Period 3 – Public Ministry

From the Great Lent to the Resurrection, we commemorate the Public Ministry of our Lord. During this time the date of the east of Resurrection (Kymtho), or Easter, dictates the dates for a majority of the other feasts. The date of Easter was determined according to a rule laid down at the Council of Nicea in AD 325 that the feast of the Resurrection should be commemorated on the Sunday following (not including) the full moon after the spring equinox.

Seven Sundays before Easter marks the beginning of the Great Lent and we read from the Gospel of St. John about the Wedding Feast of Cana, the beginning of the Public Ministry of our Lord. During the Sundays leading up to Easter (six through two weeks before), we recall the events from our Lord’s ministry, particularly his healing ministry: the healing of the leper, the paralytic, the Canaanite woman, the hunch-back woman, and the blind man, respectively.

Twenty five days before Easter, (Wednesday of the fourth week of Lent) marks Mid-Lent, the Feast of the Holy Cross. The Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, which was commemorated earlier in the liturgical year during the nativity period, is again celebrated on March 25th, exactly nine months before the birth of Christ. The Friday before Palm Sunday, marks the fortieth day of Lent and the raising of St. Lazarus is commemorated the following day (Saturday).

The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday (Hosanna) and that evening marks the start of Passion Week (Hasha). On Thursday of Passion Week, Passover (Pesaha) is commemorated along with our Lord's washing of the feet of His disciples. Friday of Passion Week, or Good Friday, is the day we remember the Crucifixion of our Savior. This is one of the holiest days in Christianity, and due to its solemn nature, Holy Qurbana is not celebrated on this day, unless it the feast of Annunciation falls on that day. The next day is the Saturday of Good Tidings, the day our Lord descended into Sheol to preach the Good News to the departed. On Sunday, the Church celebrates the Feast of Feasts, the Resurrection our Savior (Kymtha).

First Monday of Fifty days Lent

Morning
  • Genesis 1: 1-12
  • Wisdom of Solomon 7: 7-24
  • Isaiah 29: 15-24
  • St. James 1: 2-12
  • Romans 1: 18-25
  • St. Matthew 4: 1-11
Shub-khono
  • I John 4: 11-20
  • I Corinthians 13: 1-13
  • St. Matthew 18: 18-35

First Tuesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Luke 4: 1 - 15
Morning
  • Exodus 32: 30- 35
  • Hosea 14: 1 - 9
  • Isaiah 30: 1-4
  • St. James 1: 12-27
  • Ephesians 4: 32- 5: 21
  • St. Matthew 6: 1-6

First Wednesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Matthew 6: 19-24
  • St. Luke 16: 14-18
Morning
  • Genesis 1: 14-18
  • Isaiah 13: 6-13
  • St. James 2 : 1 - 13
  • Romans 2: 7-24
  • St. Matthew 6: 25-34

First Thursday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Matthew 7: 1-12
Morning
  • Exodus 22: 5-6
  • I Kings 18: 16-24
  • II Kings 17: 7 - 23
  • Isaiah 36: 1-7, 37: 1-7
  • St. James 2: 14 - 26
  • Romans 2: 28 - 3: 8
  • St. Matthew 7: 13-27

First Friday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Matthew 5: 17 - 26
Morning
  • Ezekiel 18: 20-32
  • Hosea 4: 1-11
  • Deuteronomy 6: 1- 13
  • Isaiah 1: 1-9
  • St. James 3: 13 - 4: 5
  • Romans 3: 9-26
  • St. Matthew 5: 27-37

First Saturday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Matthew 10: 24 - 38
Morning
  • St. John 15: 17-16: 3
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Genesis 2: 4 - 17
  • Zechariah 7: 8-14
  • Isaiah 1: 24-31
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 12: 1-24
  • Romans 12: 10-21
  • St. John 4: 46-54

Second Sunday of Fifty days Lent

Healing of the Leper
Evening
  • St. Mark 1 : 32-45
Morning
  • St. Mark 9 : 14 - 29
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Genesis 7: 6 - 24
  • II Kings 5: 1 - 14
  • Isaiah 33: 2-9
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 9: 22-31
  • Romans 3: 27- 4: 5
  • St. Luke 5: 12-16, 4: 40-41

Second Monday of Fifty days Lent

Morning
  • Genesis 35: 1 - 5
  • II Samuel 16: 5-12
  • Hosea 2: 21-3: 5
  • St. James 4: 7-5: 6
  • I Timothy 2: 1-15
  • St. Luke 6: 27-36

Second Tuesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Luke 6: 37-49
Morning
  • Exodus 16: 15 -27
  • Acts 10: 25-33
  • II Corinthians 6: 1-11
  • St. Mark 4: 21 -34

Second Wednesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Matthew 18: 1-11
Morning
  • Exodus 34: 1-17
  • Proverbs 7: 1-11
  • Zechariah 8: 1-8
  • III John 1: 1-15
  • I Corinthians 8: 1-13
  • St. Luke 11: 1-13

Second Thursday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Luke 16: 1-13
Morning
  • Numbers 16: 1-10
  • Isaiah 20: 20-25
  • Acts 10: 34-48
  • I Corinthians 9: 1-12
  • St. Luke 18: 1-8
  • St. Matthew 18: 18-22

Second Friday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Matthew 16: 21-28
Morning
  • Exodus 21: 20-27
  • Job 25: 1-6
  • Acts 11: 1-18
  • Romans 1: 16-25
  • St. Matthew 5: 38-48

Second Saturday of Fifty days Lent

Before Holy Qurbana
  • Deuteronomy 30: 1 -7
  • Isaiah 35: 1-10
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 13: 37 -52
  • II Corinthians 8: 1- 9
  • St. Mark 1: 21-31

Third Sunday of Fifty days Lent

Healing of the Paralytic
Evening
  • St. Luke 5: 17-26
Morning
  • St. John 5: 1-18
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Ezekiel 33: 23-34: 12
  • Exodus 4 : 10 - 17
  • II Kings 2 : 1 - 11
  • Isaiah 5: 20-25
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 5: 12-16. 19: 8 -12
  • Romans 5: 1-11
  • St. Mark 2: 1-12

Third Monday of Fifty days Lent

Morning
  • Genesis 18: 20-33
  • Judges 6: 11-21
  • Acts 28: 1-10

OR
  • Revelations 2: 1 - 7
  • I Timothy 6: 1-12
  • St. Mark 2: 13-22

Third Tuesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Mark 10: 17-27
Morning
  • Exodus 20: 1-19
  • Job 31: 1-15
  • Proverbs 3: 1-12
  • St. James 1: 27-2: 13
  • Ephesians 2: 1-18
  • St. Mark 4: 1-20

Third Wednesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Luke 9: 44-50, 57-62
Morning
  • Leviticus 25: 35-46
  • I Samuel 9: 18-27
  • Isaiah 65: 16-25
  • Acts 13: 1-3
  • Ephesians 6: 1-9
  • St. Luke 12: 32-40

Third Thursday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Luke 13: 18-30
Morning
  • Numbers 12: 1-10
  • II Chronicles 26: 16-21
  • Micah 6: 1-8
  • St. James 4: 1-17
  • Philippians 1: 1-11
  • St. Mark 9: 30-42

Third Friday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Matthew 6: 5-15
Morning
  • Deuteronomy 8: 1-20
  • Isaiah 1: 10-20
  • I Peter 3: 7- 15
  • Romans 2: 2- 13
  • St. Luke 18 : 9 -17

Third Saturday of Fifty days Lent

Before Holy Qurbana
  • Exodus 16: 1-10
  • II Kings 4: 38-44
  • Hosea 2: 18-23
Holy Qurbana
  • I Peter 2: 1-10
  • Philippians 2: 12-30
  • St. Mark 8: 1-10

Fourth Sunday of Fifty days Lent

Canaanite woman
Evening
  • St. Mark 7: 24-37
Morning
  • St. Luke 7: 1-10
Before Holy Qurbana
  • I Samuel 7: 10-17
  • Numbers 17 : 1 - 8
  • Isaiah 56: 1 – 7
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 4 : 1- 12
  • Romans 7: 14 - 25

Fourth Monday of Fifty Days Lent

Morning
  • Leviticus 16: 1 -17
  • Amos 6: 1 -9
  • Acts 14: 19 - 15: 3
  • II Corinthians 11: 1 - 15
  • St. Mark 12: 35- 44

Fourth Tuesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Matthew 20: 1-16
Morning
  • Numbers 28: 1-8
  • I Samuel 21: 1- 9
  • Acts 14 : 8 - 22
  • I Corinthians 16: 13-24
  • St. Matthew 11: 25-12: 8

Fourth Wednesday of Fifty days Lent (Mid Lent)

Evening
  • St. Matthew 17: 22-27
Morning
  • St. John 3: 13-21
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Numbers 21: 4-9
  • Psalms 34: 1-9
  • Zechariah 12: 6-14
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 15: 22 -33
  • II Corinthians 9: 1-15
  • St. John 3: 13-21

Fourth Thursday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Luke 15 : 11-32
Morning
  • Deuteronomy 5: 6-22
  • Psalms 41: 1-3
  • Proverbs 22: 1-12
  • Acts 15: 35-40
  • II Corinthians 1: 13-22
  • St. Matthew 19: 16-26

Fourth Friday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Luke 16: 19-3
Morning
  • Leviticus 19: 9 - 18
  • Daniel 9: 1-11
  • Acts 16: 1-7
  • II Corinthians 12: 19-13: 13
  • St. Luke 17: 1-10

Fourth Saturday of Fifty days Lent

Before Holy Qurbana
  • Genesis 18: 1-15
  • II Samuel 9: 1-8
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 16: 8-15
  • I Corinthians 9: 14-27
  • St. Luke 9: 10-17

Fifth Sunday of Fifty days Lent

Crippled Woman
Evening
  • St. Luke 10: 25-37
Morning
  • St. Luke 7: 11-17
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Genesis 9: 1 -7
  • Jeremiah 51: 1-9
  • Isaiah 50: 1 - 5
  • Barazeera 51: 13 - 30
Holy Qurbana
  • I Peter 3: 8-16
  • Romans 12: 1-15
  • St. Luke 13: 10-17

Fifth Monday of Fifty days Lent

Morning
  • Genesis 20: 8-18
  • II Kings 2: 19-25
  • Acts 19: 13-22
  • Romans 9: 14-21
  • St. Luke 4: 31-41

Fifth Tuesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Mark 3: 1-12
Morning
  • Exodus 14: 21-31
  • Isaiah 40: 12-24
  • Acts 18: 18 -28
  • Romans 1: 26-32
  • St. Mark 5: 1 -20

Fifth Wednesday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Mark 6: 30-46
Morning
  • Deuteronomy 31: 16-23
  • Isaiah 41: 8-17
  • Acts 5: 1 - 6
  • I Corinthians 10: 1-13
  • St. Matthew 14: 14-23

Fifth Thursday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Matthew 14: 23 -36
Morning
  • Genesis 50: 14-22
  • Isaiah 42: 1-9
  • Acts 19: 8-12
  • Colossians 3: 1-17
  • St. Mark 6: 47-56

Fifth Friday of Fifty days Lent

Evening
  • St. Mark 5: 21-43
Morning
  • Deuteronomy 27: 16-28: 2
  • II Kings 4: 32-37
  • Hosea 6: 1-6
  • Acts 16: 16 - 23
  • I Timothy 1: 1-20
  • St. Matthew 9: 18-31

Fifth Saturday of Fifty days Lent

Before Holy Qurbana
  • Deuteronomy 27: 16 - 28; 8
  • II Kings 4 : 32 - 37
  • Hosea 6: 1 - 6
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 5: 33 - 42
  • I Thessalonians 2 13-20
  • St. Luke 6: 1 - 11

Sixth Sunday of Fifty Days Lent

Blind Man
Evening
  • St. Mark 10 : 46 - 52
Morning
  • St. Matthew 9 : 27-31
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Deuteronomy 25: 13- 16, 26:1 - 13
  • Job 42: 1-10
Holy Qurbana
  • I Peter 4: 12-19
  • II Corinthians 9 : 6-15/

OR
  • Ephesians 5: 1-14
  • St. John 9: 1-41

Monday before Hosanna

Morning
  • Genesis 49: 8-12
  • I Kings 17: 10-16
  • Zechariah 9 : 9 - 14
  • Acts 2: 37-47
  • I Thessalonians 4: 1-12
  • St. Luke 18: 31-34, 19: 1-10

Tuesday before Hosanna

Evening
    St. Luke 9: 18-27
Morning
  • Genesis 41: 38 - 52
  • I Samuel 17: 34-51
  • Acts 21: 1-14
  • Romans 8: 12-27
  • St. Mark 10: 32-45

Wednesday before Hosanna

Evening
  • St. Matthew 8: 23-9: 1
Morning
  • Genesis 46 : 1-7
  • Isaiah 63: 7-19
  • Daniel 7: 9-18
  • Acts 14: 8 -19
  • Galatians 5: 13-26
  • St. Mark 4: 35-41

Thursday before Hosanna

Evening
  • St. Matthew 7: 1 - 12
Morning
  • Exodus 15: 19 -21
  • Joshua 6: 1-5
  • Isaiah 51: 1-8
  • Acts 16: 23- 40
  • II Corinthians 6: 1-10
  • St. Mark 8: 22-27
  • St. Matthew 20: 17-19

Friday before Hosanna (40th Friday)

Evening
  • St. Luke 4: 1-13
Morning
  • St. Matthew 4: 1-11
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Deuteronomy 1: 3 - 14
  • II Samuel 24: 18-25
  • Isaiah 58: 1-8
Holy Qurbana
  • I Peter 1: 13 - 22
  • Romans 13: 11 - 14: 9
  • St. Matthew 4: 1-11

Saturday before Hosanna (St. Lazarus)

Evening
  • St. Luke 10 : 38 - 42
Morning
  • St. John 11: 1 - 8, 11 - 27
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Leviticus 27 : 30 - 33
  • Isaiah 61: 1-9
Holy Qurbana
  • I Peter 2: 6-10
  • Ephesians 1: 15-2: 7
  • St. John 11: 28-46

Feast of the 40 Holy Martyrs

(9th March, if it is a Saturday or Sunday. Otherwise on the Saturday after 9th)
Evening
  • St. Matthew 10: 16-33
Morning
  • St. Luke 12: 1-12
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Genesis 4: 1: 12
  • Isaiah 30: 1-4
  • Daniel 3: 14 -25
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 4: 19-33
  • Romans 8: 31 - 39
  • St. Mark 8: 34-38

Annunciation to St. Mary (March 25)

Evening
  • St. Luke 8 : 16-21
Morning
  • St. Mark 3: 31-35
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Deuteronomy 26: 16-27: 10
  • Judges 13: 2-14
  • Zechariah 2: 10-13, 4: 1-7, 8: 3
  • Isaiah 63: 15-64: 5
Holy Qurbana
  • I John 3: 2-17
  • Hebrews 6: 13-7: 10

Palm Sunday

Evening
  • St. Matthew 21: 1 - 17
Midnight
  • St. Mark 11: 1- 11
Morning
  • St. Luke 19 : 28 - 44
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Genesis 49: 8-15
  • I Samuel 2: 18 -26, 16 : 1
  • Daniel 1: 16 - 20
  • Micah 4: 1 -5
  • I Kings 3: 4 - 14
  • Zephaniah 3: 11 -20
  • Jeremiah 30: 18-22
Holy Qurbana
  • I John 5 : 1 -12
  • Romans 8 : 18 -25
  • St. John 12: 12-19
For Procession (at the Western Entrance)
  • St. Luke 19: 28-40
For the Blessing of the Palm leaves
  • Zechariah 9: 9-12
  • Isaiah 51: 9-11
  • I John 2: 7-14
  • Romans 11: 13-24
  • St. Mark 11: 1-11

Monday of the Passion Week

Evening
  • St. Luke 19: 41-20: 8
Midnight
First Qauma
  • St. Matthew 21: 33-46
Second Qauma
  • St. Luke 14: 12-24
Vadhe Dhalmeeno
  • St. Matthew 25: 1-13
Third Qauma
  • St. Matthew 22: 1-14
Morning
  • Genesis 3: 1- 21
  • Judges 11: 30-40
  • Isaiah 28: 5-13
  • Acts 25: 6-12
  • Hebrews 1: 6-2: 4
  • St. Matthew 21: 23-32, 17: 10-13
Third Hour
  • St. Matthew 19: 1-12
  • St. Luke 9: 43-45
Sixth Hour
  • St. Matthew 22: 41-23: 12
Ninth Hour
  • St. Matthew 23: 13- 39

Tuesday of the Passion Week

Evening
  • St. Matthew 22: 15-33
Midnight
First Qauma
  • St. Matthew 12 : 38-45
  • St. Luke 11: 53-55
Second Qauma
  • St. John 2: 12-25, 3: 13-21
Third Qauma
  • St. John 5: 30-6: 4
Morning
  • Deuteronomy 31: 14 - 21
  • Zephaniah 1: 11-18
  • I John 1: 1-9
  • Hebrews 2: 5-18
  • St. John 8: 28-59
Third Hour
  • St. John 7: 45-52, 8: 12-20
Sixth Hour
  • St. Luke 11: 37-54
Ninth Hour
  • St. John 6: 30, 8: 21-27

Wednesday of the Passion Week

Evening
  • St. John 11: 47-12: 2, 9-11
Midnight
First Qauma
  • St. John 10: 15-38
Second Qauma
  • St. John 12: 19-33
Third Qauma
  • St. John 12: 34-50
Morning
  • Leviticus 6: 24-7: 7
  • I Samuel 16: 1-13
  • Isaiah 5: 1-7
  • Acts 19: 21 - 41
  • Colossians 1: 9- 23
  • St. John 6: 63-7: 13
Third Hour
  • St. John 7: 14-27
Sixth Hour
  • St. John 7: 28-44
Ninth Hour
  • St. Luke 13: 31-35

Maundy Thursday

Evening
  • St. John 7: 45-52, 8: 12-20
Midnight
First Qauma
  • St. Matthew 26: 1 -30
Second Qauma
  • St. John 6: 24- 40
Third Qauma
  • St. John 6: 41-63
Morning
  • St. Luke 22: 1-13
Third Hour
  • St. John 12: 20-36
Sixth Hour
  • St. Luke 7 : 36 -50
  • St. Mark 14: 1- 2
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Exodus 12: 1-11
  • Leviticus 16: 3-10
  • Ezekiel 45: 18 - 25
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 1: 15-20
  • I Corinthians 5 : 1 -8 11: 23 - 34
  • St. Luke 22: 14-30
Ninth Hour
  • St. Matthew 26: 31- 35
For Feet Washing Service
  • Exodus 34: 18-26
  • II Kings 23: 21 - 25
  • Isaiah 50: 4-10
  • I Peter 3: 17-22
  • Hebrews 10: 19 -29
  • St. John 13: 1-20

Good Friday

Evening
  • St. Luke 22: 1-30
Midnight
First Qauma
  • St. Matthew 26: 31-46
Second Qauma
  • St. Mark 14: 27-52
Third Qauma
  • St. Luke 22: 31-62
Morning
  • Leviticus 4: 1-7, 16; 3 - 34
  • Numbers 19: 1-11
  • Acts 22: 30-23: 16
  • I Corinthians 1: 18-31
  • Hebrews 9: 11 -14
  • St. Matthew 27: 3 -10
  • St. Mark 15: 1-10
  • St. Luke 22: 66-71
Third Hour
  • St. Matthew 27: 12 - 31
  • St. Mark 15: 12 - 18
Sixth Hour
  • St. Luke 23: 26 -34
  • St. Matthew 27:34
  • St. John 19:23-24
  • St. Matthew 27: 36- 37
  • St. Luke 23: 39 -45
  • St. John 19: 25- 27
Ninth Hour
  • St. Matthew 27: 45-56
  • St. Mark 15: 33-41
  • St. Luke 23: 44-49
  • St. John 19: 23-30
Veneration of the Holy Cross
  • Genesis 22: 1-14
  • Exodus 17: 8-14
  • Isaiah 52: 13 - 53: 8
  • I Peter 2: 19-25
  • Galatians 2: 20 - 3: 14, 6: 11-18
  • St. Luke 23: 55 - 56
  • St. John 19: 31 - 42

Saturday of Good Tidings

Evening
  • St. Matthew 27: 61
  • St. Luke 23: 50 - 24: 12
  • St. John 19: 31-42
Morning
  • St. Matthew 27:62-66
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Genesis 8: 1-12
  • Zechariah 12: 11-13: 7
  • Jeremiah 38: 2-13
  • Micah 7 : 8 -13
Holy Qurbana
  • I Peter 3: 13 -22
  • Romans 6: 1-14
  • St. Matthew 27: 62 - 66
Shub-khono
  • I John 4: 11-21
  • I Corinthians 13: 4-10
  • St. Matthew 18: 12- 35

Easter Sunday

Evening
  • St. Mark 16: 1- 8
Midnight
  • St. Luke 24: 1-12
Morning
  • St. John 20: 1-18
Celebration of the Holy Cross
  • Isaiah 60: 17-22
  • I Peter 5: 5-14
  • Romans 16: 1-16
  • St. John 14: 27 , 15: 11 -15, 17-19
Before Holy Qurbana
  • Leviticus 23: 26 - 32
  • Isaiah 60: 1-7, 11-16, 61: 10-62: 5
  • Joel 2: 21 -3
Holy Qurbana
  • Acts 2:22 -36
  • I Corinthians 15: 1- 19
  • St. Matthew 28: 1-20