Great Lent, day 21 · 28 days until Pascha
Veneration of the Precious Cross
Saints commemorated
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Ven. Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor (c. 759/760 – 817/818) was a wealthy Byzantine noble of Constantinople who renounced rank and riches to become a monk, and who is remembered on three counts above all: as founder and abbot of the great monastery of the Great Field (Megas Agros) on the peninsula of Sigriane by the Sea of Marmara; as author of the Chronographia, the annalistic chronicle of the years 284–813 that is one of the primary sources for Byzantine, Persian, and early Islamic history; and as a confessor of the holy icons in the second iconoclasm. Married in youth but living with his wife in continence until both took the monastic habit, he distributed his fortune, built monasteries, and signed the decrees of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787). When Leo V the Armenian revived iconoclasm, Theophanes, already broken by a painful illness, refused to condemn the icons, was imprisoned some two years, and was exiled to the island of Samothrace, where he died of his sufferings a few days after arrival, on March 12. His relics were returned to Megas Agros, and he is venerated throughout the Orthodox world.
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St Gregory the Great (the Dialogist), Pope of Rome (604)
Gregory the Dialogist (c. 540 – 604), known in the West as Gregory the Great, was Pope of Rome from 590 to 604 and is honoured by East and West alike as a Father of the whole undivided Church and one of the four great Latin Doctors. Born to a Roman senatorial family, he rose to be Prefect of the City, then renounced the world, turned his houses into monasteries, and became a monk; drawn back into service as papal legate at Constantinople and then, against his will, as pope, he governed Rome through plague and Lombard war with wisdom and charity. He is remembered for the Dialogues — from which the East names him "the Dialogist" — for the Pastoral Rule, the classic manual of the shepherd's office, and the Moralia on Job; for sending the mission of Augustine to convert the Anglo-Saxons; for the reform of the Roman chant that bears his name; and, in Orthodox tradition, as the compiler to whom the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts of Great Lent is ascribed. He reposed at Rome on March 12, a day kept in Lent, and is one of the few Western fathers venerated without interruption in the Orthodox East.
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Repose of St Symeon the New Theologian (1021)
Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022) is the great mystical theologian of Byzantium: monk of Stoudios, abbot of St. Mamas in Constantinople, spiritual son of Symeon the Pious, and the poet of the Hymns of Divine Love. He taught, against the polite religion of his age, that the conscious experience of God — the vision of the divine light, the felt presence of the Holy Spirit — is not the privilege of a vanished apostolic past but the birthright and calling of every baptised Christian now; for this he was tried, exiled, and finally vindicated. Of all the saints, only he, John the Theologian, and Gregory of Nazianzus bear the title "Theologian."
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Phineas the High Priest
Phineas (Hebrew Pinchas) was the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, and the third high priest of Israel, remembered in Scripture for the burning zeal by which he turned away the wrath of God from his people. When Israel, encamped at Shittim, was drawn into the idolatry and licence of Baal-Peor and a plague broke out among them, Phineas rose up and struck through an Israelite man and the Midianite woman with him, and the plague was stayed. For this the Lord granted him and his descendants a covenant of peace and an everlasting priesthood (Numbers 25). He led Israel in later crises, kept the priesthood after Eleazar, and his name became in the tradition of Israel and the Church a byword for righteous zeal for God. The Orthodox Church commemorates him among the holy righteous of the Old Covenant on March 12.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Paul Aurelian of Wales, bishop of Ouismor (575)
- St. Alphege the Elder, bishop of Winchester (951)
- St. Mura McFerednach of Donegal (645)
Readings
6th Matins Gospel
Luke 24.36-53
36And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43And he took it, and did eat before them. 44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48And ye are witnesses of these things. 49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
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
Kontakion — Tone 3
Thou wast likened to the great Shepherd, O Gregory, leading the ranks of monks to the heavenly sheepfold; and from thence thou didst teach to all men the way. Wherefore now thou dost rejoice and art glad together with them in the dwelling-places of heaven.
Kontakion — Tone 3
Enlightened by the light three-sunned, O God-wise one, thou wast shown a theologian of the all-divine Trinity. Enriched from on high with the wisdom of words, thou didst pour forth the divine streams of the wisdom of God; drinking of them, we cry: Rejoice, thrice-blessed Symeon, taught of God.
Kontakion — Tone 2
Having received revelation from on high, thou didst hasten forth from the midst of the world's tumults; and taking up the monastic life, O righteous one, thou wast granted the working of wonders and the gift of foretelling things to come. For having scattered thy riches and thy possessions and thy wedded life, thou wast made a kinsman of Christ, O Theophanes.
Troparion — Tone 4
Receiving divine grace from God on high, O glorious Gregory, and strengthened by its power, thou didst choose to walk according to the Gospel. Wherefore thou hast received from Christ the reward of thy labours, O all-blessed one. Entreat him that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 3
Having received the divine illumination within thy soul, O father Symeon, thou wast shown to the world a most radiant light, dispelling its deep darkness and persuading all to seek the grace of the Spirit which they had lost. Entreat him fervently, that he grant us great mercy.
Troparion — Tone 8
O guide of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and holiness, luminary of the world, God-inspired adornment of monastics, O wise Theophanes: by thy teachings thou hast enlightened all, thou lyre of the Spirit. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.