Sunday, 10 March 2024

Sunday of the Last Judgment

Sunday of Meatfare

56 days before Pascha · Tone 7 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Codratus of Corinth

Saint Codratus was a holy martyr who suffered for Christ during the persecution of Christians in the early centuries of the Church. Together with his companions, he was brought before magistrates who demanded that he renounce his faith in Jesus Christ and offer sacrifice to pagan gods. Codratus and his fellow believers refused to deny the Saviour or to participate in idolatrous worship. They were subjected to various torments, being beaten and imprisoned. Their unwavering confession of Orthodox faith was a testimony to all who witnessed their trials. Despite the cruelties inflicted upon them, the saints remained joyful and gave glory to God, knowing that they would receive the crown of martyrdom. Saint Codratus and his companions were finally executed and now intercede for the faithful who honour their memory.

Martyrs Codratus and those with him

258

‘In a time of persecution of Christians, many of the faithful fled to the mountains and caves. The mother of this Codratus did so. She was pregnant at that time, and gave birth to Codratus in a forest, dying almost at once. He was kept safe and fed by the providence of God and his guardian angel. Codratus grew up in solitude with nature. He who gave manna from heaven to the Israelites in the wilderness released a sweet dew from a cloud onto the mouth of the child Codratus. When he was twelve years old, he went down to the town, and there some good people took a fancy to him and educated him. He studied medicine and then began to heal the sick, using both natural medicines and, more importantly, the spiritual power and prayer which had been with him from childhood. When a new persecution arose under Decius, Codratus was taken for trial and thrown into prison. Five of his friends stood beside him and confessed the name of Christ. They were: Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul and Crescens. They were all dragged through the streets and struck with sticks and stones by the unbelievers, especially by the children, until they arrived at the scaffold. Here the martyrs prayed to God and were beheaded with the sword. A spring of water gushed out onto the earth at the spot, which to this day is called by Codratus’ name and commemorates the heroic death for Christ of the holy six. They suffered with honour for the truth in Corinth in the year 250, in the time of the Emperor Decius and his governor Jason.’ (Prologue)

Saint Anastasia the Patrician of Alexandria

Saint Anastasia was a woman of noble birth, a patrician of the city of Alexandria, who devoted herself entirely to the service of God and to works of charity. In the early centuries of Christianity, she used her considerable wealth and influence to aid the poor, to support those suffering persecution, and to advance the faith. Saint Anastasia was known for her great compassion, her strict asceticism despite her position of ease, and her unshakeable commitment to Christ. She endured trials and persecutions for the Orthodox faith and spent her life in prayer, fasting, and service to others. The Church honours her memory as one who combined the virtues of nobility with the simplicity of evangelical poverty and as one whose intercession brings comfort to those in distress.

Saint John of Khakhuli, called the Chrysostom

Saint John of Khakhuli, known to the Georgians as Oqropiri, "the Golden-tongued", was one of the great spiritual lights of medieval Georgia. He flourished in the second half of the tenth and the early eleventh centuries, a contemporary of King David Kuropalates and King Bagrat III, who founded the celebrated Khakhuli Monastery in the historic region of Tao at the gorge where the Khakhuli river joins the Tortumi. A theologian, translator, and calligrapher of great learning, John laboured to enrich the Georgian Church with the wisdom of the Fathers, and his sermons were so eloquent that he was given the same epithet "Chrysostom" that had been bestowed long before on the great Archbishop of Constantinople. Some traditions say that he was first consecrated Bishop of Bolnisi and afterwards transferred to Khakhuli. About the year 1019 he left Khakhuli together with his companions Arsen of Ninotsminda and John Grdzelis and journeyed to the Holy Mountain of Athos. There he attached himself to Saint Ekvtime the Hagiorite at the Iviron Monastery, assisting him in his great labour of translating the Scriptures and Fathers into Georgian. The Life of Saint George of the Holy Mountain records that Saint John reposed on Mount Athos. The Khakhuli Monastery long preserved his memory, and the icon of the Mother of God of Khakhuli, set in a famous gold and enamel triptych, became one of the chief treasures of the Georgian Church.

Saint Simplicius, Pope of Rome

483

Saint Simplicius was born at Tivoli in Italy, the son of a citizen named Castinus. After serving in the Roman clergy with distinction, he was elected to the apostolic see of Rome on 3 March 468, in succession to Saint Hilary, and held it for fifteen years through one of the most turbulent periods of the late Roman West. His pontificate witnessed the deposition of the last western emperor, Romulus Augustulus, in 476, and the establishment of barbarian rule in Italy under Odoacer. Throughout these upheavals Simplicius laboured to preserve the faith of the Council of Chalcedon, opposing the resurgent Monophysitism that troubled the East. He resisted the Henotikon promulgated by the emperor Zeno and the compromises of Acacius, Patriarch of Constantinople, defending the two natures of Christ as defined by the holy Fathers. He likewise upheld the orthodox party in Egypt and Antioch in their struggles against heretical claimants. In Rome itself Simplicius dedicated several great churches, among them San Stefano Rotondo on the Caelian Hill, Santa Bibiana, Sant'Andrea Catabarbara, and a basilica in honour of the holy martyrs in the Roman cemeteries. He reposed in peace on 10 March in the year 483 and was buried in the portico of Saint Peter's Basilica. The Orthodox Church venerates him among the saints of the pre-schism see of Rome.

Our Holy Mother Anastasia

563

She was a noble lady at the Imperial court under the Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora. But when she was widowed she left Constantinople and all her privileges behind and fled to the Egyptian desert. There Abba Daniel tonsured her and, at her request, presented her to the brethren as the eunuch Anastasius, so that she might avoid discovery by imperial investigators. She closed herself in a small cell, where she spent twenty-eight years in prayer and askesis. Shortly before her death, her elder Daniel saw her face shining like the sun.

Also commemorated: Martyr Quadratus and Companions

Daily readings

7th Matins Gospel

John — John 20.1-10

¹The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

¹Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. ²Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. ²She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him. ³Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. ³Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. ⁴So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. ⁴And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; ⁵and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. ⁵And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. ⁶Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, ⁶Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, ⁷and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁷And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. ⁸Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. ⁸Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. ⁹For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ⁹For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. ¹⁰So the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 8.8-9.2

⁸But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. ⁸But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. ⁹But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. ⁹But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak. ¹⁰For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; ¹⁰For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? ¹¹And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? ¹¹For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. ¹²But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. ¹²And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ. ¹³Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. ¹³Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.

¹Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

¹Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? ²If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. ²If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 25.31-46

³¹When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

³¹But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: ³²And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: ³²and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats; ³³And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ³³and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. ³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; ³⁵For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: ³⁶naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ³⁶Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. ³⁷Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? ³⁷Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink? ³⁸When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? ³⁸And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? ³⁹And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? ³⁹Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? ⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. ⁴⁰And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me. ⁴¹Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴¹Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: ⁴²For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: ⁴²for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; ⁴³I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. ⁴³I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. ⁴⁴Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? ⁴⁴Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? ⁴⁵Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. ⁴⁵Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me. ⁴⁶And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. ⁴⁶And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.