Saturday, 2 March 2024

64 days before Pascha · Tone 5 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Theodotus, Bishop of Cyrenia

Known for his wisdom and virtue, he was chosen as Bishop of Cyrenia on the island of Cyprus. When a persecution broke out against the Christians under the Emperor Licinius, Theodotus was arrested and subjected to many tortures. His torturer Sabinus urged him repeatedly to renounce Christ and worship the idols, but Theodotus replied, ‘If you knew the goodness of my God, who, it is my hope, will by these brief tortures make me worthy of eternal life, you would wish to suffer for Him as I do.’ The pagans then drove nails into his body, for which he thanked God. Believing that his death was approaching, he calmly gave counsel and instruction to the Christians around him. By God’s providence, an order came from the new Emperor Constantine to free all Christians who were being held for the sake of Christ. Thus Theodotus was freed and, though greatly weakened by his torments, served his flock faithfully for two more years before reposing in peace.

Holy Martyr Hesychius the Senator

Hesychius was a senator of Rome who held high rank in the secular administration during the age of Christian persecution. Despite his exalted station, he subordinated his earthly honours to his love for Christ. When the persecutions intensified, Hesychius openly declared his faith, thereby risking and ultimately losing his position, his property, and his life. History records that he was brought to trial, condemned, and executed for refusing to participate in pagan sacrifices and for his steadfast confession of Jesus as Lord. The Orthodox Church commemorates him as a holy martyr who chose the treasure of heaven over all earthly glory and dignities.

Saint Arsenius of Tver

Arsenius was a Christian ascetic and monastic father of Tver, a major city in Russia. Little is recorded of his early life, but he distinguished himself through unwavering commitment to monastic discipline and prayer. Arsenius established a monastic community and laboured to guide his monks through the rigours of ascetic practice. Known for his spiritual wisdom and pastoral care, he became a revered elder whose counsel was sought by pilgrims and clergy alike. Through fasting, vigil, and prayer, Arsenius devoted himself to the salvation of souls and the advancement of the Kingdom of God. The Orthodox Church venerates him as a holy monk and spiritual father whose intercession benefits those who call upon him in faith.

Saint Chad of Lichfield

Saint Chad (Ceadda) was a seventh-century English bishop and monastic founder who served as Bishop of the English kingdom of Mercia. Born in Northumbria, Chad was trained in the monastic tradition and became known for his ascetic devotion and pastoral care. He established the monastery at Lichfield and presided over it as abbot-bishop, combining the leadership of a monastic community with episcopal responsibility for the faithful. Chad was revered for his holiness, his dedication to prayer and fasting, and his compassionate ministry to both the rich and the poor. He refused to accept wealth or honour for himself, instead directing all resources towards the service of God and the building up of Christ's Church. Chad lived simply and laboured alongside his monks in the daily tasks of monastic life. After a brief but fruitful episcopal ministry, he reposed in peace, leaving behind a legacy of faithful service and ascetic virtue. The Orthodox Church venerates him as a holy bishop and monastic father whose example illuminates the path of Christian leadership and humble service.

The Four Hundred and Forty Martyrs of Lombardy

579

Forty of them were beheaded in one place in Lombardy (in Italy) because they refused to eat food offered to idols. Another four hundred were massacred because they refused to join with the Lombard pagans’ practice of dancing around a goat’s head that had been brought for sacrifice to the idols. Their deaths are recorded by St Gregory the Dialogist (Gregory the Great). We sometimes imagine that the Roman Empire converted almost overnight to Christianity during the reign of St Constantine the Great. This incident, more than two hundred years into Europe’s ‘Christian era’, reminds us that the progress of the Faith among the people was often slow and halting, and that paganism remained a force for many centuries.

Holy Martyr Euthalia

257

She was a pagan maiden living in Sicily with her mother (also named Euthalia) and her brother Sermilianus. When Euthalia’s mother became ill with an issue of blood, the holy martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus (May 10) appeared to her in a dream and told her that she would only be healed if she were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heeding the dream, she believed, was baptized, and was healed. Her daughter Euthalia, seeing this wonder, was also baptised. Sermilianus, despising and hating the Christian faith, first mocked his mother and sister for their conversion, then threatened them. The mother fled the house in fear. Euthalia remained, saying to her brother ‘I am a Christian, and have no fear of death.’ The cruel Sermilianus persecuted her more and more harshly until finally, enraged by the futility of his threats, he beheaded his own sister by his own hand, unknowingly procuring for her a crown of eternal glory. “And thus in this example were fulfilled the words of Christ that He was bringing a sword among men which would divide those of one blood but not those of one faith (Matt. 10:34-35).” (Prologue)

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Timothy — 2 Timothy 3.1-9

¹But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.

¹This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ²For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ²For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, ³Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; ⁴Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away. ⁵Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ⁶For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁶For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, ⁷Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁷ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. ⁸Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. ⁹But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be. ⁹But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 20.46-21.4

⁴⁶Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; ⁴⁶Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts; ⁴⁷Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. ⁴⁷who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.

¹And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

¹And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury. ²And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. ²And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. ³And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: ³And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all: ⁴For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. ⁴for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.