Paschaltide, day 7 · 6 days since Pascha
Saints commemorated
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Ven. John of Ancient Caves in Palestine
John was a monk of the Old Lavra — the ancient cave-monastery of St Chariton in the wilderness of Judea near Jerusalem, called "the Ancient Caves" (Palaia Lavra) — who lived in the eighth century and shone in the ascetic life. A confessor of the holy icons in the age of iconoclasm, he is honoured for his labours of prayer, fasting and struggle in the desert, and reposed in peace. His memory is kept on April 19.
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Our Holy Father Agathangelos (1819)
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Paphnutius the Hieromartyr
Paphnutius was a bishop (by tradition, of Jerusalem) and martyr who suffered in one of the persecutions of the early Church — most likely the Great Persecution of Diocletian — and was put to death by crucifixion. The synaxaria relate that many were converted through his confession and drawn to Christ by his steadfastness, and that after long torments he was nailed to a tree or cross. He is honoured as a hieromartyr on April 19.
British Isles and Ireland
- Hieromartyr Alphege, 29th archbishop of Canterbury (1012)
Troparia & kontakia
Troparion — Tone 8 (common of an ascetic)
By a flood of tears thou didst make the barren desert fruitful, and by thy sighs from the depths thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a beacon, shining upon the world by thy miracles, O John our father: intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a hieromartyr)
Having shared in the ways of the apostles and sat upon their thrones, thou didst find the path to divine contemplation, O inspired Paphnutius; and, contending for the faith even unto blood, thou didst enter into the joy of thy Lord. Entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Readings
Epistle
Acts 3.11-16
11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. 12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Gospel
John 3.22-33
22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24For John was not yet cast into prison. 25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease. 31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.