Saturday after Theophany
Saints commemorated
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Martyr Polyeuctus of Melitene in Armenia
Polyeuctus (†c. 259) was a Roman soldier of Melitene in Lesser Armenia and the first martyr of that city — one of the most celebrated martyrs of the early Church in both East and West. A pagan of upright life, he was brought to Christ by his fellow-soldier and bosom friend Nearchus and by a vision in which Christ stripped off his soiled military cloak and clothed him in a shining garment. Enkindled with zeal, he tore down the imperial edict commanding sacrifice and smashed the idols carried in procession; neither the pleadings of his father-in-law the magistrate Felix nor the tears of his wife Paulina could move him, and he went to his beheading rejoicing — baptised in his own blood, for he died before receiving the water of Baptism. A great church rose over his tomb under Constantine, and his fame spread so far that the West made him the patron of vows and oaths and Pierre Corneille built his tragedy Polyeucte (1642) upon his memory. He is kept on January 9.
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Hieromartyr Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow
Philip (1507–1569), born Theodore Kolychev of a great Moscow boyar family, was the hierarch-martyr who rebuked Ivan the Terrible to his face and paid for it with his life. Forsaking the court in his thirtieth year, he became a monk and then the renowned builder-abbot of the Solovetsky Monastery on the White Sea before Ivan drew him, against his will, to be Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia (1566). From the cathedral pulpit he denounced the murders of the Oprichnina and refused to bless the Tsar in his blood-guilt; for this he was deposed in the midst of the Liturgy, stripped of his vestments, and exiled to a monastery in Tver, where in December 1569 the oprichnik Malyuta Skuratov strangled him in his cell. His relics were carried to Solovki in 1591 and, in 1652, translated in triumph to the Dormition Cathedral of the Kremlin, the Tsar sending a letter of repentance for his forebear's crime. He is venerated as a hieromartyr and wonderworker, the very type of the pastor who lays down his life against tyranny, and is kept on January 9.
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Saint Peter II, Bishop of Sebaste (4th c.)
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Venerable Eustratius the Wonderworker (9th c.)
Eustratius the Wonderworker (c. 751 – c. 846) was a monastic saint of the ninth century, abbot of the Agauros Monastery on Mount Olympus of Bithynia, the great monastic mountain of Asia Minor. Born in the Bithynian village of Tarsion, he left home at twenty to enter the monastery where his own kinsmen were monks, and there gave himself to a life of extreme asceticism — bread and water, and nights passed in prayer and prostration. Chosen abbot, he ruled as the humblest of the brethren, sharing their labour by day. When the iconoclast persecution was revived under Leo V the Armenian, the community was scattered and Eustratius himself imprisoned; only after the Triumph of Orthodoxy in 842 could he gather his monks again and resume his rule. Renowned for a great abundance of miracles and for a boundless charity, he reposed in deep old age, about ninety-five years old, and is kept on January 9.
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Saint Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow (1569)
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Adrian of Canterbury, abbot and scholar (710)
- St. Berhtwald, 8th archbishop of Canterbury (731)
- St. Foellan of Strathfillan (8th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 3
Let us praise the teacher of Orthodoxy and herald of the truth, the emulator of Chrysostom, the lamp of Russia, Philip the all-wise, who wisely nourished his children with the food of his words; for with his tongue he sang praise and with his lips he uttered hymns, as an initiate of the grace of God.
Kontakion — Tone 4
The Master, bowing his head in the Jordan, crushed the heads of the dragons; and the head of the Prize-winner, being struck off, put the deceiver to shame.
Troparion — Tone 8
With the streams of thy tears thou didst till the barren desert, and by thy sighings from the depths thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours, and thou becamest a luminary, shining upon the world by thy miracles, O Eustratius our father. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8
O successor of the first-enthroned hierarchs, pillar of Orthodoxy and champion of the truth, new confessor, O holy hierarch Philip, who didst lay down thy life for thy flock: therefore, having boldness before Christ, intercede for our fatherland, and for the city and the people that worthily honour thy holy memory.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy Martyr Polyeuctus, O Lord, in his contest received from thee our God the crown of incorruption; for, possessed of thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and shattered the impotent insolence of the demons. By his intercessions, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Readings
Epistle
Ephesians 6.10-17 (Saturday after Theophany)
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
1 Thessalonians 5.14-23
14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19Quench not the Spirit. 20Despise not prophesyings. 21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel
Matthew 4.1-11 (Saturday after Theophany)
1Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Luke 10.16-21
16He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 17And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 21In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.