Our holy father and confessor Martin, pope of Rome, who condemned the heresy of the Monothlites at the Lateran Synod (693). By the order of the emperor Constans II, an assault was made on the Lateran basilica to capture Martin. He was removed from his See and taken to Constantinople, where he lay in a penitentiary in strict confinement. From there he was sent to Kherson, where, after about two years, he reached the end of his tribulations and gained his eternal crown.
The holy new martyrs Anthony, John, and Eustathius, who died in the city of Vilna, Lithuania in the year 1342. They were slaves who were baptized by a Christian priest. When this was discovered, they were hanged from a great oak tree. This oak tree was cut down and a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity was built on the site. The stump of the tree became the Holy Table.
O guide of the true faith, mirror of piety and commendable behavior, bright star of the universe, and adornment of pontiffs, you enlightened us all by your teachings. O wise Martin, inspired by God and lyre of the Holy Spirit, intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.
You disowned earthly wealth and glory, O holy martyrs, and you bravely endured torture for the faith. You walked willingly into death for the life of the Lord, and Christ has guided you with a pillar of cloud. With glory and honor He has crowned you at his throne. Standing there we ask you to pray for our salvation.
You set out firmly with priestly devotion and completed the course on martyrdom. You passed into heaven, O wise Martin, and received laurels which will never fade. Now we come to celebrate your holy memory, crying out: As you stand before Christ, remember us, O martyr.
Having abandoned the mistakes of your ancestors, you were led to Christ with complete sincerity. You stood courageously and wisely until death, and so you have captured the trophy of victory. O blessed martyrs, pray unceasingly to the Master for all of us.
Acts 6: 1-7
In those days, as the number of disciples grew, the ones who spoke Greek complained that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food, as compared with the widows of those who spoke Hebrew. The Twelve assembled the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Look around among your own number, brothers, for seven men acknowledged to be deeply spiritual and prudent, and we shall appoint them to this task. This will permit us to concentrate on prayer and the ministry of the word.” The proposal was unanimously accepted by the community. Following this they selected Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit; Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, who had been a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who first prayed over them and then imposed hands on them.
The word of God continued to spread, while at the same time the number of disciples in Jerusalem enormously increased. There were many priests among those who embraced the faith.
Mark 15: 43-47, 16: 1-8
At that time, Joseph from Arimathea arrived — a distinguished member of the Sanhedrin. He was another who looked forward to the reign of God. He was bold enough to seek an audience with Pilate and urgently requested the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised that Jesus should have died so soon. He summoned the centurion and inquired whether Jesus was already dead. Learning from the centurion that Jesus was dead, Pilate released the corpse to Joseph. Then, having bought a linen shroud, Joseph took Jesus down, wrapped him in the linen, and placed him in a tomb which had been cut out of rock. Finally he rolled a stone across the entrance of the tomb. Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where Jesus had been entombed.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought perfumed oils with which they intended to go and anoint Jesus. Very early, just after sunrise, on the first day of the week they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” When they looked, they found that the stone had been rolled back (it was a huge one). On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting at the right, dressed in a white robe. This frightened them thoroughly, but he reassured them: “You need not be amazed! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was crucified. He has been raised up; he is not here. See the place where they buried him. Go now and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee, where you will see him just as he told you.’” They made their way out and fled from the tomb bewildered and trembling; and because of their great fear, they said nothing to anyone.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Saturday, April 13 –
