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Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

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

Great Canon

Saints commemorated

The Holy Martyr Pancharius of Nicomedia

The Holy Martyr Pancharius was a friend of Emperor Diocletian who had abandoned the Christian faith and become a pagan. His mother and sister, remaining devoted to Christ, sent him a letter in which they urged the apostate to fear God and remember the dread Last Judgment. Being ashamed of himself and moved by their fervent prayers, Saint Pancharius accepted the counsel of his mother. He confessed his faith in Christ before the emperor and declared himself a Christian. For his bold testimony to the Orthodox faith, he was subjected to terrible torments and ultimately died a martyr's death for Christ in order to live with Him eternally. His story emphasises the power of maternal faith, family intercession, and the possibility of repentance and redemption through Christ, even after apostasy. Saint Pancharius is commemorated on 19 March in the Orthodox Church calendar as a holy martyr.

The Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Daria

Chrysanthos was the only son of Polemon, a prominent pagan in Rome. As befit his status, he was given every opportunity for secular learning, but seemed unable to acquire worldly wisdom. By God’s providence, copies of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles came into his possession and, reading them avidly, he was enlightened and desired above all to be a Christian. He found a priest, Carpophorus, who instructed him in the Faith and baptised him. When his father discovered Chrysanthos’ conversion, he was angry and did everything he could to turn his son back to paganism, using even threats and imprisonment. When none of these measures worked, Polemon arranged for his son to be married to a beautiful and learned young pagan woman named Daria, hoping that affection for her would draw his son away from Christ. But instead, Chrysanthus persuaded Daria of the truth of Christianity, and she was secretly baptised.

When his father died, Chrysanthus and his wife began to confess Christ openly and to live publicly as Christians. They were soon arrested and grievously tortured for their faith. The torturer, whose name was Claudius, was so moved by their endurance and patience that he himself embraced the Faith, along with his whole household. For this they were executed: Claudius by drowning, his two sons by beheading, and his wife by hanging. Finally Chrysanthus and Daria were buried alive in a pit and covered with stones. This was during the reign of the Emperor Numerian.

Venerable Innocent of Komel and Vologda

1491

Saint Innocent was born at Moscow of the noble princely family of Okhlyabinin, descended from the princes of Russia. Forsaking the world while still young, he received the monastic tonsure at the Monastery of Saint Cyril of White Lake (Kirillo-Belozersk), where he was placed under the guidance of Saint Nilus of Sora, the great teacher of inward prayer and non-possession. Together with his elder, Saint Innocent journeyed to the East, visiting Palestine, Constantinople, and the Holy Mountain of Athos, where they remained for several years, gathering the wisdom of the holy fathers concerning the contemplative life. Returning to Russia and seeking deeper solitude, the two withdrew into the trackless forest by the river Sora, some fifteen versts from the Monastery of Saint Cyril. There they erected a cross, dug a well, and built separate cells in the manner of the ancient sketes, where Saint Nilus established his celebrated rule of prayer. After the repose of his elder, Saint Innocent withdrew further north into the Vologda hinterland, and in the year 1491 he built a hermitage at the river Eda, where it flows into the Nurma, in the wilderness of Komel. There he laboured for thirty years, gathering disciples and forming a brotherhood that observed the rule of Saint Nilus. Foreseeing his end, he gave his community careful instructions and reposed in peace on 19 March in the year 1521. In accordance with his last wish he was buried humbly in the corner of the monastery near the marsh, and over his grave was placed a stone inscribed with the date of his repose.

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 1.19-2.3

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 the LORD hath spoken it. 20but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.

21How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

21How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. 22Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: 22Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water. 23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 23Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

24Therefore saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies; 24Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:

25And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: 25and I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin; 26And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 26and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, a faithful town. 27Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness. 27Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

28And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed. 28But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed. 29For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. 29For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen. 30For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. 30For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. 31And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. 31And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.

1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

1The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

2And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 1.14-23

14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:

14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17And God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth, 17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 18and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 19And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

20And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

20And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that moveth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind: and God saw that it was good. 21And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. 22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day. 23And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 1.20-33

20Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 20Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places; 21She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 21She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words: 22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge? 23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 23Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you. 24Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;

24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof: 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 26I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 27When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you. 28Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me: 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah, 29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30They would none of my counsel, They despised all my reproof. 30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices. 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 32For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them. 33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil. 33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.