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Friday 19 November 2027

Prophet Obadiah; Ven. Barlaam and Joasaph

Friday of the 22nd week after Pentecost

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Nativity Fast Tone 4

Nativity Fast, day 5

Saints commemorated

  • Saint of the day

    Prophet Obadiah

    Obadiah — Abdias in the Greek of the Septuagint and the Byzantine service books — is the fourth of the Twelve Minor Prophets and the author of the shortest book in the Old Testament, a single chapter of twenty-one verses proclaiming the judgment of God upon Edom and the deliverance of Zion. The tradition the Church received identifies him with the God-fearing steward of King Ahab who, in the days of Jezebel's persecution, hid a hundred prophets of the Lord in two caves and fed them (1 Kings 18). His name means "servant" or "worshipper of the Lord." He is commemorated on November 19, within the Nativity Fast.

  • Saint of the day

    Ven. Barlaam and Joasaph

    Barlaam and Josaphat are the two ascetic saints of one of the most widely translated and beloved stories of the medieval world: the hermit Barlaam, who in the guise of a merchant sought out the sheltered prince Josaphat (Ioasaph) of India and, through a chain of parables, brought him to faith in Christ; and Josaphat himself, the king's son, who was baptised, converted his father and people, renounced his throne, and ended his life in the desert beside his teacher. Their tale — passed to Byzantium in Greek, thence into Latin, Slavonic, and dozens of European and Eastern tongues — is now recognised by scholars as a Christianised retelling of the life of the Buddha, the Indian setting and the very name Josaphat (through Bodhisattva) preserving its origin. The Church commemorates the two saints together on November 19, within the Nativity Fast.

  • Our Holy Father Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow (1867)

  • Holy Martyr Barlaam of Antioch (304)

    Barlaam was an aged and unlettered Christian farmer martyred in the persecution of Diocletian, around the year 304. Arrested and unable to be argued or tortured out of his confession, he was carried to a pagan altar, where the judge had his right hand stretched out over the fire and a coal with a heap of burning incense laid upon the open palm — expecting that when the flame reached the flesh the old man would fling it down, and so, against his will, be seen to have offered sacrifice to the idol. Barlaam did not let it fall: he held his hand steady until it was burned away, and gave up his soul. His constancy so captured the imagination of the Church that both Basil the Great and John Chrysostom preached homilies in his honour. He is commemorated on November 19, within the Nativity Fast.

  • Heliodorus of Magydos

    Heliodorus was a martyr of Magydos (Magydum) in Pamphylia, on the southern coast of Asia Minor, who suffered for Christ in the reign of the emperor Aurelian (270–275). Brought before Aetius, the governor of the city, and refusing to renounce his faith, he was subjected to prolonged tortures — which the fuller synaxarion accounts describe him as enduring unharmed — and was finally beheaded. He is commemorated on November 19, within the Nativity Fast.

British Isles and Ireland

  • St. Egbert, 1st archbishop of York (766)
  • St. Ermenburgh, abbess of Thanet (c.700)
  • St. Medana of Galloway (8th C)

Troparia & kontakia

Kontakion

God alone, the Knower of hearts, beholding thy good will from thine infancy, O Josaphat, led thee from an earthly kingdom into the monastic life and granted thee to follow the great Barlaam. Having now with him the radiant heavenly Jerusalem for thy homeland, and delighting in the longed-for beauty of the Holy Trinity, we beseech thee, O royal adornment: remember us who honour thee with faith.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Thou wast shown forth wondrous in the strength of thy whole-burnt sacrifice: as fragrant frankincense thou didst offer thyself a sacrifice to Christ; and having received the crown of honour, O Barlaam, ever pray for us, O sufferer.

Troparion

Taught by thy spiritual guide to know God, O King Josaphat, and enlightened by holy Baptism, thou didst turn thy people to the faith; becoming thy own father's sponsor at the font, thou didst forsake thy kingdom and attain to the wilderness, and there didst labour diligently in the ascetic struggle. Pray to Christ God, together with thy teacher Barlaam, that our souls may be saved.

Troparion

Forsaking the fair things of the world and its glory, thou camest to a cave, where, advancing from strength to strength, thou didst become a guide of the flock of Christ, all-glorious Barlaam. As thou didst shepherd them well, shepherd us also, we entreat thee, keeping us from every evil, that we may call thee blessed.

Troparion — Tone 4 (general troparion of a martyr)

Thy martyr Barlaam, O Lord, in his contest received an incorruptible crown from thee, our God; for possessing thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By his intercessions save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 4 (general troparion of a martyr)

Thy martyr Heliodorus, O Lord, in his contest received an incorruptible crown from thee, our God; for possessing thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By his intercessions save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 2

As we celebrate the memory of thy prophet Obadiah, O Lord, through him we entreat thee: save our souls.

Readings

Epistle

Colossians 4.10-18

10Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. 14Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. 15Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. 18The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

Gospel

Luke 16.15-18, 17.1-4

15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 18Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery. 1Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.