The Hieromartyr Basil, Bishop of Amasea, lived at the beginning of the fourth century in the Pontine city of Amasea. He encouraged and comforted the Christians suffering persecution by the pagans. During this time the Eastern part of the Roman Empire was ruled by Licinius (311-324), the brother-in-law of the holy emperor Constantine the Great. Licinius deceitfully signed St. Constantine’s Edict of Milan (313), which granted religious toleration to Christians but he hated them and continued to persecute them. 

 

Troparion

O holy priest-martyr Basil, you lent yourself to the apostles’ way of life and succeeded them on their throne. Inspired by God, you found the way to contemplation through the practice of virtue. Therefore, you became a perfect teacher of truth, fighting for the faith unto the shedding of your blood. Intercede with Christ our God that He may save our souls.

 

Kontakion

By disobeying the edict of the king, you gained heaven. As you now raise your song there, remember us who commemorate you, O priest-martyr Basil. 

 

Epistle 

Acts 3: 11-16

In those days, as the man (who was cured) stood there clinging to Peter and John, the whole crowd rushed over to them excitedly in Solomon’s Portico. When Peter saw this, he addressed the people as follows: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by some power or holiness of our own? The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, who you handed over and disowned in Pilate’s presence when Pilate was ready to release him. You disowned the Holy and Just One and preferred instead to be granted the release of a murdered. You put to death the Author of life. But God raised him from the dead, and we are his witnesses. It is his name, and trust in this name, that has strengthened the limbs of this man whom you see and know well. Such faith has given him perfect health, as all of you can observe.”

 

Gospel 

John 3: 22-33

At that time Jesus and his disciples came into Judean territory, and he spent some time with them there baptizing. John who was baptizing at Aenon near Salim where the water was plentiful, and people kept coming to be baptized. (John, of course, had not yet been thrown in prison.) A controversy about purification arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew. So they came to John, saying, “Rabbi, the man who was with you across the Jordan – the one about whom you have been testifying – is baptizing now, and everyone is flocking to him.”

John answered: “No one can lay hold on anything unless it is given him from on high. You yourselves are witnessed to the fact that I said: ‘I am not the Messiah; I am sent before him.’ It is the groom who has the bride. The groom’s best man waits there listening for him and is overjoyed to hear his voice. That is my joy, and it is complete. He must increase, while I must decrease. The One who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth is earthly, and he speaks on an earthly plane. The One who comes from heaven (who is above all) testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is truthful.”

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

 

The Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, also known as John Mark (Acts 12:12), was one of the Seventy Apostles, and also the nephew of St. Barnabas. He was born in Jerusalem. The house of his mother Mary adjoined the Garden of Gethsemane. After the Ascension of the Lord, the house of his mother Mary became a place where Christians gathered, and a place of lodging for some of the Apostles (Acts 12:12). St. Mark was a very close companion of the Apostles Peter and Paul and Barnabas. St. Mark was at Seleucia with Paul and Barnabas, and from there he set off to the island of Cyprus, and he traversed the whole of it from east to west. In the city of Paphos, St. Mark witnessed the blinding of the sorcerer Elymas by St. Paul (Acts 13: 6-12). After working with the Apostle Paul, St. Mark returned to Jerusalem, and then went to Rome with the Apostle Peter. From there, he set out for Egypt, where he established a local Church. Finally, he founded the Church of Alexandria. 

 

Troparion

You became an apostle to Christ through the teaching of Peter, and you traveled like the sun over foreign lands. You fathered the Alexandrians in Christ, O blessed saint, and, by you, Egypt was set free from her mistakes. You guide us all like a beacon, O Mark, voice of God. You are a pillar of the Church by your gospel teaching. We rejoice in this and keep your memory. Intercede with God, who proclaims the Gospel through you, to forgive us our many sins.

 

Kontakion

Receiving the grace of the Spirit from heaven, you silenced the babble of the orators, O apostle. You attracted the pagans by preaching of the Gospel and led them to your Master, O blessed Mark.

 

Readings for the saint

Epistle

1st Peter 5: 6-14

Brothers and sisters: Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time he may lift you high. Cast all your cares on him because he cares for you. Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith, realizing that the brotherhood of believers is undergoing the same sufferings throughout the world. The God of all grace, who called you to his everlasting glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish those who have suffered a little while. Dominion be his throughout the ages! Amen.

I am writing briefly through Silvanus, whom I take to be a faithful brother to you. Herewith are expressed my encouragement and my testimony that this is the true grace of God. Be steadfast in it. The church that is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greeting, as does Mark my son. Greet one another with the embrace of true love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. 

 

Gospel

Mark 6: 7-13

At that time Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing on the journey but a walking stick–no food, no traveling bag, not a coin in the purse in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals. “Do not bring a second tunic,” he said, and added: “Whatever house you find yourself in, stay there until you leave the locality. If any place will not receive you or hear you, shake your dust from your feet in testimony against them as you leave.” With that they went off, preaching the need of repentance. They expelled many demons, anointed the sick with oil, and worked many cures. 

 

Readings for the day

Epistle

Acts 3: 1-8

In those days, when Peter and John were going up to the temple for prayer at the three o’clock hour, a man crippled from birth was being carried in. They would bring him every day and put him at the temple gate called “the Beautiful” to beg from the people as they entered. When he saw Peter and John on their way in, he begged them for an alms. Peter fixed his gaze on the man; so did John. “Look at us!” Peter said. The cripple gave them his whole attention, hoping to get something. Then Peter said: “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give to you! In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, walk!” Then Peter took him by the right hand and pulled him up. Immediately the beggar’s feet and ankles became strong; he jumped up, stood for a moment, and began to walk around. He went into the temple with them-walking, jumping about, and praising God.

 

Gospel

John 2: 12-22

At that time Jesus went down to Capernaum, along with his mother and brothers (and his disciples) but they stayed there only a few days.

As the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple precincts he came upon people engaged in selling oxen, sheep and doves, and others seated changing coins. He made a kind of whip of cords and drove sheep and oxen alike out of the temple area, and knocked over the moneychangers’ tables, spilling their coins. He told those who were selling doves: “Get them out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture: “Zeal for your house consumes me.”

At this the Jews responded, “What sign can you show us authorizing you to do these things?” Jesus answered: “Destroy this temple and in three days raise it up.” They retorted, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and you are going to ‘raise it up in three days’!” Actually Jesus was talking about the temple of his body. Only after Jesus had been raised from the dead did his disciples recall that he had said this, and come to believe the Scripture and the word he had spoken. 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

The holy martyr Sabbas Stratelates came from a Gothic tribe. For his bravery, he attained the high rank of military commander, or “stratelates,” and he served under the Roman emperor Aurelian (270-275). From his youth, Sabbas was a Christian and he fervently followed the commands of Christ. He helped the needy, and visited Christians in prison. Because of his pure and virtuous life, the saint received from the Lord the gift of wonderworking, healing the sick, and cast out demons in the name of Christ. When the emperor learned that St. Sabbas was a Christian, he demanded that he apostatize. The martyr threw down his military belt and declared that he would not forsake his faith. They beat him, burned him with torches, and threw him into a cauldron with tar, but the martyr remained unharmed. Looking in at his torments, seventy soldiers came to believe in Christ. They were beheaded by the sword. St. Sabbas was thrown in prison. At midnight, while he was praying, Christ appeared before the martyr and shone on him the light of His Glory. The Savior bade him not to fear, but to stand firm. Encouraged, the Martyr Sabbas underwent new torture in the morning and was drowned in a river in 272.

 

Troparion

Casting off the robes of dignity and honor, O martyr, you confessed Christ before the torturer, the evil king. For this you were subjected to great sufferings, O glorious one, and you obtained a crown of victory from the King of all. You have been placed among heaven’s legions. Therefore, pray for the salvation of our souls, O Sabbas.

 

Kontakion

Showing yourself an invincible Goth, you slayed the barbarians. Enduring a martyrdom of extreme cruelty, you crushed legions of unseen devils. You assumed a crown of victory, O blessed Sabbas, and we ask you to intercede with Christ for us.

 

Epistle

Acts 2: 38-43

In those days, Peter addressed the people: “You must reform and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, that your sins may be forgiven; then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was to you and your children that the promise was made, and to all those still far off whom the Lord our God calls.”

In support of his testimony he used many other arguments, and kept urging, “Save yourselves from this generation which has gone astray.” Those who accepted his message were baptized; some three thousand were added that day.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. A reverent fear overtook them all, for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles. 

 

Gospel

John 3: 1-15

At that time a certain Pharisee named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, came to him at night. “Rabbi,” he said, “we know you are a teacher come from God, for no man can perform signs and wonders such as you perform unless God is with him.” Jesus gave this answer: “I solemnly assure you, no one can see the reign of God unless he is begotten from above.”

“How can a man be born again once he is old?” retorted Nicodemus. “Can he return to his mother’s womb and be born over again?” Jesus replied: “I solemnly assure you, no one can enter into God’s kingdom without being begotten of water and spirit. Flesh begets flesh. Spirit begets spirit. Do not be surprised that I tell you that you must all be begotten from above. The wind blows where it will. You hear the sound it makes but you do not know where it comes from, or where it goes. So it is with everyone begotten of the Spirit.” 

“How can such a thing happen?” asked Nicodemus. Jesus responded: “You hold the office of teacher of Israel and still you do not understand these matters? I solemnly assure you, we are talking about what we know, we are testifying to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. If you do not believe when I tell you about earthly things, how are you to believe when I tell you about those of heaven? No one has gone up to heaven except the One who came down from there– the Son of Man who is in heaven. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that all who believe may have eternal life in him.”

 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

 

The holy great martyr George the Victory-bearer was a native of Cappadocia (a district in Asia Minor), and he grew up in a deeply believing Christian family. When he became a man, St. George entered into the service of the Roman army. He was handsome, brave and valiant in battle, and came to be noticed by the emperor Diocletian (284-305) and joined the imperial guard with the rank of comites, or military commander. Following the advice of the Senate at Nicodemedia, Diocletian gave all his governors full freedom in their court proceedings against Christians, and he promised them his full support. St. George, when he heard the decision of the emperor, distributed all his wealth to the poor, freed his servants, and then appeared in the Senate. The brave soldier of Christ spoke out openly against the emperor’s designs. He confessed himself a Christian, and appealed to all to acknowledge Christ: “I am a servant of Christ, my God, and trusting Him, I have come among you voluntarily, to bear witness concerning the Truth.” After many tortures and miraculous reprieves, St. George was finally beheaded after revealing the Truth of Christ to many, including the Empress Alexandra, who was martyred with him in the year 303.

 

Troparion

You fought the good fight with faith, O George, a martyr of Christ. You exposed the perversion of the persecutors and offered an acceptable sacrifice to God. Therefore, you also received a crown of victory and through your prayers, O holy one, obtained the forgiveness of sins for all. 

 

Kontakion

Reared by God, you were a noble sower of piety, harvesting sheaves of virtue. You sowed in tears but reaped in joy; and having honorably fought and given your blood, you were received by Christ. Through your prayers, O holy one, obtain the forgiveness of sins for all. 

 

Readings for the saint

Epistle

Acts 12: 1-11

In those days King Herod started to harass some of the members of the church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased certain Jews, he took Peter into custody too. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread he had Peter arrested and thrown into prison with four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod intended to bring him before the people after the Passover. Peter was thus detained in prison, while the church prayed fervently to God on his behalf. During the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened in double chains, while guards kept watch at the door. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood nearby and light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. “Hurry, get up!” the angel said. With that, the chains dropped from Peter’s wrists. The angel said, “Put on your belt and your sandals!” This Peter did. Then the angel told him, “Now put on your cloak and follow me.”

Peter followed the angel out, but with no clear realization that this was taking place through the angel’s help. The whole thing seemed to him a mirage. They passed the first guard, then the second, and finally came to the iron gate leading out to the city, which opened for them of itself. They emerged and made their way down a narrow alley, when suddenly the angel left him. Peter had recovered his senses by this time, and said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel to rescue me from Herod’s clutches and from all the Jews hoped for.”

 

Gospel 

John 15: 17-27, 16: 1-2

The Lord said to his disciples: “The command I give you is this, that you love one another. If you find that the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own; the reason it hates you is that you do not belong to the world. But I chose you out of the world. Remember what I told you: no slave is greater than his master. They will harry you as they harried me. They will respect your words as much as they respected mine. All this they will do to you because of my name, for they know nothing of him who sent me. If I had not come to them and spoken to them, they would no be guilty of sin; now, however, their sin cannot be excused. 

“To hate me is to hate my Father. Had I not performed such works among them as no one has ever done before, they would not be guilty of sin; but as it is, they have seen, and they go on hating me and my Father. However, this only fulfills the text of their law: ‘They hated me without cause.’ When the Paraclete comes, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father – and whom I myself will send from the Father– he will bear witness on my behalf. You must bear witness as well, for you have been with me from the beginning.

“I have told all this to keep your faith from being shaken. Not only will they expel you from synagogues; a time will come when anyone who puts you to death will claim to be serving God!”

 

Readings for the day

Epistle

Acts 2: 22-36

In those days, Peter addressed the people: “Men of Israel, listen to me! Jesus the Nazorean was a man who God sent to you with miracles, wonders, and signs as his credentials. These God worked through him in your midst, as you well know. He was delivered up by the sat purpose and plan of God; you even made use of pagans to crucify and kill him. God freed him from death’s bitter pangs, however, and raised him up again, for it was impossible that death should keep its hold on him. David says of him: ‘I have set the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. My heart has been glad and my tongue has rejoiced, my body will live on in hope, for you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faith for one to undergo corruption. You have shown me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

“Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our father David. He died and was buried, and his grave is in our midst to this day. He was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him that one of his descendants would sit upon his throne. He said that he was not abandoned to the nether world, nor did his body undergo corruption, thus proclaiming beforehand the resurrection of the Messiah. This is the Jesus God has raised up, and we are his witnesses. Exalted at God‘s right hand, he first received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father, then poured this Spirit out on us. This is what you now see and hear. David did not go up to heaven, yet David says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’ Therefore let the whole house of Israel know beyond any doubt that God has made both Lord and Messiah this Jesus whom you crucified.

 

Gospel

John 1: 35-51

At that time John was present with two of his disciples. As he watched Jesus walk by he said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard what he said, and followed Jesus. When Jesus turned around and noticed them following, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi (which means Teacher), where do you stay?” “Come and see,“ he answered. So they went to see where he was lodged, and stayed with him that day. (It was about four in the afternoon.).

One of the two who had followed Jesus after hearing John was Simon Peter’s brother Andrew. The first thing he did was seek out his brother Simon and tell him, “we have found the Messiah!” (This term means the Anointed.) Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at Simon and said, “You are Simon, son of John; your name shall be Cephas (which is rendered Peter).”

The next day Jesus wanted to set out for Galilee, but first he came upon Philip. “Follow me,“ Jesus said to him. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. Phillip sought out Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses spoke of in the law — the prophets too — Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” Nathanael‘s response to that was, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?“ And Philip replied, “Come, see for yourself.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he remarked: “This man is a true Israelite. There is no guile in him.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked him. “Before Philip called you,” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree.” “Rabbi,” said Nathanael, “you are the son of God; you are the king of Israel.” Jesus responded: “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see much greater things than that.”

Jesus went on to tell them, “I solemnly assure you, you shall see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man.”

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

 

Our venerable father Theodore the Sykeote was born in the mid-sixth century in the village of Sykeon, not far from the city of Anastasiopolis. When his mother, Maria, conceived the saint, she had a vision of a bright star overshadowing her womb. A clairvoyant elder, whom she consulted, explained that this was the grace of God being poured forth on the baby in her womb. When the boy reached the age of six, his mother presented him with a golden belt, since she intended that her son should become a soldier. That night the Holy Martyr George appeared to her in a dream, and he told her not to consider military service for her son because the boy was destined to serve God. When he was older, St. Theodore went to venerate the holy places in Jerusalem, and there at the Chozeba Lavra near Jordan, he received monastic tonsure. As bishop, St. Theodore toiled much for the welfare of the Church, but his soul yearned for solitary communion with God. After several years he went again to venerate the holy places in Jerusalem. And there, concealing his identity, he settled at the Lavra of Saint Sava, where he lived in solitude from the Nativity of Christ until Pascha. St. Theodore departed for the Lord in the year 610. 

 

Troparion

Having followed the path of the holy from your youth, you became a vessel full of graces. You graced the world with miracles, O priestly Theodore, and you cast out many devils. Now pray to the Lord for all of us. 

 

Kontakion

Ascending by virtue as if in a chariot of fire, you took up your abode in heaven, O God-bearer. You lived on earth like an angel in the flesh, and now you sing praises with angels in heaven. You became a heavenly fount of miracles, O Theodore. 

 

Epistle

Acts 2: 14-21

In those days Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem! Listen to what I have to say. You must realize that these men are not drunk, as you seem to think. It is only nine in the morning! No, it is what Joel the prophet spoke of: ‘It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out a portion of my spirit on all mankind: Your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams. Yes, even on my servants and handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. I will work wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below: blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of that great and glorious day of the Lord. Then shall everyone be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.’”

 

Gospel

Luke 24: 13-35

That same day two of the disciples were making their way to a village named Emmaus seven miles distant from Jerusalem, discussing as they went all that had happened. In the course of their lively exchange, Jesus approached and began to walk along with them. However, they were restrained from recognizing him. He said to them, “What are you discussing as you go your way?” They halted, in distress, and one of them, Cleopas by name, asked him, “Are you the only resident of Jerusalem who does not know the things that went on there these past days?” Jesus said to them, “What things?” They said: “All those that had to do with Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet powerful in word and deed in the eyes of God and all the people; how our chief priests and leaders delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. We were hoping that he was the one who would set Israel free. Besides all this, today, the third day since these things happened, some women of our group have just brought us some astonishing news. They were at the tomb before dawn and failed to find his body, but returned with the tail that they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some other number went to the tomb and found it to be just as the women said, but him they did not see.”

Then Jesus said to them, “What little sense you have! How slow you are to believe all that the prophets have announced! Did not the Messiah have to undergo all this so as to enter into his glory?” Beginning, then, with Moses and all the prophets, Jesus interpreted for them every passage of Scripture which referred to him. By now they were near the village to which they were going, and Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they pressed him: “Stay with us. It is nearly evening – the day is practically over.” So Jesus went in to stay with them.

When Jesus had seated himself with them to eat, he took bread, pronounced the blessing, then broke the bread and began to distribute it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him; whereupon he vanished from their site. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning inside us as he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” They got up immediately and returned to Jerusalem, where they found the Eleven and the rest of the company assembled. They were greeted with, “The Lord has been raised! It is true! He has appeared to Simon.“ Then they recounted what had happened on the road and how they had come to know Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

The holy bishop martyr Januarius and his companions Proculus, Sonius and Faustus (deacons), Desiderius (lector), Eutyches, and Akutionus were martyred in the reigns of Maximian and Galerius the emperors, by the persecutor Timothy. Januarius was bishop of Benevento in Italy. To this day, many wonders are worked at the tomb of this saint. 

The holy martyr Theodore and his mother Philippa suffered under the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161) in Perga, Pamphylia along with Dioscorus, Socrates, and Dionysius. The military commander there ordered the youth to offer sacrifice to idols, but the martyr submitted to neither persuasion nor threats. Then the military commander had him placed on a red-hot plate and poured liquid tar on him. Suddenly, there was an earthquake, and a torrent of water gushed forth from the ground and extinguished the fire. The military commander told St. Philippa to save her son by urging him to offer sacrifice to the idols. St. Philippa replied that when her son was born, it was revealed to her that he would be crucified for Christ. Hearing this, the military commander ordered to crucify St. Theodore, and the other martyrs to be beheaded. St. Theodore hung on the cross for three days, offering prayers to God until he finally died. 

 

Troparion 

Anointed with the grace of the priesthood, you became good shepherds for God’s people. You were snatched and eaten like sheep, but you were offered like a sacrifice to God in imitation of your Master who was slaughtered like a lamb. Pray for us who hold fast to your cherished memory. 

 

Kontakion

You were anointed with the chrism of the priesthood and washed in the blood of martyrdom. You are radiant as you sing praise in heaven’s halls. Guard those who come to your temple and sing; Preserve us who supplicate Christ our God. 

 

Epistle

Acts 1: 12-17 & 21-26

In those days they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olive near Jerusalem–a mere sabbath’s journey away. Entering the city, they went  to the upstairs room where they were staying: Peter and John and James and Andrew; Phillip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus; Simon, the Zealot party member, and Judas son of James. Together they devoted themselves to constant prayer. There were some women in their company, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 

At one point during those days, Peter stood up in the center of the brothers; there must have been a hundred and twenty gathered together. “Brothers,” he said, “the saying in Scripture uttered long ago by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David was destined to be fulfilled in Judas, the one who guided those that arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and he had been given a share in this ministry of ours. 

*”It is entirely fitting, therefore, that one of those who was of our company while the Lord Jesus moved among us, from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us, should be named as witness with us to his resurrection.” At that they nominated two, Joseph (called Barsabbas, also known as Justus) and Mathias. Then they prayed: “O Lord, you read the hearts of men. Make known to us which of these two you choose for this apostolic ministry, replacing Judas who deserted the cause and went the way he was destined to go.” They then drew lots between the two men. The choice fell to Matthias, who was added to the eleven apostles. 

 

Gospel

John 1: 18-28

No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, ever at the Father’s side, who has revealed him. The testimony John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, “Who are you?” was the direct statement, “I am not the Messiah.” They questioned him further, “Who, then? Elijah?” “I am not Elijah,” he answered. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he replied. Finally they said to him: “Tell us who you are, so that we can give answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say for yourself?” John said, quoting the Prophet Isaiah, “I am ‘a voice in the desert, crying out: Make straight the way of the Lord!’” Those whom the Pharisees had sent proceeded to question John further: “If you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?” John answered them: “I baptize with water. There is one among you whom you do not recognize – the one who is to come after me – the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to unfasten.” This happened in Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Our venerable father Theodore Trichinas was born in Constantinople to wealthy and pious parents. From childhood, St. Theodore was inclined toward monasticism, so he left his home, family, and former life in order to enter a monastery in Thrace. There he began his arduous ascetic struggles. He dressed in a hair-shirt, from which he derived the name “Trichinas” (“Hair-shirt Wearer”). He even slept on a stone in order to avoid bodily comfort, and to prevent himself from sleeping too much. His life was adorned with miracles, and he had the power to heal the sick. He reposed at the end of the fourth century or the beginning of the fifth century. A healing myrrh flows from his relics. The name of St. Theodore Trichinas is one of the most revered in the history of Orthodox monasticism. St. Joseph the Hymnographer composed a Canon to the saint. 

 

Troparion

Your abundant tears made the wilderness bloom, and your sufferings made your labors fruitful a hundredfold; you became a shining torch over the world. O venerable father Theodore, pray to Christ our God that He may save our souls.

 

Kontakion

You became famous for your life, O wise father Theodore. For, dressed in the rough garment of a hair shirt, you won treasures in heaven, which surpass those of any king. Now you have traded your laborer’s garb for heaven’s robes. Pray unceasingly for all of us, O venerable father. 

 

Epistle

Acts 1: 1-9

In my first account, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up to heaven, having first instructed the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit. In the time after his suffering he showed them in many convincing ways that he was alive, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking to them about the reign of God. On one occasion when he met with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem: “Wait, rather, for the fulfillment of my Father’s promise, of which you have heard me speak. John baptized with water, but within a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

While they were with him they asked, “Lord, are you going to restore the rule to Israel now?” His answer was: “The exact time it is not yours to know. The Father has reserved that to himself. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes down on you; then you are to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, yes, even to the ends of the earth.” No sooner had he said this than he was lifted up before their eyes in a cloud which took him from their sight.

 

Gospel

John 1: 1-17

In the beginning was the Word; the Word was in God’s presence, and the Word was God. He was present to God in the beginning. Through him all things came into being, and apart from him nothing came to be. Whatever came to be in him, found life, life for the light of men. The light shines on in darkness, a darkness that did not overcome it. There was a man named John sent by God, who came as a witness to testify to the light, so that through him all men might believe–but only to testify to the light, for he himself was not the light. The real light which gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and through him the world was made, yet the world did not know who he was. To his own he came, yet his own did not accept him. Any who did accept him he empowered to become children of God. These are they who believe in his name– who were begotten not by blood, nor by carnal desire, nor by man’s willing it, but by God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory: The glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love. John testified to him by proclaiming: “This is he of whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me ranks ahead of me, for he was before me.’” Of his fullness we have all had a share – love following upon love. For while the law was given through Moses, this enduring love came through Jesus Christ. 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Our venerable father John of the Ancient Caves is so called because he lived in the Lavra of St. Chariton during the eighth century. This was called the “Old,” or ancient cave, since it was one of the oldest of the Palestinian monasteries. The Lavra was situated not far from Bethlehem, near the Dead Sea. In his early years, St. John went to venerate the holy places of Jerusalem, and settled at the Lavra, where he labored in fasting, vigil, and prayer. He was ordained to the holy priesthood, and glorified by his ascetic life.

 

Troparion

In you, O holy father John, the faithful image of God shone forth, for you carried your cross and followed Christ. You taught by your deeds how to spurn the body, for it passes away; and how to value the soul, for it is immortal. Therefore, your soul is forever in happiness with the angels.  

 

Kontakion

You gave up food, wealth, and fame, and you lived as a wander in the deserts. You withered your body by your abstinence, and with courage you passed your life in silence. For this we sing to you, O venerable model of virtue: Beg Christ our God to forgive the sins of those who lovingly cherish your memory. 

 

Epistle

Romans 6: 3b-11

Brothers and sisters: We who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. Through baptism into his death we were buried with him, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life. If we have been united with him through likeness to his death, so shall we be through a like resurrection. This we know: our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed and we might be slaves to sin no longer. A man who is dead has been freed from sin. If we have died with Christ, we believe that we are also to live with him. We know that Christ, once raised from the dead, will never die again; death has no more power over him. His death was death to sin, once for all; his life is life for God. In the same way, you must consider yourselves dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus. 

 

Gospel

Matthew 28: 1-20

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene came with the other Mary to inspect the tomb. Suddenly there was a mighty earthquake, as the angel of the Lord descended from heaven. He came to the stone, rolled it back, and sat on it. In appearance he resembled a flash of lightning while his garments were as dazzling as snow. The guards grew paralyzed with fear of him and fell down like dead men. Then the angel spoke, addressing the women: “Do not be frightened. I know you are looking for Jesus the crucified, but he is not here. He has been raised, exactly as promised. Come and see the place where he was entombed. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has been raised from the dead and now goes ahead of you to Galilee, where you will see him.’ That is the message I have for you.”

They hurried away from the tomb half-overjoyed, half-fearful, and ran to carry the good news to his disciples. Suddenly, without warning, Jesus stood before them and said, “Peace!” The women came up and embraced his feet and did him homage. At this Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid! Go and carry the news to my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, where they will see me.”

As the women were returning, some of the guard went into the city to report to the chief priests all that had happened. They, in turn, convened with the elders and worked out their strategy, giving the soldiers a large bribe with the instructions: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were asleep.’ If any word of it gets to the procurator, we will straighten it out with him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers pocketed the money and did as they had been instructed. This is the story that circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The eleven disciples made their way to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had summoned them. At the sight of him, those who had entertained doubts fell down in homage. Jesus came forward and addressed them in these words: “Full authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth; go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name ‘of the Father and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.’ Teach them to carry out everything I have commanded you. And know that I am with you always, until the end of the world!”

 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

Our venerable father John was born at the end of the eighth century. At a young age he became a disciple of St. Gregory of Decapolis and accepted the monastic tonsure from him at the monastery in Thessalonica. Under the guidance of this experienced teacher, St. John attained great spiritual perfection. When the emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820) renewed the persecution against Orthodox Christians who venerated the holy icons, St. Gregory of Decapolis, St. Joseph the Hymnographer, and St. John went from Thessalonica to Constantinople to raise opposition to the Iconoclast heresy. In spite of the persecution, Saints Gregory and John fearlessly defended Orthodoxy for several years, and preached the veneration of icons. After many hardships, St. Gregory died (around 820), and soon after his faithful disciple John also departed for the Lord. St. Joseph the Hymnopgrapher transferred the relics of Saints Gregory and John and placed them in the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

 

Troparion

In you, O holy father John, the faithful image of God shone forth, for you carried your cross and followed Christ. You taught by your deeds how to spurn the body, for it passes away; and how to value the soul, for it is immortal. Therefore, your soul is forever in happiness with the angels.

 

Kontakion

Adorning your life with chastity, O father, you disciplined your body. You overcame the attacks of the foe, O blessed saint, and you presented yourself before God to enjoy the life of unending bliss as you so richly deserve, O John. Pray to the Lord for our salvation.

 

Readings for the day

Isaiah 52:13- 54:1

See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.

Just as there were many who were astonished at him—so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals—

so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.

Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;

and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account.

Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

By a perversion of justice he was taken away.

Who could have imagined his future?

For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people.

They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.

When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.

Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.

The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Sing, O barren one who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor!

For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the Lord.

 

1st Corinthians 1:18- 2:2

Brothers and sisters: The message of the cross is complete absurdity to those who are headed to ruin, but to us who are experiencing salvation it is the power of God. Scripture says, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and thwart the cleverness of the clever.” Where is the master of worldly argument? Has not God turned the wisdom of this world into folly? Since in God’s wisdom the world did not come to know him through “wisdom,” it pleased God to save those who believe through the absurdity of the preaching of the gospel. Yes, Jews demand “signs” and Greeks look for “wisdom,” but we preach Christ crucified–a stumbling block to Jews, and an absurdity to Gentiles; but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s folly is wiser than men, and his weakness more powerful than men.

Brothers and sisters, you are among those called. Consider your situation. Not many of you are wise, as men account wisdom; not many are influential; and surely not many are well-born. God chose those whom the world considers absurd to shame the wise; he singled out the weak of this world to shame the strong. He chose the world’s lowborn and despised, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who were something; so that mankind can do no boasting before God. God it is who has given you life in Christ Jesus. He has made him our wisdom and also our justice, our sanctification, and our redemption. This is just as you find it written, “Let him who would boast, boast in the Lord.” As for myself, brothers and sisters, when I came to you I did not come proclaiming God’s testimony with any particular eloquence or “wisdom.” No, I determined that while I was with you I would speak of nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified.

 

Matthew 27: 1-38; Luke 23: 39-44; Matthew 27: 27: 39-54; John 19: 31-37; Matthew 27: 55-61

At daybreak All the chief priests and the elders of the people took formal action against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him and let him away to be handed over to the procurator Pilate.

Then Judas, who had handed Jesus over, saying that Jesus had been condemned, began to regret his action deeply. He took 30 pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders and said, “I did wrong to deliver up an innocent man!” They retorted, “What is that to us? It is your affair!” So Judas flung the money into the temple and left. He went off and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the silver, observing, “It is not right to deposit this in the temple treasury since it is blood money.” After consultation, they used it to buy the Potter‘s field as a cemetery for foreigners. That is why that field, even today, is called Blood Field. On that occasion, what was said through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the 30 pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by the Israelites, and they paid it out for the potter’s field just as the Lord had commanded me.”

Jesus was arraigned before the procurator, who questioned him: “Are you the king of the Jews?“ Jesus responded, “As you say.” Yet when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he had made no reply. Then Pilate said to him, “Surely you hear how many charges they bring against you?“ He did not answer Pilate on a single count, much to the procurator’s surprise.

Now on the occasion of a festival the procurator was accustomed to release one prisoner, whom the crowd would designate. They had at the time a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. Since they were already assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you wish me to release for you, Barabbas or Jesus the so-called Messiah?“ Pilate knew, of course, that it was out of jealousy that they had handed Jesus over.

While Pilate was still presiding on the bench, his wife sent him a message: “Do not interfere in the case of that holy man. I had a dream about him today which has greatly upset me.”

Meanwhile, the chief priests and elders convinced the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas and have Jesus put to death. So when the procurator asked them, “Which one do you wish me to release for you?” They said, “Barabbas.”  Pilate said to them, “Then what am I to do with Jesus, the so-called Messiah?” “Crucify him!” they all cried. He said, “Why, what crime has he committed?” But they only shouted the louder, “Crucify him!” Pilate finally realized that he was making no impression that a riot was breaking out instead. He called for water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, declaring as he did so, “I am innocent of the blood of this just man. The responsibility is yours.” The whole people said and replied, “Let his blood be on us and on our children.” At that, Pilate released Barabbas to them. Jesus, however, he first had scourged; then he handed him over to be crucified.

The procurator’s soldiers took Jesus inside the praetorium and collected the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and wrapped him in a scarlet military cloak. Weaving a crown out of thorns they fixed it on his head, and stuck a reed in his right hand. Then they began to mock him by dropping to their knees before him, saying, “All hail, king of the Jews!” They also spat at him. Afterward they took hold of the reed and kept striking him on the head. Finally, when they had finished making a fool of him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and let him off to crucifixion. 

On their way out they met a Cyrenian named Simon. This man they pressed into service to carry the cross. Upon arriving at a site called Golgotha (a name which means Skull Place), the soldiers gave Jesus a drink of wine flavored with gall, which Jesus tasted but refused to drink.

When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among them by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Above his head they had put the charge against him in writing: “THIS IS JESUS, KING OF THE JEWS.” Two insurgence were crucified along with him, one at his right and one at his left.

*One of the criminals hanging in crucifixion blasphemed Jesus: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Then save yourself and us.” But the other one rebuked the first: “Have you no fear of God, seeing you are under the same sentence? We deserve it, after all. We are only paying the price for what we’ve done, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you enter upon your reign.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you: this day you will be with me in paradise.“

*People going by kept on insulting Jesus, tossing their heads and saying: “So you are the one who was going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days! Save yourself, why don’t you? Come down off at cross if you are God‘s Son!” The chief priest, the scribes, and the elders also joined in the jeering: “He saved others but cannot save himself! So he is the king of Israel! Let’s see him come down from that cross and then we will believe in him. He relied on God; let’s God rescue him now if he wants to. After all, he claimed, ‘I am God’s Son.’” The insurgents who had been crucified with him kept taunting him in the same way.

From noon onward, there was darkness over the whole land until mid afternoon. Then toward mid afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud tone, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”, that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This made some of the bystanders who heard it remark, “He is evoking Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran off and got a sponge. He soaked it in cheap wine, and sticking it on a reed, tried to make Jesus drink. Meanwhile the rest said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to his rescue.” Once again Jesus cried out in a loud voice, and then gave up his spirit.

Suddenly the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, boulders split, tombs opened. Many bodies of saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After Jesus’ resurrection they came forth from their tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and his men who were keeping watch over Jesus were terror-stricken at seeing the earthquake and all that was happening, and said, “Clearly this was the Son of God!”

*Since it was the Preparation Day the Jews did not want to have the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, for that sabbath was a solemn feast day. They asked Pilate that the legs be broken and the bodies be taken away. Accordingly, the soldiers came and broke the legs of the men crucified with Jesus, first of the one, then of the other. When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers thrust a lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. This testimony has been given by an eyewitness, and his testimony is true. He tells what he knows is true, so that you may believe these events took place for the fulfillment of Scripture: “Break none of his bones.” There is still another Scripture passage which says: “They shall look on him whom they have pierced.”

*Many women were present looking on from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to attend to his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

When evening fell, a wealthy man from Arimathea arrived, Joseph by name. He was another of Jesus’ disciples, and had gone to request the body of Jesus. Thereupon Pilate issued an order for its release. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in fresh linen and placed it in his own new tomb which had been hewn from a formation of rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb.

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com