Saturday, 18 May 2024

Saturday of the 2nd Sunday of Pascha

13 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra and the Seven Holy Virgins

Saint Theodotus lived in the city of Ancyra in Galatia in the late third and early fourth centuries. He was a married man and an innkeeper by profession, but used his trade as a cover to assist the Christians during the persecution of the emperor Diocletian. Outwardly he sold wine and gave shelter to travellers; in secret he hid Christians from arrest, ransomed those who had been captured, gave alms to the poor, and brought the bodies of the martyrs from their places of execution to be honourably buried.

The seven holy virgins, Tecusa, Alexandra, Phaina, Claudia, Euphrasia, Matrona, and Julia, all elderly and consecrated to God from their youth, lived in the same city in continual prayer, fasting and works of charity. Saint Tecusa was the aunt of Saint Theodotus. Brought before the governor Theotecnus, the virgins boldly confessed Christ and refused to take part in the rites of the goddesses Artemis and Athena. They were tortured, but persevered; at last heavy stones were tied to their feet and they were drowned in a nearby lake. That night Saint Tecusa appeared in a dream to Theodotus and asked him to recover their bodies; he did so, with the help of fellow Christians, and buried them. For this he was himself seized, terribly tortured, and beheaded for the name of Christ. The holy seven virgins suffered about the year 303 and Saint Theodotus shortly after them. The Greek calendars also commemorate them on 6 November.

Holy Martyrs Heraclius, Paulinus and Benedimus of Athens

Saints Heraclius, Paulinus and Benedimus were natives of Athens who lived during the persecution of the emperor Decius in the middle of the third century. Filled with zeal for the Gospel, they went about the city preaching the true God and exhorting the pagans to abandon the worship of senseless idols. By their words and the example of their pure lives many of their fellow citizens were turned from idolatry to the light of Christ. When their preaching could no longer be hidden, the three were arrested and brought before the magistrates. They confessed Christ openly and refused to offer sacrifice to the demons. After heavy beatings they were cast into a burning furnace, but the grace of God preserved them unharmed in the flames. The judges, seeing that they could not break their faith, ordered them to be beheaded, and so the three holy martyrs received their crowns together.

Holy Martyrs Peter, Dionysius, Andrew, Paul and Christina

These holy martyrs suffered for Christ during the persecution of the emperor Decius about the year 250. Saint Peter, a young man of Lampsacus on the Hellespont, was brought before the proconsul Optimus and commanded to offer sacrifice to Aphrodite. He refused, declaring it shameful to honour with sacrifice a goddess of unchastity, and was beaten and tortured at length until he gave up his soul to God. After his death the proconsul moved on to Troas, where Saints Andrew and Paul, soldiers from Mesopotamia, were brought before him together with the Christian Dionysius and the virgin Christina, all of whom had been arrested for their faith. The two soldiers were ordered to escort the prisoners. Touched by the courage and beauty of the virgin Christina, they at first tried to seduce her, but she rebuked them so firmly that, instead of falling into sin, they themselves were brought to faith in Christ. When this was discovered, Andrew, Paul and Dionysius were stoned by a pagan mob and so received their crowns, while Christina, who was about sixteen years old, was beheaded. Their bodies were gathered up and buried by Christians in Lampsacus.

Holy Martyrs Peter, Dionysius, Christina, Andrew, Paul, Benedimus, Paulinus, and Heraclius

250

“These Saints all contested in martyrdom during the reign of Decius (249-251). Peter was from Lampsacus in the Hellespont. For refusing to offer sacrifice to the idol of Aphrodite, his whole body was crushed and broken with chains and pieces of wood on a torture-wheel; having endured this torment courageously, he gave up his soul. “Paul and Andrew were soldiers from Mesopotamia brought to Athens with their governor; there they were put in charge of two captive Christians, Dionysius and Christina. The soldiers, seeing the beauty of the virgin Christina, attempted to move her to commit sin with them, but she refused and, by her admonitions, brought them to faith in Christ. They and Dionysius were stoned to death, and Christina was beheaded. “Heraclius, Paulinus,and Benedimus were Athenians, and preachers of the Gospel who turned many of the heathen from their error to the light of Christ. Brought before the governor, they confesed their Faith, and after many torments were beheaded.” (Great Horologion) The Prologue adds: “One Nicomachus, who was tortured with them, denied Christ under torture, and instantly lost his mind, tearing at his body with his teeth and foaming at the mouth until he breathed his last.”

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 5.21-33

²¹And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²¹And when they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them brought. ²²But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, ²²But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told, ²³Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. ²³saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. ²⁴Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. ²⁴Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow. ²⁵And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people. ²⁵Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. ²⁶Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. ²⁶Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. ²⁷And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, ²⁷And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. ²⁸saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

²⁹Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. ²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree. ³⁰The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. ³¹Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. ³¹Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³²And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. ³²And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

³³But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were minded to slay them.

³³When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 6.14-27

¹⁴Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. ¹⁴When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.

¹⁵Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone.

¹⁵When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

¹⁶And when evening came, his disciples went down unto the sea; ¹⁶And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, ¹⁷And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. ¹⁷and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea unto Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. ¹⁸And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. ¹⁸And the sea was rising by reason of a great wind that blew. ¹⁹So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. ¹⁹When therefore they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat: and they were afraid. ²⁰But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. ²⁰But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. ²¹Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. ²¹They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat: and straightway the boat was at the land whither they were going.

²²The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

²²On the morrow the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, save one, and that Jesus entered not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples went away alone ²³(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) ²³(howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks): ²⁴When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. ²⁴when the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. ²⁵And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? ²⁵And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? ²⁶Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. ²⁶Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled. ²⁷Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed. ²⁷Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.