Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Ven. Pelagia the Penitent
Pelagia the Penitent (†c. 457) is the most celebrated of the penitent courtesans of the Orthodox calendar: the foremost actress and courtesan of Antioch, called Margarita — "Pearl" — for the jewels she wore, who was brought to compunction by the preaching and the tears of the holy bishop Nonnus, was baptised by him, gave all her wealth to the poor, and vanished from the city in a man's clothing. As the monk "Pelagius" she lived in a walled cell on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem in extreme asceticism, her sex discovered only when her body was prepared for burial. Her feast, on October 8, she shares with a wholly different Antiochene saint of the same name, the virgin-martyr Pelagia.
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Saint Thaïs the Repentant Harlot (4th c.)
Taisia of Egypt — Thaïs, in the Greek and Latin of her Life — was a celebrated courtesan of fourth-century Egypt, famed for a beauty that, the tradition says, ruined many, who was converted by the desert father Paphnutius. Coming to her in the guise of a client, the old ascetic found that she already knew of God and of the judgment, and his words so pierced her that she burned her wealth in the public square and followed him into the desert. Enclosed for three years in a cell, praying only "O Thou who didst fashion me, have mercy on me," she received assurance of forgiveness — Paul the Simple saw in a vision the place prepared for her in Paradise — and died within a fortnight of her release. Her feast is October 8.
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Pelagia the Virgin of Antioch
Pelagia the Virgin of Antioch (†c. 303) was a fifteen-year-old Christian maiden of a noble Antiochene house who, when soldiers of the great persecution surrounded her home to seize her — and, the tradition says, to violate her — asked leave to change her clothing, prayed with hands lifted to heaven, and threw herself from the housetop, dying to preserve her virginity for Christ. Antioch venerated her from the first generation: Ambrose of Milan holds her up twice as a pattern of consecrated virginity, and John Chrysostom preached a surviving festal homily on her. She shares her feast, October 8, with a wholly different Antiochene saint of the same name, Pelagia the Penitent.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Keyne, virgin-recluse
- St. Iwi of Lindisfarne, hermit (c.690)
- St. Triduna of Restalrig (4th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 2
Wearing out thy body with fastings and with unsleeping prayers, thou didst implore the Creator concerning thy deeds, that thou mightest receive perfect forgiveness of them; which indeed thou didst receive, O mother, having shown forth the way of repentance.
Kontakion — Tone 2 (from the common)
For the love of the Lord, O venerable one, thou didst hate the desire for rest, enlightening thy spirit with fasting; for mightily didst thou vanquish the beasts: but by thy prayers destroy the insolence of the adversaries.
Sticheron
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, as the Apostle teacheth; for in prayers and tears, O Pelagia, thou didst dry up the sea of thy many offences, and by repentance didst bring unto the Lord an end well-pleasing to him; and now thou dost intercede with him for our souls.
Troparion — Tone 8 (from the common of a venerable woman)
In thee, O mother, that which is according to the image was preserved with exactness; for taking up the cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to disregard the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal: wherefore thy spirit, O venerable Pelagia, rejoiceth with the angels.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of a virgin martyr)
Thy lamb Pelagia crieth unto thee with a great voice, O Jesus: Thee, my Bridegroom, do I love, and seeking thee I contend, and am crucified and buried with thee in thy baptism; and I suffer for thy sake, that I may reign with thee, and I die for thee, that I may live in thee. As a spotless sacrifice, then, receive her who with longing was slain for thee. By her intercessions, since thou art merciful, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 8 (from the common of a venerable woman)
In thee, O mother, that which is according to the image was preserved with exactness; for taking up the cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to disregard the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal: wherefore thy spirit, O venerable Taisia, rejoiceth with the angels.
Readings
Epistle
Ephesians 1.7-17
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Gospel
Luke 7.31-35
31And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35But wisdom is justified of all her children.