Friday, 1 March 2024

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

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Domnina of Syria

Saint Domnina was a Christian martyr of Syria who lived during the era of Roman persecutions against the Church. Following her unshakeable faith in Christ despite severe pressure and torture, Domnina endured her suffering with steadfast courage. Historical accounts record her martyrdom as occurring in the early centuries of Christian persecution, and she is venerated in the Orthodox Church as a witness to the faith. Her memory is kept alive in the liturgical tradition as an intercessor for those facing trials and tribulations, and the Church honours her as one who loved Christ more than life itself.

Holy Venerable Martyr Eudocia of Heliopolis

Eudocia was from Heliopolis of Phoenicia (now Baalbek in Lebanon). A surpassingly beautiful pagan, she led a licentious life and became wealthy from the gifts of her many lovers. One day an elderly monk, Germanus, came to Heliopolis and stayed with a Christian whose house adjoined Eudocia’s. At night, he began to read aloud from the Psalter and a book on the Last Judgment. From next-door, Eudocia heard him. Her heart was reached, and she stood attentively all night, listening to every word in fear and contrition. The next day she begged Germanus to visit her, and he explained the saving Christian faith to her. Finally, Eudocia asked the local bishop to baptise her. She freed her servants, gave all her wealth to the poor, and entered a monastery.

“Her former lovers, enraged at her conversion, her refusal to return to her old ways, and the withering away of her beauty through the severe mortifications she practiced, betrayed her as a Christian to Vincent the Governor, and she was beheaded”(Great Horologion). According to some,this was under Trajan (98-117); according to others, under Hadrian (117-138).

The Prologue gives a somewhat different account: that after entering the monastery, Eudocia was permitted to pursue the monastic life in peace — with such devotion that, thirteen months after she entered the monastery, she was chosen as abbess. She lived for fifty-six years in the monastery, and was granted the gift of raising the dead. In her old age, a persecution of Christians arose, and Eudocia was beheaded along with many others. “Here is a wonderful example of how a vessel of uncleanness can be purified, sanctified and filled with a precious, heavenly fragrance by the grace of the Holy Spirit” (Prologue).

Saint Antonina of Nicaea

Saint Antonina was a holy virgin and martyr of Nicaea who lived during the early Christian persecutions. Devoted entirely to Christ and to the service of her sisters in faith, Antonina was known for her luminous piety and her unflinching witness to the Gospel. When persecution arose, she boldly confessed her faith and endured imprisonment and torture rather than deny her Lord. Through her steadfast courage and trust in God's mercy, she became a powerful intercessor and a beacon of hope to those who suffered alongside her. The Orthodox Church commemorates her as a virgin martyr and counts her among the cloud of witnesses whose prayers sustain the faithful.

Saint David of Wales

Saint David (Dewi Sant) was a sixth-century bishop and monastic founder, considered the patron saint of Wales. Born in South Wales, David established the monastery of Glyn Rhosyn (later called St Davids) in Pembrokeshire, which became a major centre of Christian learning and spiritual life. Known for his ascetic practices, David followed a strict monastic rule emphasising manual labour, prayer, and pastoral care. He was particularly concerned with the spiritual welfare of his monks and the faithful entrusted to his care. David undertook missionary journeys throughout Wales and beyond, strengthening Christian communities and establishing monasteries. He presided over synods that addressed doctrinal questions and ecclesiastical discipline. Following a long life of zealous pastoral service, David reposed peacefully in the early seventh century. The Orthodox Church venerates him as a holy bishop and monastic father whose legacy shaped the Welsh Church.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 John — 1 John 2.7-17

⁷Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard.

⁷Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. ⁸Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth. ⁸Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. ⁹He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now. ⁹He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. ¹⁰He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him. ¹⁰He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. ¹¹But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes. ¹¹But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. ¹²I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

¹²I write unto you, my little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. ¹³I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. ¹³I write unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil one. I have written unto you, little children, because ye know the Father. ¹⁴I have written unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the evil one. ¹⁴I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. ¹⁵Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁵Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. ¹⁷And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 14.3-9

³And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

³And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure nard very costly; and she brake the cruse, and poured it over his head. ⁴And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? ⁴But there were some that had indignation among themselves, saying, To what purpose hath this waste of the ointment been made? ⁵For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. ⁵For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred shillings, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her. ⁶And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. ⁶But Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. ⁷For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. ⁷For ye have the poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can do them good: but me ye have not always. ⁸She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. ⁸She hath done what she could; she hath anointed my body beforehand for the burying. ⁹Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. ⁹And verily I say unto you, Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.