Monday, 18 March 2024

Beginning of the Great Fast

Monday of the First Week of Lent

48 days before Pascha · Tone 8 · Liturgy · Lenten Fast (No overrides)

Great Canon

Saints commemorated

Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem

386

Saint Cyril was a great ascetic and a steadfast champion of Orthodoxy who lived during a time of intense theological struggle in the Church. He died in the year 386.

In 351 at Jerusalem, the Holy Cross appeared in the heavens on the Feast of Pentecost, stretching from Golgotha above the Mount of Olives. Saint Cyril reported this portent to the Arian Emperor Constantius, hoping through this miracle to convert him to the Orthodox faith. This miraculous sign strengthened the faith of the Orthodox people and testified to the power of Christ.

During an intense famine in Jerusalem, Saint Cyril expended all his personal wealth in charitable works for the suffering. When the famine did not abate, he pawned church utensils and used the money to purchase wheat for the starving people. His compassion for the poor reflected his deep commitment to Christ's commandment to love one's neighbour.

Saint Cyril is venerated as a Doctor of the Church for his theological teaching and pastoral wisdom.

Saint Edward the Martyr, King of England

978

Edward the Martyr (c. 962-978) was King of the English from 8 July 975 until he was killed in 978. He was the eldest son of King Edgar (r. 959-975). Though his reign was brief, Edward became a martyr saint, glorified as Saint Edward the Martyr in 1001. On 18 March 978, while hunting with dogs and horsemen near Wareham in Dorset, King Edward decided to visit his younger half-brother Ethelred who was staying at Corfe Castle near Wareham. Separating from his royal retinue, Edward arrived alone at the castle. As he remained mounted at the lower part of the castle, Queen Elfrida, his stepmother, offered him a glass of mead in welcome. Whilst Edward drank from the cup, one of the queen's attendants stabbed him in the back with a knife, mortally wounding him. He fell from his horse and died from his wound. The perpetrators of this foul deed acted at the instigation of Queen Elfrida, who sought the throne for her own son Ethelred. Edward soon came to be revered as a saint and martyr. His feast of 18 March is listed in the festal calendar of the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. The Eastern Orthodox Church venerates him as a holy martyr. His authentic relics were uncovered in 1931 at Shaftesbury Abbey.

The Holy Martyrs Trophimus and Eucarpus of Nicomedia

The Holy Martyrs Trophimus and Eucarpus were soldiers at Nicomedia during the persecution against Christians under Emperor Diocletian (284-305). They distinguished themselves by their great ferocity in carrying out all of the emperor's cruel decrees against the faithful. One day, when these soldiers caught up with some Christians whom they were pursuing, they suddenly saw a large fiery cloud descend from the heavens. From within the cloud came forth a Voice calling them to stop threatening God's servants. The soldiers fell to the ground in fright, overwhelmed by the divine manifestation. Spiritually reborn after this miraculous encounter with God's power, the soldiers experienced a complete transformation of heart. They released all the jailed Christians from the prisons where they had been detained. For this righteous act of mercy, Saints Trophimus and Eucarpus were handed over to terrible torments: they were suspended by their limbs and their bodies were torn with iron hooks. When a great fire was kindled, the holy martyrs went willingly into the flames and there gave up their souls to God, sealing their witness to Christ with their blood and suffering.

St Ananias the Wonderworker

“Born in Chalcedon, he was little of stature, like Zaccheus, but great in spirit and faith. He denied himself to the world at the age of fifteen and settled near the River Euphrates in a little hut, where he atoned for his sins, and prayed to God, at first with his teacher Mayum and then, after Mayum’s death, alone. By the power of his prayers he filled an empty well with water, healed the sick of various pains and tamed wild beasts. There was a tamed lion with him as his servant. He had insight into distant happenings. When robbers attacked a stylite, Pionius, at some distance from him, and beat him up to such an extent that he decided to come down from his pillar and go to complain to the judges, St Aninus saw his intention in his soul and sent him a letter by means of his lion, telling him to set aside his intention, to forgive his assaulters and to continue in his asceticism. He was inexpressibly generous. The bishop of Neo-Caesarea made a gift to him of a donkey, to ease his carrying of water from the river, but he gave this donkey to some poor man who had complained to him of his poverty. The bishop gave him a second donkey, but he gave that away. Then the bishop gave him a third donkey, not for his own but only to serve as a water-carrier, to be kept and returned. At the time of his death, he saw Moses, Aaron and Or coming to him and calling: ‘Aninus, the Lord is calling you. Get up and come with us.’ This he revealed to his disciples, and gave his spirit to the Lord whom he had served so faithfully. He was 110 years old when he finished his earthly course.” (Prologue)

Saint Nikolai, Bishop of Ochrid and Zica, Serbia

1956

He has been called ‘The New Chrysostom’ for his many grace-filled sermons and writings. He was born in 1880 in the Serbian village of Lelich. After attending the Seminary of St Sava in Belgrade, he obtained doctoral degrees from both the University of Berne and Oxford University. In 1919, Archimandrite Nikolai was made Bishop of Zica. In 1941 Bishop Nikolai was arrested by the Nazis and, after three years’ imprisonment in Ljubostir Vojlovici Monastery, was sent to the infamous Dachau concentration camp along with the Serbian Patriarch Gavrilo. He both witnessed and personally underwent many tortures there until the camp was liberated by the US army in 1945. After the war he fled Communist-controlled Yugoslavia and emigrated to the United States, where he taught at St Sava’s Seminary, St Vladimir Seminary and St Tikhon seminary. It was at St Tikhon Seminary that he reposed in 1956. His relics rested for awhile at St Sava’s Seminary in Libertyville IL, then were returned to Serbia, where they now reside. Throughout his adult life, the holy monk and bishop poured forth a steady stream of beautiful homilies and theological and spiritual writings. He is the author of the Prologue from Ochrid, a Slavic Synaxarion. The luminous homilies included therein, one for each day of the year, give a good sample of his inspired writing. His feast is kept on this day (March 5 OC, March 18 NC) by Orthodox Christians on both the Old and New Calendars. Note: With the blessing of Bishop Jovan of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Mitrophan Chin is engaged in a project to translate St Nikolai’s Prologue into Chinese. To learn more about this worthy project, see his web site: http://chineseorthodox.n3.net

Also commemorated: Rep. St Nikolaj of Zhicha

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 1.1-20

¹The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

¹The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

²Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

²Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for Jehovah hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. ³The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. ³The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. ⁴Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. ⁴Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that deal corruptly! they have forsaken Jehovah, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are estranged and gone backward. ⁵Why will ye be still stricken, that ye revolt more and more? the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

⁵Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ⁶From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and fresh stripes: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil. ⁶From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. ⁷Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. ⁷Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. ⁸And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. ⁸And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city. ⁹Except Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah. ⁹Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

¹⁰Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

¹⁰Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. ¹¹What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. ¹¹To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. ¹²When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample my courts? ¹²When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? ¹³Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. ¹³Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies,—I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn meeting. ¹⁴Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. ¹⁴Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble unto me; I am weary of bearing them. ¹⁵And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. ¹⁵And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

¹⁶Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; ¹⁶Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; ¹⁷Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. ¹⁷learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. ¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. ¹⁹If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: ¹⁹If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: ²⁰but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it. ²⁰But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 1.1-13

¹In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

¹In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ²And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. ²And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. ³And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

³And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. ⁴And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. ⁴And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. ⁵And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. ⁵And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

⁶And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

⁶And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. ⁷And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. ⁷And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. ⁸And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. ⁸And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

⁹And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

⁹And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. ¹⁰And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. ¹⁰And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. ¹¹And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. ¹¹And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. ¹²And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. ¹²And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. ¹³And the evening and the morning were the third day. ¹³And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 1.1-20

¹The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

¹The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: ²To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; ²To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding; ³To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; ³To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity; ⁴To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. ⁴To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion: ⁵That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels: ⁵A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: ⁶To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings. ⁶To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

⁷The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. ⁷The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. ⁸My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: ⁸My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother: ⁹For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck. ⁹For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

¹⁰My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. ¹⁰My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not. ¹¹If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause; ¹¹If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: ¹²Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit; ¹²Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: ¹³We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: ¹³We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil; ¹⁴Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: ¹⁴Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse: ¹⁵My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: ¹⁵My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path: ¹⁶For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. ¹⁶For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. ¹⁷Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. ¹⁷For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird: ¹⁸And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. ¹⁸And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives. ¹⁹So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof. ¹⁹So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. ²⁰Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;

²⁰Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: