Wednesday 18 April 2029

Ven. John, Disciple of Gregory Decapolites

Wednesday of the 2nd Sunday of Pascha

Paschaltide, day 11 · 10 days since Pascha

Saints commemorated

  • Saint of the day

    Ven. John, Disciple of Gregory Decapolites

    John was the disciple, fellow-ascetic and spiritual son of St Gregory of Decapolis, and shared his master's labours and sufferings for the holy icons in the second iconoclast persecution of the ninth century. Faithful to Gregory to the end, and himself a confessor of the veneration of images, he reposed in peace and is honoured on April 18.

  • The Holy Martyr John the New of Ioannina (1526)

  • Cosmas of Chalcedon and Auxentius

    Cosmas, Bishop of Chalcedon, and his companion Auxentius were confessors of the holy icons in the iconoclast persecution. Cosmas, chosen bishop of Chalcedon across the water from Constantinople, withstood the heretical emperors and refused to surrender the veneration of the images; for this he was persecuted, deposed and exiled, and with his faithful companion Auxentius endured much for the faith before reposing in peace. They are kept together on April 18.

British Isles and Ireland

  • St. Laserian of Innismurray and Arran (639)
  • St. Deicola, abbot of Bosham (7th C)
  • St. Cogitosus of Kildare (8th C)
  • SS. Bitheus and Genocus (6th C)

Troparia & kontakia

Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a bishop-confessor)

O God of our fathers, ever dealing with us according to Thy gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but by the prayers of Thy holy confessors Cosmas the bishop and Auxentius, direct our lives in peace.

Troparion — Tone 8 (common of an ascetic-confessor)

By a flood of tears thou didst make the desert fruitful, and by thy sufferings for the holy icons thou didst confess the faith; thou becamest a beacon shining upon the world by thy struggles, O John our father, disciple of Gregory: intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Readings

Epistle

Acts 4.13-22

13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

Gospel

John 5.17-24

17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.