St Abercius, Equal-to-the-Apostles

Saints commemorated

Saint of the day

St Abercius, Equal-to-the-Apostles

Abercius (†c. 167) was the second-century bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia whom the Church honours as Equal-to-the-Apostles and Wonderworker for the missionary journeys, healings, and exorcisms recorded in his Life. He is unique among the saints of this era in that a genuine artefact of his own making survives: the "Abercius inscription," the verse epitaph he composed for his tomb, rediscovered in 1883 and now in the Vatican. In veiled but unmistakable language it speaks of the Fish caught by a spotless Virgin, of bread and wine, of a journey that carried him from Rome to the Euphrates in the company of Paul — one of the oldest and richest Christian inscriptions known, and an independent witness to the faith of the sub-apostolic Church that the later legendary Life only elaborates.
Venerable Lot of Egypt (5th c.)
Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus

The Seven Youths of Ephesus — Maximilian, Iamblichus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus (also called Constantine), and Antoninus — were young Christians of noble family who, rather than sacrifice to the idols under the emperor Decius (c. 250), hid in a cave on Mount Ochlon, where the emperor ordered them sealed in to die. God laid them instead in a miraculous sleep of nearly two centuries; they awoke under Theodosius II (408–450), at a moment when the resurrection of the dead was being denied, so that their waking became a living proof of it. Having borne this witness they lay down and reposed. Popularly the "Seven Sleepers," they are among the few saints venerated by both Christians and Muslims, the story being retold in the Qur'an.
Alexander of Adrianople and Companions

Alexander, bishop of Adrianople in Thrace, was a hieromartyr of the third century who preached the Gospel boldly among the pagans of his city and turned many from idolatry. Arrested and tortured to compel him to sacrifice, he endured with such constancy that a soldier named Heraclius, watching, came to faith in Christ and was tortured and beheaded. When Alexander was afterward healed of his wounds by the grace of God, four women — Theodota, Glyceria, Anna, and Elizabeth — confessed Christ openly before the governor and denounced the idols; they were put to the sword, and the bishop Alexander was last of all beheaded, receiving with his companions the unfading crown.

British Isles and Ireland

St. Mellon of Cardiff, 1st bishop of Rouen (314)
St. Donatus of Fiesole (874)

Troparia & kontakia

Kontakion — Tone 8

Let us hasten, O people, to this quiet and goodly haven, the ready helper, the prompt and warm salvation, the protection of the Virgin; let us make speed to prayer and hasten to repentance: for the most pure Theotokos poureth out upon us her unfailing mercies, coming before us with her help, and delivering from great calamities and evils her servants who live uprightly and in the fear of God.

Kontakion — Tone 8

As a most great priest and a companion of the Apostles in their dwelling, the whole Church of the faithful honoureth thee, O Abercius: keep her by thy prayers, O blessed one, unconquered and untroubled by every heresy, and undefiled, O thou who art ever-memorable.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Having despised the corruptible things of the world, and received the gifts that know no corruption, they died and yet abode beyond decay; therefore they arise after many years, burying all the bitter unbelief of the heretics. Praising them today, O faithful, let us hymn Christ.

Troparion — Tone 4

O fervent advocate, Mother of the Lord Most High, thou dost pray to thy Son Christ our God for all, and dost bring salvation to all who flee to thy mighty protection. Defend us all, O Sovereign Lady, Queen and Mistress, who in perils and afflictions and sickness are laden with our many sins, and stand praying before thee with contrite soul and broken heart, with tears, before thy most pure image; who have unfailing hope in thee: grant to all what is profitable, deliver us all from every evil, and save us all, O Virgin Theotokos; for thou art a divine shelter to thy servants.

Troparion — Tone 4

A herald of the truth and a wondrous worker of miracles wast thou shown to be, O father of orphans and champion of the poor, a vigilant shepherd of the rational flock, terrible to the demons: guard therefore from their assaults all who cry to thee, O Abercius our father; entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Troparion

Thy holy martyrs, O Lord, for their struggles have received incorruptible crowns from thee our God; for possessed of thy might, they cast down the tyrants and broke also the feeble boldness of the demons. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 4

Great is the wonder of faith: in the cave, as in a royal chamber, the seven holy youths abode, and died without corruption, and after many years arose as from sleep, unto the assurance of the resurrection of all men. By their prayers, O Christ God, have mercy on us.

Readings

Epistle

Ephesians 6.18-24

¹⁸Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ¹⁹And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. ²¹But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: ²²Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. ²³Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Gospel

Luke 10.1-15

¹After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. ²Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. ³Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. ⁴Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. ⁵And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. ⁶And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. ⁷And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. ⁸And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: ⁹And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ¹⁰But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, ¹¹Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ¹²But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. ¹³Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. ¹⁵And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

Saints commemorated