Sunday, 25 February 2024

Beginning of the Lenten Triodion

Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

70 days before Pascha · Tone 5 · Liturgy · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Reginus, Bishop of Skopelos

355

Hieromartyr Reginus was born in the city of Livadia in central Greece during the late third century to devout Christian parents who instilled in him a profound love of virtue and ardent devotion to Orthodox truth. As he matured, he became recognised for his exceptional theological learning and ability to refute heretical teachings. He subsequently became Bishop of the island of Skopelos, a position he assumed in the year 355, and served the faithful there with pastoral dedication. During his episcopate, Reginus distinguished himself at the Council of Sardica (held at Sofia, Bulgaria) in the year 343, where he powerfully defended the Orthodox faith against the Arian heresy that threatened the Church's unity and doctrine. Through his eloquent arguments and theological precision, he confounded the heretics and upheld the Nicene teaching that Christ is consubstantial with God the Father. His unwavering commitment to Orthodoxy was ultimately tested unto death under the reign of the pagan emperor Julian the Apostate. In the year 362 AD, as part of imperial persecution of Christian bishops, Reginus and forty other confessors were tortured and finally beheaded. The island of Skopelos has venerated him as their patron and protector, celebrating his feast day with special solemnity and gratitude for his witness and intercession on behalf of his flock.

Saint Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople

784

He was a nobleman born in Constantinople, and distinguished himself in a secular career, rising in the year 780 to the rank of protasecretis, Principal Secretary of State to the Emperor Constantine VI and his mother the Empress Irene, who was serving as regent.

His life took a sudden turn when, in 784, Patriarch Paul IV resigned, recommending Tarasios as the only man capable of restoring the Patriarchate, ravaged by the iconoclast heresy, to true Faith and full communion with the other Patriarchates. Tarasios, though unwilling, was virtually forced to accept the Patriarchate by the rulers and the Senate: he agreed at last on condition that an Ecumenical Council be summoned immediately to put an end to the iconoclast heresy. In a few days he was raised from a layman through all the degrees of the clergy and on December 25 784, was consecrated Archbishop of Constantinople.

At Saint Tarasios’ insistence, the Imperial rulers summoned a Church Council, which met at Constantinople in 786. Before its sessions had even begun, iconoclasts burst into the church and drove out the Fathers, who were forced to reconvene in Nicaea, where the first session opened. Patriarch Tarasios presided, and the Council concluded with a condemnation of the iconoclast heresy and the restoration of veneration of the holy images.

As Archbishop, the Saint was a model of humility, compassion, and firmness in the Faith. He refused to have any servants and dressed simply, a living rebuke to the luxury that had corrupted the clergy at that time. His works of charity were so great that he became known to the people as ‘the new Joseph’: he founded hospices and shelters, distributed the Church’s wealth freely to the poor, and often invited the poor to his own table to share his simple fare. He insisted on exercising all gentleness and mercy in restoring repentant heretics to the Church, a policy that met with opposition from the more severe leaders of the Studion monastery. At the same time he was unbending in the defense of the Faith: when the Emperor Constantine came of age he repudiated his wife Mary in order to marry Theodota, one of her servants. The Patriarch refused to bless the adulterous union and threatened the Emperor with excommunication if he persisted in sin. The Emperor had Tarasios imprisoned, forced his licit wife to enter a monastery, and found a priest, Joseph, to bless his second marriage. The following year Constantine was blinded and dethroned, and Tarasios regained his freedom.

The holy Patriarch continued to serve his Church faithfully, occupying the episcopal throne for a total of twenty-six years. In his last years, despite a long and painful illness, he continued to serve the Divine Liturgy daily, supporting himself with his staff. In the year 806, serving at the altar, he began to chant from Psalm 85, Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me, and gave up his soul to God.

“In 820, the Emperor Leo the Armenian, who for seven years had supported the iconoclasts and had fiercely persecuted the Orthodox, had a disturbing dream. He saw a stern-looking Saint Tarasius ordering a man by the name of Michael to run Leo himself through with a sword. Six days later, Leo was in fact assasinated by Michael the Stammerer, who seized power… In physical appearance, Saint Tarasius is said to have closely resembled Saint Gregory the Theologian.” (Synaxarion)

Saint Walburga of Heidenheim

760

Saint Walburga was a venerable abbess of the pre-schism Western Church whose holy life and witness are honoured by the Orthodox Church. She entered the double monastery of Heidenheim in what is now Bavaria, which had been founded by her brother Saint Willibald. Her brother, recognising the exceptional spiritual qualifications and administrative abilities of his sister, appointed Walburga as his successor in the governance of the monastic community. Upon the death of her brother Winibald in the year 760, Saint Walburga assumed the position of superintendant of the entire Heidenheim monastery complex, overseeing both the communities of monks and nuns with wisdom and pastoral care. She led the sisters and brothers in the monastic life with gentle authority, maintaining the spiritual disciplines whilst fostering a community characterised by charity and fidelity to the rule of Saint Benedict. Her tenure as abbess was marked by spiritual growth and the increasing reputation of Heidenheim as a centre of learning and sanctity. Saint Walburga fell asleep in the Lord on 25 February in either the year 777 or 779, according to various historical records. Her holy remains were interred at Heidenheim, and her memory became widely venerated throughout Christendom. The Orthodox Church recognises her as a saint of the undivided Church from the period before the East-West schism of 1054, when Eastern and Western Christians still shared the fullness of Orthodox faith and practice.

Daily readings

5th Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 24.12-35

¹²But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass. ¹²Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

¹³And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem.

¹³And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. ¹⁴And they talked together of all these things which had happened. ¹⁴And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened. ¹⁵And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. ¹⁵And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. ¹⁶But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. ¹⁶But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. ¹⁷And he said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁷And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? ¹⁸And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? ¹⁸And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days? ¹⁹And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: ¹⁹And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: ²⁰And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. ²⁰and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. ²¹But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass. ²²Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; ²²Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb; ²³and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ²³And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. ²⁴And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. ²⁴And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. ²⁵Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ²⁵And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? ²⁶Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? ²⁷And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. ²⁷And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. ²⁸And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further. ²⁸And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. ²⁹But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. ²⁹And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them. ³⁰And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. ³⁰And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them. ³¹And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. ³¹And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. ³²And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? ³²And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures? ³³And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, ³³And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, ³⁴Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. ³⁴saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. ³⁵And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. ³⁵And they rehearsed the things that happened in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Timothy — 2 Timothy 3.10-15

¹⁰But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, ¹⁰But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, ¹¹persecutions, sufferings; what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: and out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹¹Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹²Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. ¹²Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. ¹³But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. ¹³But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; ¹⁴But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; ¹⁵and that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 18.10-14

¹⁰Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. ¹⁰Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. ¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ¹²I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. ¹²I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get. ¹³But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner. ¹³And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. ¹⁴I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.