Pre-Lenten Triodion, day 1 · 70 days until Pascha
Beginning of the Lenten Triodion
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
5th Matins Gospel
Luke 24.12-35
12Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
Epistle
2 Timothy 3.10-15
10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Gospel
Luke 18.10-14
10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.