Nativity Fast, day 38
Saturday before Nativity
Saints commemorated
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Greatmartyr Anastasia and Companions
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Anastasia the Deliverer-from-Bonds
Anastasia the Deliverer-from-Bonds (†c. 304) is one of the great virgin-martyrs of the Church, a noble Roman woman of the persecution of Diocletian who gave her wealth and her freedom to the service of the confessors filling the prisons of the empire. Disguised as a beggar, she went from city to city feeding, tending, ransoming and burying imprisoned Christians, and was herself at last seized, starved, and burned alive. Because her intercession heals the effects of poisons, potions and every noxious thing, the Greek Church surnames her Pharmakolytria, "deliverer from potions"; the Slavs, remembering her ministry to prisoners, call her Uzoreshitelnitsa, "loosener of bonds." Her relics were translated to Constantinople in the fifth century. She is commemorated on December 22, within the forefeast of the Nativity.
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Chrysogonus of Aquileia
Chrysogonus (†c. 304) was a learned and devout Roman Christian, the teacher and lifelong spiritual guide of the great-martyr Anastasia the Deliverer-from-Bonds, who sustained her by his counsel through the persecution of Diocletian. Himself imprisoned for the faith, he was brought before the emperor at Aquileia, refused to sacrifice, and was beheaded, his body cast into the sea and recovered by the presbyter Zoilus. He is commemorated on December 22, together with Anastasia, whose passion is bound up with his own.
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Theodota of Bithynia
Theodota (†c. 304) was a young Christian widow of Nicaea in Bithynia, a friend and helper of the great-martyr Anastasia the Deliverer-from-Bonds, who with her three small sons suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Diocletian. Refusing a pagan official who sought to marry her and preserving her purity, she was sent for judgment to Bithynia; her eldest son Evodus confessed Christ boldly under beating, and mother and children together were cast into a burning furnace. She is commemorated on July 29 and, with Anastasia and her companions, on December 22.
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Zoilus of Aquileia
Zoilus (†c. 304) was a Christian presbyter near Aquileia who reverently recovered from the sea the body and severed head of the martyr Chrysogonus and hid the relics in his house. Granted a vision in which Chrysogonus foretold the martyrdom of three holy sisters and the presbyter's own approaching repose, Zoilus fell asleep in the Lord nine days later, as had been foretold. He is numbered among the martyrs commemorated with the great-martyr Anastasia the Deliverer-from-Bonds on December 22.
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 2
They that are in trials and afflictions, fleeing for refuge to thy temple, receive the sacred gifts of healing from the divine grace that dwelleth in thee; for thou, O Anastasia, dost ever pour forth healings upon the world.
Troparion — Tone 4
Named truly after the victorious Resurrection, O martyr of Christ, thou didst raise up trophies of victory over the enemy by thine endurance of torments, for the sake of Christ thy Bridegroom, whom thou didst love. Entreat him, then, to save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of a martyr)
Thy martyr Chrysogonus, O Lord, in his sufferings hath received an incorruptible crown from thee our God; for, possessed of thy might, he cast down the tyrants and broke in pieces the powerless boldness of the demons. By his intercessions save thou our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of a woman martyr)
Thy lamb Theodota, O Jesus, crieth out with a great voice: Thee, my Bridegroom, do I love, and seeking Thee I contend, and am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism; I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee, and I die for Thee, that I may live in Thee. As a spotless sacrifice receive her who with longing is slain for Thee. By her intercessions, as Thou art merciful, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of a martyr)
Thy martyr Zoilus, O Lord, in his contest hath received an incorruptible crown from thee our God; for, possessed of thy might, he cast down the tyrants and broke in pieces the powerless boldness of the demons. By his intercessions save thou our souls.
Readings
Epistle
Ephesians 5.1-8
1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Galatians 3.8-12 (Saturday before Nativity)
8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Gospel
Luke 16.10-15
10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Luke 13.18-29 (Saturday before Nativity)
18Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. 20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 22And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.