All Saints of America, All Saints of Russia
Saints commemorated
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St Andrew of Crete
Andrew of Crete (c. 650 – c. 740), called the Jerusalemite, is the archbishop of Gortyna in Crete who stands at the head of Byzantine hymnography as the maker — or at least the first great master — of the kanon, and who composed the Great Canon, the two hundred and fifty stanzas of penitential dialogue with his own soul that the Church still sings through the first week of Great Lent and entire on the Thursday of the fifth week. Born at Damascus under Arab rule and mute until his seventh year, healed at the chalice, tonsured in Jerusalem and formed in the brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, he was sent to Constantinople with the acceptance of the Sixth Ecumenical Council, served as deacon of the Great Church and warden of its orphanage, and was made metropolitan of Crete under Justinian II. His episcopate spans the last convulsion of Monothelitism — in which he briefly and disastrously subscribed the synod of Philippikos in 712, and afterwards repented — and the eve of the iconoclast crisis, against which his homilies on the holy images were read as patristic proof at the Seventh Ecumenical Council. He is not the monk-martyr Andrew of Crete of October 17.
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Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia: Tsar Nicholas II, Tsaritsa Alexandra, Crown Prince Alexei, and Grand duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia, and those martyred with them (1918).
In the cellar of a requisitioned merchant's house at Yekaterinburg, on the night of 16–17 July 1918 — the 4th of July by the church reckoning — the last emperor of Russia, Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, their four daughters Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, and their haemophiliac son Alexis, aged thirteen, were shot together with four of their household. They had been prisoners for sixteen months. The Church honours them not for their politics, on which she pronounces nothing, but for the manner in which they bore captivity and death: without bitterness, at prayer, forgiving, in the pattern of Boris and Gleb — which is what the title passion-bearer (strastoterpets) means and all it means. They were glorified by the Russian Church Abroad in 1981 and by the Moscow Patriarchate at the Jubilee Council of 2000, and are commemorated on July 4. The family's physician, Eugene Botkin, who refused freedom in order to stay with them, is glorified with them.
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St Martha, mother of St Symeon of the Wonderful Mountain (551)
Martha of Antioch (†551) is the mother of Symeon the Stylite of the Wonderful Mountain, and one of the very few women in the calendar honoured neither as martyr nor as nun but as a mother — a married Antiochene laywoman whose whole sanctity lay in prayer, mercy and the giving of her child to God. Denied the virginity she had wanted, she was assured at the shrine of the Forerunner that her obedience would be blessed, vowed the child before his birth, and after her husband's death gave her nights to prayer with tears and her days to the poor, the sick, the dying and the newly baptised, for whom she sewed the white garments with her own hands. She was forewarned of her death a year before it, reposed in 551, and was buried at the foot of her son's mountain, where he built a chapel over her tomb and offered the Liturgy for her; her cult grew up beside his at the great Antiochene shrine. She is not the Martha who was mother of Symeon the Stylite the Elder.
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St Andrew (Rublev), iconographer (1430)
Andrei Rublev (c. 1360 – 1428/1430) is the greatest of Russian iconographers and the only one the Church has glorified as a saint for the painting itself. A monk of the Spaso-Andronikov monastery in Moscow, formed in the spiritual world of Sergius of Radonezh and working for forty years beside his elder-companion Daniel the Black, he painted in the Annunciation cathedral of the Kremlin with Theophanes the Greek (1405), the Dormition cathedral at Vladimir (1408), and the Trinity cathedral of the Trinity–Sergius Lavra, for which he made, "in praise of Saint Sergius," the icon of the Holy Trinity — the most famous icon in the world and the standard against which the Stoglav council of 1551 ordered all later Trinities to be measured. He died at the Andronikov monastery and was buried there. Venerated from the fifteenth century and named a saint by the Life of Joseph of Volokolamsk's tradition, he was formally glorified in 1988, at the millennium of the Baptism of Rus, with his feast on July 4, the day of his patron Andrew of Crete.
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Andrew Bogoliubsky
Andrew Bogoliubsky (c. 1111–1174), son of Yuri Dolgoruky and grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, is the great prince who moved the centre of gravity of the Russian lands from Kiev to Vladimir, and who is venerated as a passion-bearer for the manner of his death. He carried the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God north from Vyshgorod in 1155; at the place where the horses would go no further he founded Bogolyubovo, from which he takes his name, and there had the vision that produced the Bogolyubskaya icon. He built about thirty churches — the Dormition cathedral at Vladimir, the Golden Gate, the Intercession on the Nerl — sought a metropolitan see of his own from Constantinople, and established two feasts still kept by the Russian Church: the Protection of the Mother of God (October 1) and the All-Merciful Saviour (August 1). On the night of 29–30 June 1174 he was cut down in his own palace at Bogolyubovo by a conspiracy of his household; the Church keeps July 4, the day of his burial in the Dormition cathedral. His incorrupt relics were uncovered there in 1702.
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Donagus of Libya
Donagus — the name appears in the English calendars as Donatus — is a hieromartyr, a priest or bishop put to death for Christ, commemorated on June 28 and located by the tradition in Libya, the Greek name for the African provinces west of Egypt. No account of his passion survives; the synaxarion preserves his name, his rank, and his country.
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Theodore of Cyrene
Theodore, bishop of Cyrene in the Libyan Pentapolis, was a calligrapher — a copyist who wrote out the books of the Church with his own hand and gave them to the faithful — and it was for his books that he died. In the persecution of Diocletian he was denounced to the governor Dignianus by his own son Leo, and commanded to surrender the Scriptures and sacrifice; he refused, was beaten with rods and had his tongue cut out, and died of his wounds in prison about the year 310. Three women whom he had brought to Christ — Cyprilla, Aroa and Lucia — suffered with him or shortly after him. He is a hieromartyr of the same African province as the little-known Donagus (Donatus) of Libya, and is not to be confused with Theodotus, bishop of Cyrenia in Cyprus.
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Theodotus and Theodota of Caesarea
Theodotus and Theodota are two martyrs of Caesarea in Cappadocia who suffered under the emperor Trajan — the calendars give the year as 108 — for refusing to offer sacrifice to the idols. Nothing beyond this is transmitted: no passion survives, no relationship between the two is stated, and no manner of death is recorded. They stand in the synaxarion for July 4, immediately after the Cappadocian chamberlain-martyr Hyacinth, whose commemoration falls on July 3 and with whom the Greek lists associate them.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Finbar, abbot of Innis Doimlile (6th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Apolytikion — Tone 8 (common of a venerable father)
By a flood of tears thou didst make the barren desert bear fruit, and by thy sighing from the depths thou didst bring forth increase a hundredfold in thy labours; and thou didst become a beacon, shining upon the whole world by thy miracles. O Andrei our venerable father, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Apolytikion — Tone 8 (of a right-believing prince and passion-bearer)
Thou didst love Christ above a kingdom, and didst adorn thy land with churches as with stars; and when the murderers came upon thee in the night, thou didst render thy soul into the hands of God with forgiveness upon thy lips. O holy passion-bearer Prince Andrew, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Apolytikion — Tone 4
O God of our fathers, who dealest with us ever according to thy gentleness: take not thy mercy from us, but by the prayers of thy hierarch Andrew, govern our life in peace.
Apolytikion — Tone 8 (common of a venerable woman)
In thee, O mother, was the image restored with exactness: for taking up the Cross thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, which passeth away, and to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Martha, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
Apolytikion — Tone 4 (common of a hieromartyr)
Sharing in the ways of the Apostles and seated with them upon their throne, thou didst find in thy labours, O God-inspired one, the ladder that leadeth to contemplation; and, offering thyself a whole burnt-offering, thou didst pour forth thy blood for the Church of Christ. O hieromartyr Theodore, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Apolytikion — Tone 4 (common of martyrs)
Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from thee our God; for possessed of thy might, they cast down the tyrants and broke in pieces the feeble insolence of the demons. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 8
Thou didst bring the icon of the Mother of God into the land of Vladimir, and she took it for her own dwelling; thou didst build her a house of white stone, and she received thee, slain in the night, into her protection. Wherefore we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Andrew, God-loving prince and passion-bearer.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Thou didst sound the trumpet of repentance over all the earth, and with the words of the Scriptures thou didst wound thine own soul, that ours might be healed; O Andrew, hierarch of Crete and lyre of the Spirit, cease not to entreat forgiveness for us who sing thy canon.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Thou didst render to God the child thou hadst vowed him, and thyself with the child; and, keeping in thy house the silence of the desert, thou didst clothe the naked and bury the dead and array the newly-illumined in white. O Martha, mother of the wonderworker, entreat Christ for our souls.
Kontakion — Tone 8
Ye did not ask to be avenged, but prayed that evil might be conquered by love; and having nothing left to give, ye gave your death to God. Wherefore we cry to you: rejoice, O royal passion-bearers, who kept the faith in the house of your captivity.
Kontakion — Tone 2
With thine own hand thou didst write out the oracles of God, and thou wouldst not surrender them; wherefore the tyrant took away thy tongue, and thou didst preach the more loudly by thy blood. O Theodore, bishop of Cyrene, pray for them that honour thee.
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a hieromartyr)
Sharing in the ways of the Apostles and seated with them upon their throne, thou didst find in thy labours, O God-inspired one, the ladder that leadeth to contemplation; and, offering thyself a whole burnt-offering, thou didst pour forth thy blood for the Church of Christ. O hieromartyr Donagus, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Today the Russian land brings to Christ her emperor and his household, slain in the night in a cellar: they went down to the slaughter as lambs, praying for their murderers, and were made partakers of the Passion of the Lord. O holy passion-bearers Nicholas, Alexandra, Alexis, Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia, entreat Christ God to grant our land forgiveness and peace.
Readings
Vespers
Isaiah 43.9-14
9Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. 10Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. 12I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 13Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? 14Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9
1But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. 2In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, 3And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. 4For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. 5And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself. 6As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering. 7And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. 8They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. 9They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.
Wisdom of Solomon 5.15-6.3
15But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High. 16Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them. 17He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies. 18He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet. 19He shall take holiness for an invincible shield. 20His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise. 21Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark. 22And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them. 23Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. 1Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. 2Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. 3For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.
2nd Matins Gospel
Mark 16.1-8
1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Epistle
Romans 2.10-16
10But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11For there is no respect of persons with God. 12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Hebrews 11.33-12.2 (Saints)
33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Gospel
Matthew 4.18-23
18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 4.25-5.12 (Saints)
25And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. 1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.