Paschaltide, day 4 · 3 days since Pascha
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Saints commemorated
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Apostles of the Seventy Aristarchus, Pudens and Trophimus
Aristarchus of the Seventy was a Macedonian of Thessalonica and one of the most constant companions of the apostle Paul: seized by the Ephesus mob in the riot of the silversmiths, he accompanied Paul through Greece and to Jerusalem, sailed with him on the prisoner's voyage to Rome, and is greeted in the epistles as Paul's "fellow prisoner" and "fellow worker." The Byzantine tradition numbers him among the Seventy and makes him bishop of Apamea in Syria; the tradition of his April feast holds that he was beheaded at Rome under Nero, at the time of Paul's own martyrdom. He is commemorated on September 27 with the apostles Mark and Zenas, on April 15 with Pudens and Trophimus, and with all the Seventy on January 4.
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Holy Martyr Sabbas the Goth (372)
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Basilissa and Anastasia of Rome
Basilissa and Anastasia were noble Christian women of Rome, disciples of the apostles Peter and Paul, who devoted themselves to gathering and burying the bodies of the martyrs of the Neronian persecution. For this — and for their own bold confession of Christ — they were arrested, tortured and beheaded at Rome about the year 68. They are honoured as martyrs and as among the earliest confessors of the Church in the capital.
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Pudens of the Seventy
Pudens was a Christian of Rome, named by the Apostle Paul in the Second Letter to Timothy, and is numbered by the Church among the Seventy Apostles. Tradition makes him a Roman of rank whose house was a gathering-place of the apostles, and who was beheaded at Rome with the apostles Aristarchus and Trophimus under Nero. He is commemorated on April 15 with his companions, and among the Seventy on January 4.
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Trophimus of the Seventy
Trophimus was a disciple and travelling-companion of the Apostle Paul, named several times in the New Testament, and is numbered by the Church among the Seventy Apostles. An Ephesian and a Gentile Christian, he shared Paul's journeys and sufferings, and by tradition was beheaded at Rome together with the apostles Aristarchus and Pudens in the persecution of Nero. He is commemorated on April 15 with his fellow-labourers, and among the Seventy on January 4.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Ruadhan, hermit and abbot of Lothra (584)
- St. Mundus, abbot in Argyle (c.962)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 6
Protection of Christians that cannot be put to shame, mediation unto the Creator unfailing: despise not the suppliant voices of sinners, but be quick to help us who cry to thee in faith; hasten to intercession and make speed to entreaty, O Theotokos, who dost ever protect them that honour thee.
Troparion — Tone 4
To the Theotokos let us now run in haste, we sinners and lowly ones, and let us fall down in repentance, crying from the depth of our soul: O Lady, help us, having compassion upon us; make haste, for we perish from the multitude of our transgressions; turn not thy servants away empty, for thee alone have we as our hope.
Troparion — Tone 3
Holy Apostles, intercede with the merciful God, that he may grant our souls forgiveness of offences.
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of women martyrs)
Thy martyrs Basilissa and Anastasia, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee, our God; for possessing Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By their intercessions save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 3 (common of an apostle)
O holy apostle Pudens, intercede with the merciful God, that He may grant to our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Troparion — Tone 3 (common of an apostle)
O holy apostle Trophimus, intercede with the merciful God, that He may grant to our souls forgiveness of transgressions.
Readings
Epistle
Acts 2.22-36
22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Gospel
John 1.35-51
35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. 43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. 50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.