Saturday, 30 December 2023

Saturday after Nativity – Saturday before Theophany

Saturday of the 30th week after Pentecost

258 days after Pascha · Tone 4 · Liturgy · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyrs Philetaerus, Theonas, Eubulus, Theotimus, Hilarian, Jacob and Comasius of Nicomedia

Saint Philetaerus was a young nobleman of Nicomedia who suffered for Christ during the persecution under the emperor Diocletian (284 to 305). Brought before the imperial tribunal in his native city, he confessed Christ before the emperor himself and could not be turned aside from his confession by either flattery or torment. He was scourged, his face was beaten, and he was stretched upon a wheel of torture and cast into a fiery furnace, but in each ordeal he was preserved by the power of God. Beholding these wonders, several of his companions, including the soldiers Theonas and Eubulus, and the men Theotimus, Hilarian, Jacob and Comasius, came forward to confess Christ. They too were tortured and crowned with martyrdom, some by the sword and some by drowning. Saint Philetaerus himself, after long sufferings, was brought to a place of execution, where he prayed and quietly fell asleep in the Lord without a fresh blow being struck.

Holy Virgin Martyr Anysia of Thessalonica

She was born to a pious, noble and very wealthy family in Thessalonica. When both her parents died while she was an adolescent, Anysia consecrated herself to Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom. She cast off all her jewels and fine clothing, dressing herself as a commoner. She freed all her many slaves, giving each of them a generous sum of money to establish themselves. She gave away all of her inheritance, which included large estates. Thenceforth she spent her days visiting the sick, helping widows and orphans, and, especially, aiding Christians suffering under persecution. She would visit those in prison, bringing them food and water and tending their wounds. All the time not devoted to aiding the poor or oppressed she spent in prayer in a small cell. One of her prayers was that she, like those that she helped, would be granted the crown of martyrdom.

One day, while she was walking to church, an imperial soldier accosted her and roughly questioned her. When she plainly declared herself a Christian, the soldier seized her and dragged her to a temple of the idols, where he commanded her to make sacrifice. In response, she only spat in his face. The enraged soldier drew his sword and thrust it into her side, slaying her. Some pious Christians took her body and buried it outside the city. When the persecutions had ended, a church was built in her honor at the place of her burial.

Saint Egwin of Worcester, Bishop and Founder of Evesham

Saint Egwin was an Anglo-Saxon of royal Mercian descent, born in the seventh century. From his youth he was raised in the Christian faith and embraced the monastic life. In 692 he was consecrated the third Bishop of Worcester, where he laboured tirelessly to root out vice among clergy and people, to defend the rights of widows and orphans, and to enforce the canons of the Church on the sanctity of marriage. His strict pastoral discipline made him many enemies, who slandered him to the king and even to the Pope. According to the venerable tradition of his life, the saint went to Rome to clear his name, having first locked his feet in iron fetters and cast the key into the river Avon. While at Rome a fish was brought to him for his table, and within it was found the very key, by which God Himself bore witness to his innocence. Returning vindicated, Saint Egwin received from a swineherd named Eoves the report of a vision of the Mother of God in a forest clearing, and there in 701 he founded the great monastery of Evesham, dedicated to the Theotokos. He governed both the see of Worcester and the new monastery until shortly before his death, when he resigned his bishopric to live as a simple monk. He reposed at Evesham on 30 December 717 and was buried there. His tomb became a place of many miracles.

Venerable Melania the Younger, anticipated commemoration

Although the principal feast of Saint Melania the Younger of Rome falls on 31 December, in the Greek liturgical tradition her hymns are transferred to 30 December and chanted together with those of the Holy Virgin Martyr Anysia. This is because 31 December is the Apodosis, or Leavetaking, of the Nativity, on which day the festal hymns of the Lord's Nativity take precedence over the offices of any saint. Thus on 30 December the Church anticipates the memory of the great Roman ascetic, joining her to the witness of the virgin martyr Anysia of Thessalonica, so that her struggles and labours are not passed over in silence. Her full life and feast are kept on the following day, when the joy of the great feast of the Nativity is concluded.

Our Holy Father Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia

1563

He was born in Moscow in 1492. When his father died, his mother became a nun and he a monk, receiving the monastic name Macarius. He became an iconographer of rare talent. In 1523 he was ordained to the priesthood and made Abbot of the Monastery of Luchski; three years later he was consecrated Archbishop of Novgorod and Pskov, a see which had been vacant for many years. As Archbishop, he sent missionaries to the native peoples of the far north of Russia and, within his own diocese strove against the paganism still common among the people. He regularized life in the monasteries of his diocese, which had fallen into self-indulgence. In 1542 he was elected Metropolitan of Moscow and head of the Russian Church. Five years later he crowned the first Tsar of Russia, Ivan Vassilievich. In 1551 he summoned the Council of the Hundred Chapters, which condemned various heresies prevalent at that time, laid down principles of Christian conduct and education, and established rules for iconography and Church art. Throughout his time as a hierarch, he continued to paint icons, and in 1553 he brought about the production of the first books to be printed in Russian. When the Khanate of Kazan fell, he immediately sent missionaries to convert the Tatars. When the Tsar, who revered Saint Macarius, asked him for a spiritual book, he was surprised and displeased to be given a copy of the funeral service; but the Saint told him that anyone who read this book carefully and applied its words would never sin. Saint Macarius reposed in peace in Moscow in 1563, and his popular veneration began immediately. In 1988 he was officially glorified by the Church of Russia.

Daily readings

Epistle

— Saturday after Nativity weekly cycle

1 Timothy — 1 Timothy 6.11-16

¹¹But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. ¹¹But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. ¹²Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. ¹²Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. ¹³I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession; ¹³I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; ¹⁴that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁴That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: ¹⁵which in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; ¹⁵Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; ¹⁶who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power eternal. Amen. ¹⁶Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Epistle

— Saturday before Theophany

1 Timothy — 1 Timothy 3.14-4.5

¹⁴These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly; ¹⁴These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: ¹⁵but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. ¹⁵But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. ¹⁶And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. ¹⁶And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

¹But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,

¹Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; ²through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; ²Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; ³forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth. ³Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. ⁴For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: ⁴For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving: ⁵for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer. ⁵For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Epistle

Ephesians — Ephesians 5.1-8

¹Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;

¹Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; ²and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell. ²And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

³But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; ³But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; ⁴nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. ⁴Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. ⁵For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁵For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. ⁶Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. ⁷Be not ye therefore partakers with them; ⁷Be not ye therefore partakers with them. ⁸For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: ⁸for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light

Gospel

— Saturday after Nativity weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 12.15-21

¹⁵But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

¹⁵And Jesus perceiving it withdrew from thence: and many followed him; and he healed them all, ¹⁶And charged them that they should not make him known: ¹⁶and charged them that they should not make him known: ¹⁷That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, ¹⁷that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, ¹⁸Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. ¹⁸Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles. ¹⁹He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. ¹⁹He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; Neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets. ²⁰A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. ²⁰A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment unto victory. ²¹And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. ²¹And in his name shall the Gentiles hope.

Gospel

— Saturday before Theophany

Matthew — Matthew 3.1-11

¹In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

¹And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying, ²And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ²Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ³For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. ³For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. ⁴And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

⁴Now John himself had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, ⁵Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about the Jordan; ⁶and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: ⁸Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance: ⁹And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. ⁹and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. ¹⁰And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ¹⁰And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ¹¹I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: ¹¹I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:

Gospel

Luke — Luke 17.3-10

³Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. ³Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. ⁴And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. ⁴And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. ⁵And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

⁵And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. ⁶And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. ⁶And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you. ⁷But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? ⁷But who is there of you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say unto him, when he is come in from the field, Come straightway and sit down to meat; ⁸And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? ⁸and will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? ⁹Doth he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded? ⁹Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. ¹⁰So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. ¹⁰Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.