Pre-Lenten Triodion, day 1 · 70 days until Pascha
Beginning of the Lenten Triodion
About Finding of the Relics of the Holy Martyrs at the Gate of Eugenius →
Saints commemorated
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Unc. Rel. Holy Martyrs at Gate of Eugenius
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Andronicus and Junia
Andronicus and Junia are the two Christians of the first generation whom the Apostle Paul greets at Romans 16:7 as "my kinsmen and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me" — the only persons in the New Testament of whom that last phrase is said. The Byzantine tradition numbers Andronicus among the Seventy and makes him bishop of Pannonia, and honours Junia with him as his synergos, his fellow-labourer in the Gospel; both are remembered as having suffered for Christ. Their relics, hidden in the persecutions and long anonymous, were brought to light outside Constantinople at the Gate of Eugenius, and identified there by revelation. They are kept on May 17, and again on February 22 with the finding of those relics, and Andronicus a third time on July 30 with his fellow-apostles of the Seventy.
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Athanasius the Confessor of Paulopetrion
Athanasius the Confessor (died 821) was a monk and abbot of the Paulopetrion monastery — the house "of Paul and Peter," near Nicomedia in Bithynia — who suffered for the veneration of the holy icons in the second iconoclast persecution. Born at Constantinople of wealthy and pious parents and drawn from childhood to the service of God, he became renowned for his ascetic life, so that his fame reached the imperial court. In the reign of the iconoclast emperor Leo V the Armenian (813–820) he was seized, tortured, and sent into exile for his defence of the sacred images; and having confessed the Orthodox faith to the end, he reposed in peace in the year 821. He is kept on February 22 as a venerable confessor.
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Maurice of Apamea and his Companions
Maurice (died c. 305) was the commander of the garrison of Apamea on the Orontes in Syria, martyred under the emperor Galerius Maximian together with his son Photinus and the seventy soldiers of his command — of whom only two names, Theodore and Philip, are remembered. Denounced as Christians and refusing to sacrifice, they were subjected to a torture of studied cruelty: led to a marshy place swarming with mosquitoes, wasps and gadflies, stripped, smeared with honey, and bound to stakes, they were left for ten days to be stung and consumed by the insects under the sun, tormented by thirst and hunger, while they prayed and glorified God. The commander was made to watch his son die before him. At the last the martyrs were beheaded. They are a company of Antiochian Syria, kept on February 22.
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Thalassius, Limnaeus and Baradates
Thalassius, Limnaeus and Baradates were three Syrian solitaries of the fifth century, ascetics of the hill-country around Cyrrhus and Antioch whose lives are recorded at first hand by Theodoret, bishop of Cyrrhus, in his Religious History. Thalassius passed thirty-eight years on a bare hill near the village of Targala, without roof or cell, in a simplicity, gentleness and humility that drew the gift of healing. His disciple Limnaeus learned that same simplicity, joined the great Maron, and settled in a roofless stone enclosure, where — though a solitary — he gathered the blind and the crippled about him and cared for them. Baradates shut himself in a stone cell too cramped to stand upright in, and later stood exposed to sun and rain wrapped head to foot in leather, until Theodoret himself persuaded him to relent. The three are kept together on February 22.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Elwin (Elwyn) the Martyr, Missionary to Cornwall (5th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Apolytikion — Tone 3
Holy apostles Andronicus and Junia, intercede with the merciful God, that he may grant to our souls the forgiveness of transgressions.
Kontakion
As stars that the Church has found shining in the earth, the treasure of your holy relics, O martyrs of Christ, enlightens the faithful who keep your memory; for by your hidden struggles you were made manifest, and you pour out healings on them that draw near.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Kinsmen of Paul and sharers of his bonds, who were in Christ before him and laboured with him in the Gospel: Andronicus, adornment of the hierarchs, and Junia, of note among the apostles — intercede unceasingly for those who honour your memory.
Troparion
Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received crowns of incorruption from Thee our God; for possessed of Thy might, they cast down the tyrants and shattered the powerless insolence of demons. By their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Troparion
In thee, O Father, was the divine image kept secure; for taking up the Cross thou didst follow after Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passes away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Therefore, O venerable Athanasius, thy spirit rejoices with the Angels.
Troparion
Thy martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received crowns of incorruption from Thee our God; for possessed of Thy might, they cast down the tyrants and shattered the powerless insolence of demons. By their supplications, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Troparion
In thee, O Father, was the divine image kept secure; for taking up the Cross thou didst follow after Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach us to despise the flesh, for it passes away, but to care for the soul, a thing immortal. Therefore, O venerable one, thy spirit rejoices with the Angels.
Readings
5th Matins Gospel
Luke 24.12-35
12Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
Epistle
2 Timothy 3.10-15
10But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Gospel
Luke 18.10-14
10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.