Paschaltide, day 5 · 4 days since Pascha
Saints commemorated
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Virgin Martyrs Agape, Irene and Chionia
Agape, Chionia and Irene were three Christian sisters of Thessalonica martyred in the persecution of Diocletian in 304. Refusing to eat food offered to idols, and found to possess the forbidden Christian Scriptures, they were condemned by the governor Dulcitius: Agape and Chionia were burned alive, and Irene, after being exposed to shame and standing firm, was put to death — by fire, or, in the fuller account, by an arrow. Their authentic Acts survive and are among the most reliable of the early martyr-records; the three are linked in tradition with St Anastasia the Deliverer-from-Bonds, who strengthened and buried them.
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Leonidas of Corinth and Companions
Leonidas and a company of Christian women with him — Chariessa, Nike, Galina, Kallis, Nunechia, Basilissa and Theodora — were martyred at Corinth in the mid-third century (under Decius, or, by another account, in the early fourth under the tetrarchy). After torture they were bound and cast into the sea, and received together the crown of martyrdom. They are honoured among the martyrs of Greece on April 16.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Padarn, Missionary and Wonderworker, founder of Llanbadarn Fawr (550)
- St. Elias of Cologne (1042)
Troparia & kontakia
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of virgin-martyrs)
Thy lambs Agape, Chionia and Irene cry out with a loud voice, O Jesus: We love Thee, O our Bridegroom, and in seeking Thee we endure suffering; crucified with Thee and buried in Thy baptism, we suffer for Thy sake that we may reign with Thee; accept us who sacrifice ourselves in love for Thee, and by their prayers, O merciful One, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of several martyrs)
Thy martyrs Leonidas and those with him, 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.
Readings
Epistle
Acts 2.38-43
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Gospel
John 3.1-15
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.