of the Twelfth Week 78 Monday of the Sixth Week 55 Friday of the Twelfth Week 79 Tuesday of the Sixth Week 56 Saturday of the Twelfth Week 79 Wednesday of the Sixth Week 56 Twelfth Sunday 80 Thursday of the Sixth Week 57 Monday of the Thirteenth Week 80 Friday of the Sixth Week 57 Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week 81 Saturday of the Sixth Week 58 Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week 81 Sixth Sunday 58 Thursday of the Thirteenth Week 82 Monday of the Seventh Week 59 Friday of the Thirteenth Week 82 Tuesday of the Seventh Week 59 Saturday of the Thirteenth Week 83 Wednesday of the Seventh Week 60 Thirteenth Sunday 83 Thursday of the Seventh Week 60 Monday of the Fourteenth Week 84 Friday of the Seventh Week 61 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week 84 Saturday of the Seventh Week 61 Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week 85 Seventh Sunday 62 Thursday of the Fourteenth Week 85 Monday of the Eighth Week 62 Friday of the Fourteenth Week 86 Tuesday of the Eighth Week 63 Saturday of the Fourteenth Week 87 Wednesday of the Eighth Week 63 Fourteenth Sunday 88 Thursday of the Eighth Week 63 Monday of the Fifteenth Week 88 Friday of the Eighth Week 64 Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week 89 Saturday of the Eighth Week 64 Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week 89 Eighth Sunday 65 Thursday of the Fifteenth Week 90 Monday of the Ninth Week 65 Friday of the Fifteenth Week 91 Tuesday of the Ninth Week 66 Saturday of the Fifteenth Week 91 Wednesday of the Ninth Week 66 Fifteenth Sunday 92 Thursday of the Ninth Week 67 Monday of the Sixteenth Week 92 Friday of the Ninth Week 68 Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week 93 Saturday of the Ninth Week 68 Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week 93 Ninth Sunday 69 Thursday of the Sixteenth Week 94 Monday of the Tenth Week 69 Friday of the Sixteenth Week 94 Tuesday of the Tenth Week 70 Saturday of the Sixteenth Week 95 Wednesday of the Tenth Week 70 Sixteenth Sunday 95 Thursday of the Tenth Week 71 Seventeenth Saturday 96 Friday of the Tenth Week 71 17th Sunday of the Canaanite Woman 97 THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE

Monday after Exaltation of the Cross 99 Tuesday of the Eighth Week 124 Tuesday of the First Week 99 Wednesday of the Eighth Week 125 Wednesday of the First Week 100 Thursday of the Eighth Week 125 Thursday of the First Week 101 Friday of the Eighth Week 126 Friday of the First Week 101 Saturday of the Eighth Week 126 Saturday of the First Week 102 Eighth Sunday 127 First Sunday 102 Monday of the Ninth Week 127 Monday of the Second Week 103 Tuesday of the Ninth Week 128 Tuesday of the Second Week 103 Wednesday of the Ninth Week 128 Wednesday of the Second Week 103 Thursday of the Ninth Week 129 Thursday of the Second Week 104 Friday of the Ninth Week 129 Friday of the Second Week 104 Saturday of the Ninth Week 130 Saturday of the Second Week 105 Ninth Sunday 130 Second Sunday 105 Monday of the Tenth Week 131 Monday of the Third Week 106 Tuesday of the Tenth Week 131 Tuesday of the Third Week 106 Wednesday of the Tenth Week 132 Wednesday of the Third Week 107 Thursday of the Tenth Week 132 Thursday of the Third Week 107 Friday of the Tenth Week 132 Friday of the Third Week 108 Saturday of the Tenth Week 133 Saturday of the Third Week 108 Tenth Sunday 134 Third Sunday 109 Monday of the Eleventh Week 134 Monday of the Fourth Week 109 Tuesday of the Eleventh Week 135 Tuesday of the Fourth Week 110 Wednesday of the Eleventh Week 135 Wednesday of the Fourth Week 110 Thursday of the Eleventh Week 135 Thursday of the Fourth Week 110 Friday of the Eleventh Week 136 Friday of the Fourth Week 111 Saturday of the Eleventh Week 136 Saturday of the Fourth Week 111 Eleventh Sunday 137 Fourth Sunday 112 Monday of the Twelfth Week 138 Monday of the Fifth Week 113 Tuesday of the Twelfth Week 138 Tuesday of the Fifth Week 113 Wednesday of the Twelfth Week 139 Wednesday of the Fifth Week 113 Thursday of the Twelfth Week 139 Thursday of the Fifth Week 114 Friday of the Twelfth Week 140 Friday of the Fifth Week 114 Saturday of the Twelfth Week 140 Saturday of the Fifth Week 115 Twelfth Sunday 10 Lepers 141 Fifth Sunday 116 Monday of the Thirteenth Week 141 Monday of the Sixth Week 116 Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week 142 Tuesday of the Sixth Week 117 Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week 142 Wednesday of the Sixth Week 117 Thursday of the Thirteenth Week 142 Thursday of the Sixth Week 118 Friday of the Thirteenth Week 143 Friday of the Sixth Week 118 Saturday of the Thirteenth Week 143 Saturday of the Sixth Week 118 Thirteenth Sunday 144 Sixth Week 119 Monday of the Fourteenth Week 144 Monday of the Seventh Week 120 Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week 145 Tuesday of the Seventh Week 120 Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week 145 Wednesday of the Seventh Week 121 Thursday of the Fourteenth Week 146 Thursday of the Seventh Week 121 Friday of the Fourteenth Week 147 Friday of the Seventh Week 122 Saturday of the Fourteenth Week 147 Saturday of the Seventh Week 122 Fourteenth Sunday 148 Seventh Sunday 123 Monday of the Fifteenth Week 148 Monday of the Eighth Week 123 Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week 148 Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week 149 Thursday of the Seventeenth Week 157 Thursday of the Fifteenth Week 150 Friday of the Seventeenth Week 157 Friday of the Fifteenth Week 150 Saturday of the Seventeenth Week 158 Saturday of the Fifteenth Week 151 17th Sunday of the Prodigal Son 158 Fifteenth Sunday 151 Monday of Meatfare Week 159 Monday of the Sixteenth Week 152 Tuesday of Meatfare Week 160 Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week 152 Wednesday of Meatfare Week 161 Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week 153 Thursday of Meatfare Week 163 Thursday of the Sixteenth Week 153 Friday of Meatfare Week 163 Friday of the Sixteenth Week 154 Saturday of Meatfare Week 164 Saturday of the Sixteenth Week 154 Meatfare Sunday 164 Sunday of the Canaanite Woman 155 Monday of Cheesefare Week 165 16th Sunday - Publican and Pharisee 155 Tuesday of Cheesefare Week 167 Monday of the Seventeenth Week 155 Thursday of Cheesefare Week 168 Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week 156 Saturday of Cheesefare Week 170 Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week 156 Cheesefare Sunday 171

GOSPELS READ AT THE NIGHT SERVICES [GREAT COMPLINE] OF THE FIRST WEEK OF GREAT LENT Monday Evening 171 Thursday Evening 174 Tuesday Evening 173 Friday Evening 174 Wednesday Evening 173

THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK

Saturday of the First Week of Lent 176 Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent 179 1st Sunday of Lent (Orthodox Sunday) 176 Fourth Sunday of Lent 179 Saturday of the Second Week of Lent 177 Saturday of the Fifth Week in Lent 180 Second Sunday of Lent 177 Fifth Sunday in Lent 181 Saturday of the Third Week of Lent 178 Saturday of Righteous Lazarus 181 Third Sunday of Lent (Holy Cross) 178 Palm Sunday 183

THE GOSPELS OF HOLY AND GREAT WEEK

On Holy and Great Monday THE 12 GOSPELS OF THE HOLY At Mattins 185 READ ON THE EVENING OF HOLY At the Presanctified Liturgy 186 THURSDAY On Holy and Great Tuesday First Gospel 202 At Mattins 188 Second Gospel 207 At the Presanctified Liturgy 191 Third Gospel 208 On Holy and Great Wednesday Fourth Gospel 209 At Mattins 193 Fifth Gospel 211 At the Presanctified Liturgy 195 Sixth Gospel 212 On Holy and Great Thursday Seventh Gospel 213 At Mattins 195 Eighth Gospel 214 At the Service of the Washing of Feet 197 Ninth Gospel 215 At the Liturgy 198 Tenth Gospel 215 Eleventh Gospel 216 Twelfth Gospel 216 Holy and Great Friday Ninth Hour 221 GOSPELS FOR THE ROYAL HOURS At Vespers 222 First Hour 216 Holy and Great Saturday 225 Third Hour 219 At Mattins 225 Sixth Hour 220 At the Liturgy

THE SUNDAY MORNING RESURRECTION GOSPELS First Morning Gospel 227 Seventh Morning Gospel 231 Second Morning Gospel 227 Eighth Morning Gospel 231 Third Morning Gospel 228 Ninth Morning Gospel 232 Fourth Morning Gospel 228 Tenth Morning Gospel 232 Fifth Morning Gospel 229 Eleventh Morning Gospel 233 Sixth Morning Gospel 230

GOSPELS READINGS FOR THE IMMOVABLE FEASTS

September 235 March 323 October 252 April 327 November 263 May 330 December 273 June 337 January 293 July 346 February 316 August 352

GOSPELS FOR THE VARIOUS RANKS OF SAINTS

For the Bodiless Heavenly Hosts 360 For Hierarchs 364 For a Prophet 360 For Hieromartyrs 364 For Apostles 361 For Ascetics 364 For an Apostle 362 For Ascetic Martyrs 365 For a Martyr 362 For Women Martyrs 365 For Martyrs 363 For a Woman Ascetic 366 For a Hierarch 363 For a Woman Ascetic Martyr 366

GOSPELS FOR VARIOUS OCCASIONS

On the Foundation of a Church 368 At the Tonsuring of a Monk 373 At the Dedication of a Church 368 At the Tonsuring of a Nun 373 At the Sacrament of Baptism 368 For the Sick 374 At the Sacrament of Marriage 369 For a Sick Woman 374 At the Sacrament of Holy Unction For those who have Fallen Asleep 375 Gospel 1 369 Another for the departed 375 Gospel 2 370 Another for the departed 376 Gospel 3 371 Another for the departed 376 Gospel 4 371 Another for the departed 376 Gospel 5 371 For Infants that have Fallen Asleep 377 Gospel 6 372 At an Earthquake 377 Gospel 7 372 At a Fire 377 At a Drought 378 At the Start of Every Private Work 381 At an Invasion by Enemies 378 At the Foundation of Buildings 382 Another at an invasion 379 At the Inauguration of a Ship 382 For those who have Confessed 379 At the Blessing of a Vehicle 383 Another for Women who Confessed 380 At the Inauguration Ceremony of the 383 At Every Request and Supplication 380 Establishment of a Municipal or At the Start of School Lessons 381 Community Authority