Friday, 5 April 2024

Friday of the Third Week of Lent

30 days before Pascha · Tone 2 · Presanctified · Lenten Fast

Presanctified Liturgy

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Pollio the Reader

304

The Holy Martyr Pollio (Pullio) was the chief reader (primicerius lectorum) of the church of Cibalae (modern Vinkovci) in the Roman province of Pannonia. He suffered for his confession of Christ in the year 304, in the great persecution of the emperor Diocletian, after his bishop, the holy hieromartyr Eusebius of Cibalae, had also been martyred. The acts of his passion (Passio Pollionis), composed in late antiquity in Pannonia, relate that the prefect Probus, on a tour of inspection of the Pannonian frontier, summoned Pollio and questioned him as to whether he was a Christian and what his office was. Pollio answered that he was a Christian and a reader of the divine Scriptures. Pressed to deny Christ and threatened with death by fire, he replied that he was ready to suffer all things rather than betray the truth, and so he was led outside the walls of the city and burnt alive on 28 April 304. Although his proper feast in the Hieronymian Martyrology is 28 April, in some Eastern synaxaria, including the calendar followed by the OCA for Pannonian and Sirmian martyrs, his memory is kept on 5 April with other holy martyrs of the western parts of the empire.

Holy Martyrs Agathopodes the Deacon and Theodulus the Reader

The Holy Martyrs Agathopodes (Agathopous) the Deacon and Theodulus (Theodoulos) the Reader of the church of Thessalonica suffered together in the persecution of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, around the year 303. Saint Agathopodes was a deacon of advanced years who had laboured long in the service of the altar; Saint Theodulus, by contrast, was very young, the son of devout parents who had dedicated him to God from childhood. From his youth he was a reader of the holy Scriptures in the assembly of the faithful.

The Life relates that Saint Theodulus saw in his sleep a man clothed in shining garments who placed in his hand a precious object; awakening, he found in his palm a beautiful ring engraved with the sign of the Cross, and understood that this was a token of his coming martyrdom. When the imperial edict of persecution was published (303), many fled or hid themselves, but the deacon and the reader continued openly to preach the Gospel. They were seized and brought before the eparch Faustinus.

Faustinus pressed them to sacrifice to the gods, alternately offering rewards and threatening tortures, but they answered with one voice, "We are Christians, and we are ready to suffer all things for Christ." Brought next morning before him a second time, they confessed Christ again, and the eparch ordered them to be cast into the sea with stones tied around their necks. As the wave bore Saint Agathopodes against the rocks he cried, "This shall be for us a second baptism, by which we shall be cleansed of our sins and shall come to Christ in purity." Saint Theodulus was likewise drowned. Their bodies were cast up upon the shore and buried by the Christians of Thessalonica. Their tomb in the church of Saints Agathopodes and Theodulus at Thessalonica became a place of healings.

Venerable Mark the Anchorite of Athens

Saint Mark the Anchorite was born at Athens, where in his youth he studied philosophy. After the death of his parents he distributed his inheritance to the poor and withdrew into Egypt, and from there into the deeper wilderness of Ethiopia, where he settled in a cave on Mount Trache (Tracian) above the sea. There he lived in absolute solitude for ninety-five years, seeing during all that time no human face, no beast and no bird. The first thirty years of his struggle were the most severe. Naked, he suffered from cold in winter and burning heat in summer; the desert plants served him for food, and at times he ate the dust and drank the bitter water of the sea. After this long battle the grace of God came upon him: angels brought him bread and water from above, and his hair grew long and clothed his body, sheltering him from the elements. In his old age he was sought out by the elder Abba Serapion, the disciple of Saint Antony, who came to him in the desert by divine prompting. As Mark spoke with Serapion of the wonders of faith, the mountain on which they stood moved more than five thousand cubits towards the sea; Saint Mark gently rebuked it, saying that he had not commanded it to leave its place but was only conversing with his brother, and at his word the mountain returned. He communed Mark of the Holy Mysteries (which were brought by an angel), and an angel-borne loaf of bread was set before them. Saint Mark, after revealing to Serapion that this was the day of his joy, raised his hands in prayer and reposed at the age of one hundred and thirty years, around the year 400. Serapion saw his soul received by angels into heaven, and lions came and dug a grave for him with their paws.

Venerable Theodora of Thessalonica

Saint Theodora of Thessalonica (812 to 892), known in the world as Agape, was born on the island of Aegina, the third child of the priest Anthony and his wife Chrysanthe. Saracen raids forced the family to flee to Thessalonica, where Agape, having lost her husband and two of her three children at a young age, distributed her belongings to the poor and entered the Monastery of Saint Stephen the Protomartyr. There she received the great schema with the name Theodora, and lived in obedience, fasting and silence for fifty-five years. The longest hagiography ever written in Byzantium of a holy woman, composed shortly after her repose by the priest Gregory of Thessalonica, records her ascetic struggles, her meekness and her gift of tears. She was renowned for hiding her virtues from her sisters, for performing the lowliest tasks of the convent and for spending whole nights in prayer. She reposed in peace on 29 August 892. A year after her repose myrrh began to flow from her tomb and from her icon, healing the sick. The convent was renamed for her. The OCA synaxarion and several Slavonic and Antiochian usages keep her memory on 5 April; this commemorates the wonders worked at her tomb and especially the streaming of myrrh from her icon during the rebuilding of her monastery, which began on this date. Her primary feast in the Greek tradition remains 29 August.

Our Holy Father Mark of Trache

c. 400

He is also called ‘Mark the Athenian’ because he was born in Athens. When his parents died, he pondered the transience of all earthly things, gave his goods to the poor, and embarked on a plank in the sea, asking God to lead him wherever He desired. By God’s providence, Mark was cast up on the shores of Libya, where he settled as a hermit on a mountain called Trache. (Some say it was in Ethiopia, but this seems less likely.) There he lived for ninety-five years, never seeing another human being. Saint Serapion visited him before his death and recorded his life. Serapion asked Mark if there were any Christians whose faith was so great that they could say to a mountain ‘Get up and cast yourself into the sea,’ and it would be so. Immediately the mountain on which they stood began to move like a wave, but Mark raised his hand and stilled it. On his deathbed, St Mark prayed for the salvation of all men and gave up his soul to God. Saint Serapion saw an angel carrying Mark’s soul, and a hand extended from heaven to receive it. Saint Mark was about 130 years old when he reposed.

Also commemorated: Martyrs Agathopedes, Theodulus and Their Companions

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 13.2-13

²Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

²Set ye up an ensign upon the bare mountain, lift up the voice unto them, wave the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. ³I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. ³I have commanded my consecrated ones, yea, I have called my mighty men for mine anger, even my proudly exulting ones. ⁴The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. ⁴The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of a great people! the noise of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together! Jehovah of hosts is mustering the host for the battle. ⁵They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. ⁵They come from a far country, from the uttermost part of heaven, even Jehovah, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

⁶Wail ye; for the day of Jehovah is at hand; as destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

⁶Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. ⁷Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: ⁷Therefore shall all hands be feeble, and every heart of man shall melt: ⁸and they shall be dismayed; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman in travail: they shall look in amazement one at another; their faces shall be faces of flame. ⁸And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. ⁹Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. ⁹Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. ¹⁰For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. ¹⁰For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not cause its light to shine. ¹¹And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. ¹¹And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity: and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. ¹²I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir. ¹²I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. ¹³Therefore I will make the heavens to tremble, and the earth shall be shaken out of its place, in the wrath of Jehovah of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. ¹³Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 8.4-21

⁴And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. ⁴And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. ⁵And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. ⁵And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.

⁶And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:

⁶And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: ⁷And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. ⁷and he sent forth a raven, and it went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. ⁸And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; ⁸Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; ⁹but the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him to the ark; for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: and he put forth his hand, and took her, and brought her in unto him into the ark. ⁹But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. ¹⁰And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; ¹⁰And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; ¹¹And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. ¹¹and the dove came in to him at eventide; and, lo, in her mouth an olive-leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. ¹²And he stayed yet other seven days, and sent forth the dove; and she returned not again unto him any more. ¹²And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.

¹³And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dried.

¹³And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. ¹⁴And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dry. ¹⁴And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. ¹⁵And God spake unto Noah, saying,

¹⁵And God spake unto Noah, saying, ¹⁶Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee. ¹⁶Go forth from the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee. ¹⁷Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. ¹⁷Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee of all flesh, both birds, and cattle, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. ¹⁸And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him: ¹⁸And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him: ¹⁹Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark. ¹⁹every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatsoever moveth upon the earth, after their families, went forth out of the ark.

²⁰And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

²⁰And Noah builded an altar unto Jehovah, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar. ²¹And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. ²¹And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, for that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 10.31-11.12

³¹The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. ³¹The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off. ³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. ³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked speaketh perverseness.

¹A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. ¹A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight. ²When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. ²When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom. ³The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them. ³The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. ⁴Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death. ⁴Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. ⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. ⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. ⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity. ⁷When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth. ⁷When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. ⁸The righteous is delivered out of trouble; And the wicked cometh in his stead. ⁸The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. ⁹With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered. ⁹An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. ¹⁰When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

¹⁰When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. ¹¹By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. ¹¹By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. ¹²He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

¹²He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.