Nativity Fast, day 24
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Ven. Patapius of Thebes
Patapius (7th century, by the common Greek reckoning) was an Egyptian ascetic from Thebes who withdrew as a young man into the desert, and — when his renown for holiness broke his solitude — travelled to Constantinople, where he lived as a recluse in a cell by the city wall near the Blachernae church. There a gift of healing made him one of the great wonderworkers of the capital; the tradition remembers in particular a woman freed of a devouring cancer at his word. He reposed in peace and was buried in a church of Saint John the Baptist. His relics, later carried to a cave in the Geraneia mountains above Loutraki near Corinth, were found incorrupt there and remain the treasure of the monastery that bears his name. He is commemorated on December 8, within the forefeast of the Conception of the Theotokos by Anna.
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Holy Apostles Sosthenes, Apollos, Tychicus and Epaphroditus, Cephas and Caesar
On December 8 the Church commemorates a company of apostles of the Seventy, all named in the letters of the New Testament: Sosthenes, once ruler of the synagogue at Corinth and afterwards a bishop; Apollos, the eloquent Alexandrian of the Book of Acts; Cephas of Colophon; Tychicus, Paul's trusted messenger; Epaphroditus, whom Paul called his fellow-soldier; and Caesar, bishop of Dyrrhachium — together with the Apostle Onesiphorus, who is commemorated with them but whose principal feast and full entry stand under his own name. Chosen and sent by Christ among the Seventy (Luke 10), they laboured beside the Apostle Paul and became shepherds of the young Churches. Their memory is kept also on March 30 and, with all the Seventy, on January 4.
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Onesiphorus of the Seventy
Onesiphorus (1st century) is the disciple whom the Apostle Paul blesses by name in his last letter: "he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, but when he was in Rome he sought me out diligently and found me" (2 Timothy 1:16–17). Counted among the Seventy Apostles, he is held by tradition to have served Paul at Ephesus, to have become bishop of Colophon in Asia Minor and afterwards of Corinth, and to have died a martyr at Parium on the Hellespont, where he had gone to preach Christ. He is commemorated on September 7 with the Apostle Evodus, on December 8 with six fellow apostles of the Seventy, and on January 4 with all the Seventy.
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Sophronius of Cyprus
Sophronius (6th century, by the usual reckoning) was a bishop of the Church of Cyprus, honoured by the tradition as an ascetic hierarch — learned, austere in his own life, and open-handed toward the poor and the oppressed. The Greek synaxaria remember him for having "quenched every fleshly passion" and for a pastorate marked by mercy; he reposed in peace. He is commemorated on December 8, on the same day as Patapius of Thebes, chiefly in the Greek tradition.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Gunthild of Wimborne (748)
Readings
Epistle
1 Timothy 5.11-21
11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15For some are already turned aside after Satan. 16If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. 17Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 19Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 21I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
Gospel
Luke 21.12-19
12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. 13And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19In your patience possess ye your souls.
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 3
Finding thy church, O holy one, to be a hospital of the spirit, the peoples come to it in haste and ask to receive the healing of their sicknesses and the loosing of the transgressions of their life; for thou, O venerable Patapius, hast been shown to be a protector of all who are in need.
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostle Onesiphorus, intercede with the merciful God, that he grant to our souls the forgiveness of offences.
Troparion — Tone 8
In thee, O Father, was the divine image preserved with exactness; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow after Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Therefore, O venerable Patapius, thy spirit rejoiceth together with the Angels.
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostles, intercede with the merciful God, that he grant to our souls the forgiveness of offences.