Pre-Lenten Triodion, day 16 · 55 days until Pascha
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Ven. Timothy of Symbola
Timothy (died c. 795) was a monk and ascetic of the monastery called Symbola on Mount Olympus in Bithynia — the "holy mountain" of Asia Minor, thick in that age with monasteries and hermits. Of Italian descent, he entered the monastic life young and gave himself so wholly to fasting, vigil, and unceasing prayer under the guidance of the archimandrite Theoctistus that he attained a great purity and dispassion of soul, and with it the grace of wonderworking: he healed diseases of body and soul and drove out unclean spirits, so that the Church remembers him as a healer and a "star of many lights risen from the East." He reposed in peace in extreme old age about the year 795 and is commemorated on February 21, the day on which his office leads the Menaion.
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St Eustathius, archbishop of Antioch (337)
Eustathius (c. 270 – c. 337) was Archbishop of Antioch and one of the chief defenders of the Nicene faith at the First Ecumenical Council of 325, where he stood in the front rank of the fathers who confessed the Son to be consubstantial (homoousios) with the Father against the teaching of Arius. A native of Side in Pamphylia, he was bishop of Beroea before the council raised him to the great Syrian see. His unyielding opposition to Arianism made him the first casualty of the Arian reaction: about the year 330 a synod at Antioch, packed by the party of Eusebius of Nicomedia, deposed him on a fabricated charge of immorality and the pretext of Sabellianism, and the emperor Constantine exiled him to Thrace, where he died. His fall did not silence his flock: the Nicene Christians loyal to his memory — the Eustathians — refused communion with the Arianising bishops set over Antioch, and their separation grew into the long Antiochene schism that troubled the Church for the better part of a century. The tradition honours him as a confessor and pillar of Orthodoxy; his relics were carried home to Antioch in 482.
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St John the Scholastic, patriarch of Constantinople (577)
John Scholasticus (early sixth century – 577) was Patriarch of Constantinople from 565 to 577 and one of the founders of Byzantine canon law. Born at Sirimis near Antioch and trained as an advocate — whence his surname Scholasticus, "the lawyer" — he was ordained priest at Antioch and sent as its representative (apocrisiarius) to the imperial capital, where the emperor Justin II raised him to the patriarchal throne on the death of Eutychius. As a presbyter he had compiled the first systematic Greek collection of the Church's canons, the Synagoge in fifty titles, and afterward a Nomocanon, joining the sacred canons to the relevant civil laws — works that shaped the whole later tradition of Eastern church law. His patriarchate fell in the reign of Justin II and Tiberius; the introduction of the hymn of the Cherubikon into the Divine Liturgy is associated with these years. He reposed in 577 and is commemorated on February 21.
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Saint Zachariah, Patriarch of Jerusalem (632)
Zacharias (sixth century – c. 632) was Patriarch of Jerusalem through the catastrophe of the Persian conquest of the Holy City. Raised to the throne of James about the year 609, he saw Jerusalem stormed and sacked in 614 by the armies of the Persian king Chosroes II, its churches burned, its people slaughtered, and the Precious and Life-giving Cross carried off into Persia — and he himself was taken captive with it, and led away into a long exile of some fourteen years, from which he wrote letters of consolation and exhortation to his bereaved flock. When the emperor Heraclius at last broke the Persian power, the Cross and the captive patriarch were restored; Zacharias returned to Jerusalem and lived to see the holy Cross set up again in the city, before reposing about the year 632. The Church keeps him as a confessor for all that he endured for Christ, and commemorates him on February 21.
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George of Amastris
George (c. 750 – c. 807) was Bishop of Amastris, the port-city of Paphlagonia on the southern shore of the Black Sea, and one of the shepherd-wonderworkers of the Byzantine East on the eve of the second Iconoclasm. Born at Kromna near Amastris of pious parents, he spent his youth as a hermit on a mountain and then in a monastery before he was drawn, against his will, to the episcopate and consecrated by the Patriarch Tarasius of Constantinople. As bishop he was a tireless pastor — teaching his people, adorning the churches, defending the widow and the orphan, feeding the poor — and a worker of wonders, who by his prayer turned away the raids of the Saracens and other barbarians from his coast and delivered innocent men from death. He reposed in peace in the reign of Nicephorus I and is commemorated on February 21; his ancient Life is a document of note both for his sanctity and for its report of an early raid of the Rhōs upon his city.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Erkengota, Princess of Kent (660)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 4
Enthroned upon the summit of the true confession, thou didst shepherd the flock of Antioch in the faith of Nicaea; and driven out for the sake of the consubstantial Word, thou didst endure thy long exile as a confessor. O steadfast Eustathius, entreat Christ God to grant us his great mercy.
Kontakion — Tone 4
Risen like a many-lighted star out of the East, thou hast shone into the hearts of the faithful the excellences of thy wonders, O God-minded Timothy, bearer of miracles.
Stichera
O God-minded father Timothy, by much abstinence and by strained and constant prayer thou didst utterly still the leapings of the passions, and being made pure wast filled with the gifts of the Spirit — to heal the sick and to drive out unclean spirits from those who ran to thee with faith.
Synaxarion
George, having left behind the little body, cultivates for many the salvation of souls.
Troparion — Tone 4
O guide of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and holiness, luminary of the whole world, God-inspired adornment of hierarchs: by thy teachings thou hast enlightened all, O harp of the Spirit. O righteous father Eustathius, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
A rule of faith and an image of gentleness, a teacher of temperance, the truth of things showed thee to thy flock; therefore by humility thou didst gain the heights, and by poverty riches. O Father and Hierarch George, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
A rule of faith and an image of gentleness, a teacher of temperance, the truth of things showed thee to thy flock; therefore by humility thou didst gain the heights, and by poverty riches. O Father and Hierarch John, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
O God of our fathers, who dealest ever with us according to thy gentleness: withdraw not thy mercy from us, but by their supplications guide our life in peace.
Troparion — Tone 4
O God of our fathers, thou didst make thy patriarch Zacharias a confessor of thy Cross: for when the enemy carried away the Wood of our salvation, he too was led into bonds, and shepherded his flock from exile; and thou didst bring back both the Cross and thy servant with rejoicing. By his intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.
Readings
Epistle
3 John 1.1-14
1The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. 2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 5Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. 9I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. 13I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: 14But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
Gospel
Luke 19.29-40, 22.7-39
29And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 35And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 7Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 14And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 21But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. 22And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! 23And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. 24And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. 28Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. 35And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. 37For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. 38And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. 39And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.