Thursday 4 September 2025
Hieromartyr Babylas, Bishop of Antioch
Thursday of the 13th week after Pentecost
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Hieromartyr Babylas, Bishop of Antioch
Babylas was bishop of Antioch from about 237 until his death in the Decian persecution, c. 253. Celebrated in antiquity for barring an emperor stained with murder from the doors of the church, he confessed Christ under Decius, was loaded with chains — which he asked to have buried with him — and died a martyr together with three boys he had raised in the faith. A century later his relics were carried to the suburb of Daphne to silence the oracle of Apollo there — the first attested translation of relics in Christian history — and their removal on the order of Julian the Apostate, followed at once by the burning of Apollo's temple, made Babylas the emblem of the martyrs' victory over paganism, immortalised in John Chrysostom's writings.
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Holy Prophet Moses, who beheld God.
Moses, the God-seer and Lawgiver, is the greatest figure of the Old Covenant: the Hebrew child drawn from the Nile who spoke with God in the Burning Bush, led Israel out of Egypt through the Red Sea, received the Law on Sinai, and guided the people forty years in the wilderness before dying within sight of the promised land. The Orthodox Church venerates him as the first and chief of the prophets — the man "whom the Lord knew face to face" — reads his books and sings his odes throughout the liturgical year, sees in the bush that burned unconsumed the great type of the Theotokos, and beholds him standing beside Christ in glory at the Transfiguration. His principal feast is September 4.
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St John Mavropos, Metropolitan of Euchaita (1100)
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St Hermione, daughter of Apostle Philip (1st c.)
Hermione (†c. 117) was one of the four virgin daughters of Philip the Deacon — the evangelist of the Seven — who "did prophesy" (Acts 21:9). A prophetess and physician of the apostolic generation, she travelled to Ephesus seeking John the Theologian, arriving only after his repose, healed the sick without charge, and founded a house of care for them. Interrogated by the emperor Trajan, to whom she foretold Hadrian's succession, she was released, but under Hadrian was tortured and finally beheaded at Ephesus, where she was buried. Her converted executioners, Theotimus and Theodoulos, are commemorated with her on September 4.
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Venerable Anthimos the Blind, New Ascetic (1782)
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Holy New Martyr Gorazd, Bishop of Slovakia and the Czech Lands (1942) (August 22 OC)
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Joasaph of Belgorod
Joasaph of Belgorod (1705–1754), born Joachim Gorlenko of a noble Ukrainian family, was a monk and bishop of the Russian Church renowned for the austerity of his personal life and the strictness of his pastoral zeal. Formed at the Kiev Academy and tonsured young, he rose through the monastic offices to be igumen of the Mgarsk monastery and vicar of the Trinity–Sergius Lavra before his consecration as Bishop of Belgorod and Oboyan in 1748. In six years of ascetic and exacting episcopate he laboured for the moral reform of his clergy and people. His body was found incorrupt after his repose, and he was glorified in 1911; he is commemorated on December 10, the day of his death.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Monessa, disciple of St. Patrick (456)
- St. Ultan of Ardbraccan (657)
- St. Rhuddlad of Llanrhyddlad (7th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 8
The Church, made radiant today, doth glorify thee, O glorious one, as a herald of piety and a firm support of them that contend; but as thou hast boldness before God, entreat Christ that they who hymn thee may be kept in perfect peace, O martyr of many struggles.
Kontakion — Tone 8
Who can recount the manifold struggles of thy life, or number the manifold mercies of God made manifest through thee? Knowing well thy boldness before the most pure Theotokos and the all-bountiful God, in compunction of heart we cry to thee: deprive not us also of thy help and protection, O hierarch of Christ and wonderworker Joasaph.
Kontakion — Tone 2
The choir of the Prophets rejoiceth with gladness today with Moses and Aaron, for the fulfilment of their prophecy is accomplished in us: today shineth the Cross, whereby Thou hast saved us. By their prayers, O Christ God, have mercy on us.
Stichera
Loose quickly, O Moses, the sandal from thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground; let no token of deadness be borne about upon thee: for in the bush and in the fire the wonders of the Maiden who is God's own child are mystically shown thee; He that spake on Mount Horeb declared them unto Moses.
Troparion — Tone 4
Becoming a partaker of the ways of the Apostles and a successor of their thrones, thou didst find thy deeds, O God-inspired one, a passage to divine vision; wherefore, rightly dividing the word of truth, thou didst also suffer for the faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Babylas: intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy lamb Hermione crieth unto Thee with a great voice, O Jesus: Thee, my Bridegroom, do I love, and seeking Thee I contend, and am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism; and I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee, and I die for Thee, that I may live in Thee. Receive me then as a spotless sacrifice, slain for Thee with love. By her intercessions, O merciful One, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 3
O hierarch beloved of Christ God, thou wast a rule of faith and an image of mercy to the people; by vigil, fasting and prayer thou didst shine as a most radiant lamp, and wast shown forth glorified by God. Reposing incorrupt in body, yet standing in spirit before the throne of God, thou dost pour forth wondrous miracles. Entreat Christ God that He confirm us in Orthodoxy and godliness, and save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 2
Celebrating the memory of Thy Prophet Moses, O Lord, through him we beseech Thee: save our souls.
Readings
Epistle
2 Corinthians 10.7-18
7Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present. 12For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s line of things made ready to our hand. 17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
Gospel
Mark 3.28-35
28Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: 30Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. 31There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 32And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 33And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.