Fathers of the 1st Six Ecumenical Councils
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Saints commemorated
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Synaxis of Archangel Gabriel
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Holy Martyr Golinduc of Persia (6th c.)
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Saint Julian, Bishop of Cenomanis (Le Mans) (1st c.)
Julian is honoured as the first bishop of Cenomanis — Le Mans, on the Sarthe in what is now western France — and as the apostle of the Cenomani. The tradition received in the East makes him a disciple sent into Gaul by the Apostle Peter himself: he preached to a wholly pagan people, healed the sick, brought water from dry ground by striking it with his staff, gave sight to a blind man at the gate of the local prince, and after a fast of three days baptised the prince and his household, so that idolatry was uprooted from the country. He reposed in extreme old age, and the great cathedral of Le Mans bears his name to this day. Historians, working from the ninth-century episcopal chronicle that is the earliest witness to his life, place him some two or three centuries later than the tradition does. The Byzantine calendars keep his memory on July 13; the West keeps him on January 27.
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Repose of Photios Kontoglou (1965) (June 30 OC)
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Marcian of Iconium
Marcian was a young Christian of Iconium — the city of Lycaonia where Paul and Barnabas preached and where the Church had stood since the apostolic generation — who preached Christ so openly that the pagans of the city, unwilling to make a martyr at home, sent him away into Cappadocia. There the governor Perennius tried first persuasion and then threats to make him deny the faith; Marcian answered by denouncing the governor's own worship of idols, was tortured savagely, and was at last beheaded while at prayer, in the year 258. His memory is kept on July 13.
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Sarah of Sketis
Sarah is one of the three women — with Theodora and Synkletike — whose sayings were gathered into the alphabetical collection of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers, and she is the sharpest voice of the three. An ascetic of Sketis, the settlement in the salt desert west of the Nile Delta that was the classical home of Egyptian monasticism, she lived some sixty years in a cell above a river without once turning to look at it; fought the spirit of fornication for thirteen years without ever praying that the war should stop, but only for strength to fight it; and, when two celebrated anchorites came to humble her, answered them with the single sentence for which she is remembered — that she was a woman by nature but not in her thoughts. The calendars commemorate her on July 13 and title her, following an old geographical usage, "of Libya."
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Serapion the Martyr
Serapion is a martyr of the persecution under the emperor Septimius Severus, put to death about the year 205 by burning. The synaxarion notice which is all that survives of him relates that he was arrested and tried before a judge named Achilles, endured his tortures with an open confession of Christ, was thrown into prison broken by them, and was there healed by Christ himself; that when he was produced a second time and found sound and whole, the court, taking the healing for contempt, condemned him to the fire; and that he gave up his soul in the flames. His memory is kept on July 13.
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Stephen of Mar Sabbas
Stephen the Sabbaite, called the Wonderworker, was the nephew and spiritual heir of John of Damascus. Brought as a boy of about ten to the Great Lavra of Saint Sabbas in the Judaean desert, he never left it: for some sixty years he divided his life between the community and the naked wilderness beyond it, spending the working week alone in the desert and returning to the Lavra for the Saturday and Sunday services. He was given the gifts of healing, of driving out unclean spirits, and of reading the thoughts of those who came to him, and he foreknew the day of his death, which fell in 794. His life was written down by his disciple Leontius of Damascus — one of the earliest and most substantial works of Arabic-speaking Melkite hagiography — and the Church keeps his memory on July 13.
British Isles and Ireland
- Hieromartyr Dogfan of Dyfed (6th C)
- St. Mildred, abbess of Minster in Thanet (c.700)
- St. Just of Penwith (5th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Apolytikion
Most glorified art Thou, O Christ our God, who hast set our Fathers as beacons upon the earth, and by them hast guided us all into the true faith: O greatly merciful One, glory to Thee.
Apolytikion — Tone 4
O commander of the heavenly hosts, we the unworthy beseech thee that by thy prayers thou wilt encompass us with the shelter of the wings of thine immaterial glory, guarding us who fall down before thee and fervently cry: Deliver us from dangers, O prince of the powers on high.
Apolytikion — Tone 4
O God of our fathers, who dealest with us ever according to thy gentleness: take not thy mercy from us, but by the prayers of thy hierarch Julian, guide our life in peace.
Apolytikion — Tone 4
Thy martyr Marcian, O Lord, in his struggle received an incorruptible crown from thee our God; for possessed of thy strength he cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble boldness of the demons. By his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.
Apolytikion — Tone 8
In thee, O mother, was preserved unimpaired that which is according to the image; 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. Wherefore, O venerable Sarah, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
Apolytikion — Tone 4
Thy martyr Serapion, O Lord, in his struggle received an incorruptible crown from thee our God; for possessed of thy strength he cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble boldness of the demons. By his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.
Apolytikion — Tone 8
In thee, O Father, was preserved unimpaired that which is according to the image; 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. Wherefore, O venerable Stephen, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
Kontakion
The preaching of the Apostles and the definitions of the Fathers have sealed the one faith of the Church; and she, wearing the garment of truth woven from the theology that comes from above, rightly divides and glorifies the great mystery of godliness.
Kontakion — Tone 8
O Gabriel, thou minister of the mystery hidden from the ages, who didst stand of old before the Virgin and cry to her "Rejoice": intercede that we who honour thee may be delivered from all affliction and may cry to God, Alleluia.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Sent to a people that knew not God, thou didst open to them the fountain of the faith, O holy Julian, and by thy staff didst bring forth water from the dry ground and light to the eyes of the blind; wherefore the land of the Cenomani, made a garden by thy labours, crieth out to thee: Rejoice, O father and first shepherd.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Sixty years thou didst dwell above the waters and never turn thine eyes to them, O mother Sarah, and thirteen years thou didst stand in the battle asking not that it cease but that thou be strengthened; wherefore, having conquered in Christ, thou dost teach the faithful that valour is of the soul and not of the flesh.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Thou didst dwell in the wilderness as in a paradise, O God-bearing Stephen, and from the stillness thou didst bring forth healings for the sick and freedom for the possessed; thou didst read the hearts of them that came to thee and didst foresee thine own end. Wherefore we cry: Rejoice, boast of the Lavra of Sabbas.
Readings
Vespers
Genesis 14.14-20 (Fathers)
14And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 17And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Deuteronomy 1.8-11, 15-17 (Fathers)
8Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. 9And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone: 10The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. 11(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!) 15So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. 16And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. 17Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
Deuteronomy 10.14-21 (Fathers)
14Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. 15Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. 16Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. 17For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: 18He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. 19Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. 21He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.
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
Romans 10.1-10
1Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Hebrews 13.7-16 (Fathers)
7Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. 10We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Gospel
Matthew 8.28-9.1
28And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 34And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. 1And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
John 17.1-13 (Fathers)
1These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.