Thursday 19 December 2030
Martyr Boniface and Righteous Aglaida
Thursday of the 27th week after Pentecost
Nativity Fast, day 35
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Martyr Boniface and Righteous Aglaida
Boniface of Tarsus (died c. 290) is remembered for one of the most striking conversion stories in the Church's calendar. A dissolute household steward living in sin with his mistress Aglaïa, a wealthy woman of Rome, he was sent east to bring back the relics of a martyr — and, jesting as he set out that he might himself come home a martyr, was so moved by the sufferings of the confessors he found at Tarsus in Cilicia that he confessed Christ on the spot, endured fearful tortures, and was beheaded. His relics, carried back to Rome, brought about the repentance of Aglaïa, who gave away her wealth and ended her days as a nun. The two are commemorated together on December 19, and in Russian piety Boniface is invoked especially against the passion of drunkenness.
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Elias of Murom
Elias of Murom (died c. 1188) was a monk of the Near Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra, remembered in the Church as a wonderworker and, in Russian popular memory, identified with Ilya Muromets, the greatest of the bogatyrs — the warrior-heroes of the Kievan epic ballads. His incorrupt relics rest in the Near Caves with the fingers of the right hand joined for the sign of the Cross in the three-finger form, a detail that made him a witness in the seventeenth-century disputes with the Old Ritualists. Commemorated on December 19 and among the assembled fathers of the Kiev Caves, he is honoured as a saint in whom the warrior's courage and the monk's humility met.
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Gregory of Omirits
Gregory of Omirits (Greek Gregentios; died c. 552) was, in the tradition, the missionary archbishop sent from Alexandria to organise the Church among the Homerites — the Himyarites of southern Arabia — after the Ethiopian king Elesbaan had overthrown the Jewish persecutor who massacred the Christians of Najran. A deacon of Milan led by visions to Carthage, Rome, and Alexandria, he was consecrated bishop and set over the see of Zafar, where he restored the churches, crowned the Christian king Abraha, and codified laws for the new Christian nation. He is remembered above all for a great public disputation with the Jewish teacher Herban, which the tradition says ended in a vision of Christ, the mass conversion of the Jews, and Herban's own baptism.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Manirus, bishop and Apostle of the north of Scotland
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 4
As an unblemished sacrifice you willingly offered yourself to Him who for your sake was about to be born of the Virgin, O holy and wise crown-bearer Boniface.
Kontakion — Tone 8
As a great luminary of the Russian land you shone forth, an unconquered commander of the Heavenly King and a God-inspired adornment of monastics. And now, standing with the angels before the throne of God, entreat Christ the Master and Creator of all, that those who honour your holy memory may be delivered from every affliction and sorrow, that we may cry to you: Rejoice, O Elias, our venerable father.
Troparion — Tone 1
Having honoured God, by Him you were honoured in return, O beauty of the martyrs, blessed Boniface; for He adorned you with the crown of divine glory. And so, as we today keep your all-holy memory, we entreat you to make intercession for us before the Lord.
Troparion — Tone 3
The Russian land rejoices today, glorifying its warrior and wonderworker Elias of Murom; for abiding in the Church triumphant, he fights together with his kinsmen and with the Church militant, entreating help from the Lord for Holy Rus' against her enemies visible and invisible, that the Russian people may without hindrance glorify and honour Christ God.
Readings
Epistle
1 Timothy 6.17-21
17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
Gospel
Mark 10.17-27
17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.