Thursday, 25 April 2024

Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark

Thursday of the Sixth Week of Lent

10 days before Pascha · Tone 5 · Red cross (polyeleos typikon symbol) · Lenten Fast

Saints commemorated

★ Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark

Saint Mark the Evangelist, also called John Mark, was a Jew of the tribe of Levi, born in Cyrene of Pentapolis in north Africa and brought as a child by his parents to Jerusalem. His mother Mary owned the house where the Lord and his disciples kept the Mystical Supper and where the Holy Spirit later descended upon the apostles at Pentecost. Mark is numbered among the Seventy Apostles. He became a close companion of Saints Peter, Paul and Barnabas, and accompanied them on their missionary journeys; Saint Peter calls him his son in the first of his catholic epistles. While in Rome with Peter, Mark wrote down the Gospel that bears his name, recording the preaching of Peter for the use of the faithful. He was the first to bring the Gospel to Egypt, founding the Church of Alexandria around the year forty-nine and ordaining Anianus as his successor on its episcopal throne. From Alexandria he preached widely in Libya and the Pentapolis. Returning to Alexandria during the celebration of the pagan feast of Serapis, he was seized by the heathen mob, who tied a rope around his neck and dragged him through the streets of the city until he gave up his soul to God on 25 April in about the year sixty-eight. He is honoured as the founder of the Apostolic See of Alexandria, the writer of the second Gospel, and one of the four Evangelists. His symbol is the lion.

Saint Anianus, bishop of Alexandria

Saint Anianus was the second bishop of Alexandria after the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, who consecrated him to that throne. Tradition recounts that he was a cobbler in the city when Saint Mark first arrived to preach the Gospel. As Mark walked into Alexandria one of the straps of his sandal broke, and he gave it to Anianus to repair. While Anianus was working, his awl pierced his hand and he cried aloud, One God. Mark, hearing this name of the one true God, took occasion to preach Christ to him and after healing his wound by prayer and the sign of the cross baptised him together with his household. Saint Anianus was eventually ordained bishop by the Evangelist himself, and after Mark's martyrdom he ruled the Alexandrian Church for some eighteen years, in great holiness and steadfast faith, until he reposed in peace about the year eighty-six. He is reverenced as one of the founders of the Church of Alexandria.

Saint Macedonius II, patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Macedonius the Second was Patriarch of Constantinople from the year 496 to 511 during the reigns of the emperors Anastasius. He was nephew of the holy Patriarch Gennadius and from his youth was distinguished by his piety, learning and ascetic life. As patriarch he steadfastly defended the decisions of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, the Council of Chalcedon, which proclaimed the two natures of Christ in one person. The Emperor Anastasius, who favoured the Monophysite party, sought repeatedly to compel Macedonius to renounce the Council, but the saint would not yield, even when offered great inducements and threatened with deposition. He spent the wealth of the patriarchate in the relief of the poor and the redemption of captives. At last the emperor sent soldiers to seize him by night, and he was driven from his throne and exiled to Euchaita in Pontus, then to Gangra in Paphlagonia, where he reposed about the year 517. The Church honours him as a confessor of the Orthodox faith.

Daily readings

Matins Gospel

— St Mark

Luke — Luke 10.1-15

¹After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

¹Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come. ²Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. ²And he said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest. ³Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. ³Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves. ⁴Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. ⁴Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no man on the way. ⁵And into whatsoever house ye shall enter, first say, Peace be to this house. ⁵And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. ⁶And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall turn to you again. ⁶And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. ⁷And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. ⁷And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. ⁸And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: ⁸And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: ⁹And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ⁹and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ¹⁰But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say, ¹⁰But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, ¹¹Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ¹¹Even the dust from your city, that cleaveth to our feet, we wipe off against you: nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh. ¹²I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. ¹²But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. ¹³Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹³Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. ¹⁴But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you. ¹⁵And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt be brought down unto Hades. ¹⁵And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

6th Hour

Isaiah — Isaiah 65.8-16

⁸Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

⁸Thus saith Jehovah, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sake, that I may not destroy them all. ⁹And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. ⁹And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. ¹⁰And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. ¹⁰And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

¹¹But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. ¹¹But ye that forsake Jehovah, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune, and that fill up mingled wine unto Destiny; ¹²Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. ¹²I will destine you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.

¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be put to shame; ¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: ¹⁴behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall wail for vexation of spirit. ¹⁴Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. ¹⁵And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: ¹⁵And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen; and the Lord Jehovah will slay thee; and he will call his servants by another name: ¹⁶That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. ¹⁶so that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

Vespers

Genesis — Genesis 46.1-7

¹And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

¹And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. ²And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. ²And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. ³And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: ³And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: ⁴I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. ⁴I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

⁵And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ⁵And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ⁶And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: ⁶And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: ⁷His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. ⁷his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

Vespers

Proverbs — Proverbs 23.15-24.5

¹⁵My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine: ¹⁵My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. ¹⁶Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things. ¹⁶Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

¹⁷Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. ¹⁷Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day long: ¹⁸For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off. ¹⁸For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

¹⁹Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. ¹⁹Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way. ²⁰Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh: ²⁰Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: ²¹For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. ²¹For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. ²²Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old. ²²Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. ²³Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. ²³Buy the truth, and sell it not; Yea, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. ²⁴The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him. ²⁴The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. ²⁵Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. ²⁵Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice. ²⁶My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. ²⁶My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways. ²⁷For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit. ²⁷For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. ²⁸She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. ²⁸Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men. ²⁹Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

²⁹Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? ³⁰They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. ³⁰They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine. ³¹Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly: ³¹Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. ³²At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. ³²At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. ³³Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things. ³³Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. ³⁴Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. ³⁴Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. ³⁵They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. ³⁵They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. ¹Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:

¹Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. ²For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. ²For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief. ³Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is established;

³Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: ⁴And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. ⁴And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches. ⁵A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. ⁵A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.

Epistle

— St Mark weekly cycle

1 Peter — 1 Peter 5.6-14

⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;

⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: ⁷casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you. ⁷Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. ⁸Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: ⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: ⁹whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. ⁹Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. ¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. ¹⁰But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. ¹¹To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. ¹¹To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

¹²By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

¹²By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God: stand ye fast therein. ¹³She that is in Babylon, elect together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Mark my son. ¹³The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

¹⁴Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all that are in Christ. ¹⁴Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Gospel

— St Mark weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 6.7-13

⁷And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

⁷And he calleth unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits; ⁸And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: ⁸and he charged them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse; ⁹But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. ⁹but to go shod with sandals: and, said he, put not on two coats. ¹⁰And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. ¹⁰And he said unto them, Wheresoever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart thence. ¹¹And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. ¹¹And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them. ¹²And they went out, and preached that men should repent. ¹²And they went out, and preached that men should repent. ¹³And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. ¹³And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.