Friday, 26 April 2024

Friday of the Sixth Week of Lent

9 days before Pascha · Tone 5 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · Lenten Fast

Presanctified Liturgy

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Basil, bishop of Amasia and Righteous Virgin Glaphyra

322

Licinius was co-emperor with Constantine the Great. At his accession, he had agreed to tolerate Christianity in his territories, but soon turned to persecuting the Christians, and to a variety of carnal sins. He conceived a passion for Glaphyra, a Christian virgin handmaid of the Empress Constantia. When Glaphyra told Constantia of this, the Empress sent her away to Amasia in the East for her protection. There she was received and protected by Bishop Basil of that city. Licinius learned where Glaphyra was hiding and ordered that both she and the bishop be brought to him as prisoners. The soldiers who came for her found that she had already died, so they returned with only Bishop Basil, who was subjected to cruel tortures, then beheaded. His body was cast into the sea, but, with the help of an angel of God, his people found his body, retrieved it from the sea, and returned it to Amasia. The Prologue adds, “The Emperor Constantine raised an army against Licinius, overcame him, arrested him and sent him into exile in Gaul, where he ended his God-hating days.”

Hieromartyr Basileus, bishop of Amasea

322

Saint Basileus lived in the late third and early fourth centuries and was bishop of the city of Amasea in Pontus. He was distinguished for his learning, his pastoral zeal and his courage in defending the faith. He took part in the local councils of Ankyra in 314 and of Neocaesarea in 315, where the canons of these holy synods were drawn up. The persecution of the Christians flared up again under the Emperor Licinius, the eastern colleague and rival of Saint Constantine. The Empress Constantia, sister of Constantine and wife of Licinius, had a young virgin in her service, Glaphyra, whom Licinius pursued with impure desire. The empress dressed Glaphyra in male clothing and sent her secretly out of Nicomedia. The maiden came at last to Amasea, where she was sheltered by Bishop Basileus and helped him with the building of a church through her gifts. When her hiding place was betrayed and her letter to the empress fell into the emperor's hand, Licinius summoned the saint to Nicomedia. Glaphyra reposed before the order arrived. Basileus presented himself before the emperor with two deacons, Parthenios and Theotimos, and after refusing to deny the faith was beheaded by the sword in the year 322. His body was cast into the sea but was carried by divine providence back to Amasea, where his disciples received it with reverence and buried it on this day.

Righteous virgin martyr Glaphyra

Saint Glaphyra was a young virgin of noble Italian birth who served as handmaid to the Empress Constantia, sister of Saint Constantine the Great and wife of the Emperor Licinius. The emperor, inflamed by an impure passion for the maiden, sought to violate her, but she repulsed his advances and fled for help to her mistress. Constantia, fearing for the chastity and life of her servant, dressed her in male attire, gave her gold and jewels, and sent her secretly out of Nicomedia together with a faithful escort. Glaphyra travelled through Asia Minor and reached Amasea in Pontus, where she was received by the holy bishop Basileus. He sheltered her in the house of a pious Christian and counselled her to live in retirement so as not to bring danger upon the local Church. Hearing that the bishop was building a new church for his flock, she gave him all the gold and treasure she carried with her, and even wrote to Constantia asking for further means to complete the work. The letter fell into the hands of Licinius, who at once gave orders that both she and the bishop should be brought to him. Saint Glaphyra reposed in peace before the soldiers arrived. The Church remembers her with Saint Basileus, who suffered martyrdom on her account.

Saint Justa the nun

Saint Justa is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on this day among the saints listed in the synaxaria of 26 April. The brief notices of the menologion remember her as a nun who served Christ in the monastic life and reposed in peace, whose name is preserved among the company of the saints though few details of her life have survived. She is honoured together with the holy hieromartyr Basileus of Amasea, the virgin Glaphyra, the holy hierarch Stephen of Perm, and the other saints whose memory is kept on this day, joining their voices in prayer before the throne of the Lamb.

Saint Stephen, bishop of Perm and enlightener of the Zyrians

Saint Stephen of Perm was born about the year 1340 in the city of Velikii Ustiug in the north of Russia, the son of a clergyman of the cathedral named Simeon. From his youth he was drawn to the spiritual life, learning to read at an early age and devoting himself to the study of the Scriptures and the Fathers. He took monastic vows at the monastery of Saint Gregory the Theologian at Rostov, where he gathered a great library and learned Greek as well as the language of the Zyrian people, who lived in the forests of the far north and were still given to paganism. With a fervent missionary spirit Stephen invented an alphabet for the Zyrian tongue and translated the Liturgy, the Psalter, parts of the Gospels and many prayers into the language of the people. In 1379 he received the blessing of the metropolitan and went into the country of Perm, where he preached Christ, baptised whole villages, cut down sacred trees of the heathen, and overthrew their idols. He held a public disputation with the famed pagan sorcerer Pam, defeating him by the power of God. In 1383 he was consecrated the first bishop of Lesser Perm. He built churches and monasteries and opened schools where young Zyrians learned the Scriptures in their own tongue. Going to Moscow on church business in 1396, he reposed there in peace and was buried in the Saviour Monastery in the Kremlin. He is honoured as the apostle and enlightener of the Zyrian people.

St Stephen,Bishop of Perm

1396

As a young man he entered monastic life at the monastery of St Gregory the Theologian in Rostov. Learning that the land of Perm (on the western slopes of the Ural Mountains) was still immured in paganism, he was filled with a desire to bring the Gospel to its people. He set about learning the language, created an alphabet and translated the service books. With the blessing of the Metropolitan of Moscow he then set out and began his apostolic labors. When, after much difficulty and many sufferings, he had gathered a community of baptised Christians, he was made Bishop of the region. Once, in his old age, he returned to Moscow, where he reposed in 1396.

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 66.10-24

¹⁰Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

¹⁰Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her; ¹¹That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. ¹¹that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. ¹²For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. ¹²For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and ye shall suck thereof; ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the knees. ¹³As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. ¹³As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. ¹⁴And ye shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Jehovah shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies. ¹⁴And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

¹⁵For, behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

¹⁵For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. ¹⁶For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. ¹⁶For by fire will Jehovah execute judgment, and by his sword, upon all flesh; and the slain of Jehovah shall be many. ¹⁷They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. ¹⁷They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go unto the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together, saith Jehovah. ¹⁸For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

¹⁸For I know their works and their thoughts: the time cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall see my glory. ¹⁹And I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations. ¹⁹And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. ²⁰And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. ²⁰And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an oblation unto Jehovah, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring their oblation in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah. ²¹And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith Jehovah. ²¹And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

²²For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Jehovah, so shall your seed and your name remain. ²²For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. ²³And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. ²³And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Jehovah. ²⁴And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead bodies of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. ²⁴And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 49.33-50.26

³³And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. ³³And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

¹And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

¹And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. ²And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. ²And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. ³And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of embalming: and the Egyptians wept for him threescore and ten days. ³And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. ⁴And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,

⁴And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found favor in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ⁵My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. ⁵My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. ⁶And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. ⁶And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. ⁷And Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,

⁷And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, ⁸And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. ⁸and all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. ⁹And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. ⁹And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. ¹⁰And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days. ¹⁰And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days. ¹¹And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim, which is beyond Jordan. ¹¹And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. ¹²And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: ¹²And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: ¹³For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. ¹³for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burying-place, of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. ¹⁴And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

¹⁴And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

¹⁵And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

¹⁵And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. ¹⁶And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, ¹⁶And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, ¹⁷So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. ¹⁷So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. ¹⁸And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. ¹⁸And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we are thy servants. ¹⁹And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? ¹⁹And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? ²⁰And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. ²⁰But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. ²¹Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. ²¹Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

²²And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.

²²And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. ²³And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees. ²³And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph’s knees. ²⁴And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. ²⁴And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. ²⁵And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. ²⁵And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. ²⁶So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. ²⁶So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 31.8-31

⁸Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate. ⁸Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. ⁹Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy. ⁹Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. ¹⁰A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.

¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. ¹¹The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain. ¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. ¹²She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life. ¹³She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands. ¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. ¹⁴She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar. ¹⁴She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. ¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. ¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens. ¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. ¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. ¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms. ¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. ¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable; Her lamp goeth not out by night. ¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. ¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. ¹⁹She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle. ²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. ²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. ²²She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. ²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. ²³Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land. ²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. ²⁴She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. ²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. ²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come. ²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue. ²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness. ²⁸Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying: ²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. ²⁹Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all. ²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. ³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. ³⁰Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised. ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates. ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.