Nativity Fast, day 27
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Ven. Daniel the Stylite
Daniel the Stylite (c. 409–493) was the great pillar-saint of the Bosphorus and the foremost heir of Symeon the Stylite, whose leather mantle he received. A Mesopotamian monk drawn to Constantinople, he mounted a pillar at Anaplus on the European shore and stood upon it for thirty-three years, until his repose in his mid-eighties. Ordained priest upon the column by the Patriarch Gennadius, he became the oracle and conscience of the capital: emperors Leo I and Zeno sought his counsel, he foretold the great fire of the city, and he descended from his pillar only once — to march into Constantinople and confront the usurper Basiliscus in defence of the Council of Chalcedon. His feast is December 11, within the Nativity Fast.
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Saint Nikon the Dry of the Kiev Caves (1101)
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Our Venerable Father Luke the New Stylite (979)
Luke the New Stylite (c. 879–979) was a soldier of the Byzantine army who became the last of the great pillar-saints of the East. Having survived unhurt the catastrophic defeat of the imperial forces by the Bulgarians at Anchialos in 917, he laid down his arms for the monastic life, was ordained priest, and took up the ascesis of the stylites. After brief pillars in Anatolia and near the capital he settled at Chalcedon, on the Asian shore opposite Constantinople, where he stood upon a column for forty-five years and was renowned for the gift of wonderworking, until his repose about the year 979 at a very great age. He is commemorated on December 11, the same day as the elder pillar-saint Daniel the Stylite, within the Nativity Fast.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Cian the Hermit (6th C)
- St. Peris of Llanberis (c.6th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 4
Like a star of many lights didst thou ascend upon the pillar, O blessed one, and enlighten the world by thy holy works; the darkness of error thou didst drive away, O father. Wherefore we beseech thee: shine now also in the hearts of thy servants with the unsetting light of knowledge.
Synaxarion
The pillar raised Luke on high; and Luke raised his mind to God, toward whom he runs.
Troparion — Tone 1
Thou didst become a pillar of patience, O venerable one, rivalling the forefathers: Job in his sufferings, Joseph in his temptations, and the life of the bodiless powers while yet in the body. O Daniel our father, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 1
Thou didst become a pillar of patience, O venerable one, rivalling the forefathers: Job in his sufferings, Joseph in his temptations, and the life of the bodiless powers while yet in the body. O Luke our father, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Readings
Epistle
1 Timothy 1.18-20, 2.8-15
18This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. 8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Gospel
Mark 8.30-34
30And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. 31And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. 34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.