*Acts 12:11*
Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and rescued me from the power of Herod, and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.
*Ps 138:1-2*
O Lord, You have probed me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
Glory Be to the Father…
Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and rescued me from the power of Herod, and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.
O God, Who made this day holy by the martyrdom of Your Apostles Peter and Paul, grant Your Church to follow in all things the teaching of those from whom she first received the faith.
Through our Lord…
Lesson from the Acts of Apostles
*Acts 12:1-11*
In those days, Herod the king set hands on certain members of the Church to persecute them. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also, during the days of the Unleavened Bread. After arresting him he cast him into prison, committing the custody of him to four guards of soldiers, four in each guard, intending to bring him forth to the people after the Passover. So Peter was being kept in the prison; but prayer was being made to God for him by the Church without ceasing. Now when Herod was about to bring him forth, that same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and outside the door sentries guarded the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood beside him, and a light shone in the room; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, Get up quickly. The chains dropped from his hands. And the angel said to him, Gird yourself and put on your sandals. And he did so; and he said to him, Wrap your cloak about you and follow me. And he followed him out, without knowing that what was being done by the angel was real, for he thought he was having a vision. They passed through the first and second guard and came to the iron gate that leads into the city; and this opened to them of its own accord. And they went out, and passed on through one street, and straightway the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself, and he said, Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.
*Ps 44:17-18*
You shall make them princes through all the land; they shall remember Your name, O Lord.
℣. The place of your fathers your sons shall have; therefore shall nations praise You. Alleluia, alleluia.
*Matt 16:18*
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. Alleluia.
Continuation ☩ of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew
*Matt 16:13-19*
In that time: Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is? But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.
*Ps 44:17-18*
You shall make them princes through all the land; they shall remember Your name, O Lord, through all generations.
May the prayers of Your holy Apostles, O Lord, accompany the sacrificial gifts which we offer to be hallowed in Your name, so that we may obtain pardon and protection.
Through our Lord…
*of Apostles*
It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd, but, through Thy blessed Apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
*Matt 16:18*
Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Allelúja.)
