Pre-Lenten Triodion, day 10 · 61 days until Pascha
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
St Bucolus, Bishop of Smyrna
Bucolus (Boukolos, †c. 100) was the first bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor and a disciple of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian. Set over the church of Smyrna by his teacher, he laboured among a still largely pagan city, and by his preaching and the grace of God brought many to Christ and baptised them, governing his flock with wisdom and meekness through the last years of the apostolic age. His enduring glory is his successor: the tradition holds that Bucolus ordained, or handed his see to, the great Polycarp of Smyrna, the disciple of John and martyr, so that through Bucolus the apostolic charge of the Theologian passed to the man who carried it into the middle of the second century. Bucolus reposed in peace, and — the tradition adds — a myrtle tree sprang up over his grave that gave healing. He is commemorated on February 6, within the afterfeast of the Meeting.
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St Photios, patriarch of Constantinople (891)
Photius the Great (c. 810–891) was Patriarch of Constantinople, twice on the throne (858–867 and 877–886), and the foremost scholar-hierarch of the Byzantine middle age — "the Church's far-gleaming beacon." Sprung from a noble icon-venerating family that had suffered for the holy images, he was the most learned man of his century: first imperial secretary, ambassador, and teacher, whose Bibliotheca (Myriobiblos) preserves the memory of hundreds of ancient books now lost. Raised in six days from layman to patriarch, he became the Church's great defender against the innovations pressed from the Frankish and Roman West — above all the addition of the Filioque to the Creed, which he refuted in the classic Mystagogy of the Holy Spirit. He sent the mission to the Slavs under Cyril and Methodius, baptised the Bulgarians, and presided over the great reconciling council of 879–880, reckoned by many Orthodox the Eighth Ecumenical Council. Deposed at last by his former pupil the emperor Leo VI, he reposed in monastic exile on February 6, and is honoured as a pillar of Orthodoxy and an ecumenical teacher.
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Sts Barsanuphius and John the Prophet, monks of Palestine (6th c.)
Barsanuphius the Great (†after 543) and John the Prophet (†mid-6th century) were two hesychast elders of the monastery of Abba Seridus at Thavatha near Gaza, in Palestine, in the age of Justinian — the "Great Old Man" and the "Other Old Man." Both lived in strict enclosure, seeing almost no one; Barsanuphius, an Egyptian by birth, passed some fifty years walled in his cell in unbroken silence, and John dwelt eighteen years in the cell his master had left him. Yet from their reclusion they became the most sought spiritual fathers of their region, directing hundreds of monks and layfolk entirely by written answers, dictated through the abbot Seridus. That correspondence — the great Book of Questions and Answers, some eight hundred and fifty letters — is one of the treasures of Orthodox ascetic literature, a manual of discernment, humility, and unceasing prayer whose disciples included Dorotheus of Gaza and the young martyr Dositheus. The two elders are commemorated together on February 6.
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Dorothea of Caesarea
Dorothea (†c. 304) was a Christian maiden of Caesarea in Cappadocia, martyred in the persecution of Diocletian and celebrated for her beauty, her wisdom, and her steadfast confession. Brought before the governor and refusing to sacrifice, she was given over to two lapsed Christian sisters, Christina and Callista, to be turned from the faith; instead she won them back to Christ, and they were martyred with her. Led out to death, she was mocked by a scholar named Theophilus, who asked her in jest to send him fruits from the garden of her heavenly Bridegroom; after her beheading, in the frost of February, a child brought Theophilus a basket of roses and apples from paradise, and at that miracle he confessed Christ and was himself martyred. The story of the roses of Saint Dorothy has made her one of the best-loved of the virgin-martyrs, East and West. She is commemorated on February 6.
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Julian of Emesa
Julian (†c. 284) was a young Christian physician of Emesa in Syria (modern Homs), martyred for the faith in the persecutions of the late third century. The tradition remembers him as a healer of both body and soul, who used his art as an open door for the Gospel, secretly tending the Christians imprisoned for Christ and bringing many of the sick and the pagan to baptism. Seized for his confession and refusing to sacrifice, he was put to death by a cruel torture — nails driven into his head, hands, and feet — and so received the martyr's crown. His memory was cherished at Emesa, where a church of Saint Elian rose over the place of his death and still guards his tomb; he is honoured as a patron of physicians and of the sick. He is commemorated on February 6, within the afterfeast of the Meeting.
British Isles and Ireland
- SS Mael and Mun, bishops and nephews of St. Patrick (c.488)
- Martyr Tanco, Irish bishop of Werden
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 1
Thou who by Thy nativity didst sanctify the virgin womb, and as was meet didst bless the hands of Symeon, hast gone before and even now hast saved us, O Christ our God. Give peace amid wars to Thy commonwealth, and strengthen those in authority whom Thou hast loved, O Thou who alone lovest mankind.
Troparion — Tone 8
In you, O Fathers, was that which is according to the image saved with all exactness; for taking up the Cross, you followed after Christ, and by your deeds you taught the disdain of the flesh, for it passeth away, but the care of the soul, a thing immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Barsanuphius and John, your spirits rejoice together with the Angels.
Troparion — Tone 4
A rule of faith and an image of meekness, a teacher of temperance, the very truth of things revealed thee to thy flock; therefore hast thou gained by humility the things that are exalted, and by poverty the things that are rich. O Father Bucolus, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy ewe-lamb Dorothea crieth out to thee, O Jesus, with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, thee I love, and seeking thee I contend, and I am crucified and buried together with thee in thy baptism; I suffer for thy sake, that I may reign with thee; I die for thee, that I may live in thee. Receive me, then, as a spotless sacrifice offered in love to thee. By her intercessions, save our souls, O thou who art merciful.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy martyr Julian, O Lord, in his contest received the crown incorruptible from thee our God; for, possessed of thy might, he cast down the tyrants and shattered the powerless boldness of the demons. By his intercessions save our souls, O Christ our God.
Troparion — Tone 4
As one conformed to the ways of the Apostles and a teacher of the whole inhabited earth, intercede, O Photius, with the Master of all, that peace may be granted to the world, and to our souls the great mercy.
Readings
Epistle
1 John 3.10-20
10In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Gospel
Mark 14.10-42
10And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. 11And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him. 12And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? 13And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. 14And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 15And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. 16And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 17And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. 18And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. 19And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? 20And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. 21The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. 22And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. 23And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 24And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. 25Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. 26And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 27And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 29But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all. 32And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. 33And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. 35And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. 37And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? 38Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. 39And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. 40And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. 41And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.