Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Martyr Anastasia the Roman
Anastasia the Roman (died c. 256) was an orphan raised from infancy in a community of consecrated virgins near Rome under an abbess named Sophia, and put to death for Christ while still a young woman during the third-century persecutions — the sources name the emperor Decius or Valerian and the city-prefect Probus. Refusing either to sacrifice to the idols or to renounce her virginity, she endured a succession of savage tortures and was at last beheaded. Because she was both a nun and a martyr, the calendars style her a venerable-martyr; she is one of several early virgin-martyrs surnamed "the Roman," and is commemorated on October 29.
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Our Holy Father Abramius (366) and his niece Mary (371) of Mesopotamia
Abraham the Recluse (died c. 360) was a hermit and priest of the village of Kidun, near Edessa in Mesopotamia, whose Life was written by his younger contemporary and countryman Ephrem the Syrian. Having fled his own wedding feast to live walled up in a cell, he was drawn out of solitude twice — once to convert a stubbornly pagan village as its unwilling priest, and once, most famously, to rescue his orphaned niece Mary, whom he had raised in asceticism but who, seduced and then despairing, had fled to a brothel in a distant town. Disguising himself as a customer, the old hermit sought her out, and by tenderness rather than reproach won her back to a repentance so complete that she became a healer of others. Uncle and niece are commemorated together on October 29.
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Anna and John of Constantinople
Anna and her son John were ninth-century ascetics of Constantinople and Bithynia. Anna was the daughter of a deacon of the church of the Blachernae in the capital; widowed young, she cut her hair, put on a man's habit, took the name Euthymianus, and went with her son to live the monastic life in one of the monasteries on Mount Olympus in Bithynia, where the two of them were received as father and son. She belongs to the small and much-loved company of Byzantine holy women who lived hidden in men's monasteries under a man's name. She returned at length to Constantinople, and there reposed in the year 826. Her memory — and her son's with hers — is kept twice in the year, principally on June 13 and again on October 29.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Kennara, hermitess of Kirk Kinner, Galloway (5th C)
- St. Colman, abbot-founder of Kilmacduagh (632)
Troparia & kontakia
Apolytikion — Tone 8 (common of a woman monastic-saint)
In thee, O mother, was preserved unimpaired that which is according to the image of God; for taking up the cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou hast taught us to despise the flesh, which passeth away, and to care rather for the soul, a thing immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Anna, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
Kontakion — Tone 3
In the flesh thou didst appear as an angel upon the earth, and by fasting thou wast like a tree well planted, watered by the streams of abstinence and grown to fair increase; and washing away defilement in the flowing of thy tears, thou wast shown to be, O Abraham, a dwelling-place of the divine Spirit.
Kontakion — Tone 3
Cleansed by the waters of virginity, O venerable one, and crowned by the blood of martyrdom, O Anastasia, thou grantest to those beset by illness healing and salvation, to all who draw near thee from the heart; for Christ gives thee strength, pouring forth ever-flowing grace.
Troparion — Tone 8
In thee, O Father, that which is according to the image was preserved with exactness; for taking up thy cross thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Therefore, O venerable Abraham, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy lamb Anastasia, O Jesus, cries out with a loud voice: "Thee, O my Bridegroom, 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. Accept me as a spotless sacrifice, offered to Thee in love." At her entreaties, as Thou art merciful, save our souls.
Readings
Epistle
Philippians 1.27-2.4
27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. 1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Gospel
Luke 11.23-26
23He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.