Sunday after Elevation
Saints commemorated
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St Eumenes, Bishop of Gortyna
Eumenes (7th century) was bishop of Gortyna in Crete, venerated as a wonderworker and honoured in the Menaion as the chief saint of September 18. Noted from youth for an ascetic and merciful life — he gave away his whole substance to the poor — he was raised to the first see of Crete, where he shepherded his flock as a compassionate father and by his prayer, the tradition relates, once ended a drought with abundant rain. A defender of the orthodox faith against the heresy of his day, he was exiled to the Thebaid in Egypt, where he reposed; his body was returned to Gortyna for burial.
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St Ariadne of Phrygia (2nd c.)
Ariadne (2nd century) was a Christian slave in the household of Tertullus, a leading citizen of a Phrygian city the sources call Promissia — most plausibly Prymnessus. When her master held a sacrificial feast to the pagan gods on his son's birthday, Ariadne alone refused to take part; she was beaten, torn with iron hooks, and starved in prison, and when at last she was released and fled the city, her master's men pursued her. The tradition relates that at her prayer a cleft opened in the mountain rock and received her, and there she gave up her soul to God. She is commemorated on September 18.
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Castor the Martyr
Castor is a martyr commemorated on September 18 of whom nothing is transmitted beyond his name and his end: he suffered death for the open confession of the faith of Christ. The Greek and Slavic calendars carry him as a separate commemoration without place or date; the OCA joins him to the martyrs Sophia and Irene of Egypt, commemorated the same day, placing his martyrdom with theirs at Alexandria.
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Euphrosyne of Suzdal
Euphrosyne of Suzdal (1212–1250), in the world the princess Theodulia, eldest daughter of the martyred prince Michael of Chernigov, was betrothed in youth to a prince of Suzdal who died on the very day appointed for the wedding. Refusing to return to her father's house, she entered the convent of the Deposition of the Robe (Rizopolozhensky) in Suzdal and became, under the name Euphrosyne, the most renowned woman ascetic of pre-Mongol and Mongol-era Russia: a teacher of nuns and laywomen, an ascetic of severe fasting, and a seer whose prayers, the tradition holds, spared her convent when Batu's horde burned Suzdal in 1238. She reposed on September 25, 1250, and was glorified in 1698.
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Sophia and Irene of Egypt
Sophia and Irene were two women martyred for Christ in Egypt in the third century — the Russian tradition places their death under the emperor Aurelian (270–275), at the hands of Claudius, governor of Egypt — and the Greek synaxarion records that they were perfected by the sword after tortures. Their relics are said to have been translated to Constantinople by Constantine the Great. They are commemorated together on September 18. They are not to be confused with Sophia of Rome, the mother of the martyrs Faith, Hope and Love, commemorated the day before (September 17), nor with the great-martyr Irene (May 5).
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 2
Illumined with divine light, O all-blessed one, thou dost enlighten us who lovingly hymn thy revered, glorious and holy translation, O father and hierarch Eumenes; for thou intercedest without ceasing on behalf of us all.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Having filled the pure vessel of thy virginity with the oil of prayer and love, thou didst kindle an unquenchable lamp in thy heart, O venerable one; and going forth with it, watchful, to meet the heavenly Bridegroom, thou wast received into His most radiant bridal chamber. There now, dwelling with the choirs of angels and saints, pray, we beseech thee, to Christ God, that we may be delivered from the portion of the foolish virgins.
Magnification
We magnify thee, O holy hierarch, father Eumenes, and we honour thy holy memory, for thou prayest for us to Christ our God.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of a woman martyr)
Thy ewe-lamb Ariadne crieth to thee with a great voice, O Jesus: Thee, my Bridegroom, do I love, and seeking thee I endure the contest; I am crucified and buried with thee in thy baptism, and I suffer for thy sake, that I may reign with thee; I die for thee, that I may live in thee. Receive me as a spotless sacrifice, slain for thee with love. By her prayers, since thou art merciful, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of a single martyr)
Thy martyr Castor, O Lord, in his contest received an incorruptible crown from thee, our God; for possessing thy strength he cast down the tyrants and broke the feeble insolence of the demons. By his intercessions save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 7
With fasting thou didst adorn thy life, and, loving the poor, thou didst distribute to them all thy substance; thou didst shine forth in virtues like the sun, comforting the mourning and gladdening the sorrowful. And now, we pray thee, O father Eumenes, by thy prayers ask of Christ the forgiveness of our sins.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy holy memory makes glad the land of Suzdal, and calls together all the faithful to thine all-honourable temple, where now thine all-glorious memory is celebrated, O venerable Euphrosyne: pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of martyrs)
Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from thee, our God; for possessing thy strength they cast down the tyrants and broke the feeble insolence of the demons. By their intercessions save our souls.
Readings
3rd Matins Gospel
Mark 16.9-20
9Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Epistle
Galatians 2.16-20 (Sunday after Elevation)
16Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
2 Corinthians 1.21-2.4
21Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 23Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. 24Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. 1But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 3And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
Gospel
Mark 8.34-9.1 (Sunday after Elevation)
34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 1And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Matthew 22.1-14
2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14For many are called, but few are chosen.