Tuesday, 18 June 2024

Tuesday of the 7th Sunday of Pascha

44 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

★ Martyr Leontius, and with him Martyrs Hypatius and Theodoulos, at Tripoli in Syria

An honored Roman commander in Tripoli of Phoenicia, he was described as being ‘of great physical stature, powerful, strong and bold in battle’. When it was learned that he was a Christian and had given grain to the poor from the imperial storehouse, the governor Hadrian, a great persecutor of Christians, sent Hypatius, a military commander, and Theodoulus, a soldier, along with some others to arrest him. On the way Hypatius fell gravely ill with a fever, and the company had to delay its mission. One night an angel of the Lord appeared to Hypatius and said, ‘If you desire to be healed, you and your soldiers must cry to heaven three times: “O God of Leontius, help me!”’. Hypatius told his comrades of his vision, and when they all cried out as instructed Hypatius was instantly healed. Hypatius and Theodoulos then went on ahead of the other soldiers and found Leontius. Leontius received them hospitably and offered them refreshment. As they rested in his house, he proclaimed his faith in Christ and their hearts began to burn within them. While Leontius was still speaking, a bright cloud descended upon the two soldiers and shed dew on them while Leontius said ‘In the name of the All-holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’ Thus were they baptized by the Holy Spirit Himself. When the cruel Hadrian discovered this, he had the two soldiers beaten fiercely, then beheaded; he then subjected Leontius to the cruelest tortures, under which he finally died, unwavering in his faith. This was during the reign of Vespasian.

Holy Hieromartyr Erasmus of Hermopolis

The Hieromartyr Erasmus, sometimes known as Elmo, was bishop of Formia in Italy according to the Latin tradition and is honoured among the Orthodox as bishop of Hermopolis or simply as the holy hieromartyr Erasmus. During the persecutions of Diocletian and Maximian he was hunted for his confession of Christ and withdrew for a time to Mount Lebanon, where an angel was said to have fed him in his solitude. Brought before the emperors, he was beaten, scourged, smeared with pitch and set alight, but each time the prayers of the saint and the help of an angel preserved him. Cast into prison and weighted with chains, he was delivered by an angel and brought safely to Campania, where he continued to preach the gospel and convert many to Christ. He fell asleep in peace around the year 303, having endured numerous tortures for the Lord. He is venerated as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, particularly invoked by sailors against the perils of the storm.

Holy Martyr Leontius and his companions Hypatius and Theodulus

The Holy Martyrs Leontius, Hypatius and Theodulus were Roman soldiers who suffered for Christ at Tripoli in Phoenicia during the reign of the Emperor Vespasian, around the year 73. Leontius, a Greek by birth, served as military commander in the imperial army stationed in Tripoli. A man of extraordinary stature and bravery, he was also a Christian, and used his position to feed the poor from the imperial granaries. When the governor of Phoenicia, Hadrian, learned of this, he despatched the tribune Hypatius with the soldier Theodulus to arrest him. Along the way Hypatius fell gravely ill, and an angel appeared to him in a dream commanding him to call upon the God of Leontius. Hypatius told his dream to Theodulus, and together they prayed and were healed. When at last they reached Leontius, who received them with hospitality, all three were enlightened by the Holy Spirit and confessed Christ openly. Hypatius was placed under a column and torn with iron claws, Theodulus was beaten with rods, and both were beheaded. Leontius was suspended head downward with a great stone tied to his neck and beaten with rods until he gave up his soul to God.

Saints Eithne and Sodhealbh

Saints Eithne and Sodhealbh, also written Sodelb, were two virgin saints of sixth-century Ireland whose memory has been preserved in the early martyrologies of the Irish Church. According to the Genealogies of the Saints of Ireland they were daughters of Cairbre, king of Leinster, son of Cormac, and sisters of one Cumania. Their floruit is dated to the middle of the sixth century, on the basis of their father's death recorded in 546. The two sisters founded a hermitage and church near Swords in the plain of Brega, in the barony of Nethercross in modern County Dublin, called Tech ingen mBóiti, the House of the daughters of Baite. They are remembered for the miracle by which they nurtured the infant Christ in a vision, an act of piety much celebrated by the Irish hagiographers. Their commemoration is preserved in the Félire of Saint Oengus the Culdee on the eighteenth of June, and they are honoured among the saints of pre-schism Ireland.

Also commemorated: Martyr Leontius and Companions

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 21.26-32

²⁶Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. ²⁶Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.

²⁷And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

²⁷And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him, ²⁸Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. ²⁸crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place. ²⁹(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) ²⁹For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple. ³⁰And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. ³⁰And all the city was moved, and the people ran together; and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut. ³¹And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. ³¹And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion. ³²Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. ³²And forthwith he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them: and they, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 16.2-13

²They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. ²They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God. ³And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. ³And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me. ⁴But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. ⁴But these things have I spoken unto you, that when their hour is come, ye may remember them, how that I told you. And these things I said not unto you from the beginning, because I was with you. ⁵But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? ⁵But now I go unto him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? ⁶But because I have spoken these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. ⁶But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. ⁸And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁸And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹Of sin, because they believe not on me; ⁹of sin, because they believe not on me; ¹⁰Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; ¹⁰of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; ¹¹Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. ¹¹of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged. ¹²I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ¹²I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ¹³Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. ¹³Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.