Nativity Fast, day 27
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Ven. Daniel the Stylite
Daniel the Stylite (c. 409–493) was the great pillar-saint of the Bosphorus and the foremost heir of Symeon the Stylite, whose leather mantle he received. A Mesopotamian monk drawn to Constantinople, he mounted a pillar at Anaplus on the European shore and stood upon it for thirty-three years, until his repose in his mid-eighties. Ordained priest upon the column by the Patriarch Gennadius, he became the oracle and conscience of the capital: emperors Leo I and Zeno sought his counsel, he foretold the great fire of the city, and he descended from his pillar only once — to march into Constantinople and confront the usurper Basiliscus in defence of the Council of Chalcedon. His feast is December 11, within the Nativity Fast.
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Saint Nikon the Dry of the Kiev Caves (1101)
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Our Venerable Father Luke the New Stylite (979)
Luke the New Stylite (c. 879–979) was a soldier of the Byzantine army who became the last of the great pillar-saints of the East. Having survived unhurt the catastrophic defeat of the imperial forces by the Bulgarians at Anchialos in 917, he laid down his arms for the monastic life, was ordained priest, and took up the ascesis of the stylites. After brief pillars in Anatolia and near the capital he settled at Chalcedon, on the Asian shore opposite Constantinople, where he stood upon a column for forty-five years and was renowned for the gift of wonderworking, until his repose about the year 979 at a very great age. He is commemorated on December 11, the same day as the elder pillar-saint Daniel the Stylite, within the Nativity Fast.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Cian the Hermit (6th C)
- St. Peris of Llanberis (c.6th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 4
Like a star of many lights didst thou ascend upon the pillar, O blessed one, and enlighten the world by thy holy works; the darkness of error thou didst drive away, O father. Wherefore we beseech thee: shine now also in the hearts of thy servants with the unsetting light of knowledge.
Synaxarion
The pillar raised Luke on high; and Luke raised his mind to God, toward whom he runs.
Troparion — Tone 1
Thou didst become a pillar of patience, O venerable one, rivalling the forefathers: Job in his sufferings, Joseph in his temptations, and the life of the bodiless powers while yet in the body. O Daniel our father, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 1
Thou didst become a pillar of patience, O venerable one, rivalling the forefathers: Job in his sufferings, Joseph in his temptations, and the life of the bodiless powers while yet in the body. O Luke our father, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Readings
Epistle
Galatians 1.3-10
3Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Gospel
Luke 13.18-29
18Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. 20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 22And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.