Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Ven. George the Chozebite
George the Chozebite (mid-sixth century – c. 625) was one of the great ascetics of the Judean desert, abbot of the Monastery of Choziba in the gorge of the Wadi Qelt between Jerusalem and Jericho. Born on Cyprus and orphaned young, he followed his elder brother Heraclides into the monasteries of Palestine, passing from the lavra of Calamon by the Jordan to the coenobium of Choziba, where he spent the rest of his long life in humility, obedience, and unsparing labour, and where he became the community's revered elder and head. He lived through the catastrophe of the Persian invasion of 614, when Jerusalem fell and the desert monasteries were sacked, surviving to gather again the scattered brethren and to die in peace amid the ruins. His life is known in unusual detail because his own disciple, Antony of Choziba, wrote it down soon after his repose — a first-hand portrait of Palestinian monasticism in its last age before the Arab conquest. He is commemorated on January 8, within the afterfeast of the Theophany.
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Our Venerable Mother Domnica (Domnina) (ca. 474)
Domnica of Constantinople (fourth century – c. 474) was a venerable amma of the imperial city, remembered as a foundress of monastic life for women and a saint of extraordinary spiritual gifts. According to the tradition she came from Carthage in Roman Africa to Constantinople in the reign of Theodosius the Great, was baptised by the Patriarch Nectarius, and gave herself wholly to the ascetic life, gathering a community of women and reaching a rare height of prayer. The synaxaria credit her with healings, with power over the elements — stilling fires and storms that threatened the capital — and with foreknowledge of things to come, gifts by which she turned the citizens of Constantinople toward the care of their souls. She lived to a very great age and reposed a virgin about the year 474. She is commemorated on January 8, within the afterfeast of the Theophany.
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Saint Atticus, Patriarch of Constantinople (425)
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Saint Severinus (482)
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Abo of Tiflis
Abo of Tiflis (c. 756 – 786) was an Arab perfumer of Baghdad who embraced the Christian faith in Georgia and died a martyr for it — the patron saint of Tbilisi and one of the most beloved saints of the Georgian Church. Brought to Kartli in the household of the Georgian prince Nerse, Abo was drawn to the piety of the Georgian people, learned their language and worship, and was baptised. Returning to Tiflis (Tbilisi), then under Muslim rule, he openly confessed Christ and preached him, refusing every inducement to return to Islam; he was imprisoned and, in January 786, beheaded. His body was burned and his ashes cast into the Kura (Mtkvari) River beside the Metekhi cliff, over which a shining light was seen. His Passion, written soon after by Ioane Sabanisdze, is a monument of early Georgian literature. He is commemorated on January 8.
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Elias the Hermit of Egypt
Elias the Hermit was an Egyptian ascetic of the fourth century who spent seventy-five years in solitary struggle in a cave on a desolate mountain, and reposed in extreme old age at about a hundred and ten years. He belongs to the company of the great anchorites of the Egyptian desert, and is commemorated on January 8, within the afterfeast of the Theophany.
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Emilian of Cyzicus
Emilian the Confessor (died c. 820) was bishop of Cyzicus, on the Sea of Marmara, and a bold defender of the holy icons in the second iconoclast persecution under the emperor Leo V the Armenian. Summoned with the other bishops before the emperor when Leo moved to revive iconoclasm, Emilian refused to yield the veneration of the images and answered the emperor to his face, for which he was deposed, ill-treated, and sent into exile, where he died a confessor of the faith. He is numbered among the company of confessor-hierarchs who suffered in those years for the images of Christ and the saints. His principal feast is August 8; he is commemorated again on January 8, within the afterfeast of the Theophany.
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Gregory of Ohrid
Gregory of Ohrid was a saint of the church of Ohrid (Achris), in the region of the ancient archbishopric, remembered as a faithful teacher and shepherd of Christ's flock. An inscription in the cathedral church of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) of Ohrid names him "Gregory the Wise." Beyond this the record is very thin; he is commemorated on January 8, within the afterfeast of the Theophany.
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Julian and Basilissa
Julian and Basilissa were a married couple of Antinoë in Egypt who, by mutual consent, lived together in perpetual virginity and, on the death of their parents, gave their wealth to found two monasteries — one for men under Julian, one for women under Basilissa. Basilissa reposed in peace after guiding her sisters; Julian remained, and in the persecution of the early fourth century he was arrested, tortured, and beheaded, together with a company won to Christ through his constancy: the youth Celsus (son of his persecutor), Marcionilla the boy's mother, the priest Anthony, a converted pagan baptised Anastasius, seven young brothers, and twenty soldiers. They are commemorated together on January 8, within the afterfeast of the Theophany.
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Paisius of Uglich
Paisius of Uglich (c. 1397 – 1504) was the founder and first abbot of the Protection (Pokrov) Monastery near Uglich on the Volga, and a wonderworker of the Russian north. Orphaned as a boy, he entered the monastery of his uncle, Saint Macarius of Kalyazin, at the age of eleven, and was formed there in obedience, fasting, and prayer, labouring at the copying of sacred books. At the wish of the Prince of Uglich, Andrew, he founded in 1464 the cenobitic Protection Monastery a few versts from the city, and served as its abbot; he founded a second monastery in 1489. He lived to a great age and reposed on June 6, 1504; his relics, glorified by miracles, rest in the monastery he built. He is commemorated on January 8, within the afterfeast of the Theophany, and on June 6, the day of his repose.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Ergnad of Ulster (5th C)
- St. Albert of Cashel (7th C)
- St. Pega, anchoress in Northamptonshire (c.719)
- St. Athelhelm, 20th archbishop of Canterbury (923)
- St. Wulsin, bishop of Sherborne (1002)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 4
In thee, O Father, was preserved unfailing the image; for taking up the Cross thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, and to have care for the soul, a thing immortal. Therefore doth thy spirit, O venerable George, rejoice together with the Angels.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy Martyr Abo, O Lord, in his contest received from thee our God an imperishable crown; for possessed of thy strength, he cast down the persecutors and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By his supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 8
In thee, O Mother, was the image preserved with exactness; for taking up the Cross thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Therefore doth thy spirit, O venerable Domnica, rejoice together with the Angels.
Troparion — Tone 1
Thou wast shown to be a citizen of the wilderness, an angel in the body, and a wonderworker, O our God-bearing Father Elias; by fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst receive heavenly gifts, and thou healest the sick and the souls of those who run to thee in faith. Glory to him that gave thee strength; glory to him that crowned thee; glory to him that worketh healings for all through thee.
Troparion — Tone 4
O God of our Fathers, who dealest ever with us according to thy gentleness, take not thy mercy from us, but by the prayers of thy hierarch Emilian guide our life in peace.
Troparion — Tone 1
Thou wast shown to be a citizen of the wilderness, an angel in the body, and a wonderworker, O our God-bearing Father George; by fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst receive heavenly gifts, and thou healest the sick and the souls of those who run to thee in faith. Glory to him that gave thee strength; glory to him that crowned thee; glory to him that worketh healings for all through thee.
Troparion — Tone 1
As a wise teacher and faithful shepherd of the flock of Christ, thou didst shine in the church of Ohrid, O venerable Father Gregory; wherefore, honouring thy holy memory, we entreat thee: intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received imperishable crowns from thee our God; for possessed of thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4
Having lived on earth as a citizen of heaven, O Father Paisius, thou wast a teacher of the monastic life and an unshaken pillar of thy flock; by fasting, vigil, and prayer thou didst receive the gifts of the Spirit, to heal the sick and to guide the faithful. Wherefore we honour thy holy repose; intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Readings
Epistle
1 Peter 1.1-2, 10-12, 2.6-10
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 10Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Gospel
Luke 19.12-28
12He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. 28And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.