Sunday, 19 May 2024

Myrrhbearing Women

3rd Sunday of Pascha

14 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Patrick, bishop of Prusa, and three priests with him

‘Saint Patrick was Bishop of Prusa, a city in Bythinia (the present-day Brusa or Bursa). Because of his Christian faith, he was brought before Julius (or Julian) the Consul, who in his attempts to persuade Patrick to worship as he himself did, declared that thanks was owed to the gods for providing the hot springs welling up from the earth for the benefit of men. Saint Patrick answered that thanks for this was owed to our Lord Jesus Christ, and explained that when He, Who is God, created the earth, He made it with both fire and water, and the fire under the earth heats the water which wells up, producing hot springs; he then explained that there is another fire, which awaits the ungodly. Because of this, he was cast into the hot springs, but it was the soldiers who cast him in, and not he, who were harmed by the hot water. After this St Patrick was beheaded with the presbyters Acacius, Menander, and Polyaenus. Most likely this was during the reign of Diocletian (284-305).’ (Great Horologion)

Hieromartyr Patrick, bishop of Prussa, and his companions

Saint Patrick was bishop of the city of Prussa in Bithynia in Asia Minor and laboured fearlessly to turn the inhabitants from idolatry to the worship of the true God. With him are commemorated the three priests Acacius, Menander and Polyaenus, who stood beside him in the work of preaching and in the hour of suffering. They are believed to have suffered during the persecutions of the early fourth century, most likely in the reign of Diocletian. Brought before the city's prefect, Julius, who was on his way to take the medicinal hot baths, the four were led after him in iron chains. When questioned, Saint Patrick freely confessed Christ as the one true God and explained, by way of a sober natural reasoning, that the very fires beneath the earth which heated those waters had been ordered by the Creator's hand and not by the false gods to whom they were ascribed. The enraged prefect ordered him to be cast into the boiling springs, but the saint emerged unharmed while drops of the scalding water that splashed out injured several of his persecutors. Refusing still to sacrifice to the idols, Saint Patrick and his three companions were beheaded and so received their martyric crowns together. Together with them is also commemorated the holy martyr Theotima of Nicomedia.

Holy Martyr Theotima of Nicomedia

Saint Theotima was a Christian woman of Nicomedia in Bithynia who suffered for Christ at the very beginning of the fourth century, about the year 311, in the closing years of the great persecutions launched by Diocletian and continued under his successors. Together with the holy hieromartyr Patrick of Prussa and his fellow priests, with whom her name is regularly joined in the synaxaria, she is numbered among those who freely laid down their lives in the cause of the Gospel. Brought before the magistrates of the city, she boldly confessed her faith in Christ, refused to offer sacrifice to the idols, and after enduring tortures with great courage was put to death by the sword. Her name is preserved in the older Greek menologia and in the lists of the martyrs of Nicomedia, where she is honoured among the multitude of Christians who in that city sealed their confession with their blood.

Saint John the New, martyr of Bulgaria

Saint John, called the New, was a young Bulgarian who suffered for Christ in the eighteenth century during the time of the Ottoman yoke. He was born about the year 1775 in a Bulgarian village to pious Orthodox parents and was raised in the fear of God. While still a youth he was taken into service in a Turkish household and, under threat and persuasion, was for a time made to outwardly profess Islam, although in his heart he remained faithful to Christ. Repenting bitterly of his denial, he sought out a spiritual father, made full confession, and resolved to wash away his fall by the open confession of Christ. Going boldly into the streets in his Christian clothing, he proclaimed before the Turks that Jesus Christ is the only true God and that he himself was a Christian. He was at once seized, examined, and after refusing to return to the religion he had left, was tortured and beheaded in 1784, at the age of about nineteen, receiving the crown of martyrdom. He is honoured among the new martyrs of the Balkans, his memory being kept on 19 May, the date of his sufferings, with another commemoration on 5 March.

Venerable Cornelius, abbot of Komel

Saint Cornelius was born about 1455 to the noble family of Kriukov; his brother Lukian served at the court of the Great Prince of Moscow. Drawn from his youth to the monastic life, he was tonsured at the Saint Cyril of White Lake Monastery, where he laboured for many years copying books and serving the brethren in silent obedience. After a long pilgrimage to Rostov, Novgorod and Tver, he settled in 1497 in the dense Komel forest near Vologda, where he built himself a small cell. Soon disciples gathered around him. In 1501 he built a wooden church in honour of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, and as the number of brethren increased he raised in 1512 a stone church on the same dedication. He drew up for his community a written rule, based on those of Saint Joseph of Volokolamsk and Saint Nil of Sora; it was the third monastic rule composed by a Russian saint. Saint Cornelius was renowned for his fasting, his almsgiving in time of famine, and his fatherly care of the brethren. Many of his disciples were themselves glorified as saints, among them Gennadius of Liubimograd, Cyril of New Lake, Herodion of Iloezersk, Adrian of Poshekhonye, and Cassian of Komel. He reposed at the age of eighty-two on 19 May 1537.

Daily readings

3rd Matins Gospel

Mark — Mark 16.9-20

⁹Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

⁹Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. ¹⁰And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. ¹⁰She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. ¹¹And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. ¹¹And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.

¹²After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

¹²And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. ¹³And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them. ¹³And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

¹⁴Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

¹⁴And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen. ¹⁵And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁵And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. ¹⁷And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁷And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. ¹⁸they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

¹⁹So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

¹⁹So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. ²⁰And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. ²⁰And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 6.1-7

¹And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

¹Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. ²Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. ²And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables. ³Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ³Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. ⁴But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.

⁵And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: ⁵And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaüs a proselyte of Antioch; ⁶Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. ⁶whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them. ⁷And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

⁷And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 15.43-16.8

⁴³Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. ⁴³there came Joseph of Arimathæa, a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God; and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. ⁴⁴And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. ⁴⁵And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁵And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph. ⁴⁶And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. ⁴⁶And he bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. ⁴⁷And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid. ⁴⁷And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

¹And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.

¹And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. ²And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. ²And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen. ³And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? ³And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb? ⁴And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. ⁴and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great. ⁵And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed. ⁵And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. ⁶And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him! ⁶And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. ⁷But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. ⁸And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid. ⁸And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.