Paschaltide, day 7 · 6 days since Pascha
Saints commemorated
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Ven. John, Disciple of Gregory Decapolites
John was the disciple, fellow-ascetic and spiritual son of St Gregory of Decapolis, and shared his master's labours and sufferings for the holy icons in the second iconoclast persecution of the ninth century. Faithful to Gregory to the end, and himself a confessor of the veneration of images, he reposed in peace and is honoured on April 18.
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The Holy Martyr John the New of Ioannina (1526)
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Cosmas of Chalcedon and Auxentius
Cosmas, Bishop of Chalcedon, and his companion Auxentius were confessors of the holy icons in the iconoclast persecution. Cosmas, chosen bishop of Chalcedon across the water from Constantinople, withstood the heretical emperors and refused to surrender the veneration of the images; for this he was persecuted, deposed and exiled, and with his faithful companion Auxentius endured much for the faith before reposing in peace. They are kept together on April 18.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Laserian of Innismurray and Arran (639)
- St. Deicola, abbot of Bosham (7th C)
- St. Cogitosus of Kildare (8th C)
- SS. Bitheus and Genocus (6th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a bishop-confessor)
O God of our fathers, ever dealing with us according to Thy gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but by the prayers of Thy holy confessors Cosmas the bishop and Auxentius, direct our lives in peace.
Troparion — Tone 8 (common of an ascetic-confessor)
By a flood of tears thou didst make the desert fruitful, and by thy sufferings for the holy icons thou didst confess the faith; thou becamest a beacon shining upon the world by thy struggles, O John our father, disciple of Gregory: intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Readings
Epistle
Acts 3.11-16
11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Gospel
John 3.22-33
22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24For John was not yet cast into prison. 25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease. 31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.