Monday, 22 April 2024

Monday of the Sixth Week of Lent

13 days before Pascha · Tone 5 · Liturgy · Lenten Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Apostle Nathaniel of the Seventy

The Holy Apostle Nathaniel is commemorated on this day together with Apostles Luke (not the Evangelist) and Clement, all of whom are numbered among the Seventy. The Synaxarion of the Menaion identifies the Nathaniel commemorated on 22 April with Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, whom the Lord called a true Israelite in whom there is no guile, when Philip first brought him to Christ. Many Fathers of the Church, including Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Cyril of Alexandria and Saint Epiphanius of Cyprus, regard this Nathanael as the same person as the Apostle Bartholomew, son of Tholomai, who is numbered among the Twelve. After Pentecost he preached the Gospel together with Philip and laboured in many lands, suffering greatly for the name of Christ. The Apostles Luke and Clement, his companions in this commemoration, are also reckoned among the Seventy whom the Lord sent out two by two before His face. The Church honours them as fellow workers of the Twelve and as preachers of the Gospel to the nations.

Our Holy Father Theodore of Sykeon

613

He was born in Sykeon in Galatia in Asia Minor. (The Great Horologion says that he was born out of wedlock; the Prologue that his mother, Maria, was a rich widow; in either case, he was reared by his mother alone). At the age of ten, Theodore took up a life of strict asceticism, devoting himself to prayer, fasting and vigils. His mother planned for him to enter the military; but St George appeared to her in a dream, telling her that Theodore was to serve the King of Heaven rather than any earthly king. After this, Saint George appeared to Theodore many times, sometimes instructing him, sometimes saving him from danger. After a trip to the Holy Land, Theodore became a monk in Galatia — we should say “officially became a monk,” since he had been living as a monk from the age of ten. Once he had taken monastic vows, Theodore redoubled his ascetical labors, which exceeded those of any other monk of his time: for his asceticism, he was sometimes called the “Iron-eater.” Around 584 was ordained Bishop of Anastasiopolis in Galatia, much against his will. He served his flock faithfully for ten years, then begged to be relieved of his episcopal duties so that he might return to his beloved monastic life. Even during his lifetime, he was famed for his miracles and his authority to cast out demons. He departed this life in peace in 613.

Venerable Theodore the Sykeote, bishop of Anastasiopolis

613

Saint Theodore was born in the mid-sixth century in the village of Sykeon in Galatia in Asia Minor, into a pious family. When his mother Maria conceived him she had a vision of a bright star shining over her womb, and a clairvoyant elder explained this as the grace of God descending upon her child. When Theodore reached the age of six his mother gave him a golden belt, intending him for a military career, but the Holy Great Martyr George appeared to her in a dream and told her not to seek soldiering for the boy because he was destined to serve God. From childhood Theodore lived ascetically, fasting, praying and devoting himself to the Scriptures. He withdrew to a cave near a chapel of Saint George, who continued to guide and protect him through the years of his struggle. After receiving the gift of healing he was sought out by the sick and oppressed, and many were freed from sickness and from demonic possession by his prayers. About the year 584 he was reluctantly ordained Bishop of Anastasiopolis in Galatia, and shepherded that flock for some ten years before being permitted to return to a life of solitary prayer. He reposed in the year 613. The Church remembers him as a wonderworker, hierarch and faithful imitator of Saint George.

Venerable Vitalius the hermit, monk of Gaza

Saint Vitalius was a monk of the monastery of Abba Seridus near Gaza in Palestine. At the age of sixty he travelled to Alexandria during the patriarchate of Saint John the Merciful, and there he undertook an extraordinary and hidden ascetic struggle for the salvation of the city's prostitutes. He wrote down from memory the names of all the harlots of Alexandria and prayed for each of them by name. Working as a hired labourer by day, he gave the small wages he earned each evening to one of the women, saying, I beg you, take this money and do not sin with anyone tonight. He would remain in her room while she slept, spending the whole night reading the Psalms and praying for her conversion, and quietly leaving at dawn. He bound each woman by an oath not to reveal the purpose of his visits. The townspeople, ignorant of his secret labour, slandered him as a debaucher, but he bore the reproach in silence. By his prayers and example many women were rescued from sin: some entered monasteries, some married honestly, others found respectable work. Only after his death, when one of these women publicly testified to his holiness, did the city understand the saint's hidden charity. He is commemorated on 22 April and also on 11 January.

Holy Martyr Leonidas

202

He was the father of Origen, the great early Christian writer. For his constant faith in Christ, he was first deprived of all his property, then condemned to death. Origen wrote to his father in prison: “Father, do not worry about us, and do not flee from martyrdom on our account.”

Our Holy Father, the monk Vitalis

See his main commemoration on January 11.

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 48.17-49.4

¹⁷Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

¹⁷Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am Jehovah thy God, who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. ¹⁸O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: ¹⁸Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: ¹⁹Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me. ¹⁹thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the grains thereof: his name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me.

²⁰Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

²⁰Go ye forth from Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans; with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth: say ye, Jehovah hath redeemed his servant Jacob. ²¹And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out. ²¹And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out. ²²There is no peace, saith Jehovah, to the wicked. ²²There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

¹Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye peoples, from far: Jehovah hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name:

¹Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. ²And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; ²and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me: and he hath made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he kept me close: ³And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. ³and he said unto me, Thou art my servant; Israel, in whom I will be glorified. ⁴Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God. ⁴But I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and vanity; yet surely the justice due to me is with Jehovah, and my recompense with my God.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 27.1-41

¹And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Here am I.

¹And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. ²And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death. ²And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death: ³Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison; ³Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison; ⁴And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. ⁴and make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. ⁵And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

⁵And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. ⁶And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

⁶And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, ⁷Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. ⁷Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless thee before Jehovah before my death. ⁸Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. ⁸Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee. ⁹Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory food for thy father, such as he loveth: ⁹Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth: ¹⁰and thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, so that he may bless thee before his death. ¹⁰And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. ¹¹And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man: ¹¹And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. ¹²My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. ¹²My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. ¹³And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. ¹³And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son; only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. ¹⁴And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved. ¹⁴And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved. ¹⁵And Rebekah took the goodly garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son; ¹⁵And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son: ¹⁶And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: ¹⁶and she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: ¹⁷and she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. ¹⁷And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

¹⁸And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?

¹⁸And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son? ¹⁹And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. ¹⁹And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first-born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. ²⁰And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. ²⁰And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because Jehovah thy God sent me good speed. ²¹And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. ²¹And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. ²²And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. ²²And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. ²³And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him. ²³And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau’s hands: so he blessed him. ²⁴And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. ²⁴And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am. ²⁵And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. ²⁵And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. ²⁶And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. ²⁶And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. ²⁷And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which Jehovah hath blessed: ²⁷And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: ²⁸Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: ²⁸And God give thee of the dew of heaven, And of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and new wine: ²⁹Let peoples serve thee, And nations bow down to thee: Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be every one that blesseth thee. ²⁹Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

³⁰And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

³⁰And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. ³¹And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. ³¹And he also made savory food, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. ³²And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. ³²And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy first-born, Esau. ³³And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. ³³And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. ³⁴When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. ³⁴And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. ³⁵And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. ³⁵And he said, Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing. ³⁶And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? ³⁶And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? ³⁷And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with grain and new wine have I sustained him: and what then shall I do for thee, my son? ³⁷And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son? ³⁸And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. ³⁸And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. ³⁹And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of heaven from above; ³⁹And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; ⁴⁰And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck. ⁴⁰And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother; And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt break loose, That thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.

⁴¹And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

⁴¹And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 19.16-25

¹⁶He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. ¹⁶He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; But he that is careless of his ways shall die. ¹⁷He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. ¹⁷He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again. ¹⁸Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. ¹⁸Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction. ¹⁹A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. ¹⁹A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver him, thou must do it yet again. ²⁰Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. ²⁰Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. ²¹There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand. ²¹There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. ²²That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar. ²²The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. ²³The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. ²³The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life; And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil. ²⁴A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. ²⁴The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. ²⁵Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. ²⁵Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

Vespers

— St George

Isaiah — Isaiah 43.9-14

⁹Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. ⁹Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth. ¹⁰Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ¹⁰Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ¹¹I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. ¹¹I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour. ¹²I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. ¹²I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God. ¹³Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? ¹³Yea, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it?

¹⁴Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

¹⁴Thus saith Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.

Vespers

— St George

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

¹But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.

²In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,

³And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.

⁴For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.

⁵And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.

⁶As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.

⁷And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.

⁸They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

⁹They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

Vespers

— St George

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

⁷But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.

⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.

⁹But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.

¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.

¹¹Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.

¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.

¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:

¹⁴For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.

¹⁵This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.