Martyrs Galacteon and Wife Epistemis; Repose St Jonah of Novgorod

Saints commemorated

Saint of the day

Martyrs Galacteon and Wife Epistemis
Saint of the day

Repose St Jonah of Novgorod
Holy Martyrs Galaction and Episteme (ca. 250)

Galacteon and Episteme were a young married couple of Emesa in Syria, martyred around the year 253 in the persecution under the governor Secundus. Betrothed by their parents, they chose after their marriage to live in continence and then to withdraw to the monastic settlements of Mount Publion, Galacteon among the monks and Episteme among the nuns. When persecution reached their mountain, Galacteon was seized while the others fled, and Episteme, unwilling to be parted from her husband and teacher, gave herself up to share his sufferings. Both endured mutilation and beheading together, and the Church keeps their joint memory on November 5 as an image of Christian marriage crowned in martyrdom.
Holy Apostles Patrobas, Hermas, Linus, Gaius and Philologus

Hermas, Patrobus, Linus, Gaius and Philologus were five apostles of the Seventy whom the Byzantine calendar commemorates together on November 5. Each is named in the closing greetings of Paul's Epistle to the Romans or in the Second Epistle to Timothy, and each is remembered as a bishop of the apostolic age: Hermas at Philippopolis in Thrace, where he died a martyr; Patrobus at Puteoli and Naples in Italy; Linus at Rome, the successor of the Apostle Peter and the Linus of the Roman episcopal succession named in Second Timothy; Gaius at Ephesus, after Timothy; and Philologus at Sinope on the Black Sea, consecrated by the Apostle Andrew. The Church keeps their joint memory among the Seventy sent out by the Lord.
Our Holy Father Gregory the Confessor, Patriarch of Alexandria (early 9th c.)

British Isles and Ireland

St. Kanten, founder of Llanganten, Powys (8th C)
St. Kea, bishop in Devon (6th C)

Troparia & kontakia

Kontakion — Tone 2

You were numbered among the companies of the Martyrs of Christ, having contended in splendour through steadfast struggles, O glorious Galacteon, together with Episteme, your honoured wife and fellow-athlete; and together you both make intercession to the only God on behalf of us all.

Oikos

Let us praise in songs and hymns Galacteon, the valiant one among the Martyrs, together with his all-glorious wife, the aptly-named Episteme; for these two cast down the arrogance of the enemy, refuted the godlessness of the idols, and proclaimed the faith of Christ. Wherefore, having received from him in splendour the crowns of incorruption, they intercede unceasingly on behalf of us all.

Troparion — Tone 4

Your Martyrs, O Lord, in their struggle received crowns of incorruption from you, our God; for possessing your strength, they cast down their persecutors and shattered the powerless boldness of the demons. By their intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 3

Holy apostles, intercede with the merciful God, that he may grant our souls forgiveness of offences.

Readings

Epistle

Philippians 3.8-19

⁸Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ⁹And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ¹⁰That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ¹¹If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. ¹²Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. ¹³Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. ¹⁶Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. ¹⁷Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. ¹⁸(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Gospel

Luke 12.2-12

²For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. ³Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. ⁴And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. ⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? ⁷But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. ⁸Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: ⁹But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. ¹¹And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: ¹²For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Saints commemorated