Saturday, 20 January 2024

Ven. Euthymius the Great

Saturday of the 33rd week after Pentecost

279 days after Pascha · Tone 7 · Red cross half-circle (vigil typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Venerable Euthymius the Great

Venerable Euthymius the Great (377 – 20 January 473) was a celebrated monastic father and ascetic saint of the late Byzantine era who profoundly shaped the development of Orthodox monasticism in Palestine. Born in 377 in the city of Melitene in Armenia into a pious and illustrious family, Euthymius received an excellent education and early in life felt a calling to the monastic and ascetical life.

After establishing himself as a young monk in the region near his native city of Melitene, he journeyed to Jerusalem at the age of twenty-nine to visit the holy sites. Moved profoundly by the spiritual atmosphere of the Holy Land, he chose to remain there and withdrew into the desert region between Jerusalem and Jericho, known as Pharan, where he established his monastic life.

Through his own ascetical example, his spiritual wisdom, and his gracious pastoral care, Euthymius became a beacon for many seekers of monastic life. Numerous disciples gathered around him, and he gently guided them in their ascetical struggles. Amongst his most celebrated disciples were the luminous saints Cyriac the Hermit, Sabas the Sanctified (who himself became a great monastic legislator), and Theotictus. Under his direction, Euthymius established multiple monastic communities and hermitages throughout Palestine, establishing the foundation for a flourishing monastic tradition in the Holy Land.

Saint Euthymius participated actively in the theological work of the Church, particularly in formulating the decrees of the Council of Ephesus in 431 and contributing significantly to the Council of Chalcedon in 451, where his spiritual wisdom and pastoral experience informed the Church's defence of Orthodox Christological doctrine.

The venerable father reposed peacefully on 20 January 473 at the advanced age of ninety-seven, having spent nearly a century in steadfast monastic devotion and pastoral service. His feast day is celebrated on 20 January in the Eastern Orthodox Church and on 2 February in the New Calendar tradition.

Holy Martyrs Inna, Pinna and Rimma

The holy martyrs Inna, Pinna and Rimma were early Christian saints of the first centuries of the Church who died as confessors and witnesses to Christ during the era of imperial persecutions. They lived during a time when Christians faced intense pressure to renounce their faith and participate in pagan worship, yet they remained steadfast in their commitment to Christ and the Gospel.

Each of the three martyrs endured trials and suffering for refusing to renounce Christ. Their constancy and unwavering faith became a testimony to the power of divine grace and the courage that Christ grants to those who suffer for His name. Through their martyrdom, they joined the great cloud of witnesses whose blood cried out to heaven, bearing witness to the resurrection and the promise of eternal life in Christ.

The Orthodox Church honours these three martyrs together on 20 January, celebrating their unified witness to Christ and their sacrifice for the Gospel. Their memory serves to remind the faithful of the cost of discipleship and the grace of God that sustains believers through persecution. Though specific biographical details of their lives and deaths are limited in the surviving historical sources, their names are preserved in the Church's synaxarion as faithful servants of Christ who gave their lives in testimony to the faith.

Holy emperor Leo the Great, called Makellis

474

Saint Leo the Great, surnamed Makellis or Marcellus, was Eastern Roman emperor from 457 to 474. Born in Thrace around the year 401, he rose through the imperial guard and was raised to the throne by the patrician Aspar, becoming the first emperor to be crowned by the patriarch of Constantinople, Saint Anatolius. He took the name Leo on his accession. Leo proved an able ruler and a firm defender of the Orthodox faith proclaimed at the Council of Chalcedon. He upheld the two natures of Christ against the Monophysite party, restored Orthodox bishops to their sees, and laboured to preserve Antioch from heresy by removing the Monophysite Peter the Fuller. He is remembered as the first Eastern emperor to legislate in Greek rather than Latin and as a generous benefactor of the poor and of the churches of the imperial city. His daughter Ariadne was given in marriage to the future emperor Zeno. Saint Leo reposed peacefully in the year 474 and was buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. The Orthodox Church honours him as a confessor of the faith.

Holy martyrs Bassus, Eusebius, Eutychius and Basilides of Nicomedia

303

The holy martyrs Bassus, Eusebius, Eutychius and Basilides were courtiers of the emperor Diocletian (284-305) and members of the senate of Nicomedia. They witnessed the steadfast confession and suffering of the hieromartyr Theopemptus, bishop of Nicomedia (commemorated 5 January), who was among the first victims of the Diocletian persecution. Moved by his courage and the miracles that accompanied his martyrdom, the four senators came to believe in Christ and received holy baptism. When their conversion became known, they were brought before the emperor and refused to renounce Christ. They were subjected to cruel tortures and put to death in the year 303. According to tradition, Saint Bassus was buried in the ground up to his waist and hacked to pieces; Saint Eusebius was hung head downwards and cut in two; Saint Eutychius was tied hand and foot to a pillar and broken apart; and Saint Basilides was disembowelled with a knife. Their relics were gathered by the faithful and buried with honour.

Saint Peter the Tax Collector

6th c.

“”Saint Peter, being of patrician rank, was appointed by the Emperor Justinian (527-65) to administer the Roman province of Africa. Harsh and without an ounce of compassion, he became universally known as ‘the Miser’. One day a beggar was importuning him insistently for alms, so he picked up one of the warm loaves which his servant had just brought in and threw it like a stone at his head. The beggar seized it with delight and made off. Two days later Peter suddenly fell ill with the fever and saw himself appear at the Last Judgment to give an account of all his deeds. A pair of scales was brought before him and swarthy creatures placed all his evil actions on to the left-hand dish, while bright angels stood to the right, in dismay at having nothing by way of a good deed to put on to the right-hand side except the loaf which he had thrown in anger at the beggar. Peter then woke up with a start and, forgetful of his illness, hastened to give away all his goods to the needy, even his clothing. Afterwards in a dream, he saw Christ wearing the clothes he had given away, and so he decided not to stop at that but to sell himself as slave to a goldsmith in order to give alms of the price paid for him. Some time later, fearing lest his identity be discovered, he fled to Jerusalem and thence to Constantinople, where he gave back his soul in peace to God in his old house.” (Synaxarion) The source of this story is the longer Life of St John the Merciful (November 12).

Daily readings

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 5.15-6.3

¹⁵But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High.

¹⁶Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them.

¹⁷He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies.

¹⁸He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet.

¹⁹He shall take holiness for an invincible shield.

²⁰His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise.

²¹Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark.

²²And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them.

²³Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.

¹Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth.

²Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.

³For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

¹But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.

²In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,

³And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.

⁴For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.

⁵And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.

⁶As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.

⁷And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.

⁸They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

⁹They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

⁷But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.

⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.

⁹But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.

¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.

¹¹Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.

¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.

¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:

¹⁴For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.

¹⁵This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Matins Gospel

Matthew — Matthew 11.27-30

²⁷All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. ²⁷All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him. ²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Ephesians — Ephesians 1.16-23

¹⁶cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 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 a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 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: ¹⁸having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, ¹⁸The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might ¹⁹And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, ²⁰which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²⁰Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: ²¹Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: ²²And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, ²²and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, ²³which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. ²³Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Epistle

— St Euthymius

Hebrews — Hebrews 13.17-21

¹⁷Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you. ¹⁷Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

¹⁸Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.

¹⁸Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. ¹⁹And I exhort you the more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. ¹⁹But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. ²⁰Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

²⁰Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus, ²¹make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. ²¹Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 12.32-40

³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. ³³Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; ³⁶And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. ³⁶and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. ³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them. ³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. ³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁹And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. ³⁹But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. ⁴⁰Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. ⁴⁰Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Gospel

— St Euthymius

Luke — Luke 6.17-23

¹⁷and he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judæa and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

¹⁷And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed. ¹⁸And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. ¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. ¹⁹And all the multitude sought to touch him; for power came forth from him, and healed them all.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²³Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. ²³Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.