The holy and glorious martyr Irene, at Thessalonica in Macedonia. Since she had hidden the sacred books in violation of the edict of Diocletian, she was taken to a public house of ill repute, then burned in a fire by order of the governor Dulecetius. It was under the same governor that her sisters Agape and Chionia had suffered previously. 

Troparion

O Jesus, your lamb Irene cries out to You with great love: O my Bridegroom, I long for You in great pain. I am crucified with you, and in baptism I am buried with You. I suffer for your sake in order to reign with You. I die for You in order to live in You. Accept me as an immaculate victim since I am immolated for your love. Through her intercession, O merciful One, save our souls. 

Kontakion

Anointed with the sweetness of virginity, you were beautiful in your martyrdom, O virgin Irene. Robed in crimson from your blood, you exposed the lies of the godless. For this the Creator crowned you in triumph. 

Epistle

Acts 16: 16-34

In those days, while Paul and Luke were on their way to the place of prayer, they met a slave girl who had a clairvoyant spirit. She used to bring substantial profit to her masters by fortunetelling. The girl began to follow Paul and the rest of them shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God; they will make known to you a way of salvation.” She did this for several days until finally Paul became annoyed, turned around, and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you, come out of her!” Then and there the spirit left her.

When her masters saw that their source of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the main square before the local authorities. They turned them over to the magistrates with this complaint: “These men are agitators disturbing the peace of our city! Furthermore, they are Jews, which means they advocate customs which are not lawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.” The crowd joined the attack on them, and the magistrates stripped them and ordered them to be flogged. After receiving many lashes they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was given instructions to guard them well. Upon receipt of these instructions he put them in maximum-security, going so far as to chain their feet to a stake.

About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as their fellow prisoners listened, a severe earthquake suddenly shook the place, rocking the prison to its foundations. Immediately all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains were pulled loose. The jailer woke up to see the prison gates wide open. Thinking that the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword to kill himself; but Paul shouted to him, “Do not harm yourself! We are all still here.” The jailer called for a light, then rushed in and fell trembling at the seat of Paul and Silas. After a brief interval he let them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” Their answer was, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and all your household.” They proceeded to announce the word of God to him and to everyone in his house. At that late hour of the night he took them in and bathed their wounds; then he and his whole household were baptized. He led them up into his house, spread a table before them, and joyfully celebrated with his whole family his newfound faith in God.

Gospel

John 9: 1-38

At the time, as Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, was it his sin or that of his parents that caused him to be born blind?” “Neither,” answered Jesus, “ it was no sin, either of this man or of his parents. Rather, it was to let God’s works show forth in him. We must do the deeds of him who sent me while it is day. The night comes on when no one can work. While I am in the world I am the light of the world.”

With that Jesus spat on the ground, made mud with his saliva, and smeared the man’s eyes with mud. Then he told him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” This name means, “One who has been sent.” So the man went off and washed, and came back able to see. 

His neighbors and the people who had been accustomed to seeing him begging began to ask, “Isn’t this the fellow who used to sit and beg?” Some were claiming it was he; others maintained it was not but someone who looked like him. The man himself said, “I am the one.” They said to him then, “How were your eyes opened?” He answered, “That man they called Jesus made mud and smeared it on my eyes, telling me to go to Siloam and wash. When I did go and wash, I was able to see.” “Where is he?” they asked. He replied, “I have no idea.” 

Next, they took the man who had been born blind to the Pharisees. Note that it was on a Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud pasted and opened his eyes. The Pharisees, in turn, began to inquire how he had recovered his sight. He told them, “He put mud on my eyes. I washed it off, and now I can see.” This prompted some of the Pharisees to assert, “This man cannot be from God because he does not keep the sabbath.” Others objected, “If a man is a sinner, how can he perform signs like these?” They were sharply divided over Jesus. Then they addressed the blind man again: “Since it was your eyes he opened, what do you have to say about him?” “He is a prophet,” he replied. 

The Jews refused to believe that he had really been born blind and had begun to see, until they summoned the parents of this man who now could see. “Is this your son?” they asked, “and if so, do you attest that he was blind at birth? How do you account for the fact that now he can see?” The parents answered: “We know this is our son, and we know he was blind at birth. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we have no idea. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” His parents answered in this fashion because they were afraid of the Jews, who had already agreed among themselves that anyone who acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That is why his parents said, “He is of age — ask him.”

A second time they summoned the man who had been born blind and said to him, “Give glory to God! First of all, we know this man is a sinner.” “I do not know whether he is a sinner or not,” he answered. “I know this much: I was blind before; now I can see.” They persisted: “Just what did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” “I have told you once, but you would not listen to me,” he answered them. “Why do you want to hear it all over again? Do not tell me you want to become his disciples too?” They retorted scornfully: “You are the one who is that man’s disciple. We are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we have no idea where this man comes from.” The man came back at them: “Well, this is news! You do not know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners, but that if someone is devout and obeys his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever gave sight to a person blind from birth. If this man were not from God, he could never have done such a thing.” “What!” they exclaimed, “You are steeped in sin from your birth, and you are giving us lectures? With that they threw him out bodily.

When Jesus heard of his expulsion, he sought the man out and asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus replied, “You have seen him, and he is speaking to you now.” “I do believe, Lord,” he said, and bowed down to worship him.  

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

The holy martyr Pelagia of Tarsus in Cilicia (southeastern Asia Minor) lived in the third century during the reign of Diocletian (284-305), and was the daughter of illustrious pagans. When she heard about Jesus Christ from her Christian friends, she believed in Him and desired to preserve her virginity, dedicating her whole life to the Lord. Diocletian sentenced Pelagia to be burned in a red-hot bronze bull. Not permitting the executioners to touch her body, the holy martyr signed herself with the Sign of the Cross, and went into the bronze bull and her flesh melted like myrrh, filling the whole city with fragrance. St. Pelagia’s bones remained unharmed and were removed by the pagans to a place outside the city. Four lions came out of the wilderness and sat around the bones letting neither bird nor wild beast get at them. The lions protected the relics of the saint until Bishop Linus came to that place and gathered them all up and buried the relics with honor. Later, a church was built over her holy relics. 

Troparion

O Jesus, your lamb Pelagia cries out to You with great love: O my Bridegroom, I long for You in great pain. I am crucified with You, and in baptism I am buried with You. I suffer for your sake in order to reign with You. I die for You in order to live in You. Accept me as an immaculate victim since I am immolated for your love. Through her intercession, O merciful One, save our souls. 

Kontakion

Having inflamed your soul with love of Christ, you entered the boiling pot with courage. You became a sacrifice of pleasing aroma to the Lord. Today we remember you, O wise Pelagia, and we sing to you. 

Epistle

Acts 15: 35-41

In those days, Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. After a certain time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back now and see how the brothers are getting on in each of their towns where we proclaimed the word of the Lord.” Barnabas wanted to take along John, called Mark. But Paul insisted that, as Mark had deserted them at Pamphylia, refusing to join them on that mission, he was not fit to be taken along now. The disagreement which ensued was so sharp that the two separated. Barnabas took Mark along with him and sailed for Cyprus.

Paul, for his part, chose Silas to accompany him on his journey, and in this he was commended by the brothers to the favor of the Lord. He traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, giving the churches there renewed assurance. 

Gospel

John 10: 27-38

The Lord said to the people coming to him: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father is greater than all, in what he has given me, and there is no snatching out of his hand. The Father and I are one.”

When some of the Jews again reached for rocks to stone him, Jesus protested to them, “Many good deeds have I shown you from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” The Jews retorted, “It is not for any ‘good deed’ that we are stoning you, but for the blaspheming. You who are only a man are making yourself God.”

Jesus answered: “Is it not written in your law, ‘I have said, You are gods?’ If it calls those men gods to whom God’s word was addressed –and Scripture cannot lose its force– do you claim that I blasphemed when, as he whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, I said, ‘I am God’s Son?’ If I do not perform my Father’s works, put no faith in me. But if I do perform them, even though you put no faith in me, put faith in these works, so as to realize what it means that the Father is in me and I in him.”

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

Our venerable father Theodosius the Great founded the first cenobitic monastery in Palestine during the fifth century. He left his monastery to champion Orthodoxy when a heresy arose under the Emperor Anastasius. He traveled to Jerusalem and in the church, he stood at the high place and cried out for all to hear: “Whoever does not honor the four Ecumenical Councils, let him be anathema!” For this bold deed the monk was sent to prison, but soon returned after the death of the emperor. Saint Theodosius accomplished many healings and other miracles during his life, coming to the aid of the needy. Also by his intercession, soldiers were saved from death, and he saved those perishing in shipwrecks and those lost in the desert. Before his death, Saint Theodosius summoned to him three beloved bishops and revealed to them that he would soon depart to the Lord. After three days, he died at the age of 105. The saint’s body was buried with reverence in the cave in which he lived at the beginning of his ascetic deeds.

Troparion

Loving the monastic life from your youth, you climbed the summit of virtue. Achieving your goal, you took up life in a cave. Perfecting your life by fasting, you became like an angel. You have enlightened all the Slav lands like a star. O father Theodosius, intercede with Christ our God to save our souls. 

Kontakion

We venerate the star of all the Slav lands today, rising in the East and traveling West. The blessed Theodosius radiated miracles and holiness by his goodness and monastic piety. 

Readings for the saint

Epistle

Hebrews 13: 7-16

Brothers and sisters: Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you; consider how their lives ended, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good to have our hearts strengthened by the grace of God and not by foods which are useless to those who take them as a standard for living. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. The bodies of the animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus died outside the gate, to sanctify the people by his own blood. Let us go to him outside the camp, bearing the insult which he bore. For here we have no lasting city; we are seeking one which is to come. Through him let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which acknowledge his name. Do not neglect good deeds and generosity; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.

Gospel

Matthew 11: 27-30

The Lord said to his disciples: “everything has been given over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son but the Father, and no one knows the Father but the Son– and anyone whom the Son wished to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.”

Readings for the day

Epistle

Acts 15: 5-12

In those days, some of the converted Pharisess then got up and demanded that such Gentiles be circumcised and told to keep Mosaic law. The apostles and the presbyters accordingly convened to look into the matter. After much discussion, Peter took the floor and said to them: “Brothers, you know well enough that from the early days God selected me from your number to be the one whose lips the Gentile would hear the message of the gospel and believe. God, who reads the hearts of men, showed his approval by granting the Holy Spirit to them just as he did to us. He made no distinction between them and us, but purified their hearts by means of faith also. Why, then, do you put God to the test by trying to place on the shoulders of these converts a yoke which neither we nor our fathers were able to bear? Our belief is rather that we are saved by the favor of the Lord Jesus and so are they.” At that the whole assembly fell silent. They listened to Barnabas and Paul as the two described all the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them. 

Gospel

John 10: 17-28

The Lord said to the people coming to him: “The Father loves me for this: that I lay down my life to take it up again. No one takes it from me; I lay it down freely. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Because of these words, the Jews were sharply divided once more. Many were claiming: “He is possessed by a devil – out of his mind! Why pay attention to him?” Others maintained: “These are not the words of a madman. Surely a devil cannot open the eyes of the blind!”

It was winter, and the time came for the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. Jesus was walking in the temple area, in Solomon’s Portico, when the Jews gathered around him and said, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you really are the Messiah, tell us so in plain words.” Jesus answered: “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name give witness in my favor, but you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.”

Our holy father Athanasius the Great, archbishop of Alexandria, most outstanding in his holiness and teaching, who vigorously fought for the orthodox faith in Alexandria and Egypt from the time of Constantine to that of the emperor Valens. He patiently suffered many intrigues from the Arians and was frequently forced into exile. When he had finally returned to the Church entrusted to him, after many trials and crowns of patience, he rested in the peace of Christ in the forty-sixth year of his priesthood in the year 373. 

Troparion

You were the pillar of Orthodoxy, supporting the Church. You preached the divine dogma that the Son was of one nature with the Father, O holy father and archbishop Athanasius, you made Arius blush with shame. Beg Christ our God to have mercy on us.

Kontakion

Blaring trumpet of the Lord and flute of the Spirit, O great Athanasius, o fiery mind, it is fitting to sing your praises with hymns; for you taught us to honor the Trinity of one essence. 

Epistle

Acts 14:20b – 15:4

In those days, Paul left with Barnabas for Derbe. After they had proclaimed the good news in that town and made numerous disciples, they retracted their steps to Lystra and Iconium first, then to Antioch. They gave their disciples reassurances, and encouraged them to preserve in the faith with this instruction: “We must undergo many trials if we are to enter into the reign of God.” In each church they installed presbyters and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith.

Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. After preaching the message in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been commended to the favor of God for the task they had now completed. On their arrival, they called the congregation together and related all that God had helped them accomplish, and how he opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Then they spent some time there with the disciples.

Some men came down to Antioch from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” This created dissension and much controversy between them and Paul and Barnabas. Finally it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some others should go up to see the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem about this question. 

The church saw them off and they made their way through Phoenicia and Samaria, telling everyone about the conversion of the Gentiles as they went. Their story caused great joy among the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by that church, as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, to whom they reported all that God has helped them accomplish.

Gospel

John 9:39-41, 10:1-9

The Lord said to the people coming to him: “I came into this world to divide it, to make the sightless see and the seeing blind.” Some of the Pharisees around him picked this up, saying, “You are not calling us blind, are you?” To which Jesus replied: “If you were blind there would be no sin in that. ‘But we see,’ you say, and your sins remain. Truly I assure you: Whoever does not enter the sheepfold through the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a marauder. The one who enters through the gate is shepherd of the sheep; the keeper opens the gate for him. The sheep hear his voice as he calls his own by name and leads them out. When he has brought out those that are his, he walks in front of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. They will not follow a stranger; such a one they will flee, because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

Even though Jesus used this figure with them, they did not grasp what he was trying to tell them. He therefore said to them again: “My solemn word is this: I am the sheepgate. All who came before me were thieves and marauders whom the sheep did not heed. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be safe. He will go in and out, and find pasture.” 

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

The holy prophet Jeremiah, who suffered many persecutions at the time of Joachim and Zedekiah, kings of Judah. He warned of the destruction of the Holy City and the deportation of the people. For this reason, the Church has held him to be a figure of the patience of Christ. He also foretold the new and everlasting covenant, consummated in Christ Jesus himself, by whom the omnipotent Father would write the law on the deepest heart of the children of Israel, that he himself might be their God and they might be his people. (cf. Jer 32:38)

Troparion

As we celebrate the memory of your prophet Jeremiah, O Lord, we implore You to save our souls through his prayers.  

Kontakion

O great prophet and martyr, you received the gift of prophecy after you purified your heart by the fire of the Spirit. How loudly you proclaimed the message, O Jeremiah: This is our God, and you shall have none other before Him. He has taken on flesh and has appeared on earth. 

Epistle

Acts 13: 13-24

In those days, from Paphos, Paul and his companions put out to sea and sailed to Perga in Pamphylia. There John left them and returned to Jerusalem. They continued to travel on from Perga to Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath day they entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the law and of the prophets, the leading men of the synagogue sent this message to them: “Brothers, if you have any exhortation to address to the people, please speak up.”

So Paul arose, motioned to them for silence, and began: “Fellow Israelites and you others who reverence our God, listen to what I have to say! The God of the people Israel once chose our fathers. He made this people great during their sojourn in the land of Egypt, and with an outstretched arm he led them out of it. For forty years he put up with them in the desert: then he destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan to give them that country as their heritage at the end of some four hundred and fifty years. Later on he set up judges to rule them until the time of the prophet Samuel. When they asked for a king, God gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled for forty years. Then God removed him and raised up David as their king; on this behalf God testified, ‘I have found David son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart who will fulfill my every wish.’

“According to his promise, God has brought forth from this man’s descendants Jesus, a savior for Israel. John heralded the coming of Jesus by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.”

Gospel

John 6: 5:14

At that time Jesus looked up and caught sight of a vast crowd coming toward him. He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for all these people to eat?” He knew well what he intended to do but he asked this to test Philip’s response. Philip replied, “Not even with two hundred days’ wages could we buy loaves enough to give each of them a mouthful!”

One of Jesus/ disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, remarked to Jesus, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and a couple of dried fish, but what good is that for so many?” Jesus said, “Get the people to recline.” Even though the men numbered about five thousand, there was plenty of grass for them to find a place on the ground. Jesus then took the loaves of bread, gave thanks, and passed them around to those reclining there; he did the same with the dried fish, as much as they wanted. When they had had enough, he told his disciples, “Gather up the crusts that are left over so that nothing will go to waste.” At this, they gathered twelve baskets full of pieces left over by those who had been fed with the five barley loaves. When the people saw the sign he had performed they began to say, “This undoubtedly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

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

The Holy Apostle James, son of Zebedee, was the brother of St. John the Theologian, and one of the Twelve Apostles. He and his brother, St. John, were called to be Apostles by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who called them the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). It was this James, with John and Peter, who witnessed the Raising of the daughter of Jairus, the Lord’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, and His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. After the Descent of the Holy Spirit, St. James preached in Spain and other lands before returning to Jerusalem. He openly and boldly preached Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, and he denounces the Pharisees and the Scribes with the words of Holy Scripture, reproaching them for their malice of heart and unbelief.

 

Troparion

You were an apostle of Christ and the beloved of John. O praiseworthy James, obtain absolution for those who sing the praises of your memory and find mercy for our souls. 

 

Kontakion

O glorious James, when you heard the Divine Word calling you, you put aside your love for your father and hurried to Christ with your brother, John. Therefore, both of you were made worthy to see the divine Transfiguration of the Lord. 

 

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

Luke 5: 1-11

At that time as Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd pressed in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats moored by the side of the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to pull out a short distance from the shore; then, remaining seated, he continued to teach the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have been hard at it all night long and have caught nothing; but if you say so, I will lower the nets.” Upon doing this they caught such a great number of fish that their nets were at the breaking point. They signaled to their mates in the other boats to come and help them. These came, and together they filled the two boats until they nearly sank.

At the sight of this, Simone Peter fell at the knees of Jesus saying, “Leave me, Lord. I am a sinful man.” For indeed, amazement at the catch they had made seized him and all his shipmates, as well as James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching men.” With that they brought their boats to land, left everything, and became his followers. 

Readings for the day

Epistle

Acts 12:25 – 13:12

In those days, Barnabas, Symeon known as Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. On one occasion, while they were engaged in the liturgy of the Lord and were fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them: “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me to do the work for which I have called them.” Then, after they had fasted and prayed, they imposed hands on Paul and Barnabas and sent them off. 

These two, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to the port of Seleucia and set sail from there for Cyprus. On their arrival in Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues, John accompanying them as an assistant. They traveled over the whole island as far as Paphos, where they came across a Jewish magician named Bar-Jesus who posed as a prophet. He was attached to the court of the proconsular governor Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence who had summoned Barnabas and Saul and was anxious to hear the word of God. But Elymas – “the magician,” for that was what his name means – opposed them and sought to turn the governor away from the faith. Saul (also known as Paul) was filled with the Holy Spirit; he stared at Elymas and exclaimed: “You are an imposter and a thoroughgoing fraud, you son of Satan and enemy of all that is right! Will you never stop trying to make crooked the straight path of the Lord? The Lord’s hand is upon you even now! For a time you shall be blind, unable so much as to see the sun.” At once a musty darkness came over Elymas, and he groped about for someone to lead him by the hand. When the governor saw what had happened, he believed, so impressed was he by the teaching about the Lord. 

 

Gospel

John 8:51-58

The Lord said to the people coming to him: “I solemnly assure you, if a man is true to my word he shall never see death.” The Jews retorted, “Now we are sure you are possessed. Abraham is dead. The prophets are dead. Yet you claim, ‘A man shall never know death if he keeps my word.’ Surely you do not pretend to be greater than our father Abraham, who died! Or the prophets, who died! Whom do you make yourself out to be?”

Jesus answered: “If I glorify myself, that glory comes to nothing. He who gives me glory is the Father, the very one you claim for your God, even though you so not know him. But I know him. Were I to say I do not know him, I would be no better than you – a liar! Yes, I know him well, and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he might see my day. He saw it and was glad.”

At this the Jews objected: “You are not yet fifty! How can you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered them: “I solemnly declare it: before Abraham came to be, I AM.” At that they picked up rocks to throw at Jesus, but he hid himself and slipped out of the temple precincts. 

 

 

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

 

The nine holy martyrs of Cyzice burned with a love for Christ. These martyrs refused to offer sacrifice to idols or deny Christ as their Lord. They were cruelly tortured and finally beheaded in the third century. 

Our venerable father Memnon the Wonderworker was from early days devoted to fasting and prayer, and became a great wonder-worker for his people. He was a Roman centurion, converted to the faith by St. Severus, and was martyred in the days of Diocletian and Maximian in the third century. 

Troparion for the martyrs

O Lord our God, your holy martyrs have deserved the crown of immortality on account of their good fight. Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors and crushed Satan’s dreadful might. Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls. 

Troparion for Memnon

In you, O holy father Memnon, the faithful image of God shone forth, for you carried your cross and swallowed 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 for the martyrs

See the strong and glorious choir of nine martyrs, the men who professed the Trinity of triple glory. As their trial began they exclaimed: We offer You our bodies and souls as a sacrifice poured out in our blood, O Master. Since You are merciful, O Master, number us among the saints.

Kontakion for Memnon

We praise you as a brilliant star, O blessed Memnon. You brighten the world by your virtue and miracles. You approached the Unapproachable, and so we praise the Savior as we keep your memory.

Epistle

Acts 12: 12-17

In those days [after Peter had been miraculously freed from prison], he went to the house of Mary the mother of John (also known as Mark), where many others gathered in prayer. Peter knocked at the door and a maid named Rhoda came to answer it. On recognizing his voice she was so overjoyed that she did not stop to open the door, but ran in and announced that Peter was outside. “You’re out of your wits,” they said to her, but she insisted it was true. All they could say was, “It must be his angel.” Through all this, Peter kept on knocking. They finally opened the door and were astonished to see him. He motioned to them to be quiet, and explained how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Report this to James and the brothers,” he said, then left them to go off to another place. 

Gospel

John 8: 42-51

The Lord said to the people coming to him: “Were God your father you would love me, for I came forth from God, and am here. I did not come of my own will; it was he who sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. The father you spring from is the devil, and willingly you carry out his wishes. He brought death to man from the beginning, and has never based himself on truth; the truth is not in him. Lying speech is his native tongue; he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I deal in the truth, you give me no credence. Can any one of you convict me of sin? If I am telling the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears every word God speaks. The reason you do not hear is that you are not of God.”

The Jews answered, “Are we not right, after all, in saying you are a Samaritan, and possessed besides?” Jesus replied: “I am not possessed. However, I revere my Father, while you fail to respect me. I seek no glory for myself; there is one who seeks it, and it is he who judges. I solemnly assure you, if a man is true to my word he shall never see death.”

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

The holy apostles Jason and Sosipater were disciples of St. Paul during the reign of the emperor Nero. They are mentioned in Romans 16:21 by Paul, who calls them his kinsmen. Jason was the first bishop of Tarsus, and Sosipater the first bishop of Iconium. 

The holy martyrs Dadas, Maximus, and Quintillian were, at Dorostrorus in Moesia, martyrs in the persecution of the emperor Diocletian in the fourth century.

Troparion for the Apostles

O holy apostles, intercede with the all-merciful God that He may grant us forgiveness of our sins. 

Troparion for the Martyrs

O Lord our God, your holy martyrs have deserved the crown of immortality on account of their good fight. Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors and crushed Satan’s dreadful might. Through their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls. 

Kontakion for the Apostles

By your message you became lights of the world, O holy Jason and blessed Sosipater. Save those who cherish your memory. 

Kontakion for the Martyrs

You endured agony with courage, and the devil could not prevail over you. O martyrs equal to the angels in honor, the whole world honors your sufferings and pains. By them you have been exalted. 

Epistle

Acts 11: 19-30

In those days, those in the community who had been dispersed by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Pheonicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, making the message known to none but the Jews. However, some men of Cyprus and Cyrene among them who had come to Antioch began to talk even to the Greeks, announcing the good news of the Lord Jesus to them. The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number of them believed and were converted to the Lord. News of this eventually reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, resulting in the sending of Barnabas to Antioch. On his arrival he rejoiced to see the evidence of the Lord, since he himself was a good man filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Thereby large numbers were added to the Lord. Then Barnabas went off to Tarsus to look for Saul; once he had found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and instructed great numbers. It was in Antioch that the disciples were called Christians for the first.

At about that time, certain prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus was inspired to stand up and proclaim that there was going to be a severe famine all over the world. (It did in fact occur while Claudius was emperor.) This made the disciples determined to set something aside, each according to his means, and send it to the relief of the brothers who lived in Judea. They did this, dispatching it to the presbyters in the care of Barnabas and Saul. 

Gospel

John 4: 5-42

At that time, Jesus had to pass through Samaria, and his journey brought him to a Samaritan town named Shechem near the plot of land  which Jacob had given to his son Joseph. This was the site of Jacob’s well. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down at the well.

The hour was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone off to the town to buy provisions. The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew. How can you ask me, a Samaritan and a woman, for a drink?” Recall that Jews have nothing to do with Samaritans. Jesus replied: “If only you recognized God’s gift, and who it is that is asking you for a drink, you would have asked him instead, and he would have given you living water.”

“Sir,” she challenged him, “you do not have a bucket and this well is deep. Where do you expect to get this flowing water? Surely you do not pretend to be greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well and drank from it with his sons and his flocks?” Jesus replied: “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give him will never be thirsty; no, the water I give shall become a fountain within him, leaping up to provide eternal life.”

The woman said to him, “Give me this water, sir, so that I shall not grow thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

He said to her, “Go, call your husband, and then come back here.” “ I have no husband,” replied the woman. “You are right in saying you have no husband!” Jesus exclaimed. “The fact is, that you have had five, and the man you’re living with now is not your husband. What you said is true.“

“Sir,” answered the woman, “I see you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you people claim that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship God.” Jesus told her: “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand, well we understand what we worship; after all, salvation is from the Jews. Yet an hour is coming, and is already here, when authentic worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth. Indeed, it is just such worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”

The woman said to him: “I know there is a Messiah coming. (This term means Anointed.) “When he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus replied, “I who speak to you am he.”

His disciples, returning at this point, were surprised that Jesus was speaking with a woman. No one put a question, however, such as “What do you want of him?” Or “Why are you talking to her?” The woman then left her water jar and went off into the town. She said to the people: “Come and see someone who told me everything I ever did! Could this not be the Messiah?” And this they set out from the town to meet him.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he told them: “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” At this the disciple said to one another, “Do you suppose that someone has brought him something to eat?” Jesus explained to them: “Doing the will of him who sent me and bringing his work to completion is my food. Do you not have a saying: ‘Four months more and it will be harvest!’? Listen to what I say: Open your eyes and see! The fields are shining for harvest! The reaper already collects his wages and gathers a yield for eternal life, that sower and reaper may rejoice together. Here we have the saying verified: ‘One man sows; another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you had not worked for. Others have done the labor, and you have come into their gain.”

Many Samaritans from that town believed him on the strength of the woman’s testimony: “He told me everything I ever did.” The result was that when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them a while. So he stayed there two days, and through his own spoken word many more came to faith. As they told the woman: “No longer does our faith depend on your story. We have heard for ourselves, and we know that this really is the Savior of the world.”

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