Pre-Lenten Triodion, day 10 · 61 days until Pascha
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
St Leo the Great, Pope of Rome
Leo the Great (c. 400 – 461) was Pope of Rome from 440 to 461, one of the greatest of the Roman pontiffs and a Father of the whole Church. Against the Monophysite teaching of Eutyches he set out, in his Tome — the dogmatic letter to Flavian of Constantinople — the confession of the one Christ in two natures, divine and human, united in one person without confusion or division; and when that letter was read at the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon in 451, the Fathers acclaimed it as the faith of the Apostles: "Peter has spoken through Leo." A tireless pastor and preacher, he defended the Roman flock against Manichaeans and Priscillianists, upheld the order of the Church, and in 452 went out to meet Attila the Hun at the river Mincio and turned him back from Italy; three years later he wrung from the Vandal Genseric the sparing of Rome's people from the sword. He reposed on 10 November 461, the first pope the Church has called "the Great." The Orthodox Church keeps him on February 18 as a pillar of the Chalcedonian faith.
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Agapitus of Synnada
Agapitus (4th century) was a confessor and wonderworker, bishop of Synnada in Phrygia. Born in Cappadocia of devout parents in the last years of the pagan empire, he entered a monastery in his youth and became renowned for a gift of miracles — the healing of the sick and the casting-out of demons. Conscripted into the army under the emperor Licinius, he confessed Christ openly amid the persecution, was wounded but preserved unhurt, and comforted the martyrs who suffered beside him. After the victory of Constantine the Great, whose ailing servant he healed, he asked only to return to the monastic life; ordained priest and then chosen bishop of Synnada, he shepherded his flock and wrought many wonders, and reposed in peace. He is commemorated on February 18.
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Cosmas of Yakhroma
Cosmas of Yakhroma (†1492) was a Russian monastic saint, founder and abbot of the Dormition monastery on the river Yakhroma near Vladimir. As a young man, servant to an ailing nobleman, he found by the Yakhroma river an icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God shining in a tree, and at its discovery his master was healed. Bidden by a heavenly voice to become a monk and to build a monastery, he took the icon and entered the Kiev Caves Lavra; and, later directed by an angel, he returned to the place of the vision and there raised a church and gathered a brotherhood, of which he became abbot. He lived in ascetic labour and was granted the gift of wonders, and reposed in old age on February 18, 1492. The image he found is venerated as the Yakhroma Icon of the Mother of God.
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Flavian of Constantinople
Flavian (died 449) was Archbishop of Constantinople from 446, a defender of the apostolic faith against the heresy of the archimandrite Eutyches, who taught that in Christ there was but one nature after the Incarnation. At a synod in Constantinople in 448 Flavian condemned and deposed Eutyches; but at the "Robber Council" (Latrocinium) of Ephesus in 449 — dominated by Dioscorus of Alexandria and the emperor's officials — Eutyches was restored and Flavian himself anathematised, deposed, and so brutally handled that he died of his injuries a few days later, on the road into exile. Two years afterward the Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451) vindicated his faith, condemned Eutyches, received the Tome of Pope Leo, and acclaimed Flavian a saint and martyr. The Church keeps him as Flavian the Confessor.
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Leo and Paregorius
Leo and Paregorius were two friends and fellow-Christians martyred at Patara in Lycia, most likely in the persecution under Valerian about the year 260. Paregorius suffered first, giving his life for Christ under torture. Leo, who had longed to share his friend's contest, was moved to zeal at a pagan festival: passing the shrine of the city's idols where lamps burned before the images, he cast them down and put them out. Seized and brought before the governor, he refused again and again to sacrifice, endured scourging and interrogation, and was condemned to be dragged over the rough ground to a torrent and there put to death, his body cast into a pit. He thus followed Paregorius to the crown. The two are commemorated together on February 18.
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Piama
Piama (Piamun) was an Egyptian virgin of the fourth century, known from the Lausiac History of Palladius. She lived quietly with her widowed mother in a Nile village, spinning flax and eating only in the evening, and was granted the gift of foresight and prophecy. When the men of a neighbouring village came in arms to attack her own over the sharing of the Nile flood-waters, she foresaw it, warned her neighbours in vain, and then spent the night in prayer; the attackers were held fast, unable to move, until they sent to beg her village for peace and she prayed for their release. She reposed in peace. Her memory is kept on February 18.
British Isles and Ireland
- Venerable Colman, bishop of Lindisfarne (676)
- St. Ethelina of Gloucestershire
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 2
A confessor unwavering and a wonderworker rich in grace, a shepherd taught of God and a healer of soul and body, thou didst adorn the throne of Synnada, O venerable Agapitus; entreat Christ God without ceasing on behalf of us all.
Kontakion — Tone 8
Tearing out the soul's passions by the root, thou didst settle in the wilderness, O venerable one, and in sickness thou didst receive a life free of pain; and thou dost still the raging of cruel diseases for those who ask of thee in faith. Therefore loose our sicknesses of soul and body, that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O Cosmas, wise in God.
Kontakion — Tone 8
As a sacred hierarch and unshaken pillar of the true confession, thou didst shepherd the Church of Christ and, condemning the error of Eutyches, didst seal thy witness with thy blood; wherefore, crowned as a confessor, O Father Flavian, intercede for us all.
Kontakion — Tone 4
As a pair of friends united in Christ and in the martyr's contest, Paregorius who suffered first and Leo who followed after, ye cast down the idols and their lamps and were crowned with unfading glory; wherefore we honour your holy memory.
Kontakion — Tone 3
Seated upon the throne of the priesthood, O glorious one, thou didst stop the mouths of the spiritual lions, and with the God-inspired doctrines of the holy Trinity thou didst pour upon thy flock the light of the knowledge of God. Therefore wast thou glorified, as a divine initiate of the grace of God.
Kontakion — Tone 2
A hidden virgin of the Nile land, spinning flax by day and keeping vigil by night, thou wast granted the sight of things to come, and by thy prayer alone thou didst hold back the armed and save thy people; wherefore we honour thee, O righteous Piama.
Troparion — Tone 4
The truth of thy deeds revealed thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; therefore by humility thou hast gained the things on high, and by poverty the things of wealth. O Father Agapitus, intercede with Christ God, that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Desiring the life on high, beyond this world, thou didst turn away from the things below; and taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and didst settle in the wilderness, O most wondrous one, wrestling therein in psalmody, in vigils, and in fasting. Wherefore the All-Holy Spirit came to dwell in thee; and now, having boldness before Christ God, ask for the Orthodox people health and salvation, and forget not to visit thy children who keep thy sacred memory, O Cosmas, our venerable father.
Troparion — Tone 4
O guide of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and holiness, luminary of the world, God-inspired adornment of hierarchs: by thy teaching thou hast enlightened all, O harp of the Spirit. O Father Flavian, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from thee our God; for possessed of thy might, they cast down the tyrants and shattered the powerless insolence of demons. By their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 8
Guide of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and holiness, luminary of the Church, God-inspired adornment of hierarchs: O wise Leo, by thy teachings thou hast enlightened all, O lyre of the Spirit. Intercede with Christ God, that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8
In thee, O mother, was the divine image surely preserved; for thou didst take up the cross and follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Therefore doth thy spirit, O righteous Piama, rejoice together with the Angels.
Readings
Epistle
1 John 3.10-20
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Gospel
Mark 14.10-42
10And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 11And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. 12And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? 13And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. 14And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 15And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. 16And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 17And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. 18And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. 19And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? 20And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. 21The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. 22And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. 23And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 24And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. 25Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. 26And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 27And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 29But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all. 32And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. 33And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. 37And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? 38Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 39And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. 40And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. 41And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.