Great Lent, day 4 · 45 days until Pascha
St Raphael Bishop of Brooklyn
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Raphael of Brooklyn
Raphael Hawaweeny (1860–1915) was the first Orthodox bishop consecrated on North American soil and the shepherd of the scattered Arab Orthodox faithful of the New World — "the Good Shepherd of the Lost Sheep in America." Born in Beirut to Damascene refugees, formed in Damascus, at Halki, and at the Theological Academy of Kiev, and a priest of the Church of Antioch serving in Russia, he was sent in 1895 to gather the Syrian Orthodox immigrants of the United States and Canada. From his cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Brooklyn he travelled the continent without rest, founding some thirty parishes, printing the first Orthodox service-books in America, and in 1904 receiving episcopal consecration at the hands of the future Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow. He reposed in 1915, worn out in the service of his people, and was glorified in 2000 by the Orthodox Church in America and the Antiochian Archdiocese together. He is kept on February 27, the day of his repose.
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Our Holy Father Procopius of Decapolis (9th c.)
Prokopius the Confessor of Decapolis (†c. 750) was a monk of the region of the Decapolis, east of the Sea of Galilee, who together with his companion Basil stood firm for the veneration of the holy icons in the first generation of the Byzantine iconoclast persecution. When the emperor Leo III the Isaurian proscribed the icons and turned the power of the state against those who honoured them, Prokopius openly confessed the ancient practice of the Church and taught that the honour paid to the image passes to its prototype. For this he was seized, imprisoned, scourged, and subjected to torments, enduring them without yielding. He outlived the persecuting emperor, was released at Leo's death, and returned to the ascetic life, in which he reposed in peace — a confessor, one who suffered for Christ yet was not slain. He is kept on February 27, on the eve of the commemoration of his fellow-sufferer Basil.
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Our Venerable Father Titus of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves (1190)
Titus (†1190) was a priest-monk of the Near (Antoniev) Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra, remembered in the Caves Paterikon for a story of enmity overcome too late and forgiveness won at the edge of death. Bound in close friendship with a deacon named Evagrius, he fell with him into a bitter and lasting quarrel, in which the two served at the same altar without speaking, passing the incense and the peace to each other in silence and hatred. When Titus was struck down by a mortal illness he begged forgiveness of Evagrius, who — dragged to the bedside by the brethren — hardened his heart, refused, and fell dead in the very act of refusing, while Titus rose up healed. The tale became one of the Lavra's enduring lessons on the deadliness of unforgiveness. Titus reposed a monk in peace, and his relics rest in the Near Caves.
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Our Holy Father Leander, Bishop of Seville and Apostle of Spain (600)
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Asclepius and James of Syria
Asclepius and James (fifth century) were two ascetics of the Syrian countryside, of the region around Cyrrhus, remembered together on February 27 among the solitaries whose lives were gathered by Theodoret of Cyrrhus in his Religious History. Asclepius first pursued the ascetic life in his own village, drawing many after him into the discipline of prayer and fasting, before withdrawing into stricter solitude; James likewise lived the hermit's life in the same country of Syria. Little more is transmitted of them than the fact and the manner of their struggle, and they are honoured as fathers of the great fifth-century flowering of Syrian monasticism.
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Julian, Eunus, Besas and Macarius of Alexandria
Julian, Eunus, Besas and Macarius were martyrs of Alexandria in the persecution of the emperor Decius (c. 250), whose sufferings are recorded by an eyewitness generation in the letters of Dionysius of Alexandria, preserved by Eusebius. Julian, so crippled with gout that he could neither stand nor walk, was carried to his trial; borne with him was Eunus (Cronion, surnamed Eunus). Confessing Christ and refusing to sacrifice, the two were set on camels, scourged through the whole city, and at last consumed in quicklime before the people. Besas, a soldier who rebuked the crowd for mocking the martyrs, was denounced, and being himself a Christian was beheaded. Macarius, a Libyan, was burned alive. They are commemorated together on February 27.
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Stephen of Constantinople
Stephen (†c. 614) was a man of the imperial court at Constantinople under the emperor Maurice who renounced rank and wealth for the sake of the poor, founding at Constantinople a home for the aged — an almshouse or gerokomeion — and giving himself to the personal service of the old and destitute who sheltered there. Having exchanged the honours of the palace for the labour of charity, he became a monk in spirit and in deed, and reposed about the year 614, honoured by the Church as a father who made the love of the poor his whole ascetic discipline. He is commemorated on February 27.
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Thalelaeus of Syria
Thalelaeus the Hermit (†c. 460) was a Syrian solitary of the region near Gabala (Jableh) on the coast of Syria, remembered by his contemporary Theodoret of Cyrrhus for two things above all: the extraordinary austerity of his dwelling, and his ceaseless weeping — whence his surname "Epiklautos," the Ever-Weeping. He confined himself for years in a cramped hanging hut in which he could neither stand upright nor lie down, and wept without pause for his own sins and the judgment to come. From this outpost he overthrew a pagan cult that clung to the place, drew the local people to Christ, and became a source of healings. He is not to be confused with the unmercenary Martyr Thalelaeus of Cilicia (kept May 20). He is commemorated on February 27.
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Titus the Soldier of the Kiev Caves
Titus the Soldier (14th century) was a warrior who, grievously wounded in battle, turned from the world to the monastic life and became a monk of the Far (Feodosiev) Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra, where he gave the remainder of his days to prayer and repentance and was healed of the passions as of his wounds. Little is recorded of him beyond this pattern — the brave soldier who exchanged the warfare of the world for the unseen warfare of the ascetic — and his relics rest among the wonderworking fathers of the Far Caves. He is commemorated on February 27, the same day as his namesake, Titus the priest of the Near Caves.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Comgan, abbot of Glenthsen or Killeshin (c.565)
- Holy Martyr Alnoth of Stowe, nr
- Bugbrooke (c.700)
Troparia & kontakia
Troparion — Tone 8
With the streams of thy tears thou didst make the barren desert to bear; and by thy sighing from the depths thou didst yield fruit a hundredfold in thy labours; and thou becamest a luminary, shining upon the whole world with miracles, O Prokopius our venerable Father. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8
With the streams of thy tears thou didst make the barren desert to bear; and by thy sighing from the depths thou didst yield fruit a hundredfold in thy labours; and thou becamest a luminary, shining upon the world, O Thalelaeus our venerable Father. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Readings
6th Hour
Isaiah 2.11-21
11The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. 12For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: 13And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, 14And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, 15And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, 16And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. 17And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. 18And the idols he shall utterly abolish. 19And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 20In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; 21To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Vespers
Genesis 2.4-19
4These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, 5And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. 11The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; 12And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. 13And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 18And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Proverbs 3.1-18
1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
Composite 2 - Proverbs 10, 3, 8 (St Raphael)
1The memory of a just man is praised, and the Lord’s blessing is upon his head. Blessed is one who has found wisdom; a mortal who knows understanding. To import her is better than treasures of gold and silver. She is more valuable than precious stones; nothing of value equals her worth. Justice proceeds from her mouth; she bears law and mercy on her tongue. Therefore, my children, listen to me, for I speak weighty things. And blessed is the one who keeps my ways. For my goings out are the goings out of life, and favour is prepared from the Lord. Therefore I exhort you, and utter my voice to the children of humankind. Because I, Wisdom, have prepared counsel, knowledge and understanding. I have called on them. Counsel and sureness are mine; prudence is mine, strength is mine. I love those who are my friends, while those who seek me will find grace. You innocent, then, understand cunning; you untaught, take it to heart. Listen to me, for I will speak weighty things, and I will open right things from my lips. Because my throat will meditate truth; lying lips are abominable before me. All the words of my mouth are with justice, there is nothing crooked in them nor twisted. They are all straight for those who understand, and right for those who find knowledge. For I teach you what is true, that your hope may be in the Lord and that you may be filled with spirit.
Proverbs 10.31-11.12 (St Raphael)
31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. 1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. 2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. 8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. 9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. 10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. 11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15 (St Raphael)
7But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. 8For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. 9But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. 10He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated. 11Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. 12For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. 13He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: 14For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked. 15This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.
Matins Gospel
John 10.1-9 (St Raphael)
1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Epistle
Hebrews 13.17-21 (St Raphael)
17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 18Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. 19But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Gospel
John 10.9-16 (St Raphael)
9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Great Canon