Scripture Readings - First Sunday after Feast of Holy Transfiguration

August-9: First Sunday after the Feast of Holy Transfiguration
Evening :St. Mark 4: 21-34

Morning :St. Matthew 13: 44-52

Before Holy Qurbana

Deuteronomy 25: 13-16

Psalms 27 , I Samuel 2:31-36 

Ezekiel 7: 1-4

Holy Qurbana

St. James 4: 7-5: 6 ,Philippians 4: 8-20

St. Matthew 21: 28-32

Psalm 27 A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.

Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me,O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me.

Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!

James 4:7-5:6

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

Philippians 4:8-20

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

St. Matthew 21:28-32

 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?”

They said to Him, “The first.”

Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

Special Prayer to Mother Mary ( Pampakuda Namaskaram)

O beloved daughter of God the Father, peace be to you. O Mother of the Son of God, peace be to you.

O Holy Mother, the bride of the Holy Spirit, peace be to you.

O Holy Mother, the temple of divinity, peace be to you. 

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer), the beautiful Lily of the Holy Trinity, peace be to you. 

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer), the Virgin of virgins, peace be to you.

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer),the mighty virgin, peace be to you.

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer), who is full of humility, peace be to you. 

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer),from whom the heavenly King willingly was born and nursed milk, peace be to you. 

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer),the princess of the martyrs, peace be to you.

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer),who was pierced by the knife of sufferings, peace be to you. 

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer),who is the lady and teacher of creation, peace be to you.

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer),who is able to pray for the heavenly and the earthly, peace be to you.

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer), the lady of my heart and my refuge, peace be to you.

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer), who is full of mercy, peace be to you.

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer), who is wonderful, peace be to you. 

O Merciful Mother of God, peace be to you. 

The Lord is with you and you are blessed among women. 

The fruit of your womb is blessed.

Blessed is Joseph who betrothed you.

Blessed is your father Joachim

Blessed is your mother Hannah.

Blessed is your nephew John.

Blessed is the Angel Gabriel who announced to you the good news.

Blessed is the eternal Father who has chosen you.

Blessed is your Son Jesus Christ who loved you.

Blessed is the Holy Spirit who appointed you.

O Blessed Mother, all bless you.

O Yoldath Aloho (Theotokos /God-Bearer), the Ever Virgin, bless us with Your Only- Begotten Son.

O Mother Mary, merciful and blessed mother among women, do not forget us who are praying to you.

By your prayer, may we, those who belong to us, and all our departed ones, be worthy of mercy and the absolution of sins. Amen

August 3, 2026

Shunoyo ( Dormition) Fast 

 

Scripture Readings

August-2: Tenth Sunday after Holy Pentecost
Evening :St. Luke 9: 12-17
Morning: St. Matthew 16: 13-20
Before Holy Qurbana
Exodus 15: 23-27,Job 42: 7 -17
Psalms 112: 1-10
Holy Qurbana
Acts 28: 23-31,Romans 10: 5-21
St. Matthew 18: 1-11

August-6: The Festival of Transfiguration/Koodaara Perunnal

Evening :St. Matthew 16: 27-17: 13

Morning: St. Mark 8: 38-9: 13

Before Holy Qurbana

Deuteronomy 16: 13-17,Exodus 19:24- 20:6

Joshua 3:1-17 , Zechariah 14: 16-19 

Isaiah 60: 12-15, 61: 1-3

Holy Qurbana

I John 2: 23-3: 1,Romans 11: 25-36

St. Luke 9: 27-36

Scripture Readings - 9th Sunday after Feast of Holy Pentecost

July 26:  Ninth Sunday after Holy Pentecost

Evening :St. Matthew 13: 24-35 ,Morning: St. Matthew 13: 36-43 , Before Holy Qurbana Psalms 22 : 1 - 21 , Deuteronomy 4: 1-6, Proverbs 13: 1-7 , Isaiah 24: 1-5 Holy Qurbana Acts 28: 11-22 , I Corinthians 6: 1-11,St. Luke 14: 7-11

Psalm 22:1-21  My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?    Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? .  My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him,    since he delights in him.” Yet you brought me out of the womb;  you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water,  and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;   you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen

Deuteronomy 4: 1-6 “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and [a]possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you. You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal Peor; for the Lord your God has destroyed from among you all the men who followed Baal of Peor. But you who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today, every one of you. “Surely, I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore, be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’

Acts 28:11-22 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the [a]Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. And landing at Syracuse, we stayed three days. From there we circled round and reached Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to Puteoli, where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so, we went toward Rome. And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage. Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him. And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: “Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. For this reason, therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” Then they said to him, “We neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of you. But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”

I Corinthians 6: 1-11 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have [a]judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?  But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

 Luke 14:7-11  So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be [a]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Liturgical Reorientation - Worship

Dr. V.C. Samuel Achan and Liturgical Literature - Reformation Fr. Dr. Jacob Kurien

[Former Principal Orthodox Theological College Kottayam]

The greatness of the liturgy of the Orthodox Churches needs no further explanation. The term "Orthodox" itself implies 'proper worship', 'true worship'. The Malankara Orthodox Church is almost entirely indebted to the system of worship of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, but upholds the greatness of the worship life. Reverend Dr. V.C. Samuel who respects the essence of these worships, some fundamental questions were being asked. Unfortunately, even the church leadership did not even pretend to listen to the said questions until now. He was able to continue asking the said questions until his departure without ever becoming disheartened by the said response, which left him dissatisfied and disturbed.  This is evidenced by his early written and unprinted authoritative treatise on liturgy and liturgical system, coming out in the light. The observations and criticisms in this book need to be taken seriously by the church someday. If it happens early, so much the better.  One thing is clear as far as avoiding responsibility by mentioning the name of the court case; it is that we are not interested in experiencing the spirit of worship in spirit and in truth, except to boast.

An important contribution of a true church lover, Fr. Dr. V. C. Samuel - Observations on Worship.

V.C. Samuel Achan was a multifaceted genius; Classical languages like Syriac, Greek and Hebrew - A scholar of languages and many others, a Christologist, Theologian, historian, ecumenical leader, writer, speaker, teacher, and pastor, he is equally notable in many diverse fields. But it is in his observations on worship that he is most notable as a philanthropist. Why did he attach so much importance to this matter? The answer is very simple. One's first task as a church member or church lover is to worship, to worship meaningfully. Therefore, the defects and contradictions in the existing system of worship made Samuel Achen uneasy and dissatisfied.

Why did this discomfort not affect many in church leadership? This question becomes relevant here. If one asks why no attempt has been made to carry out the liturgical reform dreamed of by Samuel Achen, even though the Liturgical Committee, one of the synodal committees, has existed for years, many answers are possible. Let me mention three of them in particular.

1. The fact is that the primary mission of church membership is not worship, but something else, according to the mindset of those in church leadership.
2 Or, to say that worship is the primary task, tantric, mechanistic, and magical satisfaction is found in accustoming the existing system to the understanding that it came down from heaven as it is.
3. For those who think they have a little Syriac and little liturgical knowledge (except relatively well, they themselves do not seem to know anything like V.C. Samuel Achan). Existing methods can be used to highlight their special abilities. Therefore, a critical appraisal cannot be prepared. Not only that, they only want the existing to continue.
[From 'Aradhana Vijnanaiyam' published in 2004]

Shared by E.J Varghese 

Fr. V.C Samuel Ecumenical Forum 

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Some thoughts from the article, picking some lines

1. " First task as a Church member or Church lover is to worship and to worship meaningfully." 

In contemporary time , we need to first focus and evaluate as individuals and Church if this principle holds relevance and there is a conviction and commitment  to attempt and worship meaningfully 

2. Defects and contradictions in the existing system of worship - Uneasiness and Dissatisfaction.

The need to reform and change for better typically starts formation through an individual's biased thoughts from their own unique individual experience ,as well in relationship with others. 

If this is understood, then we each need to ask when come together in liturgical worship where our significance and focus should be - 'To identify the defects and contradictions in the existing system of worship ' or towards" How can we  participate fully in the existing system we have inherited ,to understand and look at making positive and meaningful impact with in the constrains "

To be continued July 26, 2026 

Scripture Readings -Fourth Sunday after Feast of Pentecost

Scripture Readings -Fourth Sunday after Feast of Pentecost
Old Testament Readings
Deuteronomy 33:23-29 , Joshua 6:14-18
Hosea 5:11-6:1
Daniel 3:24-45 , Isaiah 65:8-12
New Testament Readings
Acts 6:1-17 , I Corinthians 10:14-18
St. Mathew 14:14-23

Persevere - From Saint Justin Parvu

It is not enough to attend the church services and just be there like that would be enough. We have to work the prayer from the inside out. No matter how many prayers we say with our mouth, it is nothing if the prayer is not coming from the heart and if we don’t apply the teachings of Orthodoxy in our everyday life. Now more than ever, lay people have to pray from the heart, because this will be our only salvation. In the heart is the root of all passions and that is where we need to direct our struggles. If in the later years Christianity became look warm and superficial, we have to end all that now, this is not going to be enough anymore. If we will not pray from the heart, we will not be able to sustain the psychological attacks, because the evil one has hidden brainwashing methods that are unknown to us… Times will come when only the ones that have the Spirit of God will be able to know good from evil. Human mind itself on its own will not be able to tell the difference. There will be great deceptions and only the Holy Spirit will give us the discernment we need so we could save ourselves. Pray that you will not be deceived ! Only through prayer we can receive the Holy Spirit. If we don’t pray and just persevere may in our laziness and unrepentful ways, we will completely lose the Holy Spirit and His guidance. May it not be that we lose the guidance of the Holy Spirit !”

Do not rebuke those sorrowful at heart, that you might not be paid back with the same rod, so that when you’ll seek for someone to have mercy on you, you might find him there!

Do not reproach anyone for their sins, but consider yourself responsible for everything, even for your neighbor’s sins.

***

“The time will come, and it has already come, when the Christian will no longer be persecuted for prayer, but for his refusal to deny himself. Do not be deceived: the apocalypse does not arrive with frightful thunder, but with a cunning silence. Men will be enslaved unchained, controlled unknowingly and instructed to love convenience more than Truth. Peace will be demanded at any cost, but the price will be the soul. Blind obedience will be required, but not to God, but to spirits foreign to Christ. So, anyone who remains firm in their faith in Christ will be considered crazy, extremist, dangerous. Know this: it is not technology that makes the world lose, but the denial of God. It is not the mark on the hand that is more frightening, but the mark in the heart, when man stops fearing sin. When you stop confessing, when you stop crying about your mistakes, when you get accustomed to evil as something natural, that’s where the end begins. Churches can stand, but if conscience collapses, nothing remains. There won’t be time for halves or quarters. It will be: either with Christ or without Him. Either cross or rejection. Whoever wants to preserve this life at any cost will lose it, and whoever will suffer for the Truth at risk of losing earthly life, this will be written in Heaven. Don’t be afraid of what people are going to do with your body; be afraid of the moment when you will be tempted to keep quiet when you have to confess the Truth. That’s where the great battle will take place.”

“A war or any kind of cataclysm must be met with great faith and without despair , because God is the One who sends such trials upon humanity, for our correction. Through a war, God wants to stop the wickedness of the world’s leaders, who oppose the Creator, and to bring to repentance those who have distanced themselves from Him, through the multitude of passions, or to purify the souls of the chosen ones like gold in a smelter .

God, out of His love, when He sees that no method of correction works anymore, He allows wars and misfortunes.

When the saints and spiritual guides are lacking, God will send another persecution so that, through the suffering of the Cross, we may be sanctified and humanity may gain new saints and guides of souls.

Our repentance, both for ourselves and for all humanity, can always bring mercy to God and give us strength to face any trouble patiently and without panic.

ICON AND LIGHT - St Justin Parvu's advise