Martyr Boniface and Righteous Aglaida

Saints commemorated

Saint of the day

Martyr Boniface and Righteous Aglaida

Boniface of Tarsus (died c. 290) is remembered for one of the most striking conversion stories in the Church's calendar. A dissolute household steward living in sin with his mistress Aglaïa, a wealthy woman of Rome, he was sent east to bring back the relics of a martyr — and, jesting as he set out that he might himself come home a martyr, was so moved by the sufferings of the confessors he found at Tarsus in Cilicia that he confessed Christ on the spot, endured fearful tortures, and was beheaded. His relics, carried back to Rome, brought about the repentance of Aglaïa, who gave away her wealth and ended her days as a nun. The two are commemorated together on December 19, and in Russian piety Boniface is invoked especially against the passion of drunkenness.
Elias of Murom

Elias of Murom (died c. 1188) was a monk of the Near Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra, remembered in the Church as a wonderworker and, in Russian popular memory, identified with Ilya Muromets, the greatest of the bogatyrs — the warrior-heroes of the Kievan epic ballads. His incorrupt relics rest in the Near Caves with the fingers of the right hand joined for the sign of the Cross in the three-finger form, a detail that made him a witness in the seventeenth-century disputes with the Old Ritualists. Commemorated on December 19 and among the assembled fathers of the Kiev Caves, he is honoured as a saint in whom the warrior's courage and the monk's humility met.
Gregory of Omirits

Gregory of Omirits (Greek Gregentios; died c. 552) was, in the tradition, the missionary archbishop sent from Alexandria to organise the Church among the Homerites — the Himyarites of southern Arabia — after the Ethiopian king Elesbaan had overthrown the Jewish persecutor who massacred the Christians of Najran. A deacon of Milan led by visions to Carthage, Rome, and Alexandria, he was consecrated bishop and set over the see of Zafar, where he restored the churches, crowned the Christian king Abraha, and codified laws for the new Christian nation. He is remembered above all for a great public disputation with the Jewish teacher Herban, which the tradition says ended in a vision of Christ, the mass conversion of the Jews, and Herban's own baptism.

British Isles and Ireland

St. Manirus, bishop and Apostle of the north of Scotland

Troparia & kontakia

Kontakion — Tone 4

As an unblemished sacrifice you willingly offered yourself to Him who for your sake was about to be born of the Virgin, O holy and wise crown-bearer Boniface.

Kontakion — Tone 8

As a great luminary of the Russian land you shone forth, an unconquered commander of the Heavenly King and a God-inspired adornment of monastics. And now, standing with the angels before the throne of God, entreat Christ the Master and Creator of all, that those who honour your holy memory may be delivered from every affliction and sorrow, that we may cry to you: Rejoice, O Elias, our venerable father.

Troparion — Tone 1

Having honoured God, by Him you were honoured in return, O beauty of the martyrs, blessed Boniface; for He adorned you with the crown of divine glory. And so, as we today keep your all-holy memory, we entreat you to make intercession for us before the Lord.

Troparion — Tone 3

The Russian land rejoices today, glorifying its warrior and wonderworker Elias of Murom; for abiding in the Church triumphant, he fights together with his kinsmen and with the Church militant, entreating help from the Lord for Holy Rus' against her enemies visible and invisible, that the Russian people may without hindrance glorify and honour Christ God.

Readings

Epistle

1 Timothy 3.1-13

¹This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. ²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; ³Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; ⁴One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; ⁵(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) ⁶Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. ⁷Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. ⁸Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; ⁹Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. ¹⁰And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. ¹¹Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. ¹²Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. ¹³For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Gospel

Mark 10.17-27

¹⁷And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? ¹⁸And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. ¹⁹Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. ²⁰And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. ²¹Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. ²²And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. ²³And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁴And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁵It 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. ²⁶And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? ²⁷And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Saints commemorated