Pentecost week, day 1 · 49 days since Pascha
Holy Pentecost
Saints commemorated
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Martyr Justin the Philosopher
Justin the Philosopher (c. 100 – c. 165) is the first great apologist of the Church and the earliest Christian writer whose substantial works survive entire. Born of pagan Greek parents at Flavia Neapolis in Samaria — the ancient Shechem — he passed through Stoicism, the Peripatetics, Pythagoreanism and Platonism before an unnamed old man met by the sea turned him from the philosophers to the prophets and to Christ. Wearing still the philosopher's cloak, he taught Christianity as the one true philosophy, opened a school at Rome, and addressed to the emperors and Senate the two Apologies and to a learned Jew the Dialogue with Trypho. Denounced by the Cynic Crescens, he was scourged and beheaded with six companions under the urban prefect Rusticus, and the authentic Acts of that trial survive. His description of baptism, of the Sunday assembly and of the Eucharist is the earliest detailed account of Christian worship in existence.
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Our Holy Father Agapitus of the Kiev Caves (1095)
Agapitus of the Kiev Caves (†1095) is the first physician of the Russian land whose name is remembered, and the first Russian saint to bear the title of the unmercenary healers — ἀνάργυροι, those who take no silver. A disciple of St Anthony of the Caves in the first generation of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, he healed the sick of the monastery and the city by prayer and by herbs he boiled himself, refusing all payment and all thanks, and healed among others the future Great Prince Vladimir Monomakh, whom he would not so much as let look at him. His story is told at length in the Kiev Caves Paterikon, chiefly for the sake of its counterpoint: a learned Armenian physician of Kiev, who diagnosed by inspection and predicted the day of death, and who was confounded first by Agapitus's cures and at last by the saint's foreknowledge of his own repose — after which the Armenian became an Orthodox monk. Agapitus's relics rest in the Near Caves, and he is commemorated on June 1.
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Dionysius of Glushitsa
Dionysius of Glushitsa (1363–1437) was one of the great founders of the Northern Thebaid, the monastic wilderness of the Russian north. Born near Vologda and baptised Dimitry, he was tonsured in 1382 at the island monastery of the Saviour on the Stone (Spaso-Kamenny) on Lake Kubenskoye, and after nine years went out with a single disciple into the forest, where — hearing, the tradition says, the sound of bells on the empty banks of the river Glushitsa — he founded the Monastery of the Protection of the Theotokos, and later the hermitage of Sosnovets for those who sought greater solitude, a women's monastery under the Athonite typikon, and other houses besides. He was a painter of icons as well as a builder of monasteries, and one of the earliest Russian iconographers whose name and hand can be tied to surviving work. Renowned for extreme austerity, for open-handed almsgiving in famine, and for miracles, he reposed at Sosnovets on 1 June 1437 in his seventy-fourth year, and was canonised by the Council of Moscow in 1547.
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Justus, Justin and their Companions
Under this title the Greek Menaion and the Slavic synaxaria keep, on June 1, the little company of Christians who were tried and beheaded at Rome about the year 165 together with Justin the Philosopher: Chariton, the virgin Charito, Euelpistus — a slave of the emperor's household, Cappadocian by birth — Hierax from Iconium in Phrygia, Paeon, and Liberian (whom the Slavic books call Valerian), with a Justin and a Justus who are almost certainly the philosopher himself, doubled in transmission. Their interrogation before the urban prefect Q. Junius Rusticus survives in the Acts of Justin, one of the earliest and soberest of all martyr-acts; each in turn confessed Christ, and to the command that they sacrifice they answered together: "Do what you will, for we are Christians, and we do not sacrifice to idols." They were scourged and beheaded.
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Shio the New and the Martyrs of Gareji
At the end of the seventeenth century a band of Dagestani raiders fell upon the cave-monastery of David-Gareji in the semi-desert of Kakheti while the abbot was absent, plundered the church, burned or broke the icons and vestments, and put to the sword the hieromonk left in charge and three of his brethren: Shio the New, David, Gabriel and Paul. Shio was of the Kartlian nobility, from the village of Vedzisi, one of eight children of parents named Papuna and Tamar, and had come to Gareji after a murderous quarrel over the family inheritance drove him out of the world. He was known in the wilderness for humility and for the gift of counsel, and the abbot Onopre entrusted him with the governance of the house. Their mutilated relics were buried by order of the Catholicos and the king in the courtyard of the lavra, south of the tomb of St David of Gareji, and the Georgian Church keeps them on June 1.
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Thespesius of Cappadocia
Thespesius — a Greek name meaning "divinely-uttered," and so apt to a martyr that the synaxaria remark on it — was a Christian of Cappadocia who suffered under the emperor Alexander Severus, about the year 222. Arrested by the provincial governor Simplicius for confessing Christ and brought to a temple to sacrifice, he mocked the idols to the governor's face. He was hung up and his flesh torn, plunged into boiling water, and shut for two days in a cauldron of seething oil, pitch and fat, from all of which he came out unhurt; and many pagans, the account says, were converted by the sight. He was at last beheaded outside the city, and is commemorated on June 1.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Ronan the Silent
- Holy martyr Wistan of Evesham (850)
- Holy martyr Wite (Candida) of Dorset
Troparia & kontakia
Apolytikion — Tone 8
Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who hast shown forth the fishermen as all-wise, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and through them taking the whole world in thy net. O Lover of mankind, glory to thee.
Kontakion — Tone 8
When the Most High came down and confounded the tongues, he divided the nations; when he distributed the tongues of fire, he called all men into unity; and with one accord we glorify the all-holy Spirit.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Taking no silver for thy healing, thou didst give the sick the herbs of thy poor table and the prayer of thy heart, O venerable Agapitus; and thou didst hide thyself from the gifts of princes, seeking one reward alone. Wherefore Christ, the Physician of soul and body, hath crowned thee among the unmercenaries.
Kontakion — Tone 8
Hearing the sound of bells in the trackless forest, thou didst know the place of thy calling, O father Dionysius; and where no man dwelt thou didst raise a house to the Protection of the Mother of God, painting with thy own hand the images of the saints. Wherefore, having lent thy bread to God in the hungry years, thou hast received of Him an unfading crown.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Having sought out the wisdom of the Greeks and found it wanting, thou didst learn from the prophets the philosophy that saveth, O Justin; and having taught the emperors of the earth to reverence Christ, thou didst seal thy words with thy blood. Wherefore entreat Him without ceasing for us who honour thee.
Megalynarion — Tone 7
O Mother who hast not known man, Virgin Theotokos, who didst conceive without experience of corruption and didst lend flesh to the all-fashioning Word; vessel of him whom nothing can contain, place of thine own uncircumscribed Maker: thee do we magnify.
Oikos
Give swift and steadfast consolation to thy servants, O Jesus, when our spirits grow listless. Be not parted from our souls in afflictions, be not far from our minds in adversities, but come to us always before we call. Draw near to us, draw near, thou who art everywhere; and as thou wast ever with thine apostles, so unite thyself to those who long for thee, O compassionate one, that being joined to thee we may hymn and glorify thine all-holy Spirit.
Troparion — Tone 8 (common of a venerable father)
In thee, O Father, was preserved unblemished that which is according to the image; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, which passeth away, and to care for the soul, which is immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Agapitus, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
Troparion — Tone 8 (common of a venerable father)
In thee, O Father, was preserved unblemished that which is according to the image; for taking up thy cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, which passeth away, and to care for the soul, which is immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Dionysius, thy spirit rejoiceth with the angels.
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a martyr)
Thy martyr Justin, O Lord, in his contest received an incorruptible crown from Thee, our God; for possessing Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By his intercessions save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of several martyrs)
O holy martyrs, who fought the good fight and received your crowns, entreat the Lord that He have mercy on our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of several martyrs)
O holy martyrs Shio, David, Gabriel and Paul, who in the wilderness of Gareji fought the good fight and received your crowns, entreat the Lord that He have mercy on our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a martyr)
Thy martyr Thespesius, O Lord, in his contest received an incorruptible crown from Thee, our God; for possessing Thy strength, he cast down the tyrants and shattered the feeble insolence of the demons. By his intercessions save our souls.
Readings
Vespers
Numbers 11.16-17, 24-29
16And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. 24And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 25And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. 26But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. 27And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 29And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!
Joel 2.23-32
23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. 28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Ezekiel 36.24-28
24For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Matins Gospel
John 20.19-23
19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Epistle
Acts 2.1-11
1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Gospel
John 7.37-52, 8.12
37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 40Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. 41Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? 43So there was a division among the people because of him. 44And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him. 45Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. 47Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 48Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? 49But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed. 50Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) 51Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? 52They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. 12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.