Thursday, 11 April 2024

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent

24 days before Pascha · Tone 3 · Liturgy · Lenten Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum

The holy hieromartyr Antipas was a disciple of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian and was bishop of the Church of Pergamum during the reign of the Emperor Nero (54-68). He is the same Antipas to whom the Lord Himself bears witness in the Apocalypse, calling him "Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells" (Revelation 2:13). By the example of his life, by his unwavering faith and by his constant preaching about Christ, Saint Antipas began to turn the people of Pergamum away from their offerings to the demons. The pagan priests, seeing their temples emptied and the sacrifices to the idols left untouched, accused him before the governor of insulting the gods. When threats and flattery alike failed to shake his confession, the enraged priests dragged him to the temple of Artemis and cast him into a red-hot brazen bull, the very vessel in which sacrifices were customarily offered to the demons. From within that fiery furnace the saint prayed aloud to God, asking that He would receive his soul and strengthen the faith of the Christians of Pergamum. By night the faithful gathered up his body, untouched by the flames, and buried it within the city. His tomb at once became a fount of miracles and of healings from many sicknesses, and the holy myrrh that flowed from his relics is to this day a source of grace for those who venerate him.

Saint Tryphaena of Cyzicus

Saint Tryphaena was a Christian woman of noble birth who lived in the city of Cyzicus on the Sea of Marmara in the first century. She was the daughter of Anastasius and Socratia, members of a Roman senatorial family, and from her youth she was zealous for the Faith of Christ. Tryphaena openly preached the Gospel in her native city and brought many of her pagan neighbours to belief, until she was denounced to the local Roman governor, Caesarius. Refusing to honour the gods of the empire and confessing herself a Christian, she was condemned to death. According to her synaxarion she was first cast into a fiery furnace, but came forth unharmed; she was then thrown from a high tree onto a bed of iron nails and given over to wild beasts, which would not touch her; finally she was gored to death by an enraged bull and so received the crown of martyrdom. From the place where her blood was shed there welled up a spring of pure water, and tradition holds that nursing mothers who lacked milk to feed their children received this gift through her prayers. The Church of Constantinople and the Greek Church commemorate her among the venerable on 11 April, while the Slavic tradition keeps her memory among the martyrs on 31 January.

Venerable Pharmuthius of Egypt

Saint Pharmuthius was a desert anchorite who lived in Egypt during the fourth century, in the great age of Egyptian monasticism. He laboured in the same desert as Saint John the Anchorite (commemorated 29 March), the holy ascetic who had hidden himself in an abandoned well that had been infested with snakes and scorpions. According to the synaxarion, when the young John first came out into the wilderness in search of a guide, he made his way to Saint Pharmuthius and received from him the blessing to live alone in solitary prayer. From that time Saint Pharmuthius cared for John as a spiritual father, providing him with bread and water in his hidden cell. Pharmuthius himself remained in the desert in unceasing prayer, fasting and silence, attaining to a high degree of contemplation and dispassion, and was vouchsafed the gift of foresight. After many years of struggle he reposed in peace and was numbered among the venerable Fathers of the Egyptian desert. His memory is kept by the Orthodox Church on 11 April.

Holy Martyrs Processus and Martinian

1st c.

They were jailers in the Roman prison that held Sts Peter and Paul, and came to faith in Christ through the witness of the two holy Apostles. After receiving baptism, Processus and Martinian released the saints from prison. As the Apostles were leaving Rome, the Lord appeared to Peter on the Appian way. When Peter asked him where he was going, he replied, ‘To Rome, to be crucified once again.’ Abashed, the Apostles returned to Rome to face their martyrdom. Processus and Martinian were beheaded along with St Paul.

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 28.14-22

¹⁴Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

¹⁴Wherefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem: ¹⁵Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: ¹⁵Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

¹⁶Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. ¹⁶therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste. ¹⁷Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. ¹⁷And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.

¹⁸And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. ¹⁸And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. ¹⁹As often as it passeth through, it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night: and it shall be nought but terror to understand the message. ¹⁹From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. ²⁰For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. ²⁰For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. ²¹For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. ²¹For Jehovah will rise up as in mount Perazim, he will be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act. ²²Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth. ²²Now therefore be ye not scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, upon the whole earth.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 10.32-11.9

³²These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

³²These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

¹And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

¹And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. ²And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. ²And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. ³And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. ³And they said one to another, Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. ⁴And they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. ⁴And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. ⁵And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

⁵And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. ⁶And Jehovah said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do: and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do. ⁶And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. ⁷Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. ⁷Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. ⁸So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. ⁸So Jehovah scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city. ⁹Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. ⁹Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 13.19-14.6

¹⁹The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. ¹⁹The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil. ²⁰He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. ²⁰Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it. ²¹Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. ²¹Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good. ²²A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. ²²A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous. ²³Much food is in the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice. ²³Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. ²⁴He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. ²⁴He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. ²⁵The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want. ²⁵The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.

¹Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. ¹Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands. ²He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. ²He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. ³In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them. ³In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. ⁴Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox. ⁴Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. ⁵A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. ⁵A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies. ⁶A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding. ⁶A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.