Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Ven. Ephrem the Syrian
Ephrem the Syrian (c. 306–373) was a deacon of Edessa and the greatest of the Syriac Fathers — poet, theologian, and teacher, whom the tradition names the Harp of the Holy Spirit. Born at Nisibis on the Roman–Persian frontier and formed under its bishop James of Nisibis, he taught in the schools of Nisibis and, after that city passed to Persia in 363, of Edessa, where he spent his last decade as an ascetic. He fought the heresies of his age — Bardaisan, Marcion, Mani, and the Arians — not chiefly in prose but in hymns (madrāšê) and metrical homilies (memrê) of extraordinary beauty, giving the faith of Nicaea to the Syriac Church in verse the people could sing. A deacon who is said to have fled ordination to the priesthood and the episcopate, humble and given to tears of compunction, he organised famine-relief at Edessa in his last days and reposed in 373. The Byzantine Church keeps him on January 28; his Lenten prayer, "O Lord and Master of my life," is prayed with prostrations throughout Great Lent.
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Our Holy Father Isaac the Syrian, bishop of Nineveh (7th c.)
Isaac the Syrian (c. 613 – c. 700), also called Isaac of Nineveh, was an East-Syriac monk and bishop whose Ascetical Homilies became one of the most beloved and formative texts of Orthodox spiritual life. Born in the region of Beth Qatraye on the Persian Gulf, he embraced the monastic life, was consecrated bishop of Nineveh, and after only five months laid down the office to return to the solitude of the mountains, where he lived as a hermit and finally at the monastery of Rabban Shabur, reading and weeping until he lost his sight. His homilies — on repentance and tears, humility, stillness, the discernment of the passions, pure prayer, and above all the immeasurable love of God — were translated from Syriac into Greek at the Lavra of Saint Sabbas and passed thence into the whole Orthodox world, treasured by hesychasts, gathered into the Philokalia's tradition, and rendered into Slavonic and every Orthodox tongue. Though he belonged by birth to the Church of the East, the Orthodox Church has received him without reserve as a teacher and saint, and keeps his memory on January 28.
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Ephraim of Pereyaslavl
Ephraim of the Kiev Caves (†c. 1098) was a courtier of the Great Prince Izyaslav of Kiev who left the prince's service to become a monk under Saints Anthony and Theodosius at the Caves monastery. Sent to Constantinople, he brought back a copy of the Studite Rule, which Theodosius adopted as the constitution of the Caves and, through it, of Russian monasticism. Later consecrated bishop (and metropolitan) of Pereyaslavl, he adorned his city with churches and stone walls "in the Greek manner" and, in a work of rare Christian philanthropy, built free hospitals and public bath-houses for the poor and for travellers. He reposed about 1098 and was buried in the Far (Anthony) Caves, where his relics rest. He is commemorated on January 28 and among the Fathers of the Far Caves.
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James the Ascetic
James the Ascetic (6th century), also called James the Faster, was a hermit near Porphyreon on the Phoenician coast whose life the Church holds up as one of her great examples of the power of repentance. After long years of ascetic labour, in which he received a gift of healing, he fell — tempted, he violated a young woman brought to him for her cure, and then, to conceal the deed, took her life. Cast into despair by the double sin, he was drawn back from the brink by the counsel of an experienced elder and gave himself to a repentance so profound — years enclosed in a tomb, weeping without ceasing — that God, in token of his forgiveness, answered his prayer for rain in a time of drought. He reposed in peace. His memory teaches that no fall is beyond the mercy of God for the soul that truly repents. He is commemorated on January 28.
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Palladius of Antioch
Palladius the Hermit (†end of the 4th century) was an ascetic who lived in a mountain cave near Antioch in Syria, where he received from God a gift of wonderworking. The tradition remembers him above all for a single striking miracle: when a murdered merchant was left at the door of his cell and the hermit was accused of the crime, Palladius prayed over the dead man, who rose and named his true killers, so that the saint was cleared and the murderers convicted. He left behind several edifying writings and reposed in peace. He is commemorated on January 28, and belongs to the great company of the Syrian desert-fathers of the Antiochene hinterland.
British Isles and Ireland
- Holy Pilgrim-Martyrs Brigid and Maura (4th C)
- St. Cannera of Bantry (530)
- St. Glastian of Kiunglassie (830)
- St. John the Wise of Malmesbury, monk (8th C)
Readings
Epistle
Hebrews 11.17-23, 27-31
17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Gospel
Mark 9.42-10.1
42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 49For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. 1And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judæa by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 2
Ever foreseeing the hour of the reckoning, thou didst mourn bitterly, O Ephrem, as a lover of stillness; and thou wast made a teacher fervent in deeds, O venerable one. Therefore, O Father of all the world, thou dost rouse the slothful to repentance.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Illumined by stillness and taught by thine own tears, O Isaac, thou didst set down for the world the paths of repentance and the measures of prayer; wherefore, O Father, thou dost guide the faithful to the love of God.
The
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of idleness, of meddling, of love of power, and of vain talking. But bestow upon me thy servant a spirit of soberness, of humility, of patience, and of love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own transgressions, and not to condemn my brother; for blessed art thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Troparion — Tone 4
The truth of things did make thee to thy flock a rule of faith, a model of meekness, and a teacher of temperance; thou didst gather wisdom through humility, and riches through poverty. O Father and hierarch Ephraim, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8
By the streams of thy tears thou didst till the barrenness of the desert, and by thy sighing from the depths thou didst bring forth fruit a hundredfold in thy labours; and thou becamest a luminary for the whole world, shining with wonders. O Ephrem our holy Father, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8
By the streams of thy tears thou didst make the wilderness to blossom, and by thy deep-drawn sighing thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in thy labours; and thou becamest a beacon of stillness, enlightening the world with thy teaching. O Isaac our holy Father, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8
In thee, O Father, was preserved unimpaired that which is according to God's image; for taking up the cross, thou didst follow after Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Wherefore, O venerable James, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.
Troparion — Tone 8
In thee, O Father, was preserved unimpaired that which is according to God's image; for taking up the cross, thou didst follow after Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passeth away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Palladius, thy spirit rejoiceth with the Angels.