Tuesday 12 November 2030
St John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria
Tuesday of the 22nd week after Pentecost
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
St John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria
John the Almsgiver (c. 550–620), also called John the Merciful, was Greek Patriarch of Alexandria in the last decade of his life and the most celebrated almsgiver among the Church's hierarchs. A widowed Cypriot nobleman raised to the throne of Saint Mark around 610, he made the relief of the poor the whole programme of his patriarchate: he called the destitute of the city "my lords and masters," enrolled and fed thousands of them, poured the wealth of the great see into hospitals, hostels and refugee-relief, and reformed the commercial life of Alexandria in their favour. His Life, written by Leontios of Neapolis, preserves a vivid gallery of his charity. He is commemorated on November 12.
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Our Father among the Saints Martin, Bishop of Tours (397)
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Our Holy Father Nilus the Ascetic of Sinai (430)
Nilus the Faster (died c. 430), also called Nilus the Ascetic and, in the later tradition, Nilus of Sinai, is one of the most prolific ascetic writers of the early Church: a vast body of letters and monastic treatises circulates under his name. The tradition remembers him as a high official of Constantinople who forsook the world with his son to become a monk, and as a spiritual heir of John Chrysostom whose memory he defended. Modern scholarship distinguishes the historical monk-author, Nilus of Ancyra, from the legendary Sinaite of the later Life. He is commemorated on November 12.
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St Nilus the Myrrh-Gusher of Mt Athos (1651)
Nilus the Myrrh-gusher (c. 1601–1651) was a Greek hieromonk of Mount Athos who ended his life as a solitary in a nearly inaccessible cave on the mountain's south-eastern cliffs. He is called "Myrrh-gusher" because after his death a fragrant myrrh flowed in such abundance from his grave that it ran down the rock to the sea, drawing pilgrims who came by boat to gather it. In the following century he was believed to have appeared repeatedly to an Athonite monk, dictating a body of prophecies about the last times that circulated widely. He is commemorated on November 12.
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Ahijah the Shilonite
Ahijah the Shilonite (in Greek Achias) was a prophet of the tenth century before Christ, from the ancient sanctuary town of Shiloh, active in the reigns of Solomon and Jeroboam. He is remembered for two great oracles of the First Book of Kings: the tearing of a new garment into twelve pieces, by which he foretold the division of Solomon's kingdom and Jeroboam's rule over ten tribes; and, in his blind old age, the prophecy of the death of Jeroboam's son and the doom of his idolatrous house. The Orthodox Church numbers him among the holy prophets of the Old Covenant and commemorates him on November 12.
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Arsacius
Arsacius (Arsakios) is a holy martyr commemorated on November 12, of whom the tradition preserves almost nothing beyond his name and the manner of his death: the synaxarion records simply that he was perfected by the sword. Neither his country, his date, nor the persecution under which he suffered has been handed down.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Machar, bishop of Aberdeen (6th C)
- St. Sinnell of Cleenish (6th C)
- St. Cadwaladr, King of the Welsh (664)
- St. Cummian Fada, founder of the monastery of Kilcummin (662)
- St. Liafwine of Deventer, missionary (c.773)
- Monk-martyr Ymar of Reculver (c.830)
Readings
Epistle
Colossians 2.20-3.3
20Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21(Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. 1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Gospel
Luke 14.25-35
25And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 34Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 2
You scattered your wealth abroad to the poor, and now have received in exchange the wealth of heaven, all-wise John; therefore we all honour you, keeping the memory of you who bear the very name of mercy.
Troparion — Tone 2
As we celebrate the memory of your prophet Ahijah, O Lord, through him we beseech you: save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 8
In patience you won your reward, venerable father: persevering unceasingly in prayer, loving the poor and providing for their need. Intercede with Christ our God, blessed John the Merciful, that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8
With the streams of your tears you tilled the barren desert, and with sighs from the depths you brought forth fruit a hundredfold in labours; and you became a luminary, shining upon the whole world by your wonders, O Nilus our father. Intercede with Christ our God, that our souls may be saved.