Saints commemorated
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Saint of the day
Greatmartyr Nicetas the Goth
Nicetas the Goth (†372) was a Christian of the Gothic lands on the lower Danube, converted and formed in the young Gothic church of the fourth century, who laboured to spread the faith among his own people. When the pagan Gothic ruler Athanaric renewed his persecution of the Christians among the Goths, Nicetas denounced him, was seized, tortured, and burned; his body, preserved unconsumed, was carried by his friend Marianus to Mopsuestia in Cilicia, from which his cultus spread through the whole Church. Venerated as a great-martyr, he became one of the most beloved warrior-saints of the Slavic world. His feast is September 15.
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Holy Martyr Porphyrius (361).
Porphyrius the Actor (†361) was a mime of the reign of Julian the Apostate who, performing at the celebrations of the emperor's birthday, was to mock the mystery of holy Baptism on stage. Immersing himself in the water, he pronounced the baptismal words in earnest — "The servant of God Porphyrius is baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" — and rose from the water confessing himself a Christian before the whole theatre. Grace had made the jest true. Tortured on Julian's orders, he was beheaded; the Slavic tradition places his martyrdom at Ephesus. He is commemorated on September 15.
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Acacius the Confessor
Acacius the Confessor was bishop of Melitene in Armenia in the middle of the third century. Arrested in the persecution of Decius (249–251) and brought before the governor Marcianus, he confessed Christ boldly under torture but was not put to death; released, he bore the marks of his sufferings for the rest of his life and died in peace. His memory is kept on March 31, and the uncovering of his relic — whose year is not transmitted — on September 15.
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Philotheus the Presbyter
Philotheus the Presbyter was a tenth-century parish priest and wonderworker of the village of Myrmex (Slavonic Mravin) in Bithynia, in the Opsikion region of Asia Minor. A married priest with children, he served his village in prayer, fasting and works of mercy, feeding the hungry and helping the needy, and received from God the gift of working miracles. He died in peace, and myrrh flowed from his relics. He is commemorated on September 15.
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Stephen the Protomartyr
Stephen the Protomartyr (†c. 34) was the first of the seven deacons chosen by the Apostles and the first Christian to die for Christ. "Full of faith and of the Holy Spirit," he worked wonders among the people, confounded the Hellenist synagogues in debate, and, arraigned before the Sanhedrin on a charge of blasphemy, delivered the longest speech in the Acts of the Apostles before beholding "the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." Stoned outside Jerusalem with the young Saul consenting, he died praying for his killers. His relics, hidden for centuries, were uncovered at Kaphar Gamala in 415. His chief feast is December 27; the uncovering of his relics is kept on September 15 and their translation to Constantinople on August 2.
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Theodotus, Asclepiodota and Maximus of Adrianople
Theodotus, Asclepiodota and Maximus were martyrs of Thrace under the emperor Galerius (305–311). Maximus and Asclepiodota, eminent citizens of Marcianopolis whose Christian life had drawn many to baptism, were arrested by Tiris, governor of Thrace; Theodotus was seized for rebuking the governor's cruelty. Tortured at Marcianopolis and again at Adrianople — where the beasts of the arena refused to touch them — they were beheaded near the village of Saltys on the road to Philippopolis, and the tradition adds that the governor was struck dead by lightning on his judgment seat. They are commemorated together on September 15.
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Hernin of Locarn
Hernin was one of the many Christians of sixth-century Britain who crossed the sea to Brittany, where he lived as a hermit at the place that still bears his name — Locarn ("Loc-Harn," the loc or hermitage of Hernin), near Maël-Carhaix. He died in obscurity, but miracles at his tomb revealed his sanctity; a church was raised over his grave, his relics were enshrined there, and he became patron of Locarn and of the neighbouring parish of Saint-Hernin. His written Life, once kept in the church of Locarn, was lost at the French Revolution and survives only in the seventeenth-century summary of Albert le Grand. The English menologies commemorate him on September 15.
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Mirin of Paisley
Mirin (Meadhrán, Merinus — the Merryn of this calendar) was an Irish monk of the sixth and early seventh centuries, given as a child to Comgall to be trained in the great monastery of Bangor on Belfast Lough, where he took the habit and became prior. He crossed to the British kingdom of Strathclyde and ended his days at Paisley, where he slept in the Lord about 620 and where the church — later the great Cluniac abbey of Paisley — was dedicated in his honour. The Aberdeen Breviary preserves his acts and the Aberdeen Martyrology styles him bishop and confessor; he is venerated in both Scotland and Ireland, and his day in the Scottish calendars is September 15.
British Isles and Ireland
- St. Hernan, hermit (6th C)
- St. Merryn, bishop of Bangor (620)
Readings
Epistle
Ephesians 1.7-17
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Gospel
Mark 8.1-10
1In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? 5And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. 7And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away. 10And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
Troparia & kontakia
Kontakion — Tone 2
Thou didst cut down the dominion of error by thy withstanding, and didst receive the crown of victory by thy contest; with the Angels, O glorious one, thou rejoicest, Nicetas, namesake of victory, with them interceding unceasingly to Christ God for us all.
Kontakion — Tone 3
Yesterday the Master came to us in the flesh, and today the servant departs from the flesh; yesterday he that reigneth was born according to the flesh, today the servant is stoned to death: for his sake the Protomartyr, the divine Stephen, is made perfect.
Kontakion — Tone 6 (Slavic books)
First wast thou sown upon the earth by the heavenly Husbandman, O all-praised Stephen; first didst thou shed thy blood upon the earth for Christ, O blessed one; first wast thou wreathed by him in heaven with the crown of victory, O beginning of the sufferers, crowned one, first-champion of the martyrs.
Magnification
We magnify thee, holy passion-bearer Stephen, and we honour thy precious sufferings, which thou didst endure for Christ.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of a hierarch)
A rule of faith and an image of meekness, a teacher of temperance did the truth of things show thee to thy flock; therefore thou didst gain by humility the things on high, by poverty the things that are rich: O Father and hierarch Acacius, intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 4
Thy Martyr, O Lord, Nicetas, in his contest received an incorruptible crown from Thee our God; for possessing Thy strength he cast down the tormentors and broke the feeble insolence of the demons: at his intercessions save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4 (Slavic Menaion)
Taking up the Cross of Christ eagerly as a weapon, thou didst hasten to the battle against the enemies, and having suffered for Christ, thou didst at the last give up thy hallowed soul to the Lord in the fire; wherefore thou wast counted worthy to receive from Him the gifts of healing, O Great-martyr Nicetas: pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.
Troparion — Tone 8 (from the common of a venerable one)
In thee, O Father, that which is according to the image was preserved exactly: for taking up the cross, thou didst follow Christ, and by thy deeds thou didst teach that the flesh is to be despised, for it passes away, but the soul cared for, as a thing immortal; wherefore with the angels thy spirit rejoices, O venerable Philotheus.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of a martyr)
Thy Martyr, O Lord, Porphyrius, in his contest received an incorruptible crown from Thee our God; for possessing Thy strength he cast down the tormentors and broke the feeble insolence of the demons: at his intercessions save our souls.
Troparion — Tone 4
A royal diadem is set upon thy head for the contests thou didst endure for Christ God, O first combatant among the martyrs; for thou didst convict the frenzy of the Jews and behold thy Saviour at the right hand of the Father: entreat him ever, O Stephen, in behalf of our souls.
Troparion
A good fight didst thou fight, O Protomartyr of Christ, Apostle and Archdeacon Stephen, and didst expose the impiety of the tormentors; for, stoned by the hands of lawless men, thou didst receive a crown from the right hand on high, and didst cry aloud to God: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.
Troparion — Tone 4 (from the common of martyrs)
Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their contest received incorruptible crowns from Thee our God; for possessing Thy strength they cast down the tormentors and broke the feeble insolence of the demons: at their intercessions save our souls.