Pre-Lenten Triodion, day 21 · 50 days until Pascha
Commemoration of Departed Righteous Monastics
Saints commemorated
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St Tarasius, Abp. of Constantinople
Tarasius (c. 730 – 806) was Patriarch of Constantinople from 784 to his death — a layman and imperial secretary raised in a single week through all the grades of the priesthood to the patriarchal throne, on the one condition that an ecumenical council be summoned to heal the Church of the iconoclast heresy. With the Empress Irene he convened and presided over the Seventh Ecumenical Council (Nicaea II, 787), which condemned iconoclasm and restored the veneration of the holy icons, teaching that the honour paid to the image passes to its prototype. A gentle and moderate shepherd who received repentant iconoclasts back into communion, he governed the Church for twenty-two years under three sovereigns, resisted the emperor Constantine VI in the "adulterous marriage" affair, and was renowned as a great almsgiver who spent his fortune on the poor, the aged, widows and orphans, serving them at table with his own hands. He reposed in peace on 25 February 806 and was buried in the monastery he had founded on the Bosphorus, where miracles were worked at his tomb.
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Reginos of Skopelos
Reginos (late 3rd century – 362) was Bishop of Skopelos, the island of the Northern Sporades in the Aegean, and a hieromartyr of the reign of Julian the Apostate. Born at Livadeia in Boeotia of Christian parents, he was a defender of the Nicene faith who, the tradition holds, distinguished himself at the Council of Sardica (343) by his skill in refuting the Arians, and was afterwards acclaimed bishop of Skopelos by its people. When the emperor Julian set out to restore paganism and turned against the confessors of Christ, Reginos was arrested and, on 25 February 362, beheaded — with, the synaxarion adds, some forty others. He is the patron saint of Skopelos, where a monastery bears his name and guards his relics, and where his feast is kept as the island's own holiday; a portion of his relics is venerated at the church of the Archangel Michael Trypiotis in Nicosia, Cyprus.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Ethelbert, King of Kent (616)
- St. Walburga the Myrrh-Giver, abbess of Heidenheim (779)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 4
Like a great sun, by the radiance of thy doctrines and thy wonders, thou dost forever give light to the whole fullness of the inhabited earth, O initiate of heaven's mysteries, all-blessed Tarasius.
Troparion — Tone 4
O God of our fathers, who ever dealest with us according to thy gentleness: take not thy mercy from us, but by the prayers of the Hieromartyr Reginos direct our lives in peace.
Troparion — Tone 4
A rule of faith and an image of meekness, a teacher of temperance, the truth of things revealed thee to thy flock; therefore by lowliness thou didst win the things on high, and by poverty the things of wealth. O Father and Hierarch Tarasius, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Readings
Epistle
Romans 14.19-23, 16.25-27
19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 20For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Galatians 5.22-6.2 (Departed)
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gospel
Matthew 6.1-13
1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 11.27-30 (Departed)
27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.