Liturgical Texts
Here you will find the links to texts for various liturgical services.
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost &
Tenth Sunday of Luke
Forefeast of the Conception of the Theotokos; Venerable Patapios of Thebes;
Sophronios, bishop of Cyprus
SYNAXARION
On December 8 in the Holy Orthodox Church, we commemorate our righteous Father Patapios of Thebes in Egypt.
Verses
Having patently forsaken the earth’s corruptible pathways,
Thou patterest, O Patapios, where the feet of the meek do patter.
On the eighth, O Patapios, thou troddest green pasture.
Patapios abhorred the vanity of this world and withdrew into the wilderness of Egypt. There he devoted himself to a life of asceticism, cleansing his heart of all earthly desires and thoughts for the sake of God’s love. However, when his virtues became known among the people, they came to him for solace in their sufferings. Fearing the praise of men, which darkens the minds of men and separates them from God, Patapios fled this wilderness to Constantinople, thinking he could hide himself more easily in a big city; but a light cannot be hidden. A child, blind from birth, was led by God’s providence to Patapios. He besought the saint to pray to God that he be given his sight to look upon God’s creation and praise Him all the more. Patapios, having compassion on the suffering child, prayed to God, and the child’s sight was restored. This miracle revealed God’s chosen one, and people rushed to him for healing, comfort and instruction. Patapios performed many other miracles, all through prayer in the name of Christ and by the sign of the Cross. In great old age, he peacefully entered the Heavenly Kingdom in the seventh century. On this day, we also commemorate the forefeast of the conception of the Theotokos; and Sophronios, bishop of Cyprus. By the intercessions of Thy saints, O Christ God, have mercy upon us. Amen..
Please visit the Antiochian Archdiocese Website for Up-To-Date Texts of Services, and Choose the Specific Date on the Calendar.
