Saturday after Elevation
Saints commemorated
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St Eumenes, Bishop of Gortyna
Eumenes (7th century) was bishop of Gortyna in Crete, venerated as a wonderworker and honoured in the Menaion as the chief saint of September 18. Noted from youth for an ascetic and merciful life — he gave away his whole substance to the poor — he was raised to the first see of Crete, where he shepherded his flock as a compassionate father and by his prayer, the tradition relates, once ended a drought with abundant rain. A defender of the orthodox faith against the heresy of his day, he was exiled to the Thebaid in Egypt, where he reposed; his body was returned to Gortyna for burial.
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St Ariadne of Phrygia (2nd c.)
Ariadne (2nd century) was a Christian slave in the household of Tertullus, a leading citizen of a Phrygian city the sources call Promissia — most plausibly Prymnessus. When her master held a sacrificial feast to the pagan gods on his son's birthday, Ariadne alone refused to take part; she was beaten, torn with iron hooks, and starved in prison, and when at last she was released and fled the city, her master's men pursued her. The tradition relates that at her prayer a cleft opened in the mountain rock and received her, and there she gave up her soul to God. She is commemorated on September 18.
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Castor the Martyr
Castor is a martyr commemorated on September 18 of whom nothing is transmitted beyond his name and his end: he suffered death for the open confession of the faith of Christ. The Greek and Slavic calendars carry him as a separate commemoration without place or date; the OCA joins him to the martyrs Sophia and Irene of Egypt, commemorated the same day, placing his martyrdom with theirs at Alexandria.
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Euphrosyne of Suzdal
Euphrosyne of Suzdal (1212–1250), in the world the princess Theodulia, eldest daughter of the martyred prince Michael of Chernigov, was betrothed in youth to a prince of Suzdal who died on the very day appointed for the wedding. Refusing to return to her father's house, she entered the convent of the Deposition of the Robe (Rizopolozhensky) in Suzdal and became, under the name Euphrosyne, the most renowned woman ascetic of pre-Mongol and Mongol-era Russia: a teacher of nuns and laywomen, an ascetic of severe fasting, and a seer whose prayers, the tradition holds, spared her convent when Batu's horde burned Suzdal in 1238. She reposed on September 25, 1250, and was glorified in 1698.
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Sophia and Irene of Egypt
Sophia and Irene were two women martyred for Christ in Egypt in the third century — the Russian tradition places their death under the emperor Aurelian (270–275), at the hands of Claudius, governor of Egypt — and the Greek synaxarion records that they were perfected by the sword after tortures. Their relics are said to have been translated to Constantinople by Constantine the Great. They are commemorated together on September 18. They are not to be confused with Sophia of Rome, the mother of the martyrs Faith, Hope and Love, commemorated the day before (September 17), nor with the great-martyr Irene (May 5).
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 2
Illumined with divine light, O all-blessed one, thou dost enlighten us who lovingly hymn thy revered, glorious and holy translation, O father and hierarch Eumenes; for thou intercedest without ceasing on behalf of us all.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Having filled the pure vessel of thy virginity with the oil of prayer and love, thou didst kindle an unquenchable lamp in thy heart, O venerable one; and going forth with it, watchful, to meet the heavenly Bridegroom, thou wast received into His most radiant bridal chamber. There now, dwelling with the choirs of angels and saints, pray, we beseech thee, to Christ God, that we may be delivered from the portion of the foolish virgins.
Magnification
We magnify thee, O holy hierarch, father Eumenes, and we honour thy holy memory, for thou prayest for us to Christ our God.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of a woman martyr)
Thy ewe-lamb Ariadne crieth to thee with a great voice, O Jesus: Thee, my Bridegroom, do I love, and seeking thee I endure the contest; I am crucified and buried with thee in thy baptism, and I suffer for thy sake, that I may reign with thee; I die for thee, that I may live in thee. Receive me as a spotless sacrifice, slain for thee with love. By her prayers, since thou art merciful, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of a single martyr)
Thy martyr Castor, O Lord, in his contest received an incorruptible crown from thee, our God; for possessing thy strength he cast down the tyrants and broke the feeble insolence of the demons. By his intercessions save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 7
With fasting thou didst adorn thy life, and, loving the poor, thou didst distribute to them all thy substance; thou didst shine forth in virtues like the sun, comforting the mourning and gladdening the sorrowful. And now, we pray thee, O father Eumenes, by thy prayers ask of Christ the forgiveness of our sins.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy holy memory makes glad the land of Suzdal, and calls together all the faithful to thine all-honourable temple, where now thine all-glorious memory is celebrated, O venerable Euphrosyne: pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of martyrs)
Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from thee, our God; for possessing thy strength they cast down the tyrants and broke the feeble insolence of the demons. By their intercessions save our souls.
Readings
Epistle
1 Corinthians 1.26-29 (Saturday after Elevation)
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1 Corinthians 2.6-9
6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Gospel
John 8.21-30 (Saturday after Elevation)
21Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 25Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30As he spake these words, many believed on him.
Matthew 22.15-22
15Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. 22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.