Thursday, 7 March 2024

Thursday of Meatfare

59 days before Pascha · Tone 6 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyrs of Cherson: Basileus, Ephraim, Eugene, Capito, Aetherius, Agathodorus and Elpidius

These seven holy Bishops give a vivid picture of the dangers endured by those who traveled to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in the early centuries of the Church. All seven were sent as missionary bishops to Cherson on the Black Sea, and all seven died there as Martyrs. Hermon, Bishop of Jerusalem, first sent Ephraim and Basileus; Basileus raised the son of the prince of Cherson to life, after which many believed and were baptized. The unbelievers, though, bound him by the feet and dragged him through the streets until he died. Ephraim was beheaded when he refused to make sacrifice to the idols. Eugenios, Agathodoros, and Elpidios were then sent by the Bishop of Jerusalem; they were beaten to death with rods and stones. Aetherius was sent during the reign of Constantine the Great, and was able to govern the Church in freedom and peace, and to build a church in Cherson. Capito, the last to be sent, brought the Gospel to the fierce Scythians. To prove the power of his God, they asked him to go into a burning furnace, saying that if he was not consumed, they would believe. Putting all his trust in God, the holy Bishop vested himself, made the sign of the Cross, and entered the furnace. He stood in the flames, fervently praying, for an hour, and came out untouched. The spectators cried out ‘There is one God, the great and powerful God of the Christians, who keeps His servant safe in the burning furnace!’, and all those in the town and the surrounding countryside were baptized. This miracle was spoken of at the Council of Nicea (325). Later, Scythian unbelievers captured Capito and drowned him in the River Dnieper.

The Prologue says that Aetherios ended his life in peace; the Great Horologion, that he was drowned. All these holy missionaries labored around the beginning of the fourth century.

Saint Felicitas of Carthage and Perpetua

Felicitas and Perpetua were Christian martyrs of Carthage (in North Africa) who suffered during the persecutions under the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus in the early third century. Perpetua was a noblewoman and recent convert to Christianity, whilst Felicitas was her servant. Both women were arrested together, imprisoned, and brought to trial for refusing to participate in pagan sacrifices and for their steadfast confession of Christ. The account of their imprisonment, their visions, and their martyrdom has been preserved in the "Passion of Perpetua and Felicitas," one of the most ancient and moving Christian documents. Both women demonstrated extraordinary courage, faith, and spiritual maturity in the face of torture and death. They encouraged one another and the other prisoners, sharing visions of the heavenly glory that awaited them. Their blood-bond of martyrdom—sealed by their shared suffering and executed together—became a powerful testimony to the faith and inspired countless Christians throughout the ages. The Orthodox Church honours Perpetua and Felicitas as holy martyrs and counts their feast among the most venerable commemorations in the liturgical calendar.

Venerable Paul the Simple

Paul the Simple was a fifth-century monastic father of Egypt and a disciple of Saint Anthony the Great. Originally a shepherd of sheep, Paul was led by providence to seek out the great desert saint Anthony and to become his spiritual son. Under Anthony's guidance, Paul was transformed from a simple man into a profound ascetic and mystic. Through obedience, prayer, and the ascetic disciplines taught by his elder, Paul advanced rapidly in the spiritual life and was granted the gift of discernment of spirits. He became known for his simple piety, his unwavering faith, and his ability to heal the spiritually afflicted through his prayers and wise counsel. Paul's simplicity was not a limitation but rather a virtue that allowed him to trust completely in God and to see the divine in all things. After Anthony's repose, Paul continued his monastic labours and became a teacher to others seeking the Orthodox ascetic path. The Church venerates him as a venerable father whose example demonstrates that simplicity of heart and childlike faith are gateways to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Also commemorated: Seven Hieromartyrs of Cherson

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 John — 1 John 4.20-5.21

²⁰If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? ²⁰If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen. ²¹And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. ²¹And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.

¹Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

¹Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. ²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. ²Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. ⁴For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. ⁴For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ⁵And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? ⁵Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? ⁶This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. ⁶This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth. ⁷For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. ⁸For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one. ⁸And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. ⁹If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. ⁹If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son. ¹⁰He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. ¹⁰He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. ¹¹And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹¹And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹²He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ¹²He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.

¹³These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God. ¹³These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. ¹⁴And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁴And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁵and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. ¹⁵And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. ¹⁶If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request. ¹⁶If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. ¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. ¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

¹⁸We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not. ¹⁸We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. ¹⁹And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. ¹⁹We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one. ²⁰And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. ²⁰And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. ²¹My little children, guard yourselves from idols. ²¹Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 15.1-15

¹And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

¹And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate. ²And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. ²And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering saith unto him, Thou sayest. ³And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. ³And the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. ⁴And Pilate again asked him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of. ⁵But Jesus no more answered anything; insomuch that Pilate marvelled. ⁵But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

⁶Now at the feast he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. ⁶Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. ⁷And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. ⁷And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. ⁸And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. ⁸And the multitude went up and began to ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them. ⁹But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? ⁹And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? ¹⁰For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹⁰For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. ¹¹But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. ¹¹But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. ¹²And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? ¹²And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? ¹³And they cried out again, Crucify him. ¹³And they cried out again, Crucify him. ¹⁴Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. ¹⁴And Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, Crucify him. ¹⁵And Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

¹⁵And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.