Tuesday, 30 January 2024

Synaxis 3 Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom

Tuesday of the 35th week after Pentecost

289 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Red cross half-circle (vigil typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ The Three Holy Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom

The Three Holy Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers are honoured together on 30 January in the Orthodox Church in a celebration called the Synaxis of the Three Holy Hierarchs. Although each of the three great Fathers has his own individual feast day in January—Basil the Great on 1 January, Gregory the Theologian on 25 January, and John Chrysostom with the translation of his relics on 27 January—the Church has designated 30 January as a day for their common commemoration.

According to Orthodox tradition, during the reign of Emperor Alexius Comnenus (1081-1118), a controversy arose in Constantinople regarding which of the three hierarchs was greatest. Some argued for Saint Basil above the other two because of his exceptional ability to explain the mysteries of the Faith, his rise to angelic rank through virtue, his role as organiser of monastic life, and his stern shepherding of Christian morals. The three saints themselves appeared in a vision to Bishop John, advising him to compile a common feast for them and to set aside a day for their joint commemoration so that all three would be equally honoured. The Church then established 30 January as the day of common commemoration of the three hierarchs.

The Three Hierarchs are the Patron Saints of education and teaching, and their combined feast emphasises the unity of the Church's teaching authority and the complementary gifts that each brought to the defence and exposition of Orthodox doctrine. Basil contributed his administrative genius and his theological clarity; Gregory brought his profound theological insights and his defence of the divinity of the Holy Spirit; John contributed his incomparable eloquence and his moral courage in confronting abuse of power. Together they represent the fullness of apostolic teaching and the triumph of Orthodox Christianity over heresy.

Hieromartyr Hippolytus, Pope of Rome

Hippolytus (170-235) was a Christian presbyter and theologian of the early Church who lived in Rome during a period of significant theological controversy and intermittent persecution. He was an accomplished scholar and prolific writer, composing biblical commentaries, theological treatises, and polemical works against various heresies. Hippolytus became involved in disputes regarding the succession of papal authority and ecclesiastical discipline, and was eventually martyred under the Roman emperor during a period of Christian persecution. His death transformed him into a witness to the faith, a hieromartyr whose blood sealed his testimony to Christ. The tradition records that his relics were later venerated and his memory honoured by the Church he had served with his learning and ultimately with his life. Hippolytus is remembered as a man of considerable theological learning, pastoral dedication, and ultimate sacrificial witness. He is venerated as a great martyr and doctor of the Church, commemorated on 30 January as a hieromartyr and intercessor.

Holy Martyr Theophilus the New of Constantinople

Theophilus was a Christian martyr of Constantinople venerated in the Orthodox tradition. He lived during a period of theological dispute and occasional persecution in the Byzantine Christian world. Theophilus bore witness to the Orthodox faith with steadfast conviction, remaining true to the teachings of the Church despite pressures and dangers. He endured suffering and ultimately martyrdom for his refusal to compromise his faith or deny Christ. His death became a testimony to the power of grace and the triumph of faith over worldly force. Theophilus is venerated as a martyr and witness to the faith, commemorated on 30 January as a holy martyr and intercessor for those who face trials in their faith.

Saint Basil the Great, archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia

Basil the Great was born in 329 in Caesarea Mazaca, the capital of Cappadocia in Asia Minor, to a distinguished Christian family of considerable wealth and influence. His father was also named Basil, and his mother was Saint Emmelia. His paternal grandmother, Saint Macrina the Elder, and his sister, the venerable and learned Macrina the Younger, were also noted for their exceptional piety and spiritual gifts. From his youth, Basil received an excellent classical education. He studied at Caesarea, Constantinople, and finally at Athens (circa 351-356), where he developed a lifelong friendship with Saint Gregory of Nazianzus. After completing his education, he began a career in rhetoric and public speaking, but the influence of his sister Macrina confirmed his earlier inclination toward the ascetical and monastic life. He withdrew from secular pursuits and established a monastic settlement on the family estate at Annesi in Pontus, where he lived an austere life of prayer and study. In 370, when Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea, died, Basil was chosen to succeed him as bishop. He brought to his episcopal office the same vigour and organisational skill that characterised all his endeavours. As archbishop, he wrote several influential works on monasticism, theology, and canon law, including the Longer Rules and Shorter Rules for monasteries, which became foundational to monastic life in the Orthodox Church. His Hexaëmeron ("Six Days") consists of nine Lenten sermons on the days of Creation; his treatise Against Eunomius defends the deity of the Son against Arian heresies; and his work On the Holy Spirit expounds the full divinity and consubstantiality of the Holy Spirit. Basil was a passionate defender of Orthodox Christianity against the heresy of Arianism, which denied the full divinity of the Son. With all his strength he resisted the Emperor Valens, who sought to impose Arianism in his diocese. Though the emperor, impressed by Basil's uncompromising conviction, considered banishing him, he left him unmolested. Basil also established charitable institutions to aid the poor, the ill, and travellers. His most enduring legacy was the creation of the Basilias, believed to be one of the earliest forms of a Christian hospital for the poor. He fell asleep in the Lord on 1 January 379 and is honoured as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs and greatest Church Fathers of the Orthodox tradition. His feast day on 30 January commemorates him together with Gregory and John Chrysostom.

Saint Theophilus the New of Cyprus

Theophilus the New was a holy man and monk venerated in the Orthodox tradition of Cyprus. He lived in the period following the iconoclastic controversy and devoted himself to the monastic life with great dedication. Theophilus became known for his spiritual wisdom, his commitment to Orthodox theology and practice, and his pastoral concern for those who sought his guidance. He exemplified the monastic ideals of prayer, fasting, and virtue, and his life bore witness to the possibility of sanctification through faithful adherence to the Gospel and the teachings of the Church fathers. Theophilus is commemorated in the liturgical tradition as a holy monk and intercessor, venerated on 30 January.

Saint Peter, King of Bulgaria

970

“Saint Peter was a humble, devout and peace-loving man, unlike his father, Tsar Symeon the Warrior (d. 927), during whose reign there had been perpetual warfare. By contrast, Peter’s long reign was peaceful, and notable for the restoration of good relations with Byzantium and with the West. Peter married Maria, the grand-daughter of the Emperor Romanus Lecapenus, who recognized him as basileus (tsar or king), and he obtained independence from Constantinople for the Bulgarian Church with its own Patriarch. He had a great love for Saint John of Rila (19 Oct.), whom he would often consult, and he kept in touch with renowned ascetics of the time like Saint Paul of Latros (15 Dec.). The King acted energetically against the Bogomil heresy, an offshoot of Manicheism, by which some of his people, lacking sufficient instruction in the faith, were being misled. He called a council in order to condemn the heresy and reassert Christian principles. Nevertheless, the infection was to remain active for many years in Bulgaria. Following the invasion of the north of his Kingdom by Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev in 969, Peter abdicated and became a monk. He died in the following year, having consecrated his final days to God alone.” (Synaxarion) A note on the Bogomils: The Bogomils flourished in the Eastern Europe as an organized church from the 10th to the 15th century. In theology they were dualistic, incorporating some Manichean and Gnostic ideas from the Paulicians. They were nationalistic and gained much support through their opposition to Byzantine dominance over the Slavic peoples. They disappeared as an organized body around the fifteenth century, but elements of their beliefs persisted in popular thinking for many centuries afterward.

Daily readings

Vespers

Deuteronomy — Deuteronomy 1.8-11, 15-17

⁸Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. ⁸Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

⁹And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:

⁹And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone: ¹⁰The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. ¹⁰Jehovah your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. ¹¹(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!) ¹¹Jehovah, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you! ¹⁵So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. ¹⁵So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes. ¹⁶And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. ¹⁶And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the sojourner that is with him. ¹⁷Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. ¹⁷Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.

Vespers

Deuteronomy — Deuteronomy 10.14-21

¹⁴Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. ¹⁴Behold, unto Jehovah thy God belongeth heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein. ¹⁵Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. ¹⁵Only Jehovah had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day. ¹⁶Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. ¹⁶Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. ¹⁷For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: ¹⁷For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. ¹⁸He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. ¹⁸He doth execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the sojourner, in giving him food and raiment. ¹⁹Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. ¹⁹Love ye therefore the sojourner; for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt. ²⁰Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; him shalt thou serve; and to him shalt thou cleave, and by his name shalt thou swear. ²⁰Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. ²¹He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. ²¹He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

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.

Matins Gospel

John — John 10.9-16

⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ⁹I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. ¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. ¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. ¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. ¹²He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: ¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. ¹³he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, ¹⁵even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. ¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Hebrews — Hebrews 9.8-10, 15-23

⁸the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing; ⁸The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: ⁹which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect, ⁹Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; ¹⁰being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. ¹⁰Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. ¹⁵And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. ¹⁵And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. ¹⁶For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. ¹⁶For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth. ¹⁷For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. ¹⁸Wherefore even the first covenant hath not been dedicated without blood. ¹⁸Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ¹⁹For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, ²⁰Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. ²⁰saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to you-ward. ²¹Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. ²¹Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood. ²²And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. ²²And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

²³It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²³It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Epistle

— Hierarchs

Hebrews — Hebrews 13.7-16

⁷Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.

⁷Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever. ⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ⁹Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. ⁹Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited. ¹⁰We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle. ¹⁰We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. ¹¹For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp. ¹¹For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. ¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate. ¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. ¹³Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹³Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹⁴For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. ¹⁴For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come. ¹⁵Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name. ¹⁵By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. ¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 8.22-26

²²And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

²²And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him. ²³And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. ²³And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, Seest thou aught? ²⁴And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. ²⁴And he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking. ²⁵Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked stedfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly. ²⁵After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. ²⁶And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town. ²⁶And he sent him away to his home, saying, Do not even enter into the village.

Gospel

— Hierarchs

Matthew — Matthew 5.14-19

¹⁴Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁴Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁵Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ¹⁶Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

¹⁷Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

¹⁷Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. ¹⁸For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. ¹⁸For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. ¹⁹Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ¹⁹Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.