Saints commemorated
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Hieromartyr Babylas, Bishop of Antioch
Babylas was bishop of Antioch from about 237 until his death in the Decian persecution, c. 253. Celebrated in antiquity for barring an emperor stained with murder from the doors of the church, he confessed Christ under Decius, was loaded with chains — which he asked to have buried with him — and died a martyr together with three boys he had raised in the faith. A century later his relics were carried to the suburb of Daphne to silence the oracle of Apollo there — the first attested translation of relics in Christian history — and their removal on the order of Julian the Apostate, followed at once by the burning of Apollo's temple, made Babylas the emblem of the martyrs' victory over paganism, immortalised in John Chrysostom's writings.
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Holy Prophet Moses, who beheld God.
Moses, the God-seer and Lawgiver, is the greatest figure of the Old Covenant: the Hebrew child drawn from the Nile who spoke with God in the Burning Bush, led Israel out of Egypt through the Red Sea, received the Law on Sinai, and guided the people forty years in the wilderness before dying within sight of the promised land. The Orthodox Church venerates him as the first and chief of the prophets — the man "whom the Lord knew face to face" — reads his books and sings his odes throughout the liturgical year, sees in the bush that burned unconsumed the great type of the Theotokos, and beholds him standing beside Christ in glory at the Transfiguration. His principal feast is September 4.
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St John Mavropos, Metropolitan of Euchaita (1100)
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St Hermione, daughter of Apostle Philip (1st c.)
Hermione (†c. 117) was one of the four virgin daughters of Philip the Deacon — the evangelist of the Seven — who "did prophesy" (Acts 21:9). A prophetess and physician of the apostolic generation, she travelled to Ephesus seeking John the Theologian, arriving only after his repose, healed the sick without charge, and founded a house of care for them. Interrogated by the emperor Trajan, to whom she foretold Hadrian's succession, she was released, but under Hadrian was tortured and finally beheaded at Ephesus, where she was buried. Her converted executioners, Theotimus and Theodoulos, are commemorated with her on September 4.
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Venerable Anthimos the Blind, New Ascetic (1782)
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Holy New Martyr Gorazd, Bishop of Slovakia and the Czech Lands (1942) (August 22 OC)
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Joasaph of Belgorod
Joasaph of Belgorod (1705–1754), born Joachim Gorlenko of a noble Ukrainian family, was a monk and bishop of the Russian Church renowned for the austerity of his personal life and the strictness of his pastoral zeal. Formed at the Kiev Academy and tonsured young, he rose through the monastic offices to be igumen of the Mgarsk monastery and vicar of the Trinity–Sergius Lavra before his consecration as Bishop of Belgorod and Oboyan in 1748. In six years of ascetic and exacting episcopate he laboured for the moral reform of his clergy and people. His body was found incorrupt after his repose, and he was glorified in 1911; he is commemorated on December 10, the day of his death.
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Monessa
Monessa (traditionally †456) is a maiden of the age of Patrick who, in the earliest account, sought the Maker of the sun before she had ever heard him preached, was brought to Patrick, was baptised by him, and died at the font "giving up her spirit into the hands of the angels." The story is first told by Muirchú in the seventh century of Monesan, a British king's daughter brought to Patrick in Ireland; the later hagiographical dictionaries, and the calendar line under which she is commemorated, make her instead the daughter of an Irish chieftain. The martyrologies keep her on September 4.
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Rhuddlad of Llanrhyddlad
Rhuddlad (or Rhyddlad; by convention 7th century) is the patroness of Llanrhyddlad — "the church of Rhuddlad" — at the foot of Moel Rhyddlad in north-west Anglesey, Wales. Her surviving record is exactly that: the church dedication that carries her name, and her festival, September 4, entered in late-medieval and early-modern Welsh calendars. The Welsh genealogies of the saints have nothing to say of her; an eighteenth-century antiquary's guess made her a daughter of a king of Leinster. Nothing more is known.
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Ultan of Ardbraccan
Ultán moccu Conchobair (†657, the annals varying) was bishop of Ardbraccan (Ard Breccáin) in Meath, and is one of the best-attested Irish saints of his century: his own pupil Tírechán wrote his memoir of Patrick "from the mouth or the book of Bishop Ultán," and the tradition credits Ultán with gathering the miracles of Brigid into a book and with hymns in her honour. The Irish tradition remembers him above all as "the cleric of the children": the Martyrology of Óengus pictures the little ones playing around him, and its scholia tell how, after the Yellow Plague, every orphaned infant in Ireland was brought to Ultán, who fed them with his own hands. He is kept on September 4, the day of his death.
Readings
1st Matins Gospel
Matthew 28.16-20
16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Epistle
1 Corinthians 15.1-11
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
Gospel
Matthew 19.16-26
16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 8
The Church, made radiant today, doth glorify thee, O glorious one, as a herald of piety and a firm support of them that contend; but as thou hast boldness before God, entreat Christ that they who hymn thee may be kept in perfect peace, O martyr of many struggles.
Kontakion — Tone 8
Who can recount the manifold struggles of thy life, or number the manifold mercies of God made manifest through thee? Knowing well thy boldness before the most pure Theotokos and the all-bountiful God, in compunction of heart we cry to thee: deprive not us also of thy help and protection, O hierarch of Christ and wonderworker Joasaph.
Kontakion — Tone 2
The choir of the Prophets rejoiceth with gladness today with Moses and Aaron, for the fulfilment of their prophecy is accomplished in us: today shineth the Cross, whereby Thou hast saved us. By their prayers, O Christ God, have mercy on us.
Stichera
Loose quickly, O Moses, the sandal from thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground; let no token of deadness be borne about upon thee: for in the bush and in the fire the wonders of the Maiden who is God's own child are mystically shown thee; He that spake on Mount Horeb declared them unto Moses.
Troparion — Tone 4
Becoming a partaker of the ways of the Apostles and a successor of their thrones, thou didst find thy deeds, O God-inspired one, a passage to divine vision; wherefore, rightly dividing the word of truth, thou didst also suffer for the faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Babylas: intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy lamb Hermione crieth unto Thee with a great voice, O Jesus: Thee, my Bridegroom, do I love, and seeking Thee I contend, and am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism; and I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee, and I die for Thee, that I may live in Thee. Receive me then as a spotless sacrifice, slain for Thee with love. By her intercessions, O merciful One, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 3
O hierarch beloved of Christ God, thou wast a rule of faith and an image of mercy to the people; by vigil, fasting and prayer thou didst shine as a most radiant lamp, and wast shown forth glorified by God. Reposing incorrupt in body, yet standing in spirit before the throne of God, thou dost pour forth wondrous miracles. Entreat Christ God that He confirm us in Orthodoxy and godliness, and save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 2
Celebrating the memory of Thy Prophet Moses, O Lord, through him we beseech Thee: save our souls.