Nativity Fast, day 5
Saints commemorated
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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.
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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.
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Our Holy Father Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow (1867)
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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.
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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
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.
Gospel
Luke 12.16-21
16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.