Great Lent, day 21 · 28 days until Pascha
Veneration of the Precious Cross
Saints commemorated
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Martyr Matrona of Thessalonica
Matrona was a Christian slave in the household of a Jewish woman of Thessalonica who, secretly keeping the faith of Christ, slipped away to pray in the churches while her mistress went to the synagogue. Discovered and forbidden, she persevered; and when her mistress found her at prayer, Matrona was beaten to death for her confession. She is honoured as a martyr of the early Church and a pattern of the faith of the lowly.
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John the Clairvoyant
John of Lycopolis (c. 305 – c. 394), called "the Clairvoyant" or "the Seer" for his gift of prophecy, was one of the most celebrated of the Egyptian desert fathers. Walled up for the last decades of his life in a cell on a mountain above Lycopolis (Asyut) in the Thebaid, he received visitors only through a window, and was consulted by emperors, bishops and pilgrims from across the Christian world. The emperor Theodosius the Great sought his counsel before his campaigns, and John foretold his victories. He is a chief witness of the height of Egyptian monasticism.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Suairlech, 1st bishop of Fore in Westmeath (c.750)
- St. Alkeld, Martyr in Yorkshire (10th C)
Readings
7th Matins Gospel
John 20.1-10
1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
Epistle
Hebrews 4.14-5.6
14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 1For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: 2Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Gospel
Mark 8.34-9.1
34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 1And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Troparia & kontakia
Troparion — Tone 1 (common of a venerable)
Thou wast shown to be a citizen of the desert, an angel in the flesh, and a wonderworker, O John our God-bearing father; by fasting, vigil and prayer thou didst receive heavenly gifts, and thou dost heal the sick and the souls of them that run to thee with faith. Glory to Him that gave thee strength; glory to Him that crowned thee; glory to Him that worketh healings for all through thee.
Troparion — Tone 4 (common of a woman-martyr)
Thy lamb, O Jesus, crieth with a loud voice: Thee, O my Bridegroom, do I love, and seeking Thee I pass through many sufferings; I am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism, and I suffer for Thy sake that I may reign with Thee; I die for Thee that I may live in Thee. By her prayers, O merciful One, save our souls.