Wednesday, 21 February 2024

74 days before Pascha · Tone 4 · Liturgy · Fast

Saints commemorated

Saint Eustathius, Archbishop of Antioch

He was consecrated Bishop of Berea (Aleppo) in Syria, then of Antioch in 324. He took an active part in the Council of Nicea against the Arian heresy. His zeal for the Faith aroused the hatred of various heretics, who convened a council in Antioch where, by means of slanders and false witnesses, they were able to have the holy bishop deposed and exiled to Thrace, where he died a few years later.

The deposition of the Saint caused a schism in the Church of Antioch which was not healed until 414 (see St Meletius, Feb. 12). Saint John Chrysostom publicly praised Eustathius as a Martyr, and his relics were finally brought back to Antioch in 482. The Synaxarion says “The people then went in jubilation to meet him with lights and incense, and escorted him as he made a triumphal entry into his city, which thus recovered its unity in the Faith and in the veneration of this champion of Orthodoxy.”

Saint George, Bishop of Amastris

Saint George served as bishop of the city of Amastris and was a steadfast shepherd of his flock. He led the Church with wisdom and compassion, strengthening the faithful in their Orthodox belief and practice. According to Church tradition, George remained unmoved by the threats and persecutions directed against him because of his Orthodox faith. He endured hardship with courage and maintained his witness to Christ despite external opposition. Saint George is venerated in the Orthodox Church as a faithful bishop who served Christ with integrity and as a protector and intercessor for those who call upon him in faith.

Venerable Timothy of Symbola

Saint Timothy was a venerable monastic ascetic who lived in the region of Symbola and devoted his life entirely to prayer and spiritual struggle. He pursued the Orthodox monastic way with great diligence, seeking perfection in the Christian life through fasting, labour, and constant communion with God. The monks of his time recognised in him a spiritual guide of exceptional holiness and wisdom. Through his intercessions and virtuous example, Saint Timothy became known throughout the monastic communities as a luminary of the faith. The Church venerates him as a model of venerable monasticism and unceasing dedication to the pursuit of sanctity.

St John the Scholastic, patriarch of Constantinople

577

He came from the region of Antioch, and only became a clergyman at the age of fifty. He won a wide reputation as representative of the Patriarchate of Antioch at Constantinople, and was elected Patriarch of Constantinople following the deposition of Eutyches in 565. He compiled the Nomocanon, a collection of Church canons, and added the Communion hymn “Of Thy Mystical Supper…” to the Divine Liturgy. He reposed in peace.

Saint Zachariah, Patriarch of Jerusalem

632

He was the Skevophylax, keeper of the sacred vessels in the Church of Constantinople, then was made Patriarch of Jerusalem in 609. When the Persians took Jerusalem in 614 and took the Precious Cross of our Lord as a trophy, Zachariah went to Persia with the Cross, clasping it in his arms. In 631 the Emperor Heraclius conquered the Persians and recovered the Cross, bringing it to Constantinople. According to one account, Zachariah returned with the Cross, then returned to governing the Church in Jerusalem until his repose in 632 when Modestus (who had been acting in his absence) succeeded him. According to another account, Saint Zachariah died in exile, and Modestus was made Patriarch when the Holy Cross returned to Jerusalem.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Peter — 1 Peter 4.1-11

¹Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

¹Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; ²that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ²That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ³For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries: ³For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: ⁴wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁴Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁵who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁵Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. ⁶For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. ⁶For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer: ⁸above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins: ⁸And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. ⁹using hospitality one to another without murmuring: ⁹Use hospitality one to another without grudging. ¹⁰according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; ¹⁰As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. ¹¹If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 12.28-37

²⁸And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

²⁸And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all? ²⁹And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: ²⁹Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: ³⁰And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. ³⁰and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. ³¹And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. ³¹The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. ³²And the scribe said unto him, Of a truth, Teacher, thou hast well said that he is one; and there is none other but he: ³²And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: ³³and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. ³³And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. ³⁴And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. ³⁴And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

³⁵And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

³⁵And Jesus answered and said, as he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. ³⁶David himself said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. ³⁷David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

³⁷David himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he his son? And the common people heard him gladly.