Friday, 26 January 2024

Friday of the 34th week after Pentecost

285 days after Pascha · Tone 8 · Liturgy · Fast

Saints commemorated

Saint David III of Georgia

David III (also known as David the Builder) was a Georgian Orthodox king and saint who ruled in the eleventh century and is remembered as one of the greatest monarchs of Georgia. He ascended to the throne during a period of Seljuk invasions and internal strife, and through his military prowess, strategic wisdom, and deep Orthodox faith, he restored Georgian independence and expanded the kingdom's territories. Beyond his role as a military leader and administrator, David was a devoted son of the Church and a passionate patron of monasteries, churches, and Christian education. He fostered the cultural and spiritual renewal of Georgia, contributing to the flourishing of Georgian Christian civilisation during his reign. David combined the virtues of a righteous Christian ruler with military strength and diplomatic skill, always seeking to serve God and His Church. He was canonised by the Georgian Orthodox Church for his holiness, his defence of the faith, his governance rooted in Orthodox principles, and his lasting contributions to Georgian Christian culture. Saint David III is commemorated on 26 January as a holy king and defender of Orthodox Christianity.

Saint Xenophon, his wife Mary, and their sons Arcadius and John

Xenophon was a wealthy senator in Constantinople during the reign of Justinian. He and his wife Mary had two sons, Arcadius and John, to whom they gave every advantage of education. When they were of age, Xenophon sent them both to study law in Berytus (Beirut). But the ship on which they set out was wrecked in a storm, and the two brothers were cast ashore, alive but separated, neither knowing whether the other had survived.

Both brothers gave thanks to God for their salvation and, newly conscious of the vanity of earthly things, both became monks: John in Tyre and Arcadius in Jerusalem. Two years later, having heard no news from his sons, Xenophon made inquiries and found that they had never arrived at Beirut, and that they had seemingly perished in a shipwreck. Giving thanks to God, who gives and takes away, both Xenophon and his wife Mary put on coarse garments and went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, they met the spiritual father of Arcadius, who told them that both their sons were alive and that they would soon see them.

By God’s providence, John and Arcadius met one another at Golgotha and, joyfully reunited, spent some time serving Arcadius’ holy Elder. Two days later Xenophon and Mary, visiting the Elder, spent time with their two sons but did not recognize them until the Elder revealed their identity. The parents wept for joy and decided immediately to take up the monastic life themselves. Giving away their considerable wealth, the two entered monasteries in the Holy Land. Both parents and sons went far in the life of prayer, being granted the power to work miracles and foreknow future events.

Synaxis of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia

1918

The Orthodox Church commemorates on the Sunday closest to 25 January the Synaxis of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, remembering all those Orthodox Christians who suffered for Christ at the hands of the godless Soviets during the years of persecution. This commemoration honours the vast host of martyrs and confessors who were persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, and put to death during the Soviet era for their steadfast faith and refusal to renounce their Orthodox Christianity. Among the most prominent of those whose memory is particularly honoured in this synaxis are the royal Passion Bearers, Tsar Nicholas II and his family, who were martyred in 1918 for their faith and their Orthodox witness. Also commemorated is the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, who endured terrible suffering before her martyrdom. These members of the imperial family, along with countless others from every walk of life—bishops, priests, monks, nuns, and lay faithful—gave their lives rather than abandon the Orthodox faith during one of the darkest periods in Christian history. The new martyrs and confessors of Russia represent the triumph of faith over atheistic oppression, the victory of love over hatred, and the unshakeable commitment of Orthodox Christians to Christ even unto death. Their witness continues to inspire the Church and reminds the faithful of the cost of discipleship and the power of faith to sustain the soul through the most severe trials. The Church honours their memory with deep reverence and intercedes through their prayers for the continued strength and faithfulness of the Orthodox people.

Venerable Symeon the Old of Syria

Symeon the Old (sometimes called Simeon) was a Syrian monk and ascetic of the early Church known for his devotion to the monastic life and his spiritual wisdom. He spent his years in the deserts and monasteries of Syria, where he pursued perfection in prayer, fasting, and virtue with unswerving dedication. Symeon became known as a spiritual father to many disciples who sought his guidance in the monastic path. His life exemplified the rigorous asceticism characteristic of the Syrian monastic tradition, which emphasised constant vigilance against the passions, unwavering faith, and union with God through prayer. Though biographical details of his life remain sparse in the historical record, his memory persists in the liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church as a witness to the transformation possible through monastic discipline and grace. Symeon is venerated as a venerable father and guide in the ascetic life, commemorated on 26 January.

St Ammonas of Egypt, disciple of St Anthony the Great

350

“Saint Ammonas was a disciple of Saint Antony the Great and became his successor at the head of the hermits of the outer mountain of Pispir, after having spent fourteen years at Scetis in ceaseless prayer to the Lord to be granted victory over anger. He was afterwards consecrated bishop, probably by Saint Athanasius the Great. He possessed impassibility to the extent of being as though ignorant of the existence of evil, and incapable of passing judgment on anyone. “One day some people came to ask him to settle a difference among them. The Saint responded by pretending to be insane, and answered a woman who treated him as a madman: ‘You don’t realize how much trouble I’ve given myself in the desert to acquire this madness and I have lost it today because of you!’ On another occasion when he was taken to visit a brother with a bad reputation, he sat on the barrel where [the erring brother’s] concubine was hiding while his accusers searched his cell in vain. Then, taking his leave of the unfortunate man, he simply said: ‘Brother, have a care for yourself!’ “When he was asked which deeds of ascesis are most pleasing to God, he replied: ‘Just sit in your cell and eat a little every day, always keeping the prayer of the Publican in your heart (Luke 18:13), and you can be saved.’ He also said that the fear of God begets moans and tears and these cause joy to arise in the soul, filling it with divine strength to do what is pleasing to God, and that this power from on high establishes us in the company of the Angels. Raised thus from height to height as we humbly pray to be delivered from sin, we shall (he said) receive as if of itself, revelation of the mysteries of God.” (Synaxarion)

Our Holy Mother Paula of Rome

404

She was born in 347 to a noble family in Rome, and at age sixteen married Toxotius, a prominent nobleman. Though her husband was a pagan, he was devoted to her and gave her freedom to keep a Christian home and rear her children as Christians. They were blessed with five children. When she was thirty-two her husband died suddenly, and Paula resolved to turn her large house in Rome into a monastery. Later she traveled to the Holy Land with her spiritual father St Jerome (June 15). In Bethlehem she established two monasteries, one for women (where she dwelt) and one for St Jerome and his companions. Every day the nuns chanted the entire Psalter, which they were required to learn by heart. Paula was exceptionally austere in her fasting and lavish in her almsgiving, often giving away to the poor even the goods needed by her community for subsistence. She aided her spiritual father and brother Jerome in his controversies with Origen’s followers: St Jerome himself was hot-tempered, and St Paula often exhorted him to confront his enemies with patience and humility. When she was fifty-six years old, she felt her death approaching, and heard Christ say to her ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone’ (Song of Songs 2:10-11). To this she replied ‘The time of harvest has come. I shall truly see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living,’ and gave up her soul joyfully. Her funeral was attended by throngs of monks, nuns and poor people, all of whom revered her as their mother and benefactress.

Also commemorated: Ven. Xenophon and Mary

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Hebrews — Hebrews 7.18-25

¹⁸For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness ¹⁸For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. ¹⁹(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God. ¹⁹For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. ²⁰And inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath ²⁰And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: ²¹(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever); ²¹(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

²²by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant. ²²By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. ²³And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing: ²³And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: ²⁴But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. ²⁴but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable. ²⁵Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ²⁵Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 21.37-22.8

³⁷And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.

³⁷And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet. ³⁸And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him. ³⁸And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.

¹Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

¹Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. ²And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. ²And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death; for they feared the people.

³And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.

³Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. ⁴And he went away, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might deliver him unto them. ⁴And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. ⁵And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. ⁵And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. ⁶And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. ⁶And he consented, and sought opportunity to deliver him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

⁷Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

⁷And the day of unleavened bread came, on which the passover must be sacrificed. ⁸And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. ⁸And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and make ready for us the passover, that we may eat.