Nativity Fast, day 21
Ven. Sabbas the Sanctified
Saints commemorated
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Antiochian commemoration
Sabbas the Sanctified
Sabbas the Sanctified (439–532) was the great organiser of monasticism in the Judaean desert and one of the most influential ascetics in the history of the Church. A Cappadocian who came to Palestine as a youth, he founded the Great Lavra above the Kidron gorge — the monastery of Mar Saba, inhabited without a break from 483 to the present day — together with a whole network of lavras and coenobia, and was appointed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem archimandrite of all the anchorites of Palestine. A pillar of the Council of Chalcedon, he twice travelled as an aged monk to plead the cause of Orthodoxy and of his devastated province before the emperors Anastasius and Justinian. The liturgical order worked out at his Lavra — the Jerusalem, or Sabaite, Typikon — governs Orthodox worship to this day. His feast is December 5.
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St Cosmas the Protos of Mount Athos and his companions (ca. 1274)
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Gurias of Kazan
Gurias of Kazan (in the world Gregory Rugotin, c. 1500–1563) was the first archbishop of Kazan and the apostle of the newly-conquered Tatar lands of the middle Volga. A courtier's servant who suffered long imprisonment on a false charge, he became a monk and abbot of the Volokolamsk monastery, and in 1555 was chosen by lot to head the new Kazan diocese established after Ivan the Terrible's capture of the city. With his companions Herman and Barsanuphius he built churches, monasteries and schools and won many from Islam and paganism to Christ by gentleness rather than force. He died in 1563; his incorrupt relics, uncovered in 1595, made him one of the most venerated saints of the Russian Volga.
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Karion and Zachariah of Egypt
Karion and Zachariah were a father and son who lived as monks in the Egyptian desert of Scetis in the fourth century, and whose sayings are preserved in the Apophthegmata Patrum, the classic collection of the wisdom of the desert fathers. Karion, having left the world, was joined in the monastery by his young son Zachariah when famine drove the boy's mother to bring him there; raised among the ascetics from childhood, Zachariah grew to surpass his own father in humility and inward prayer. They are commemorated together on December 5.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Cawrdaf, monk and disciple of St. Illtyd (5th C)
- St. Justinian (Iestin), hermit of Ramsey (560)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 4
Having overcome the passions of the senses, thou didst shine forth like the sun in purity, keeping thy life pure to the end, and thou didst lead many from unbelief to the faith of Christ; therefore, honoured by God with incorruption, thou didst astonish all by thy wonders. We entreat thee, O hierarch Gurias: by thy prayers deliver us from misfortunes, that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, O most wondrous father, the praise and confirmation of the city of Kazan.
Kontakion — Tone 8
Offered to God from infancy as a blameless sacrifice through virtue, O blessed Sabbas, thou wast shown by Him who knew thee before thy birth to be an adornment of the venerable and a praiseworthy settler of the wilderness. Wherefore I cry to thee: Rejoice, O Father of great renown.
Troparion — Tone 4
A rule of faith and an image of chastity, a teacher of good works and a guide of salvation, the Lord gave thee to the newly-enlightened city of Kazan, wherein thou didst gain new peoples from among the nations and lead them to Christ. Wherefore, gathering with joy on thy memorial, we keep with honour thy holy dormition; O our father Gurias, hierarch of Christ, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8
By the streams of thy tears thou didst till the barrenness of the desert, and by thy sighs from the depths thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a luminary, shining upon the whole world by miracles, O Sabbas our venerable Father. Intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Readings
Vespers
Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9
1But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. 2In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery, 3And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace. 4For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. 5And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself. 6As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering. 7And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble. 8They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. 9They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.
Wisdom of Solomon 5.15-6.3
15But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High. 16Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them. 17He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies. 18He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet. 19He shall take holiness for an invincible shield. 20His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise. 21Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark. 22And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them. 23Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty. 1Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. 2Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations. 3For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.
Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15
7But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. 8For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. 9But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. 10He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated. 11Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. 12For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. 13He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: 14For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked. 15This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.
2nd Matins Gospel
Mark 16.1-8
1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Epistle
Ephesians 2.14-22
14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Galatians 5.22-6.2 (St Sabbas)
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gospel
Luke 17.12-19
12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Matthew 11.27-30 (St Sabas)
27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.