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

Titus 1.15-2.10

¹⁵Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. ¹⁶They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. ¹But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: ²That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. ³The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; ⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. ⁶Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. ⁷In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, ⁸Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. ⁹Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; ¹⁰Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Gospel

Mark 9.33-41

³³And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? ³⁴But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. ³⁵And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. ³⁶And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, ³⁷Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. ³⁸And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. ³⁹But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. ⁴⁰For he that is not against us is on our part. ⁴¹For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Saints commemorated