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Saturday 17 January 2026

Ven. Godbearing Anthony the Great

Saturday of the 32nd week after Pentecost

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No Fast — Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed Tone 6

Ven. Godbearing Anthony the Great

Saints commemorated

  • Saint of the day

    Anthony the Great

    Anthony the Great (c. 251 – 356) is honoured by the whole Church as the father of monasticism and the archetype of the Christian ascetic. A well-born Egyptian of the village of Coma, orphaned in his youth, he heard read in church the Gospel word "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor… and come, follow me," and took it as spoken to himself: he gave away his inheritance, placed his sister with consecrated virgins, and gave himself to the ascetic life. After apprenticeship to a local solitary, years of naked combat with the demons among the tombs, and twenty years walled up in a deserted fort at Pispir, he emerged — the tradition marvels — neither broken nor wild but whole in body and serene in soul, and became the teacher of a multitude, so that "the desert was made a city of monks." Twice he came down to Alexandria, once to strengthen the martyrs under persecution and once, in old age, to confound the Arians beside his friend Athanasius, whose Life of Anthony would shape all later hagiography and carry monasticism through the whole Church. He reposed on his Inner Mountain by the Red Sea on January 17, 356, aged about a hundred and five, and had himself buried in a place he commanded his two disciples to keep secret.

  • Pious Emperor Theodosius the Great (395)

    Theodosius the Great (347–395) was the Roman emperor under whom the Nicene faith became, in law and in fact, the faith of the Empire — the last sovereign to rule both East and West, and the emperor who, at the Second Ecumenical Council he convened at Constantinople in 381, saw the Creed brought to its completion in the confession of the Holy Spirit. A Spaniard, the son of a great general, raised to the purple in the Empire's darkest hour after the disaster of Adrianople, he was baptized in a grave illness by an Orthodox bishop, gave the force of law to the Nicene confession, and put down the last public worship of the old gods. The Church of the East honours him not only as a defender of Orthodoxy but as a penitent: for after the massacre at Thessalonica he bowed to the rebuke of Ambrose of Milan and did public penance, an emperor humbling himself before the judgment of God. He reposed at Milan on January 17, 395.

  • Our Holy Father Makarios (Kalogeras) of Patmos (1737)

  • Achillas the Anchorite

    Achillas (4th–5th century) was one of the Desert Fathers of Scetis, the great monastic wilderness of Lower Egypt, and a priest of that community whose sayings are preserved among the Apophthegmata Patrum (the Sayings of the Desert Fathers). He is remembered for the discretion and gentleness of his ascetic wisdom — for labouring through the night at a brother's request rather than send him away comfortless, and for the severity with which he watched over his own tongue, once, the tradition says, keeping back an unkind word at the cost of what seemed the very blood in his mouth. He is commemorated on January 17, among the fathers of the desert and beside the great Anthony.

  • Anthony of Dymsk

    Anthony of Dymsk (c. 1157–1224) was a monastic founder of the Novgorod land, a disciple of Barlaam of Khutyn who, shunning the abbacy his dying elder had laid upon him, withdrew to the shore of Lake Dymskoe near Tikhvin and there founded the monastery that bears his name. The tradition remembers him for an ascetic feat unique among the Russian saints: standing to pray, through long nights, upon a stone that rose barely above the surface of the lake, so that he is honoured as a "stylite upon the waters"; and for the iron cap he wore beneath his hood, from which, laid upon the head of the sick, many afterward received healing. He reposed on June 24, 1224, and his relics were found incorrupt in 1330. He is kept on June 24, the day of his repose, and — as the spiritual son and namesake of Anthony the Great — on January 17.

  • Anthony the New of Berroia

    Anthony the New (11th century) is honoured by the Church as a wonderworking solitary of Berroia (modern Veria) in Macedonia, the ascetic whom his own countrymen, marvelling at his likeness to Anthony the Great, surnamed "the New" in his honour. Born of pious and wealthy parents, he became a monk at the Skete of Berroia — the monastery of Saint John the Forerunner — where he laboured some twenty years; then, seeking a harder stillness, he withdrew to an almost inaccessible cave near the river Aliakmon and dwelt there some fifty years, living on the wild plants of the place, unknown to all but the priest who came at intervals to bring him the Holy Mysteries, and enduring, like his great namesake, the assaults of the demons. He reposed at about the age of ninety-four; his incorrupt body was found by hunters and carried to Berroia, where his relics became a fountain of healing. He is kept on January 17, the feast of Anthony the Great, and honoured at Berroia on August 1.

  • Anthony the Roman of Novgorod

    Anthony (c. 1067 – 3 August 1147) is the saint who came to Novgorod on a stone. The Life has him born at Rome of Orthodox parents, orphaned at seventeen, giving away his inheritance and sealing the rest in a barrel which he threw into the sea; driven from his monastery by the Latin persecution, he stood praying for a year on a rock at the sea's edge until a storm tore the rock away and carried him — over the Mediterranean, round Europe, up the Neva, across Ladoga and up the Volkhov — to the bank above Novgorod on the eve of the Nativity of the Theotokos, 1106. There he founded the monastery of the Nativity, and there the fishermen's net brought up his barrel, whose contents he described before the judges and with which he bought the monastery its land. He built the stone church that still stands, was made abbot in 1131 by St Niphon, and reposed on 3 August 1147. The chronicles confirm the monastery, the church, the abbacy and the death; the Roman origin and the voyage on the stone appear only four centuries later, and the entry records both the tradition and the problem.

British Isles and Ireland

  • St. Nennius, disciple of St. Ninian (6th C)
  • St. Mildgyth of Lyminge, virgin (676)

Troparia & kontakia

Apolytikion — Tone 8

With the streams of thy tears thou didst make the barren desert to bring forth, and with sighs from the depths thou didst render thy labours fruitful a hundredfold; thou becamest a beacon shining upon the world by miracles, O Anthony our father: intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Having thrust away the tumults of the world, thou didst finish thy course in stillness, imitating the Baptist in every way, O most holy one; therefore together with him we honour thee, O Anthony, father of fathers.

Kontakion — Tone 8

Thou didst leave the city of the Romans and the inheritance of thy fathers, and the sea bore thee upon a stone as upon a ship, to the river of the Novgorodians; and where the stone came to land thou didst raise a house to the Mother of God. Wherefore, O father Anthony, do thou guide us also over the waves of this life to a quiet harbour.

Troparion — Tone 8

With the streams of thy tears thou didst till the barren wilderness, and by thy sighing from the depths thou didst make thy labours bear fruit a hundredfold; and thou becamest a luminary, shining upon the world with miracles, O Achillas our venerable father. Intercede with Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 8

With the streams of thy tears thou didst till the barren desert, and by thy sighing from the depths thou didst make thy labours bear fruit a hundredfold; and thou becamest a luminary, shining upon the whole world with miracles, O Anthony our venerable father. Intercede with Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 4

Imitating the zealous Elijah in thy ways, and following the Baptist along his straight paths, O Father Anthony, thou becamest a dweller of the wilderness, and by thy prayers didst establish the world. Wherefore intercede with Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 8

By the streams of thy tears thou didst make the wilderness to bloom, and by thy deep-drawn sighs thy labours bore fruit a hundredfold; and thou wast made a beacon to the whole world, resplendent with miracles, O Anthony our righteous father. Intercede with Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.

Readings

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon 5.15-6.3

15But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High. 16Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them. 17He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies. 18He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet. 19He shall take holiness for an invincible shield. 20His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise. 21Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark. 22And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them. 23Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. 1Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. 2Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. 3For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.

Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

1But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. 2In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, 3And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. 4For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. 5And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself. 6As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering. 7And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. 8They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. 9They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

7But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. 8For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. 9But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. 10He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated. 11Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. 12For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. 13He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: 14For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked. 15This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Matins Gospel

Matthew 11.27-30

27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Epistle

1 Thessalonians 5.14-23

14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19Quench not the Spirit. 20Despise not prophesyings. 21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13.17-21 (St Anthony)

17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 18Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. 19But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel

Luke 16.10-15

10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 6.17-23 (St Anthony)

17And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 18And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. 19And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. 20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.