Ascensiontide, day 2 · 40 days since Pascha
Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Barnabas the Apostle
Barnabas — born Joseph, a Levite of Cyprus, whom the apostles surnamed Barnabas, "son of consolation" — is the one apostle of the Seventy whose life the Acts of the Apostles tells at length. He sold his land and laid the price at the apostles' feet; he vouched for Paul at Jerusalem when the disciples still feared him; he was sent from Jerusalem to Antioch, fetched Saul from Tarsus to help him there, and taught with him for a year in the city where the disciples were first called Christians. The Holy Spirit set the two of them apart for the first missionary journey, through Barnabas's own island and the highlands of Asia Minor; they stood together at the Council of Jerusalem for the freedom of the Gentiles; and then they parted over Mark, Barnabas's kinsman, whom Paul would not take again. Barnabas sailed with Mark to Cyprus, and there, at Salamis, he was killed about the year 61. Mark buried him with the Gospel of Matthew in Barnabas's own hand upon his breast — and when the tomb was found in 478 that Gospel won the Church of Cyprus its autocephaly, which it holds to this day.
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Saint of the day
Bartholomew the Apostle
Bartholomew is one of the Twelve, named in every apostolic list of the New Testament and in every one of them beside Philip, and yet given no word and no deed in the Gospels — his whole scriptural biography is a patronymic, bar-Tolmai, "son of Tolmai." What the tradition supplies is one of the widest missions ascribed to any apostle: with Philip and his sister Mariamne in Asia Minor and at Hierapolis in Phrygia; then in India, where Eusebius and Jerome report that a copy of the Gospel of Matthew in Hebrew letters was found still surviving in the second century, left there by Bartholomew; and finally in Greater Armenia, where he and Jude Thaddaeus are honoured as the first enlighteners of the nation. At Albanopolis he was, by the Byzantine account, flayed alive, crucified head-downward and beheaded. His relics travelled further than he did — Dara in Mesopotamia, the island of Lipari, Benevento, and the church on the Tiber island at Rome — and his second feast on August 25 keeps their return. Whether he is the same man as Nathanael of the Fourth Gospel the liturgical books of the Orthodox Church do not agree, and this entry does not settle it.
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Commemoration of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to a monk on Mt Athos, and the revelation of the hymn "It is Truly Meet" (Axion Estin (980)
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Arcadius of Novotorzhok
Arcadius (†13 December 1077) was a young man of Vyazma who left his home to follow the Hungarian nobleman Ephraim, founder of the monastery of Saints Boris and Gleb at Novy Torg (Torzhok) on the upper Tvertsa. Before his tonsure he lived as a fool-for-Christ, begging his bread and sleeping in the forest or on a church porch; after it he was known for an obedience to his elder so complete that the Russian tradition holds it up as the pattern of the thing, and for silence, fasting and unbroken attendance at the services. He outlived Ephraim by nearly a quarter of a century. His relics were found in 1572 and enshrined in 1677, and he is kept with Ephraim as one of the two patrons of Torzhok and among the saints of Tver and Smolensk.
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Barnabas of Vetluga
Barnabas of Vetluga (†1445) was a priest of Great Ustiug who left the world for the uninhabited forest country of the middle Vetluga, a tributary of the Volga in what is now Nizhny Novgorod province, and lived there twenty-eight years alone on Red Hill — with no human settlement, the account says, within fifty versts — subsisting on grass and acorns, at psalmody and prayer, and so far at peace with the wild beasts that the bears of the place grew tame to him. He foretold that after his death God would multiply the dwellings of men along the river; and so it fell out. Monks gathered at his grave, a wilderness-monastery rose with churches of the Holy Trinity and of St Nicholas, and about it grew the town that still bears his name, Varnavino. His relics were examined and his Life written in 1639, when the miracles at his tomb were reported to Patriarch Joasaph.
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Luke of Simferopol
Luke of Simferopol — in the world Valentin Felixovich Voino-Yasenetsky (1877–1961) — was one of the foremost surgeons of the Russian twentieth century and, at the same time, a bishop who spent eleven years in Soviet prisons and exile for refusing to be silent. He pioneered regional anaesthesia, wrote the Essays on the Surgery of Purulent Infections that trained generations of Russian surgeons, operated in a cassock with an icon in the theatre, was tonsured and consecrated in secret in 1923, was arrested three times, ran the military hospitals of Krasnoyarsk as an exile through the Second World War, was given the Stalin Prize in 1946 and gave most of it away, governed the see of Simferopol and Crimea from 1946, went blind in his last years and went on preaching, and died on 29 May (civil 11 June) 1961. His relics were uncovered in 1996 and he is venerated with extraordinary warmth in Russia, Ukraine and above all in Greece, where he is invoked before surgery as the physician-hierarch of the modern world.
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Metrophanes Chang and the Chinese Martyrs
In June 1900, during the Boxer Rising, the Orthodox community of Peking — a small Chinese church two centuries old, descended from the Russian mission established in the city in 1685 — was destroyed. Two hundred and twenty-two of its members, led by their priest Father Metrophanes Chang (Chang Tzi-tzung), the first Chinese Orthodox priest, were offered the choice of renouncing Christ or being tortured and killed, and chose the second. Among the named are the priest's wife Tatiana and his sons John and Isaiah, Isaiah's betrothed Maria, and the church schoolteachers Paul Wang and Ia Wen. The mission compound was burned and its people killed in and about it. They are commemorated on June 11, and they are the protomartyrs of Orthodoxy in China.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Blitharius (7th C)
- St. Herebald (8th C)
- St. Tochumra of Kilmore
Troparia & kontakia
Apolytikion — Tone 8 (common of a venerable father)
In thee, O father, was the divine image preserved with exactness; for taking up the cross thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, which is a thing immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Arcadius, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
Apolytikion — Tone 3
Holy Apostles, intercede with the merciful God, that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.
Apolytikion — Tone 3
Holy Apostles, intercede with the merciful God, that He grant unto our souls forgiveness of offences.
Apolytikion — Tone 4 (common of a hierarch)
The truth of things hath shown thee to thy flock as a rule of faith, an image of meekness and a teacher of temperance; therefore thou hast attained the heights by humility and riches by poverty. O father and hierarch Luke, intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Kontakion — Tone 4
Son of consolation wast thou named by the apostles, and a true consoler thou wast found: for thou didst bring the persecutor to the disciples, and didst set the name of Christians upon the church of Antioch, and didst give thy blood to thine own island. O Barnabas, apostle and martyr, entreat Christ God to console our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 4
Thou wast shown forth as a great sun unto the Church, enlightening those who honour thee with the radiance of thy teachings and of thy fearful wonders, O Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Thou didst take the knife to heal and the cross to preach, and neither prison nor the northern ice could part thee from either; blind at the last, thou didst see more than thy persecutors. O holy hierarch and physician Luke, stretch out thy hand over those who lie under the surgeon's knife, and pray for our souls.
Oikos
O disciple of the Word, thou wast initiated into the holy words, and them that of old were grievously held down in unreason thou didst make children of the light. Thou didst let down thy revered and holy nets into the depths of ignorance, and didst take the nations for thine obedient catch; the minds that deceit had left barren thou didst break open afresh with the divine plough. Thou didst dry up the scorching heat of the worship of many gods with the dew of thy radiant God-speaking, making sons of God of them that before were children of wrath, O Bartholomew, Apostle of the Lord.
Synaxarion
More precious than the sapphire stone, as the Scripture saith, Barnabas counted the stones that crushed him.
Synaxarion
Thy disciple also, O Christ — Bartholomew — imitating Thee, bears the passion of the Cross. On the eleventh they crucified stout-hearted Bartholomew.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thou didst dwell in the wilderness as in a city, O father Barnabas, and the beasts of the forest were made gentle before thee; thou didst feed on the herbs of the earth and wast filled with the sweetness of prayer, and thy solitude God hath made a dwelling-place of men. Entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
O holy martyrs of China, who in a strange land bore witness to Christ, and in your own land laid down your lives for Him: with your priest Metrophanes at your head, you would not deny the Name in which you were baptised. Entreat our merciful God to grant our souls forgiveness of offences.
Readings
Vespers
1 Peter 1.3-9
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1.13-19
13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1 Peter 2.11-24
11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Matins Gospel
John 21.15-25
15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. 20Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 23Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? 24This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 25And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Epistle
Acts 19.1-8
1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7And all the men were about twelve. 8And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Acts 11.19-26, 29-30 (Apostles)
19Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 29Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa: 30Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Gospel
John 14.1-11
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Luke 10.16-21 (Apostles)
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.