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Sunday 9 June 2030

7th Sunday of Pascha

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No Fast Tone 6

Ascensiontide, day 4 · 42 days since Pascha

Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

Saints commemorated

  • St Cyril of Alexandria

    Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376 – 444) was Archbishop of Alexandria and the greatest of the Church's Christological doctors — the "Seal of the Fathers," whose defence of the unity of the person of Christ gave the Church her language for the mystery of God made man. As president of the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus in 431, he led the condemnation of Nestorius, Archbishop of Constantinople, who by dividing Christ into two subjects had refused to the Virgin the title Theotokos, "she who gave birth to God." Against him Cyril taught the hypostatic union: that the eternal Word of God, without ceasing to be God, truly made human flesh and a human soul his own, so that the one who was born of Mary, suffered, and rose is one and the same Son — God the Word incarnate — and Mary is therefore in all truth the Mother of God. His writings — the letters to Nestorius, the treatise On the Unity of Christ, the commentaries on John and Luke — became the charter of Orthodox Christology, honoured at Chalcedon and by the whole Church, Eastern and Oriental alike. He reposed at Alexandria on June 27, 444. His own feast is June 9; he is kept again on January 18 with Athanasius the Great, the two hierarchs of Alexandria, and on June 9.

  • Ven. Kirill of Belozersk

    Cyril of White Lake (1337–1427) is the greatest of the founders of the "Northern Thebaid" and, after Sergius of Radonezh, the most influential monastic father of medieval Russia. A Moscow orphan raised in the household of a boyar at the court of Demetrius Donskoy, he was tonsured at the Simonov monastery, served nine years in its bakery under obedience, was made archimandrite in 1388 and laid the office down almost at once for the sake of silence. At sixty, following a voice heard while he read the Akathist before an icon of the Mother of God, he went north with Therapon into the forests of Beloozero and dug a cell in the ground above Siversk Lake. There grew the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery, the strictest and most learned house in Russia, whose rule of absolute non-possession — Cyril refused an offered estate outright — became the seed of the "non-possessor" tradition that Nilus of Sora carried forward a century later. He reposed at ninety on June 9, 1427, the feast of his patron Cyril of Alexandria.

  • St Columba of Iona (597)

    Columba (521–597) — Colum Cille, "the dove of the church" — is with Patrick and Brigid one of the three patrons of Ireland, and the enlightener of the Picts of Scotland. A prince of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill, trained under Finnian of Clonard and Mobhí of Glasnevin, he founded Derry and Durrow and many houses besides before a quarrel over a copied psalter drew him and his kin into the bloodshed of Cúl Dreimhne (561); for penance he undertook the peregrinatio pro Christo, and in 563 sailed with twelve companions to the small island of Iona off the coast of Dál Riata, from which Ireland could not be seen. From there for thirty-four years he preached to the Picts of the north, went up the Great Glen to the fortress of King Bridei son of Maelchon, arbitrated the affairs of kings at the Convention of Druim Cett, and ruled a family of monasteries whose abbots for a century carried Christianity through Scotland and into northern England. He reposed before the altar at Matins on June 9, 597, in his seventy-sixth year, and his life was written a hundred years later by Adomnán, ninth abbot of Iona, in one of the great books of the early medieval West.

  • Alexander of Kushta

    Alexander of Kushta (c. 1371–1439) was one of the founders of the monastic wilderness of the Vologda north. Tonsured on the island monastery of the Saviour on the Stone in Lake Kubenskoye under Dionysius the Greek, the Athonite who brought the Holy Mountain's rule to the Russian north, he was ordained hieromonk and then fled his own monastery by night because the brethren had begun to revere him. He lived first in the forest on the river Syanzhema, then exchanged cells with the hermit Euthymius and settled at the mouth of the Kushta on the southern shore of Lake Kubenskoye, some forty versts from Vologda. When a third monk joined him he built a church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, receiving the blessing for it from the Archbishop of Rostov — his own former abbot. He met a Tatar raiding party with the cross in his hands, blessed a thief's stolen grain so that he could carry it, and reposed on June 9, 1439, in his sixty-eighth year; a rowan tree grew over his grave, and healings were recorded there.

  • Five Virgin-Martyrs of Persia

    The five holy virgins Thecla, Mariamne, Martha, Mary and Ennatha were consecrated women of the Church in Persia, living near the village of Aza, who were put to death about the year 346 in the long persecution of Shapur II. Their story is remembered chiefly for the terrible part played in it by their own spiritual father, the priest Paul, to whom they had entrusted their goods: when the persecutors demanded of them apostasy and of him the treasure, Paul saved his money by conforming to the religion of the Persians, and — the synaxarion says — cut off with his own hand the heads of the five women who refused to follow him. His gain lasted a day: the Persians killed him the following evening and took everything he had. The virgins are honoured as martyrs and their betrayer as a warning, and the Church has kept them together in one memory since antiquity.

British Isles and Ireland

  • St. Baithene of Tiree (600)
  • St. Cummian (8th C)

Troparia & kontakia

Kontakion — Tone 8

Leaving behind the things of earth, thou didst make thy dwelling in the wilderness, and taking up thy cross thou didst follow after Christ, mortifying the desires of the flesh by fasting and by longing for God; and now, standing before Him, remember us who cry to thee: rejoice, O adornment of the Vologda wilderness, Alexander our father.

Kontakion — Tone 4

Rending asunder the snares of the heresies by the power of Christ through thy divine words, thou didst enrich the Church, O Cyril, cutting down all the tares of Nestorius; wherefore thou standest with the choirs of Angels, fervently interceding with Christ, O blessed one, that forgiveness of sins be granted unto all.

Kontakion — Tone 8

Having despised the things that perish and the reasonings that drag the soul downward, O father, thou didst set out with joy upon the upward road; and now, keeping festival with the angels, thou standest before the Trinity, and dost intercede without ceasing for the flock thou didst gather, O Cyril our father.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Betrayed by the shepherd who should have kept you, O virgins, you were not betrayed by the Shepherd who laid down His life; and receiving the sword in place of the bridal crown, you were joined for ever to Christ, in whom you had already given away all that you had.

Troparion — Tone 4

Choosing to serve God despite the heaviness of the flesh, thou didst make thy dwelling in the wilderness, O father Alexander, and there in labours and vigils and prayer thou didst wear thy body away; wherefore Christ enriched thee with the gift of wonders. Pray to Him for us who honour thy memory, that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 8

In thee, O father, the image was preserved with exactness: for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow after Christ; and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passes away, but to care rather for the soul, which is immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Columba, thy spirit rejoices with the angels.

Troparion — Tone 5

Adorned with divine wisdom, thou wast shown forth as leader of the Third Council, and didst cast down the terrible Nestorius, O Father, and didst brightly proclaim the pure Virgin to be Theotokos, O Cyril the Hierarch, glory of the Alexandrians and teacher of the Church.

Troparion — Tone 1

As a lily thou didst blossom in the wilderness after the manner of David, O father Cyril, uprooting the thorns of evil passion; and thou didst gather to thyself in that place disciples of virtue, in the fear of God and by thy teaching. Wherefore, having brought them unto God, pray thou earnestly for us, O most blessed one, that we may be kept from every deceitful assault, and that our souls may be saved.

Troparion — Tone 4

O Lord Jesus, Thy lambs cry out with a loud voice: We are wounded with love for Thee, O our Bridegroom, and we run to seek Thee; we are crucified with Thee, and buried in Thy baptism; we suffer for Thy sake, that we may reign with Thee; we die for Thee, that we may live in Thee. Accept us as spotless sacrifices offered to Thee in love. By their prayers, O merciful One, save our souls.

Readings

Vespers

Genesis 14.14-20

14And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 17And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Deuteronomy 1.8-11, 15-17

8Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. 9And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone: 10The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. 11(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!) 15So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. 16And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. 17Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

Deuteronomy 10.14-21

14Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. 15Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. 16Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. 17For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: 18He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. 19Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. 21He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

10th Matins Gospel

John 21.1-14

1After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

Epistle

Acts 20.16-18, 28-36

16For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. 17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 36And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

Gospel

John 17.1-13

1These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.