Tuesday, 12 March 2024

Cheesefare Tuesday

54 days before Pascha · Tone 7 · Liturgy · Fast (Meat Fast)

Saints commemorated

Righteous Phineas, Grandson of Aaron

The righteous Phineas was the son of Eleazar and the grandson of Aaron the High Priest, and is honoured by the Church as one of the holy ancestors of Christ. He lived in the days of the Prophet Moses and Joshua the son of Nun, while the people of Israel were on the threshold of the Promised Land. When the Israelites were drawn into the worship of Baal of Peor through the wiles of the daughters of Moab, and a plague broke out among them so that thousands perished, Phineas in his zeal for the Lord rose up from the midst of the assembly and slew an Israelite man and the Midianite woman with whom he had openly transgressed the commandment of God. By this act of fervent zeal the plague was stayed, and the wrath of God turned away from His people. The Lord declared, through Moses, that He gave Phineas His covenant of peace and the everlasting covenant of priesthood, "because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the people of Israel". At the divine command Phineas afterwards led the army of Israel against the Midianites, who had drawn the people into idolatry, and brought upon them the just chastisement of heaven. After the death of his father Eleazar he was unanimously chosen to succeed him as High Priest, and ministered before the Lord in great holiness for many years. He died at an advanced age, around the year 1500 before the coming of Christ, and his memory is celebrated on 12 March.

Saint Gregory the Dialogist, Pope of Rome

He was born in Rome to a wealthy senatorial family. He received a good education in secular and spiritual learning, and became Prefect of Rome. While still in the world, he used his great wealth mostly for the good of the Church, building six monasteries in Sicily and another in Rome itself. At this monastery, dedicated to the Apostle Andrew, Gregory was tonsured a monk. He was appointed Archdeacon of Rome, then, in 579, Papal legate to Constantinople, where he lived for nearly seven years. He returned to Rome in 585 and was elected Pope in 590.

He is famed for his many writings, his generous charity (he gave almost all his income to the poor, and often invited the poor to share his table), and for initiating missionary work among the Anglo-Saxon peoples. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, celebrated on Wednesday and Friday evenings during Great Lent, was compiled by him. St Gregory introduced elements of the chanting that he had heard in Constantinople into Western Church chant: The Gregorian Chant which beautified the Western churches for many years is named for him. Its system of modes is related to the eight tones of the Eastern church. He is called ‘the Dialogist’ after his book The Dialogues, an account of the lives and miracles of Italian saints.

Saint Gregory reposed in peace in 604.

Saint Symeon the New Theologian

Saint Symeon was a great ascetic and mystic of the Orthodox Church who lived in the tenth and eleventh centuries. He was abbot of the Monastery of Saint Mamas in Constantinople and was renowned for his profound spiritual experiences and his teaching on the possibility of direct experiential knowledge of God. Saint Symeon emphasised the necessity of inner transformation through prayer, particularly the Jesus Prayer, and the cultivation of hesychasm, the mystical practice of inner silence and contemplation. Though some of his teachings were questioned by ecclesiastical authorities in his lifetime, the Church has since recognised the soundness of his doctrine and the depth of his spiritual insight. His writings, including his Hymns of Divine Love and his ethical discourses, provide guidance for those seeking the mystical encounter with God that is the heart of Orthodox spirituality. Saint Symeon is venerated as a great teacher and saint whose life exemplified the principles he taught.

Venerable Theophanes the Confessor of Sigriane

818

Saint Theophanes was born at Constantinople about the year 759, of a noble family related to the imperial house. His father, the governor of the Aegean theme, died when the boy was but three years old, and Theophanes was raised at the court under the protection of the emperor. In due course he was constrained to enter into marriage, but with his bride's consent the two preserved their virginity and lived as brother and sister. After a few years they parted by mutual agreement: his wife took the veil in a convent in Bithynia, and Theophanes withdrew to the district of Sigriane, near the Sea of Marmara, where he embraced the monastic life.

There he founded a monastery known as the "Great Acre" and became its abbot. By his prayers, his fasts, and his works of mercy he shone forth as a beacon of Orthodoxy. When the Seventh Ecumenical Council was convoked at Nicaea in 787 to vindicate the veneration of the holy icons, Theophanes was summoned and appeared in his patched and humble monastic dress, but his words confirmed the assembled bishops in the truth.

In his later years he composed his celebrated "Chronographia", a continuation of the chronicle of George Synkellos covering the events from the reign of Diocletian to his own day, which remains a precious source for the history of the Church. When the iconoclast heresy revived under the emperor Leo the Armenian, the aged confessor was summoned to the capital, refused with great firmness to renounce the holy icons, and was cast into prison. After two years' confinement he was banished to the island of Samothrace, where, worn out with sufferings, he reposed in peace in the year 818.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Jude — Jude 1-10

¹Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

¹Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: ²Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. ²Mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied.

³Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

³Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints. ⁴For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. ⁴For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

⁵Now I desire to put you in remembrance, though ye know all things once for all, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. ⁶And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ⁶And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ⁷Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. ⁷Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. ⁸Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities. ⁸Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. ⁹But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. ⁹Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. ¹⁰But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. ¹⁰But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 22.39-42, 45-23.1

³⁹And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

³⁹And he came out, and went, as his custom was, unto the mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴⁰And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴¹And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, ⁴¹And he was parted from them about a stone’s cast; and he kneeled down and prayed, ⁴²Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ⁴²saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ⁴⁵And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁵And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁶and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴⁶And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

⁴⁷And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

⁴⁷While he yet spake, behold, a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them; and he drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. ⁴⁸But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? ⁴⁸But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? ⁴⁹And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? ⁴⁹When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

⁵⁰And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. ⁵⁰And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his right ear. ⁵¹But Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye them thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. ⁵¹And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. ⁵²Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? ⁵²And Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, that were come against him, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves? ⁵³When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. ⁵³When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

⁵⁴And they seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed afar off.

⁵⁴Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off. ⁵⁵And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. ⁵⁵And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them. ⁵⁶But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. ⁵⁶And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking stedfastly upon him, said, This man also was with him. ⁵⁷And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. ⁵⁷But he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not. ⁵⁸And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou also art one of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not. ⁵⁸And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. ⁵⁹And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this man also was with him; for he is a Galilæan. ⁵⁹And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilæan. ⁶⁰And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. ⁶⁰But Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. ⁶¹And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice. ⁶¹And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. ⁶²And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. ⁶²And he went out, and wept bitterly.

⁶³And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and beat him.

⁶³And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. ⁶⁴And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? ⁶⁴And they blindfolded him, and asked him, saying, Prophesy: who is he that struck thee? ⁶⁵And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. ⁶⁵And many other things spake they against him, reviling him.

⁶⁶And as soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying,

⁶⁶And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, ⁶⁷Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: ⁶⁷If thou art the Christ, tell us. But he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: ⁶⁸and if I ask you, ye will not answer. ⁶⁸And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. ⁶⁹Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. ⁶⁹But from henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God. ⁷⁰And they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. ⁷⁰Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. ⁷¹And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. ⁷¹And they said, What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth.

¹And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

¹And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before Pilate.