Paschaltide, day 9 · 8 days since Pascha
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Virgin Martyrs Agape, Irene and Chionia
Agape, Chionia and Irene were three Christian sisters of Thessalonica martyred in the persecution of Diocletian in 304. Refusing to eat food offered to idols, and found to possess the forbidden Christian Scriptures, they were condemned by the governor Dulcitius: Agape and Chionia were burned alive, and Irene, after being exposed to shame and standing firm, was put to death — by fire, or, in the fuller account, by an arrow. Their authentic Acts survive and are among the most reliable of the early martyr-records; the three are linked in tradition with St Anastasia the Deliverer-from-Bonds, who strengthened and buried them.
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Leonidas of Corinth and Companions
Leonidas and a company of Christian women with him — Chariessa, Nike, Galina, Kallis, Nunechia, Basilissa and Theodora — were martyred at Corinth in the mid-third century (under Decius, or, by another account, in the early fourth under the tetrarchy). After torture they were bound and cast into the sea, and received together the crown of martyrdom. They are honoured among the martyrs of Greece on April 16.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Padarn, Missionary and Wonderworker, founder of Llanbadarn Fawr (550)
- St. Elias of Cologne (1042)
Troparia & kontakia
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of virgin-martyrs)
Thy lambs Agape, Chionia and Irene cry out with a loud voice, O Jesus: We love Thee, O our Bridegroom, and in seeking Thee we endure suffering; crucified with Thee and buried in Thy baptism, we suffer for Thy sake that we may reign with Thee; accept us who sacrifice ourselves in love for Thee, and by their prayers, O merciful One, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of several martyrs)
Thy martyrs Leonidas and those with him, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee, our God; for possessing Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By their intercessions save our souls.
Readings
Epistle
Acts 3.19-26
19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 23And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Gospel
John 2.1-11
1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. 3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.