Pre-Lenten Triodion, day 16 · 55 days until Pascha
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Ven. Basil the Confessor
Basil the Confessor (†c. 750) was a monk and fellow-ascetic of Procopius of Decapolis, with whom he shared both the ascetic life and the sufferings of a confessor under the first wave of Byzantine iconoclasm. When the emperor Leo III the Isaurian (717–741) forbade the veneration of the holy icons and set out to compel the monks to abandon them, Basil, like his companion Procopius, stood firm in the Orthodox confession; he was seized, imprisoned, and tortured for his defence of the images, but did not die under his torments. Outliving the persecutor, he returned to his monastic labours and reposed in peace about the year 750. Because he suffered for the faith without being put to death, the Church honours him as a confessor, and keeps his memory on February 28, the day after that of Procopius, with whom his name is always joined.
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Blessed Nicholas of Pskov, fool for Christ (1576)
Nicholas Salos (†1576), remembered by the people of his city as Mikula the Holy, was the fool-for-Christ of Pskov who for more than three decades feigned madness in the streets for the love of God, and to whom the Church attributes the gifts of prophecy and wonderworking. He is above all the man who stood before Ivan the Terrible in the terrible Lent of 1570, when the Tsar — fresh from the massacre of Novgorod — came with his oprichnina to do the same to Pskov. Meeting the Tsar, Nicholas is said to have offered him a piece of raw meat in the fast, and, when Ivan recoiled that he was a Christian who did not eat flesh in Lent, to have answered that Ivan did far worse, for he devoured the flesh and blood of Christian men. His fearless rebuke, and the sudden death of the Tsar's horse foretold as a sign, are credited by the tradition with turning Ivan from his purpose, so that Pskov was spared the fate of Novgorod. He reposed on February 28, 1576, and — an honour reserved for bishops and princes — was buried within the Trinity Cathedral of Pskov, where his relics rest.
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Kyranna of Thessalonica
Kyranna (†1751) was a young Greek woman of the village of Ossa (in Turkish Vysoka), in the region of Langadas near Thessalonica, who suffered martyrdom under the Ottoman yoke for her refusal to renounce Christ or to marry a Turk. Beautiful, devout, and steadfast, she was pursued by a Janissary — the local tax-collector — who, unable to win her by persuasion or threats, falsely accused her before the Turkish judge at Thessalonica of having promised to embrace Islam. Before the court Kyranna denied the lie and confessed herself a Christian. Cast into prison and cruelly beaten day after day at her persecutor's bidding, she gave up her soul under the torments on the night of February 28, 1751, and a heavenly light was seen to shine over her body. The Church honours her as a new-martyr and a virgin, on the day of her death.
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Marana and Cyra
Marana and Cyra (†c. 450) were two well-born women of Beroea in Syria — the city that is now Aleppo — who forsook wealth, marriage, and the world to live as enclosed ascetics in a small roofless enclosure outside their city, walled in behind a low door and a single window through which alone they received a little food. Loading themselves with heavy iron chains and crosses, keeping an almost unbroken silence, and enduring fasts of extraordinary length in the open air through the heat and cold of the Syrian seasons, they persevered in this discipline for some forty years. Twice they broke their enclosure to make pilgrimage — to the holy places of Jerusalem and to the shrine of the Protomartyr Thecla at Seleucia — eating nothing on the whole journey until they had worshipped. Their memory is preserved by Theodoret, bishop of Cyrrhus, who visited them and set down their story in his Religious History.
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Nestor of Magydos
Nestor (†c. 250) was bishop of Magydos, a city of Pamphylia on the southern coast of Asia Minor, and a hieromartyr of the persecution under the emperor Decius. When the imperial edict of sacrifice went out and the Christians of his region were hunted, Nestor, a good shepherd, gave himself to prayer for his flock and did not flee; he was arrested while praying in his own house, brought before the governor, and — steadfastly refusing to sacrifice to the idols and confessing Christ before the tribunal — was tortured and at last crucified, sharing by his death the manner of his Lord's Passion. The Church keeps his memory on February 28.
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Nymphas and Eubulus
Nymphas and Eubulus were two of the Seventy Apostles — the wider circle of disciples sent out by the Lord (Luke 10) and, in the tradition, reckoned among the first labourers of the Gospel after the Twelve. Both are known from a single mention in the New Testament epistles: Nymphas, greeted by the Apostle Paul in the Letter to the Colossians as one in whose house a church assembled, and Eubulus, named among those who sent greetings to Timothy from Rome in Paul's last letter. Of their lives beyond these notices little is recorded; the tradition honours them as apostolic men and fellow-workers of Paul, and the Church keeps their joint memory on February 28, as it keeps them, with all their company, in the Synaxis of the Seventy on January 4.
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Proterius of Alexandria
Proterius (†457) was Patriarch of Alexandria from 451 to his death, and a hieromartyr of the Church. A presbyter of Alexandria under the Monophysite patriarch Dioscorus, he was raised to the see when Dioscorus was deposed by the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon (451) for his defence of the heresiarch Eutyches; and as patriarch he upheld the Chalcedonian confession of the one Christ in two natures against the fierce opposition of the Alexandrian populace, who remained loyal to the deposed Dioscorus and to the party that would become the Coptic Church. After years of tumult, on the death of the emperor Marcian the Monophysites set up the priest Timothy Aelurus as a rival patriarch, and a mob fell upon Proterius; he was murdered in the baptistery of his church, about the feast of Pascha in the year 457, his body dragged through the streets and burned. The Church of Constantinople and Rome venerate him as a martyr for the faith of Chalcedon; the non-Chalcedonian Church of Egypt does not.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Llibio of Anglesey (6th C)
- St. Madoc, bishop of Llanmadog (6th C)
- St. Sillan, abbot of Bangor (610)
- Holy Hieromartyr Herefrith, bishop of Lindsey (869)
- Oswald of Worcester and York (t/f from Feb 29th)
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.
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 8
A wonderworker wast thou revealed, O Nicholas, when thou didst turn the sovereign's might and the fierceness of his mind unto mercy; and therefore wast thou shown a fervent supplicant for thine own fatherland. And now we entreat thee, O holy one: abide with us still, and defend us from the wiles of the enemy; for thou art unto the city of Pskov and to all Christ-loving people a praise and a confirmation.
Troparion — Tone 8
By the streams of thy tears thou didst cultivate the barren desert, and by thy sighing from the deep thou didst bear fruit a hundredfold in labours; and thou becamest a beacon shining upon the world with miracles, O Basil our righteous father. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy ewe-lamb, O Jesus, crieth out with a loud voice: Thee, O my Bridegroom, do I love, and seeking Thee I contend, and I am crucified and buried together with Thee in Thy baptism; I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee; I die for Thee, that I may live in Thee: accept me, offered unto Thee in longing as a spotless sacrifice. At her prayers, O Merciful One, save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 8
In you, O mothers, the divine image was preserved unto perfection; for taking up the cross, and iron with it, ye followed after Christ, and by your deeds ye taught the despising of the flesh, which passes away, and the care of the soul, a thing immortal. Wherefore, O venerable Marana and Cyra, your spirits rejoice together with the angels.
Troparion — Tone 4
As one who shared in the ways of the Apostles and succeeded to their thrones, thou didst find in thy labours, O God-inspired one, an ascent to divine vision; wherefore, rightly dividing the word of truth, thou didst contend for the faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Nestor. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
O thou of the Slavic tongue and of the land of Pskov, being in the flesh a fool for Christ, by the feigning of folly thou wast shown a citizen of the Jerusalem on high. O glorious one, thou dost rejoice together with the angels, having taken up the name of the myrrh-flowing hierarch Nicholas: with him do thou ever entreat Christ our God to grant us great mercy.
Troparion — Tone 3
O holy Apostles Nymphas and Eubulus, entreat the merciful God to grant our souls the forgiveness of our transgressions.
Troparion — Tone 4
As one who shared in the ways of the Apostles and succeeded to their thrones, thou didst find in thy labours, O God-inspired one, an ascent to divine vision; wherefore, rightly dividing the word of truth, thou didst contend for the faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr Proterius. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.