Wednesday, 31 January 2024

Wednesday of the 35th week after Pentecost

290 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cyrus and John

Saint Cyrus was a noted physician in the city of Alexandria, where he had been born and raised. He was a devout Christian and devoted his medical skills to healing the sick without charge, treating both bodily afflictions and spiritual infirmities. He was renowned throughout Alexandria for his compassion, his skill as a healer, and his Christian charity in serving the poor and the suffering.

Saint John was a pious Christian soldier from the city of Edessa. When the persecution of Christians by Emperor Diocletian began, John was deeply moved by reports of the holy physician Cyrus and his dedication to serving others in Christ's name. John went first to Jerusalem seeking guidance, then to Alexandria and subsequently to Arabia to find Cyrus. He desired to become a companion and fellow-martyr with this great physician and Christian saint.

The two saints were eventually arrested by the pagan authorities during the Diocletian persecution (284-305). When they steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ and refused to renounce their religion, they were brought before the magistrate along with the pious Christian woman Athanasia and her three young daughters: Theoctista (aged fifteen), Theodota (aged thirteen), and Eudoxia (aged eleven). The magistrate sought to use the suffering and threats against the children to weaken the resolve of Cyrus and John.

However, the faith of all the saints proved unshakeable. They endured terrible torments with unwavering courage. They were flogged mercilessly and then all five were beheaded, receiving the glorious crown of martyrdom. These three young girls preserved their virginity and their faith unto death. The holy martyrs Cyrus and John became known as Unmercenaries—healers who worked miracles without accepting payment—and as Wonderworkers through the miracles worked through their intercession after their martyrdom. They are venerated as the patron saints of physicians and healers in the Orthodox Church.

Martyr Tryphaena of Cyzicus

Tryphaena was born in Cyzicus on the Hellespont, a city in what is now Turkey, to devout Christian parents named Anastasios, a senator of high rank, and his virtuous wife Sokratia. She was raised in the Christian faith and grew up as a faithful follower of Christ, being instructed from childhood in Christian virtue and piety. During her lifetime, when she came of age, she was known throughout the city for her Christian devotion and her courage in witnessing to her faith. During a period of persecution of Christians, Tryphaena revealed her Christian upbringing and extraordinary courage. In order to strengthen those whose faith was wavering, she boldly confessed Jesus Christ before the authorities and refused to deny Him or to make offerings to the pagan gods and idols. When the ruler Caesarius heard of her steadfast confession and refusal to renounce her faith, he became enraged and ordered her arrest. The holy martyr endured a series of terrible torments. She was pushed into a fiery furnace, but by the grace of God she was miraculously preserved from the flames. She was then thrown from a tall tree onto a bed of iron nails, yet she was not destroyed. Afterwards, she was given to wild animals to be devoured, but the beasts would not harm her. Finally, she was gored by a maddened bull. Through all these trials, Tryphaena displayed unwavering faith and courage, and in this manner she received the glorious crown of martyrdom in the first century. After her martyrdom, according to the Church's tradition, a spring of pure water welled up at the place where Saint Tryphaena's blood was shed. Women who had given birth but had no milk were able to nurse their infants after drinking this water, which flowed forth as a testimony to her holiness and her continued intercession. Saint Tryphaena became the patroness saint of Cyzicus and is invoked by women who have difficulty in nursing their infants. Her feast day is celebrated on 31 January in the Orthodox Church.

Saint Arsenius of Paros

Arsenius was a holy man venerated in the Orthodox tradition of the island of Paros in the Aegean Sea. He devoted himself to the Christian life with fervour and dedication, exemplifying the virtues of faith, prayer, and pastoral concern. Arsenius is remembered in the liturgical tradition as a saint whose holiness and spiritual witness contributed to the spiritual life of his island community. Though specific biographical details remain sparse in the historical record, his memory persists in the commemoration on 31 January as a testament to God's grace working in all who seek Him with sincere hearts.

Saint Marcella of Chios

Marcella was a holy woman venerated in the Orthodox tradition, associated with the island of Chios in Greece. Little detailed biographical information survives regarding her life, but she is commemorated as a saint whose faith and virtue bore witness to the transformative power of grace. Marcella exemplified Christian commitment and spiritual discipline, and her memory is preserved in the liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church as a testament to the possibility of holiness for all the faithful. She is venerated as an intercessor and saint, commemorated on 31 January.

Saint Nikita the Recluse of Pechersky

Nikita was a Russian Orthodox monk of the Kiev Pechersky Monastery (the Monastery of the Caves) and later Bishop of Novgorod. He devoted himself to the monastic life with great dedication and ascetic fervour, pursuing spiritual perfection through prayer, fasting, and obedience to the monastic rule. Nikita became known for his spiritual wisdom and pastoral care, eventually being elevated to the episcopate as Bishop of Novgorod, where he oversaw the spiritual welfare of his diocese with integrity and pastoral concern. He maintained his monastic discipline even as a bishop, exemplifying the integration of episcopal authority with ascetic practice. Whether in his earlier monastic years or his subsequent role as a bishop, Nikita remained a faithful servant of God and His Church, committed to the propagation of Orthodox faith and the spiritual edification of his people. He is venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church as a holy monk and bishop, commemorated on 31 January.

Venerable Nicetas, hermit of the Kiev Caves and Bishop of Novgorod

1108

His is a remarkable story of spiritual delusion (prelest in Russian) and repentance of delusion. Nicetas was a young and zealous monk of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves who, against the advice of his abbot St Nikon (March 25), retired alone to a cave and walled himself in. Some time later, the young monk experienced a delightful scent filling his cave. Believing himself to be receiving a divine revelation, he cried out ‘Lord, show Thyself to me, that I might worship Thee face to face!’ A voice answered, ‘I am sending you an angel: do whatever he tells you.’ The Devil soon appeared to him as an ‘angel of light’ and Nicetas, completely taken in, prostrated before him. The Devil ordered him to stop praying and to devote all his time to reading and memorizing the Old Testament. Nicetas obeyed without question. After awhile, the Devil began to reveal to him things that were happening in the outside world, so that the young monk acquired a reputation for prophecy among visitors to his cave. When the Elders of the Caves realized that Nicetas never spoke to his visitors or anyone else of the New Testament, they decided that he was beguiled by the Devil. Breaking down the door of his cave, they drove out the deceiver by their prayers and forcibly took the young hermit back to the monastery. As soon as the evil angel had been driven off, Nicetas became like a young child: he instantly forgot the entire Old Testament (which he had virtually memorized) and even lost the ability to read, so that he had to be sent to school again. Slowly he returned to himself, realized his former delusion and repented in tears. Thereafter he devoted himself to humility and obedience in the monastic community. Such was his repentance and progress in the virtues that he was later made Bishop of Novgorod. He reposed in peace in 1108 and became known for working many miracles, especially healing of blindness.

Marcella of Rome

410

The daughter of a prominent Roman family, she was given in marriage despite her reluctance, but was widowed after less than a year. Following the example of the prophetess Anna, she dedicated her widowhood to God and turned her fine house in Rome into a monastery, living there in strict asceticism. “When the Church was riven by controversies about the doctrines of Origen, Saint Marcella kept silent for a while but, deciding at length to take up the cause of Orthodoxy, and maintaining a sweet and gentle manner in the exchanges, she succeeded in confounding the arguments of the heretics.” (Ormylia Synaxarion) When the Goths invaded and pillaged Rome in 410 they broke into her house. Marcella received them calmly, but when they demanded money she answered that no one as poorly clothed as she was could be expected to have any money. At this the invaders beat her mercilessly despite her great age. She bore their blows without complaint, asking only that they spare her spiritual daughter Principia. Struck to the heart by her response, the barbarians took her and her disciple to the Church of St Paul, where she reposed two days later.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Hebrews — Hebrews 10.1-18

¹For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

¹For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh. ²For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. ²Else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins. ³But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins year by year. ³But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. ⁴For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. ⁴For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. ⁵Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me; ⁵Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: ⁶In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. ⁶In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure: ⁷Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) To do thy will, O God. ⁷Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

⁸Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law), ⁸Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; ⁹Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. ⁹then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. ¹⁰By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ¹⁰By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ¹¹And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: ¹¹And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins: ¹²but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; ¹²But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; ¹³From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. ¹³henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet. ¹⁴For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. ¹⁴For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. ¹⁵Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, ¹⁵And the Holy Spirit also beareth witness to us; for after he hath said,

¹⁶This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws on their heart, And upon their mind also will I write them; then saith he, ¹⁶This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; ¹⁷And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. ¹⁷And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. ¹⁸Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

¹⁸Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 8.30-34

³⁰And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. ³⁰And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. ³¹And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

³¹And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³²And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. ³²And he spake the saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. ³³But he turning about, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and saith, Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men. ³³But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

³⁴And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ³⁴And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.