Good Evening Dear Family of God and Love!
Happy Take Care Tuesday! If you haven't guessed we are taking trips in our holy time machine and getting to know our daily saints of the day. When we have a saint of the day we will feature them. They are important witnesses and examples of people of faith that we should get to know. Today we get to know Gregory of Nazianzus and use his prayers and hymns interspersed with the lessons of the day.
Phos Hilaron
O Light gladsome of the holy glory of the Immortal Father,
the Heavenly, the Holy, the Blessed, O Jesus Christ,
having come upon the setting of the sun, having seen the light of the evening,
we praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: God.
Worthy it is at all times to praise Thee in joyful voices,
O Son of God, Giver of Life, for which the world glorifies Thee.
Troparion — Tone 1
The sweet-sounding shepherd’s pipe of your theology / overpowered the trumpeting of the orators; / for having searched the depths of the Spirit / eloquence was also bestowed upon you. / Pray to Christ God, Father Gregory, / that our souls may be saved.
Remember God more often than you breathe.
Psalm 37:3–6,32–33
Noli aemulari
3 Put your trust in the Lord and do good; *
dwell in the land and feed on its riches.
dwell in the land and feed on its riches.
4 Take delight in the Lord, *
and he shall give you your heart's desire.
and he shall give you your heart's desire.
5 Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him, *
and he will bring it to pass.
and he will bring it to pass.
6 He will make your righteousness as clear as the light *
and your just dealing as the noonday.
and your just dealing as the noonday.
32 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, *
and their tongue speaks what is right.
and their tongue speaks what is right.
33 The law of their God is in their heart, *
and their footsteps shall not falter.
and their footsteps shall not falter.
A Song of the Wilderness
Isaiah 35:1-7,10
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, *
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
It shall blossom abundantly, *
and rejoice with joy and singing.
They shall see the glory of the Lord, *
the majesty of our God.
Strengthen the weary hands, *
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to the anxious, “Be strong, do not fear! *
Here is your God, coming with judgment to save you.”
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, *
and the ears of the deaf be unstopped.
Then shall the lame leap like a deer, *
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness *
and streams in the desert;
The burning sand shall become a pool *
and the thirsty ground, springs of water.
The ransomed of God shall return with singing, *
with everlasting joy upon their heads.
Joy and gladness shall be theirs, *
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
A Hymn by St. Gregory Nazianzus
O all-transcendent God what other name describes Thee?
What words can sing Thy praises?
No word at all denotes Thee. What mind can probe Thy secret?
No mind at all can grasp Thee. Alone beyond the power of speech, all men can speak of springs from Thee. Alone beyond the power of thought, all men can think of stems from Thee.
All things proclaim Thee - things that can speak, things that cannot. All things revere Thee - things that have reason, things that have none. The whole world's longing and pain mingle about Thee.
All things breathe Thee a prayer, a silent hymn of Thy own composing. All that exists Thee uphold, all things in concert move to Thy orders.
Thou art the end of all that is, Thou art one, Thou art all; Thou art none of the things that are, Thou art not a part and not the whole.
All names are at Thy disposal; how shall I name Thee, the only unnamable? What mind's affinities with heaven can pierce the veils above the clouds?
Mercy, all-transcendent God, what other name describes Thee?
Wisdom 7:7–14
Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me;
I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepters and thrones,
and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.
Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem,
because all gold is but a little sand in her sight,
and silver will be accounted as clay before her.
I loved her more than health and beauty,
and I chose to have her rather than light,
because her radiance never ceases.
All good things came to me along with her,
and in her hands uncounted wealth.
I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them;
but I did not know that she was their mother.
I learned without guile and I impart without grudging;
I do not hide her wealth,
for it is an unfailing treasure for mortals;
those who get it obtain friendship with God,
commended for the gifts that come from instruction.
I called on God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
I preferred her to scepters and thrones,
and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her.
Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem,
because all gold is but a little sand in her sight,
and silver will be accounted as clay before her.
I loved her more than health and beauty,
and I chose to have her rather than light,
because her radiance never ceases.
All good things came to me along with her,
and in her hands uncounted wealth.
I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom leads them;
but I did not know that she was their mother.
I learned without guile and I impart without grudging;
I do not hide her wealth,
for it is an unfailing treasure for mortals;
those who get it obtain friendship with God,
commended for the gifts that come from instruction.
A Song of the Spirit
Revelation 22:12-17
“Behold, I am coming soon,” says the Lord,
“and bringing my reward with me, *
to give to everyone according to their deeds.
39
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, *
the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who do God’s commandments,
that they may have the right to the tree of life, *
and may enter the city through the gates.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you, *
with this testimony for all the churches.
“I am the root and the offspring of David, *
I am the bright morning star.”
“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride; *
“Come!” let each hearer reply!
Come forward, you who are thirsty, *
let those who desire take the water of life as a gift.
And now again at night- Gregory of Nazianzus
1.
And now again at night,
O Christ, the living Word,
Thou Light of the Eternal Light,
Be Thou by us adored.
2.
Thou dost the Spirit give,
Third Light, in glory one;
His grace, by whom alone we live,
Thou dost refuse to none.
3.
Thou didst the darkness scatter,
Thou mad'st the light to shine,
That now through all primeval matter
Might spring delight divine.
4.
It, a rude mass before,
From Thee took order new;
And shapely form, and steadfast law,
So beautiful to view.
5.
And mind of man with light
From heaven Thou didst endow,
By word and wisdom that he might
Thine image bear below;
6.
And lighted in his soul,
Thine own great Light might see;
And thenceforth not in part, but whole,
Himself all light might be.
7.
And heaven Thou didst array,
With those bright orbs above;
And day to night, and night to day,
Proclaim Thy law of love;
8.
Yielding in turn; the one
To worn-out flesh brings rest!
The other calls, "Let work be done!"
Such work as Thou lov'st best.
Songs and Hymns of Earliest Greek Christian Poets, 1876
Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,* 15from whom every family* in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,* 15from whom every family* in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Grace is given not to them who speak [their faith] but to
those who live their faith.”
those who live their faith.”
― Gregory of Nazianzus
Now at this evening hour- Gregory of Nazianzus
Now at this evening hour,
O Thou, my Christ, to Thee,
Thou Word of God, Eternal Light,
All grateful praises be.
From Thee the Spirit comes,
Third beam of peerless light,
And in Thyself one glorious orb
The triple rays unite.
Thy word and wisdom Thou
To lighten man hast given,
That he the splendour might reflect
That shines superb in heaven;
And having light within,
Might see Thine image bright,
And daily rise, till he himself
Is altogether light.
Hymns of the Greek Church, 1900
Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.Gregory of Nazianzus
John 8:25-32
They said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Why do I speak to you at all?* I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.’ They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he,* and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.’ As he was saying these things, many believed in him. Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’
Here are today's gems from Gregory of Nazianzus
We were made for good works (cf. Phil. 1:11) to the glory and praise of our Maker, and to imitate God as far as might be.
Gregory of Nazianzus
Christ is born: glorify Him. Christ comes from heaven: go out to meet Him. Christ descends to earth: let us be raised on high.
Gregory of Nazianzus
“As a fish cannot swim without water, and as a bird cannot fly without air, so a Christian cannot advance a single step without Christ.”
+ St. Gregory of Nazianzus
Let us become like Christ, since Christ became like us. He assumed the worse that He might give us the better; He became poor that we through His poverty might be rich.
Gregory of Nazianzus
As far as we can reach, He Who Is, and God, are the special names of His Essence; and of these especially He Who Is, not only because when He spoke to Moses in the mount, and Moses asked what His Name was, this was what He called Himself, bidding him say to the people 'I Am has sent me' (Ex. 3:14), but also because we find that this Name is the more strictly appropriate.
Gregory of Nazianzus
Prayers to the Theotokos every day of the week.
Tuesday
0 My most holy Mistress, the Theotokos, who art far more honorable than the angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, and far more holy than all the saints, 0 Virgin Mother of God! Save me, thy humble and sinful servant, for thou knowest, all-merciful Lady, that, alter God, I place all my hope in thee, and that I have no other refuge of salvation but thee, 0 all-good one. Thou art my strength, 0 Mistress, thou art my power, thou my rejoicing in sorrows, thou my haven in temptations, thou my correction in falls, thou also mine all-hoped for salvation, 0 Mother of my Lord and Maker! Help me, who sail upon the depths of this life, terribly beset and endangered by drowning in sin. Grant me a helping hand, my helper, and deliver me from the mire of the deep, that I not sink down into the abyss of despair: for the storm of sins and passions hath risen against me and the waves of transgressions overwhelm me. But do thou, 0 compassionate Mother, thou haven of passionlessness, direct and save me, 0 hope of the hopeless and mediatress of my salvation. Amen.
Kontakion — Tone 3
By words of theology you unraveled the complex webs of the orators, / glorious Gregory, / and adorned the Church with the robe of Orthodoxy woven from on high. / Wearing it, she cries out with us, her children: / “Rejoice, O Father, supreme mind of theology.”
Almighty God, you have revealed to your Church your eternal Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in Trinity of Persons: Give us grace that, like your bishop Gregory of Nazianzus, we may continue steadfast in the confession of this faith, and constant in our worship of you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; for you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
God we pray for peace on the earth and in our hearts this day.
Hear us when we pray O God.
God we pray for an end to hatred, bigotry and abuse and all forms of violence.
Hear us when we pray O God.
God we pray for all who are ill and in need of healing especially those whose names we speak now_____________
Hear us when we pray O God.
God we pray for all of our family members who are in grief.Let them feel your calming and abiding presence and your gentle arms embracing them.
Hear us when we pray O God.
God we pray for______________________
Hear us when we pray O God.
God we give thanks for_________________
Hear us when we give thanks to you O God.
God we pray for the least of these may we serve each one of our family members as if we are serving and loving you and each other.
Hear us when we pray O God.
God we pray that we may be CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful)
Hear us when we pray O God.
God we pray that all nations will be at peace and all their peoples may find justice, peace, equality, safety, and universal human rights.
Hear us when we pray O God.
God we remember those precious ones who have died and entered the Thin Places remembering especially ____________________. Let Light Perpetual Shine upon them.
Hear us when we pray O God.
Prayer of Gregory of Nazianzus
O All-Transcendent God
…..(and what other name could describe you?),
what words can hymn Your praises?
…..No word does You justice.
What mind can probe Your secret?
…..No mind can encompass You.
You are alone beyond the power of speech,
yet all that we speak stems from You.
You are alone beyond the power of thought,
yet all that we can conceive springs from You.
All things proclaim You,
those endowed with reason and those bereft of it.
All the expectation and pain of the world coalesces in You.
All things utter a prayer to You, a silent hymn composed by You.
You sustain everything that exists,
and all things move together to Your orders.
You are the goal of all that exists.
You are one and You are all,
yet You are none of the things that exist,
neither a part nor the whole.
You can avail Yourself of any name;
how shall I call You, the only unnameable?
All-transcendent God!
A Prayer attributed to St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, who hast given us grace at this time with one
accord to make our common supplication unto thee, and
hast promised through thy well-beloved Son that when two
or three are gathered together in his Name thou wilt be in the
midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions
of thy servants as may be best for us; granting us in this
world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life
everlasting. Amen.
++++++++++
Learn more about our saint of the day by clicking on the link below:
Here is Gregory of Nazianzus Poverty Sermon:
Good Night Dear Ones! I love you! Take time to enjoy these Byzantine Hymns and Music as you rest gentle in God's arms. I give thanks to God for you this day and always!
With Agape Love and In Koinonia With you !
Sara
Resources: Various Sites for Quotes
Enriching our Worship
Book of Common Prayer
Hymnary for hymns.
Lectionary Pages ( Satucket and Lectionarypage.net.)
Greek Orthodox websites for prayers and chants.
Enriching our Worship
Book of Common Prayer
Hymnary for hymns.
Lectionary Pages ( Satucket and Lectionarypage.net.)
Greek Orthodox websites for prayers and chants.
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