Nativity Fast, day 15
Saints commemorated
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Martyr Paramon and Companions
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Our Holy Father Pitirim of Egypt (4th c.)
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Acacius of Sinai
Acacius of Sinai was a young monk of the sixth century whose perfect obedience, kept for nine years under a harsh and negligent elder, became one of the most celebrated examples of the monastic virtue. He endured constant hardship, hunger, and beatings with unfailing meekness and thanksgiving, and died worn out by them. Five days after his burial, when his elder doubted whether so obedient a disciple could really be dead, the saint answered from the tomb that a doer of obedience does not die. John Climacus records the story in The Ladder of Divine Ascent as a pattern of obedience and its reward. Acacius is commemorated on November 29 and July 7.
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Paramon and the 370 Martyrs of Bithynia
Paramon and the 370 Martyrs of Bithynia suffered around the year 250, in the persecution of the emperor Decius. According to the tradition, the governor of the Eastern provinces, Aquilinus, had imprisoned a great company of some three hundred and seventy Christians and led them out to sacrifice at a pagan shrine by the warm springs of Bithynia. A local man named Paramon, watching the confessors driven to the altar, cried out aloud against the governor and confessed the one true God. He was seized and put to death with lances, and the whole company of 370 was beheaded on the same day. They are commemorated together on November 29.
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Philumenus of Ancyra
Philumenus of Ancyra was a grain-merchant of the Galatian city of Ancyra (modern Ankara) who suffered for Christ about the year 274, in the persecution of the emperor Aurelian. Denounced to the governor Felix by envious rivals as a Christian, he refused to deny his faith. His torturers drove nails into his hands, feet, and head and forced him to walk, and he died of his wounds, giving up his soul to God. He is commemorated on November 29.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Brendan of Birr (573)
- St. Sadwen (5th C)
- St. Egelwine of Athelney, monk (7th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 2
Having forsaken the world, from childhood thou didst follow after Christ, O most wise and venerable Acacius; and imitating His voluntary humility, thou didst cast down the arrogant tormentor. Pray without ceasing for us all.
Kontakion — Tone 2
As a bright and unerring star thou didst appear to the world, heralding by thy radiance Christ the Sun of righteousness; and having quenched every deception, O passion-bearer Paramon, thou bestowest light upon us, praying without ceasing for us all.
Troparion — Tone 8
In thee, O Father, that which is according to the image was surely preserved; for taking up thy cross thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou hast taught us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Therefore, O venerable Acacius, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy martyr Paramon, O Lord, in his contest received the crown of incorruption from Thee our God; for possessed of Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and broke the feeble insolence of the demons. By his intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy martyr Philumenus, O Lord, in his contest received the crown of incorruption from Thee our God; for possessed of Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and broke the feeble insolence of the demons. By his intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.
Readings
4th Matins Gospel
Luke 24.1-12
1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8And they remembered his words, 9And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
Epistle
Ephesians 5.8-19
8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Gospel
Luke 13.10-17
10And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 17And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.