Nativity Fast, day 27
Sunday of the Forefathers
Saints commemorated
-
Ven. Daniel the Stylite
Daniel the Stylite (c. 409–493) was the great pillar-saint of the Bosphorus and the foremost heir of Symeon the Stylite, whose leather mantle he received. A Mesopotamian monk drawn to Constantinople, he mounted a pillar at Anaplus on the European shore and stood upon it for thirty-three years, until his repose in his mid-eighties. Ordained priest upon the column by the Patriarch Gennadius, he became the oracle and conscience of the capital: emperors Leo I and Zeno sought his counsel, he foretold the great fire of the city, and he descended from his pillar only once — to march into Constantinople and confront the usurper Basiliscus in defence of the Council of Chalcedon. His feast is December 11, within the Nativity Fast.
-
Saint Nikon the Dry of the Kiev Caves (1101)
-
Our Venerable Father Luke the New Stylite (979)
Luke the New Stylite (c. 879–979) was a soldier of the Byzantine army who became the last of the great pillar-saints of the East. Having survived unhurt the catastrophic defeat of the imperial forces by the Bulgarians at Anchialos in 917, he laid down his arms for the monastic life, was ordained priest, and took up the ascesis of the stylites. After brief pillars in Anatolia and near the capital he settled at Chalcedon, on the Asian shore opposite Constantinople, where he stood upon a column for forty-five years and was renowned for the gift of wonderworking, until his repose about the year 979 at a very great age. He is commemorated on December 11, the same day as the elder pillar-saint Daniel the Stylite, within the Nativity Fast.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Cian the Hermit (6th C)
- St. Peris of Llanberis (c.6th C)
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 4
Like a star of many lights didst thou ascend upon the pillar, O blessed one, and enlighten the world by thy holy works; the darkness of error thou didst drive away, O father. Wherefore we beseech thee: shine now also in the hearts of thy servants with the unsetting light of knowledge.
Synaxarion
The pillar raised Luke on high; and Luke raised his mind to God, toward whom he runs.
Troparion — Tone 1
Thou didst become a pillar of patience, O venerable one, rivalling the forefathers: Job in his sufferings, Joseph in his temptations, and the life of the bodiless powers while yet in the body. O Daniel our father, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 1
Thou didst become a pillar of patience, O venerable one, rivalling the forefathers: Job in his sufferings, Joseph in his temptations, and the life of the bodiless powers while yet in the body. O Luke our father, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Readings
4th Matins Gospel
Luke 24.1-12
1Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8And they remembered his words, 9And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 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.
Epistle
Colossians 3.4-11 (Forefathers)
4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Gospel
Luke 14.16-24 (Forefathers)
16Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.