Tuesday, 4 June 2024

Tuesday of the 5th Sunday of Pascha

30 days after Pascha · Tone 4 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyrs Frontasius, Severinus, Severian and Silanus

The Holy Martyrs Frontasius, Severinus, Severian and Silanus were sent into southern Gaul to preach the Gospel by Bishop Frontonus of Petragorium (modern Perigueux). The traditional Latin acta place their mission in the apostolic age, in the time of the emperor Claudius, though many scholars set their suffering rather under the persecutions of the third century. Arrested for converting many to the faith, they were brought before the governor Squirinus, who commanded them to offer sacrifice. They confessed Christ openly and were beheaded by the sword. According to the legend, after their execution the four martyrs rose, took up their own heads in their hands and walked to the church where Bishop Frontonus was offering the Eucharist, laying their heads at his feet before falling asleep in the Lord. Their relics were long venerated in the church of Saint Front at Perigueux.

Holy Martyrs Mary and Martha of Persia

The Holy Martyrs Mary and Martha were two devout sisters who lived in Persia during the persecution against Christians under Shapur II in the fourth century. They were arrested with their kinsman Lykarion and other Christians for confessing Christ, and were brought before the magi for examination. The sisters had vowed to remain virgins for the sake of the Gospel and refused either to marry or to deny the faith. After many tortures they were beheaded for their confession and so received the crown of martyrdom. They are commemorated on this day in the synaxaria of the Eastern Church together with other martyrs of the great Persian persecution.

Saint Methodius, abbot of Peshnosha

1392

Saint Methodius was one of the early disciples of Saint Sergius of Radonezh and the founder of the Peshnosha monastery in the Moscow region. As a young man he came to Saint Sergius and lived under his guidance for several years, learning the monastic life. With his elder's blessing he then went deeper into the forest some twenty miles to the north and built a small cell on the banks of the river Yakhroma, where disciples soon gathered round him. Saint Sergius himself visited the place to assist in choosing the site for the new community and helped to fell trees with his own hands; from this labour ("peshe noshenii", carrying on foot) the monastery is said to have taken its name. Saint Methodius governed his community with the same simplicity and gentleness he had learned from his master, and reposed in 1392, the same year as Saint Sergius. He was buried in the monastery he had founded, where his relics rest to this day.

Saint Metrophanes, first patriarch of Constantinople

Saint Metrophanes was a contemporary of Saint Constantine the Great. His father Dometius was a brother of the Roman emperor Probus, and when persecution against Christians broke out at Rome he set off with his sons Probus and Metrophanes for Byzantium. There the family was received by Bishop Titus, who instructed and baptised them. Probus succeeded Titus on the see of Byzantium, and on his repose Metrophanes was elected bishop. When Constantine the Great visited the city and was struck by the holiness of its bishop, he resolved to make Byzantium his capital. After the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325, the bishops of the council bestowed upon Metrophanes the title of patriarch, so that he is reckoned the first patriarch of Constantinople. He was already very old, and represented at the Council by his deputy, the priest Alexander, who succeeded him. Saint Metrophanes reposed in peace shortly afterwards, in 326.

Holy Myrrh-bearers Mary and Martha, sisters of St Lazarus

1st c.

Mary and Martha, with their brother Lazarus, were especially devoted disciples of our Lord; their story up to the time of the Resurrection can be found in Luke 10 and John 11-12. Mary and Martha were among the Myrrh-bearing women. They, with their brother, reposed in Cyprus, where Lazarus became first Bishop of Kition after he was raised from death by Christ. An ancient tradition holds that Lazarus was thirty years old when he was restored to life by the Lord, and that he lived another thirty years. After he was raised from the dead, he never again laughed; but once, when he saw someone stealing a clay pot, he smiled and said, ‘Clay stealing clay.’ His name is a Greek version of Eleazar, meaning ‘God has helped.’

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 12.25-13.12

²⁵And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

²⁵And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministration, taking with them John whose surname was Mark.

¹Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

¹Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ²As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. ²And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. ³And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. ³Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

⁴So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

⁴So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. ⁵And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their attendant. ⁵And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. ⁶And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: ⁶And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus; ⁷Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. ⁷who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God. ⁸But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. ⁸But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith. ⁹But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, ⁹Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, ¹⁰and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? ¹⁰And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? ¹¹And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. ¹¹And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. ¹²Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. ¹²Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 8.51-59

⁵¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. ⁵¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death. ⁵²Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. ⁵²The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death. ⁵³Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? ⁵³Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself? ⁵⁴Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: ⁵⁴Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God; ⁵⁵Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. ⁵⁵and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. ⁵⁷The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? ⁵⁷Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? ⁵⁸Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. ⁵⁸Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am. ⁵⁹Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. ⁵⁹They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.