Saturday 28 November 2020
Monk Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New
Saturday of the 25th week after Pentecost
Nativity Fast, day 14
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Monk Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New
Stephen the New (c. 715–764) was the foremost martyr of the second period of iconoclasm and the great monastic witness against the emperor Constantine V Copronymus. An ascetic and abbot of Mount Saint Auxentius near Chalcedon, he became the acknowledged leader of the defenders of the holy icons after the iconoclast Council of Hieria (754), refusing every bribe and threat to make him subscribe to it. Imprisoned, exiled, and at last handed to a mob, he was dragged through the streets of Constantinople and beaten to death on 28 November 764. Because his confession joined the ascetic and the martyric crowns, the Church styles him "monastic-martyr and confessor," and his Life became one of the principal documents of the whole iconoclast controversy.
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Irenarchus of Sebaste and the Seven Women
Irenarchus was a young man of Sebaste in Armenia who, during the persecution of Diocletian, served the imprisoned and tortured Christians and was moved to confess Christ himself when he saw seven women endure their torments without flinching. Baptised and made bold by grace, he passed through trials of fire and water and was beheaded together with the seven holy women about the year 303. He is commemorated on November 28 with the seven women who won him to the faith, and shares the day with the great iconodule Stephen the New.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Fionnchu, successor of St. Comgall (6th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 4
Today the Church keeps a joyful feast in your memory, and faithfully extolling you cries aloud: O divine Stephen, boast of the venerable.
Troparion — Tone 4
Your martyr Irenarchus, O Lord, in his contest received the crown of incorruption from you, our God; for possessed of your strength, he cast down the tyrants and broke the feeble insolence of the demons. By his prayers save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4
Having trained yourself beforehand in asceticism on the mountain, with the whole armour of the Cross you laid low the invisible battle-lines of the enemy, O all-blessed one; and again you stripped for the contest manfully, slaying Copronymus with the sword of faith. For both crowns you were crowned by God, O monastic-martyr Stephen of everlasting memory.
Readings
Epistle
Galatians 1.3-10
3Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Gospel
Luke 10.19-21
19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 21In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.