Friday, 28 June 2024

Friday of the 1st week after Pentecost

54 days after Pascha · Tone 7 · Black squigg (6-stich typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

★ Sts Sergius and Herman, abbots of Valaam

1353

After helping to establish Orthodoxy among the Karelian Finns, they founded the famous Valaam Monastery on Lake Ladoga in northern Russia. Both reposed in the same year.

Holy Martyr Papias the Soldier

The Holy Martyr Papias was a Roman soldier of the third century who, when the persecution of Diocletian fell upon the army, was unmasked as a Christian by his refusal to take part in the customary sacrifices to the idols. Brought before the tribunal, he confessed Christ openly before his fellow soldiers and the magistrate, was deprived of his rank, and after enduring scourgings and other torments was at last beheaded for the name of Jesus. He is numbered among the soldier martyrs whose witness in the Roman barracks bore fruit in the conversion of many of their comrades, and his memory is preserved on this day in the Greek and Slavonic Synaxaria.

Saint Magnus the Wonderworker

Saint Magnus is commemorated by the Church as a venerable monk who reposed while at prayer to the Lord, and who through the gift of unceasing intercession was glorified as a wonderworker for the help he afforded those who called upon him. According to the tradition preserved in the Synaxaria of the Church, he is remembered together with the holy Martyr Magnus who is numbered among the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus and to whom the Patriarch Germanus of Constantinople composed a hymn; some calendars distinguish them, while others bring their commemorations together on this day. Whether identified with the soldier of Cyzicus martyred under Diocletian or with a later monastic of the same name, Saint Magnus is honoured among those whose hidden life of prayer was made known by the wonders worked through their relics.

Saints Sergius and Germanus, Wonderworkers of Valaam

Saints Sergius and Germanus were Greek hieromonks who came from the territories of Constantinople into the lands of the north and settled, according to the Valaam tradition, on the island of Valaam in Lake Ladoga about the year 1329. Of their ascetic struggles few details are recorded, but they are remembered as the founders of the celebrated Valaam Monastery dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Saviour, which from their cell grew into one of the chief monastic centres of the Russian north and a school of holiness for many later saints, including Saint Arsenius of Konevits, Saint Sabbatius of Solovki and the Apostle of Alaska, Saint Herman. They reposed in the Lord about the year 1353. Their relics, by reason of repeated invasions of Karelia by the Swedes, were translated more than once for safe-keeping; according to a chronicle of the eighteenth century, in 1163 their relics had already been removed to Novgorod for protection, and the Church of Finland keeps the translation of their holy relics on 11 September. The chief commemoration of their repose is observed on this day in the Russian and Finnish Orthodox calendars, and again on 28 September in remembrance of their second translation.

Translation of the relics of the Holy Unmercenaries Cyrus and John

311

The holy Unmercenaries Cyrus and John suffered martyrdom in Egypt in the year 311 in the city of Canopus near Alexandria. Cyrus had been a celebrated physician in Alexandria who, after embracing Christ and refusing to worship the idols, withdrew to Arabia and there continued his medical work, treating both bodies and souls; John, a soldier who heard of his fame, sought him out and joined his life of asceticism. When the holy virgin Athanasia and her three daughters Theoctista, Theodota and Eudoxia were arrested at Canopus, Cyrus and John came to comfort them and to fortify them in their confession; thereupon they too were seized, scourged and beheaded for Christ. Their bodies were buried at Canopus by the faithful and worked many miracles. The pagan temple at Manuphis on the western branch of the Nile was a place possessed by demons; Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria desired to cleanse it but died before he could do so. His successor, Saint Cyril of Alexandria, was directed by an angel to translate the relics of Cyrus and John from Canopus to Manuphis, which he did in the year 412, building over them a church and dispersing the demons by their presence. From that time the place became famous throughout the Christian world for healings, and the saints worked countless wonders, often appearing to the sick in dreams to instruct them in their cure. Their chief feast is kept on 31 January, and on this day the Church remembers the translation of their relics.

Synaxis of the Icon of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos "Of the Three Hands"

Saint John of Damascus (December 4), the great defender of Orthodoxy against the iconoclasts, was falsely accused of plotting against the Caliph of Damascus through the intrigues of the iconoclast Emperor Leo the Isaurian (reigned 717-741). The Caliph ordered St John’s hand to be cut off for his suspected treachery. The saint asked for the severed hand, and passed the night praying fervently for aid before an icon of the most holy Theotokos. Waking in the morning, he found his hand miraculously restored, with only a scar around the wrist where it had been completely severed. In thanksgiving, St John had a silver hand mounted on the icon. When he became a monk in the monastery of St Sabbas in the Holy Land, he took the icon with him. It remained there until it was given to St Sabbas (Sava) of Serbia (January 14), who brought it to Serbia. Later it was miraculously taken to the Hilandar Monastery on the Holy Mountain (carried, according to legend, from Serbia to Mt Athos by an unguided donkey), where it may now be found.

Our Holy Father Sennuphius the Standard-Bearer

4th c.

“A great ascetic and wonderworker of the Egyptian desert, he was a contemporary of Patriarch Theophilus and the Emperor Theodosius the Great. He is called ‘the Standard-Bearer’ because he once helped the Emperor Theodosius to gain a victory over enemy forces by his prayers. When the Emperor summoned him to Constantinople, he replied that he was unable to go, but sent his torn and patched monastic habit and his staff. Going out to battle, the Emperor put on Sennuphius’s habit and carried his staff in his hand, and returned victorious from the battle.” (Prologue)

Also commemorated: Trans. Rel. Ven. Cyrus and John

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Romans — Romans 2.14-29

¹⁴For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: ¹⁴(for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; ¹⁵Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) ¹⁵in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them); ¹⁶In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. ¹⁶in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.

¹⁷Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

¹⁷But if thou bearest the name of a Jew, and restest upon the law, and gloriest in God, ¹⁸and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, ¹⁸And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; ¹⁹and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness, ¹⁹And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, ²⁰An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. ²⁰a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth; ²¹Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? ²¹thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? ²²thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples? ²²Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? ²³Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? ²³thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God? ²⁴For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. ²⁴For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written. ²⁵For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. ²⁵For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision. ²⁶Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? ²⁶If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision? ²⁷and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law? ²⁷And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? ²⁸For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: ²⁸For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. ²⁹but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 5.33-41

³³Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

³³Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: ³⁴But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: ³⁴but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; ³⁵Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. ³⁵nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. ³⁶Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black. ³⁷But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. ³⁷But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.

³⁸Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

³⁸Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: ³⁹but I say unto you, Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ³⁹But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. ⁴⁰And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. ⁴¹And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. ⁴¹And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.