Monday 19 December 2033
Martyr Boniface and Righteous Aglaida
Monday of the 28th week after Pentecost
Nativity Fast, day 35
Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Martyr Boniface and Righteous Aglaida
Boniface of Tarsus (died c. 290) is remembered for one of the most striking conversion stories in the Church's calendar. A dissolute household steward living in sin with his mistress Aglaïa, a wealthy woman of Rome, he was sent east to bring back the relics of a martyr — and, jesting as he set out that he might himself come home a martyr, was so moved by the sufferings of the confessors he found at Tarsus in Cilicia that he confessed Christ on the spot, endured fearful tortures, and was beheaded. His relics, carried back to Rome, brought about the repentance of Aglaïa, who gave away her wealth and ended her days as a nun. The two are commemorated together on December 19, and in Russian piety Boniface is invoked especially against the passion of drunkenness.
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Elias of Murom
Elias of Murom (died c. 1188) was a monk of the Near Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra, remembered in the Church as a wonderworker and, in Russian popular memory, identified with Ilya Muromets, the greatest of the bogatyrs — the warrior-heroes of the Kievan epic ballads. His incorrupt relics rest in the Near Caves with the fingers of the right hand joined for the sign of the Cross in the three-finger form, a detail that made him a witness in the seventeenth-century disputes with the Old Ritualists. Commemorated on December 19 and among the assembled fathers of the Kiev Caves, he is honoured as a saint in whom the warrior's courage and the monk's humility met.
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Gregory of Omirits
Gregory of Omirits (Greek Gregentios; died c. 552) was, in the tradition, the missionary archbishop sent from Alexandria to organise the Church among the Homerites — the Himyarites of southern Arabia — after the Ethiopian king Elesbaan had overthrown the Jewish persecutor who massacred the Christians of Najran. A deacon of Milan led by visions to Carthage, Rome, and Alexandria, he was consecrated bishop and set over the see of Zafar, where he restored the churches, crowned the Christian king Abraha, and codified laws for the new Christian nation. He is remembered above all for a great public disputation with the Jewish teacher Herban, which the tradition says ended in a vision of Christ, the mass conversion of the Jews, and Herban's own baptism.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Manirus, bishop and Apostle of the north of Scotland
Readings
Epistle
2 Timothy 2.20-26
20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Gospel
Mark 9.42-10.1
42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 49For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. 1And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judæa by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 4
As an unblemished sacrifice you willingly offered yourself to Him who for your sake was about to be born of the Virgin, O holy and wise crown-bearer Boniface.
Kontakion — Tone 8
As a great luminary of the Russian land you shone forth, an unconquered commander of the Heavenly King and a God-inspired adornment of monastics. And now, standing with the angels before the throne of God, entreat Christ the Master and Creator of all, that those who honour your holy memory may be delivered from every affliction and sorrow, that we may cry to you: Rejoice, O Elias, our venerable father.
Troparion — Tone 1
Having honoured God, by Him you were honoured in return, O beauty of the martyrs, blessed Boniface; for He adorned you with the crown of divine glory. And so, as we today keep your all-holy memory, we entreat you to make intercession for us before the Lord.
Troparion — Tone 3
The Russian land rejoices today, glorifying its warrior and wonderworker Elias of Murom; for abiding in the Church triumphant, he fights together with his kinsmen and with the Church militant, entreating help from the Lord for Holy Rus' against her enemies visible and invisible, that the Russian people may without hindrance glorify and honour Christ God.