Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucis, Callinicus

Saints commemorated

Saint of the day

Martyrs Thyrsus, Leucis, Callinicus

Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus were martyrs of the persecution under the emperor Decius (249–251), suffering about the year 250 in Bithynia. Leucius, a Christian of standing, openly rebuked the governor for his cruelty toward the faithful and was tortured and beheaded. Thyrsus, still only a catechumen, gave himself up for Christ, endured savage tortures unharmed, and by his prayer toppled an idol of Apollo before reposing under sentence of death. Callinicus, a pagan priest who watched Thyrsus's courage and his miracle, was converted on the spot, confessed Christ aloud, and was put to the sword. The three are commemorated together on December 14.
Holy Martyrs Philemon, Apollonius, Arian and those with them (3rd c.)

Philemon and Apollonius were martyrs of Antinoöpolis (Antinoe) in the Egyptian Thebaid during the persecution of Diocletian, suffering about the year 305. Apollonius, a reader of the Church, was afraid of torture and paid a pagan flute-player named Philemon to sacrifice to the idols in his place; but when Philemon put on the reader's clothes and came to the altar, grace touched his heart, he confessed Christ, and — praying for baptism, he received a sudden shower of rain as his baptism. Both were beheaded, and their example converted their judge, the governor Arrian, who with four of his bodyguards was in turn martyred by drowning. Their brother Theonas and the wider company of the Thebaid martyrs are remembered with them on December 14.

British Isles and Ireland

St. Hygbald, abbot of Hibaldstow (7th C)
SS. Fingar and Phiala, and 770 other martyr companions (5th C)

Troparia & kontakia

Kontakion — Tone 4

Come, let us all assemble today and, with sacred songs of praise, extol the luminaries of the Church, hymning them as the prize-winning athletes of Christ our God.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Champions of the true faith, you spat upon the impious tyrant and laid bare his beast-like thirst for blood; strengthened by the help of Christ, you overcame his raging violence, O Thyrsus and Leucius. Together with those who suffered at your side, intercede for us.

Troparion — Tone 4

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they cast down the tyrants and broke the feeble insolence of the demons. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 4

Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee our God; for, possessed of Thy might, they cast down the tyrants and broke the feeble insolence of the demons. By their prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Readings

Epistle

Titus 1.5-2.1

⁵For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: ⁶If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. ⁷For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; ⁸But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; ⁹Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. ¹⁰For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: ¹¹Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. ¹²One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. ¹³This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; ¹⁴Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. ¹⁵Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. ¹⁶They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. ¹But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Gospel

Mark 9.10-16

¹⁰And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. ¹¹And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? ¹²And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. ¹³But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him. ¹⁴And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. ¹⁵And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. ¹⁶And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

Saints commemorated