Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Greatmartyr Theodore Stratelates
Theodore Stratelates (†319) — "the Commander," from the Greek stratelates, a general — was a Roman military officer of the early fourth century, governor and garrison-commander of Heraclea on the Thracian coast of the Black Sea, and one of the two great warrior-martyrs named Theodore whom the Church honours. A Christian in the years of Licinius's persecution, he was so loved by the city that the emperor himself came to him; entrusted with idols of gold and silver to offer in sacrifice, Theodore broke them up and distributed the pieces to the poor, then openly confessed Christ. He was scourged, racked, blinded, and — the tradition holds — crucified, and at the last beheaded on February 8, 319. His faithful servant Varus wrote down the acts of his passion. He is closely associated with, and in the calendars and iconography often paired with, Theodore the Recruit (Tyron), commemorated on February 17; the two Theodores are distinct saints. His relics were translated to his estate at Euchaita, kept as a second feast on June 8.
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Holy Prophet Zechariah (6th c. BC)
Zachariah (Hebrew Zekharyah, "the Lord has remembered") was the eleventh of the Twelve Minor Prophets and, with Haggai, one of the two prophets of the return from Babylon, active in Jerusalem from the second year of Darius (520 BC) as the exiles rebuilt the Temple. The son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, and by the Church's tradition of priestly (Levitical) descent, he received in a single night a sequence of eight symbolic visions — the horsemen, the four horns and the four smiths, the man with the measuring line, the cleansing of Joshua the high priest, the golden lampstand and the two olive trees, the flying scroll, the woman in the ephah, and the four chariots — and prophesied the coming of the Messiah with a clarity the Church reads at the heart of Holy Week: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion… behold, thy King cometh unto thee… lowly, and riding upon an ass" (9:9); the thirty pieces of silver (11:12–13); "they shall look upon me whom they have pierced" (12:10); and "smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered" (13:7). From a vision of a flying scroll curved like a sickle he is surnamed the Sickle-seer. He is commemorated on February 8.
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St Sabbas II, Archbishop of Serbia (1271)
Sava the Second (c. 1201 – 1271), born Predislav Nemanjić, was the third Archbishop of Serbia, a prince of the Nemanjić house who followed his great uncle Sava the First into the monastic and hierarchical life. He was a son of the Serbian king Stefan the First-Crowned and thus a nephew of Sava I, the founder of the Serbian Church whose name he took in religion. Renowned for the austerity of his ascetic life, he made the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, was consecrated bishop of Hum (Zahumlje), and about 1263 succeeded to the throne of the Serbian Church as archbishop, which he governed until his death in 1271. He is venerated in the Serbian Church as one of the line of holy first-hierarchs of the Nemanjić age, and is commemorated on February 8.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Kegwe of Monmouthshire (6th C)
- St. Oncho of Clonmore, poet and pilgrim (600)
- St. Cuthman of Steyning, hermit (8th C)
- St. Elfleda, abbess of Whitby (714)
- SS. Jacut and Guethenoc (5th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 2
Following thy sainted uncle in the narrow way of the ascetics and in the care of the flock, thou wast shown a worthy third shepherd of the Serbian Church, O father Sava; and now, standing before the Lord, remember them that honour thy memory.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Having armed thy soul with faith through courage, and wielding the word of God as a spear, thou didst strike down the enemy, O Theodore, glory of the martyrs. With them cease thou never to intercede with Christ our God on behalf of us all.
Kontakion — Tone 4
Thy pure heart, made radiant by the Spirit, became the dwelling-place of most luminous prophecy; for thou dost behold things far off as though they were near. Wherefore we honour thee, O blessed prophet Zechariah, glory of the Twelve.
Magnification
We magnify thee, O passion-bearer and holy Great-Martyr Theodore, and we honour thy precious sufferings, which thou didst endure for Christ.
Troparion — Tone 8
As an heir of the first Sava in name and in grace, thou didst take upon thee his ascetic labours and his archpastoral throne, O holy hierarch Sava; wherefore, shepherding the Church of the Serbs in holiness, thou dost intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
By true enlistment in the army of the heavenly King thou didst become his most comely commander, O Theodore; for with the weapons of faith thou didst wisely array thyself for battle and didst utterly rout the hordes of the demons, and wast shown to be a victory-bearing champion. Wherefore with faith we ever call thee blessed.
Troparion — Tone 2
As we celebrate the memory of thy prophet Zechariah, O Lord, through him we entreat thee: save our souls.
Readings
Epistle
James 2.14-26
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Gospel
Mark 10.46-52
46And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimæus, the son of Timæus, sat by the highway side begging. 47And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.