Greatmartyr Theodore Tyro; Hieromartyr Germogen, Patriarch of Moscow

Saints commemorated

Saint of the day

Greatmartyr Theodore Tyro

Theodore the Recruit (†c. 306) — Tyron, "the recruit" or "the conscript," from the Latin tiro — was a young soldier newly enrolled in the Roman legion, stationed at Amasea in Pontus during the persecution of Maximian, and one of the two great warrior-martyrs named Theodore whom the Church honours. Refusing to sacrifice to the gods, and given a stay in which the authorities hoped he would relent, he instead set fire by night to the temple of the Mother of the gods (Cybele/Rhea); arrested and racked, comforted in prison by a vision of Christ, he was at the last burned alive, and gave up his soul in the flames. His body was buried at Euchaita by a pious woman, Eusebia, and Gregory of Nyssa preached his praise at the shrine there. He is famous above all for a posthumous wonder: when Julian the Apostate secretly ordered the food of Constantinople defiled with blood offered to idols during the first week of Lent, Theodore appeared to the archbishop and bade the faithful eat boiled wheat (kollyva) instead — for which the Church keeps his memory each year on the First Saturday of Great Lent, besides his fixed feast on February 17.
Saint of the day

Hieromartyr Germogen, Patriarch of Moscow

Hermogenes (c. 1530 – 1612) was Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia through the worst years of the Time of Troubles, and a hieromartyr whose steadfastness helped save the Russian state and Church. A priest of Kazan who witnessed and recorded the finding of the wonderworking Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, and afterwards its first metropolitan, he was raised to the patriarchal throne in 1606. When the Polish invaders and their partisans overran Moscow and pressed the Russians to accept a Catholic prince, Władysław, as tsar, Hermogenes refused to bless him unless he became Orthodox, and from his cathedral, and then from prison, sent out letters (gramoty) calling the people to rise in defence of the faith and the fatherland — the summons that kindled the national militia of Minin and Pozharsky. For this the Poles shut him up in the Chudov Monastery in the Kremlin and starved him; he died on February 17, 1612, months before Moscow was freed. He was glorified in 1913, and his relics rest in the Dormition Cathedral of the Kremlin. Not to be confused with the new hieromartyr Hermogenes (Dolganev), Bishop of Tobolsk (June 16, †1918), drowned in the river Tura by the Bolsheviks — a different man of a different century, with whom the patriarch is often confused because both bear the name and both died in the hands of an occupying power.
Auxibius of Soli

Auxibius (first century) was an apostolic-age bishop of Soli (Soloi), a city on the northern coast of Cyprus. Born at Rome of a distinguished and wealthy pagan family and well-educated, he fled the marriage his parents had arranged and took ship for the East; coming to Cyprus, he met at Soli the Apostle and Evangelist Mark, who was passing through the island, and was by him baptized and consecrated bishop of the city. Hiding his office at first among the pagans, he won them gradually from the worship of idols, and — assisted by Heraclidius, bishop of Tamassos — established the Church of Soli, which he governed for about fifty years. He ordained a successor and reposed in peace in the first century. He is honoured especially in the Church of Cyprus, commemorated on February 17.
Mariamne

Mariamne (first century) was the sister of the holy Apostle Philip, one of the Twelve, and a fellow-labourer in his apostolic mission. A virgin who had consecrated her life to Christ, she travelled with her brother and with the Apostle Bartholomew through the cities of Asia Minor — Lydia, Mysia, and Phrygia — sharing their preaching, tending them in their hardships, and herself proclaiming the Gospel and turning many to the faith. She was with them at Hierapolis in Phrygia, where Philip was crucified and Bartholomew, taken down from the cross, survived; Mariamne too was seized and threatened but was delivered. After her brother's martyrdom she continued to preach — the tradition takes her into Lycaonia — and there she reposed in peace. The Church honours her as a righteous virgin and apostolic helper, commemorated on February 17.
Theodore the Silent of the Kiev Caves

Theodore the Silent (thirteenth century) was a monk of the Kiev Caves Lavra, one of the venerable fathers who rest in the Far Caves (the Caves of Saint Theodosius). His surname records his ascetic labour: he kept a strict silence (molchanie), guarding his lips as a discipline of the heart and a means of unceasing inner prayer, and by this and his other struggles was granted, the tradition holds, a gift of wonderworking. Little else of his life is recorded. He is commemorated on February 17, and among the assembly of the venerable fathers of the Far Caves.
Theodosius of Trnovo

Theodosius of Trnovo (†1363) was the foremost Bulgarian hesychast of the fourteenth century — a monk and spiritual father, disciple of Gregory of Sinai, who carried the renewal of the Jesus-Prayer into the Bulgarian lands and founded the great monastery of Kilifarevo near the royal city of Trnovo (Tarnovo). Under him Kilifarevo became a school of prayer and learning that gathered hundreds of monks from Bulgaria, Serbia, and the Greek and Romanian lands, and from which came Euthymius, the last Patriarch of Trnovo. A zealous defender of Orthodoxy, Theodosius took a leading part in the councils held at Trnovo against the Bogomils, the followers of Barlaam and Akindynos, and other errors of his day. At the close of his life he went to Constantinople, where, received by his friend the Patriarch Callistus, he reposed in peace; Callistus wrote his Life. He is honoured chiefly by the Bulgarian Church, commemorated on February 17.

British Isles and Ireland

Venerable Fintan, abbot of Clonenagh (603)
St. Loman, 1st bishop of Trim (4th C)
St. Fortchern, 2nd bishop of Trim (5th C)
St. Finan, bishop of Lindisfarne (661)
St. Guevrock of Saint-Pol-de-Leon (6th C)

Troparia & kontakia

Kontakion — Tone 6

Enduring imprisonment and hardship for Orthodoxy, and dying of hunger, you kept the faith of Christ unshaken to the end, O most honoured Hermogenes; and having laid down your soul for your people, you obtained from God the deliverance of the Russian land. Therefore we honour you as a hieromartyr and pray: never cease to intercede for our souls.

Kontakion — Tone 8

Having taken the faith of Christ within your heart as a breastplate, you trampled down the powers of the enemy, O greatly-contending one, and were crowned for ever with a heavenly crown, as one invincible.

Magnification

We magnify you, O holy Great-Martyr Theodore, and we honour your precious sufferings, which you endured for Christ.

Troparion — Tone 4

O God of our fathers, who ever dealest with us according to Thy gentleness: take not Thy mercy from us, but through the prayers of Thy hierarch Auxibius, guide our life in peace.

Troparion — Tone 4

First-enthroned hierarch of the Russian land and unsleeping intercessor for it before God: laying down your life for the faith of Christ and for your flock, you delivered our country from ungodliness. Therefore we cry to you: save us by your prayers, O Hieromartyr Hermogenes, our father.

Troparion — Tone 2

Great are the achievements of faith! In the fountain of flame, as at the water of repose, the holy Martyr Theodore rejoiced; for being wholly consumed by fire, he was offered up as sweet bread unto the Trinity. By his prayers, O Christ God, save our souls.

Troparion — Tone 8

In you, O Father, was the divine image preserved with exactness; for taking up the Cross you followed after Christ, and by your deeds you taught men to despise the flesh, for it passes away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Therefore, O venerable Theodosius, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.

Readings

Epistle

3 John 1.1-14

¹The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. ²Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. ³For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. ⁴I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. ⁵Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; ⁶Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: ⁷Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. ⁸We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. ⁹I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. ¹⁰Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. ¹¹Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. ¹²Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. ¹³I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: ¹⁴But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

Gospel

Luke 19.29-40, 22.7-39

²⁹And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, ³⁰Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. ³¹And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. ³²And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. ³³And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? ³⁴And they said, The Lord hath need of him. ³⁵And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. ³⁶And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. ³⁷And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; ³⁸Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. ³⁹And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. ⁴⁰And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. ⁷Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. ⁸And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. ⁹And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? ¹⁰And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. ¹¹And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? ¹²And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. ¹³And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. ¹⁴And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. ¹⁵And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: ¹⁶For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. ¹⁷And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: ¹⁸For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. ¹⁹And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. ²⁰Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. ²¹But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. ²²And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! ²³And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. ²⁴And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. ²⁵And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. ²⁶But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. ²⁷For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. ²⁸Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. ²⁹And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; ³⁰That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ³¹And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: ³²But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. ³³And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. ³⁴And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. ³⁵And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. ³⁶Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. ³⁷For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. ³⁸And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. ³⁹And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

Saints commemorated