Saints commemorated
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Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite
Dionysius the Areopagite (†c. 96) was the judge of the Athenian high court who believed at the Apostle Paul's sermon on the Areopagus (Acts 17:34) and became, by the earliest tradition, the first bishop of Athens. The Church commemorates him on October 3 as a hieromartyr, together with the presbyter Rusticus and the deacon Eleutherius who suffered with him. Around his name has gathered one of the great questions of Christian history: the Corpus Areopagiticum, the profound mystical-theological writings transmitted under his name but composed some four centuries after him, and the medieval conflation of the Areopagite with Denis, the martyred third-century bishop of Paris.
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Holy Hieromartyr Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, and his disciples (258)
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St John the Chozebite, Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine (532)
John the Chozebite (6th century) was an Egyptian of Thebes who became a hermit of the wild gorge of Choziba in the Judaean desert, between Jerusalem and Jericho, where he reorganized the hermit settlement into the community later famous as the monastery of Choziba. Renowned for healings, exorcisms and discernment, he was made bishop of Caesarea in Palestine against his will, soon laid down the see, and returned to the desert, where he reposed in old age. A defender of the Council of Chalcedon, he is remembered above all through the stories of the Spiritual Meadow of John Moschus, including the celebrated episode of the loaves consecrated on the road.
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Damaris of Athens
Damaris of Athens (1st century) was the first woman of Athens to believe in Christ, converted by the preaching of the Apostle Paul on the Areopagus in the same hour as Dionysius the Areopagite: "certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them" (Acts 17:34). Nothing more of her is recorded; the Church honours her on October 3 with Dionysius, as the mother-convert of the Athenian church.
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Hesychius the Horebite
Hesychius the Horebite (6th century) was a monk of Mount Horeb, in the Sinai wilderness, whose whole recorded life is one story — told by John Climacus in the Ladder of Divine Ascent as the "seal" of his chapter on the remembrance of death. A negligent monk, Hesychius fell deathly ill and for an hour lay as dead; restored to life, he walled himself into his cell and passed twelve years in unbroken silence, tears and prayer, tasting nothing but bread and water. Dying, he left the brethren a single sentence: no one who has acquired the remembrance of death will ever be able to sin. The hesychasts have claimed him as a father of their silence.
British Isles and Ireland
- Holy Martyrs Ewald the Fair and Ewald the Dark (695)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 8
Having passed through the gates of heaven in spirit, taught as a disciple by the Apostle who reached beyond the third heaven, O Dionysius, thou wast enriched with all knowledge of things unutterable, and thou didst enlighten those who before lay sleeping in the darkness of ignorance. Wherefore we cry: Rejoice, Father of all the world.
Troparion — Tone 4
Having learned goodness and being sober in all things, clothed with a good conscience as befits a priest, thou didst draw out of the vessel of election things ineffable; and having kept the faith, thou didst finish an equal course, O hieromartyr Dionysius. Intercede with Christ God, that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8
In thee, O father, that which is according to the image was preserved unimpaired; for taking up the cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou hast taught us to overlook the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal: wherefore thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels, O venerable Hesychius.
Troparion — Tone 8
With the streams of thy tears thou didst till the barren desert, and with sighings from the depths thou madest thy labours bear fruit an hundredfold; and thou becamest a beacon to the whole world, shining with wonders: O John our venerable father, intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Readings
4th Matins Gospel
Luke 24.1-12
1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8And they remembered his words, 9And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
Epistle
2 Corinthians 4.6-15
6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
Gospel
Luke 6.31-36
31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.