Sunday, 26 May 2024

Paralytic

4th Sunday of Pascha

21 days after Pascha · Tone 3 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Apostle Alphaeus of the Seventy

The Holy Apostle Alphaeus was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen by the Lord and sent out to preach His Gospel. He came from the Galilean city of Capernaum and was the father of two of the Twelve Apostles, James the son of Alphaeus and, according to tradition, also Matthew the Evangelist and tax collector. Having received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Alphaeus laboured in the preaching of the Gospel and converted many to the faith of Christ. The synaxaria record that he reposed in peace after his evangelical labours, although some traditions number him among the martyrs. He is commemorated on 26 May together with the Apostle Carpus, and his children, the Holy Martyrs Avercius and Helen, are also remembered upon this day, as are James the son of Alphaeus on 9 October and Saint Matthew on 16 November. The Orthodox Church honours Alphaeus among the first who carried the message of salvation through the cities of Israel, the father of saints, and one of the first witnesses of the resurrection of Christ.

Holy Apostle Carpus of the Seventy

He was one of the Seventy and a companion of St Paul, who mentions him in 2 Timothy 4:13. He became a Bishop in Thrace (the Great Horologion says in Berea, the Prologue in Varna), where he suffered martyrdom. St Dionysius the Areopagite met and wrote about him, stating that Carpus never began the Liturgy without first receiving a heavenly vision.

From the Prologue: “We must not desire the death of a sinner, but his repentance. Nothing so saddens the Lord who suffered on the Cross for sinners as when we pray to Him for the death of a sinner and his removal from our path. It once happened that the Apostle Carpus lost patience and began to pray God to send death upon two sinful men, the one pagan and the other an apostate from the Faith. The Lord appeared to him and said: ‘Behold, here I am; ready to be crucified again for the salvation of men.’ St Carpus related this event to St Dionysius the Areopagite, who wrote it down as a lesson for all in the Church that we must pray for the salvation of sinners and not for their destruction. For the Lord ‘is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance’ (II Peter 3:9).”

Holy Martyrs Avercius and Helen

The Holy Martyrs Avercius and Helen were the children of the holy Apostle Alphaeus, one of the Seventy, and they suffered for Christ in the early years of the preaching of the Gospel. Avercius, having confessed his faith openly, was stripped naked and bound to a beehive, where the bees stung him until he gave up his soul to the Lord. His sister Helen, refusing in like manner to deny Christ, was put to death by stoning at the hands of the unbelievers. By their deaths the holy children sealed the apostolic preaching of their father with their blood, joining the chorus of those first witnesses who suffered for the new-planted faith. The synaxaria of the Greek and Slavonic Churches preserve their names together with that of their father on this day, and they are honoured among the holy martyrs of the apostolic age, whose courage and innocence have been a pattern for many. Their commemoration is kept on 26 May along with the Apostles Carpus and Alphaeus.

Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Apostle of the English

Saint Augustine, the apostle of the English, was an Italian Benedictine monk and prior of the monastery of Saint Andrew on the Coelian Hill in Rome. About the year 596, Saint Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome, sent him at the head of a band of forty monks to preach the Gospel to the still pagan Anglo-Saxons of Britain. Landing in 597 on the Isle of Thanet in Kent, Augustine and his companions were received by King Ethelbert, whose Frankish queen Bertha was already a Christian. The king gave them leave to preach freely, and through their holy lives, their wonders, and their preaching, Augustine converted Ethelbert and many thousands of his subjects, baptising the king and a great multitude in the river Swale. Consecrated bishop and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, he established his see at the church of Saint Martin, founded the monastery of Saints Peter and Paul east of the city, and built the cathedral of Christ Church which he consecrated on 9 June 603. He laboured to bring the British clergy of the older Celtic mission into communion with Rome on the matters of Pascha and other usages. Saint Augustine reposed in the Lord on 26 May 605, leaving behind a flourishing English Church.

Saint Augustine of Canterbury, evangelizer of England

c. 605

He is the founder of the Church in southern England, which at that time was almost entirely pagan, though Christianity thrived in the Celtic lands of Ireland, Wales and parts of Scotland. Augustine, a monk at the monastery of St Andrew in Rome, was chosen by Pope Gregory I to lead a mission to England. He and a party of about forty monks landed in England in 597; they were received warmly by King Aethelbert, who was baptised by Augustine and thus became the first Christian king of the Anglo-Saxon people. In 601 Pope Gregory made Augustine Archbishop of Britain, and he established his cathedral at Canterbury, where he also established a monastery. Saint Augustine worked unsuccessfully to unite his churches with those of the Irish monks and hierarchs, who followed different liturgical practices, kept a different date of Pascha, and disapproved of the less severe Roman monastic practices introduced by the Archbishop. He reposed in peace.

Holy New Martyr Alexander of Thessalonica

1794

He was born in Thessalonica and, though baptised a Christian, he accepted Islam as a young man, eventually becoming a Sufi (one of a mystical sect among the Muslims). But in time he began to repent, and concluded that martyrdom was the only way for him to cleanse himself from the stain of his denial of Christ. Having repented, he presented himself to the Turks dressed as a Christian. He was thrown into prison and tortured, but in response to every enticement, threat or torment, he would only say ‘I was born a Christian, and as a Christian I shall die.’ Finally he was sentenced to death, which Alexander joyfully accepted as a sign of God’s forgiveness. He was slain by the sword in Smyrna in 1794.

Also commemorated: Greatmartyr George the New at Sofia

Daily readings

4th Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 24.1-12

¹Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

¹But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. ²And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. ²And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. ³And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. ³And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: ⁴And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel: ⁵and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? ⁵And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, ⁶He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, ⁷saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. ⁷Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. ⁸And they remembered his words, ⁸And they remembered his words, ⁹And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. ⁹and returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. ¹⁰It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. ¹⁰Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles. ¹¹And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them. ¹¹And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. ¹²But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass. ¹²Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 9.32-42

³²And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

³²And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda. ³³And there he found a certain man named Æneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy. ³³And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years; for he was palsied. ³⁴And Peter said unto him, Æneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. ³⁴And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise, and make thy bed. And straightway he arose. ³⁵And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. ³⁵And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

³⁶Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. ³⁷And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber. ³⁷And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. ³⁸And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating him, Delay not to come on unto us. ³⁸And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. ³⁹Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. ³⁹And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them. ⁴⁰But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴⁰But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive. ⁴¹And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴²And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord. ⁴²And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 5.1-15

¹After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

¹After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ²Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

²Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches. ³In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. ³In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered. ⁴ ⁴For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. ⁵And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity. ⁵And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. ⁶When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? ⁶When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole? ⁷The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. ⁷The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. ⁸Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. ⁸Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.

⁹And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day. ⁹And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. ¹⁰So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.

¹⁰The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. ¹¹But he answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. ¹¹He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. ¹²They asked him, Who is the man that said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? ¹²Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? ¹³And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. ¹³But he that was healed knew not who it was; for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in the place. ¹⁴Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. ¹⁴Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee. ¹⁵The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole. ¹⁵The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.