Friday, 5 July 2024

Unc. Rel. Ven. Sergius of Radonezh; Ven. Athanasius of Athos

Friday of the 2nd week after Pentecost

61 days after Pascha · Tone 8 · Red cross (polyeleos typikon symbol) · Fast

Saints commemorated

★ Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh

Saint Sergius of Radonezh, the great abbot of all Russia, reposed on 25 September 1392, having founded the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and renewed the monastic life of the Russian land. Thirty years after his repose, on 5 July 1422, while Saint Nikon was abbot, the holy relics of the founder of the monastery were uncovered.

Before the construction of a new stone church of the Life-giving Trinity to replace the wooden church of the saint's own time, Saint Sergius appeared in a vision to a certain pious layman, instructing him to tell the abbot and the brethren: "Why do you leave me so long in the grave, covered by earth and in the water, constraining my body?" When the foundations were dug, the incorrupt relics of the saint were found together with his garments, untouched by decay although standing water surrounded the coffin. The translation took place in the presence of Prince George of Zvenigorod, son of Saint Demetrius of the Don, and was attended by many miracles of healing.

The relics were placed in the new Trinity church, where Saint Andrei Rublev painted his famous icon of the Holy Trinity in honour of Saint Sergius. The day of the uncovering of the relics has since been kept as one of the chief feasts of the Russian Church, observed at the Lavra with great solemnity.

★ Venerable Athanasius of Mount Athos

Saint Athanasius was born about 920 in the city of Trebizond in Asia Minor and received in baptism the name Abraham. Orphaned in early childhood, he was raised by a pious nun who taught him the practices of fasting, prayer, and obedience. After her repose he was taken to Constantinople, where he was enrolled in the school of the renowned rhetorician Athanasius and in time himself became a teacher of grammar.

Drawn by the example of Saint Michael Maleinos, abbot of the monastery of Kyminas, he renounced the world and was tonsured a monk under him with the name Athanasius. After several years of intense ascetic struggle, fleeing the prospect of being made abbot, he withdrew secretly to Mount Athos and laboured there in solitude. His friend Nikephoros Phokas, who had often consulted him while still a general, sought him out after his elevation to the imperial throne and provided him with the means to build a great coenobitic monastery on the holy mountain.

In 963 Saint Athanasius founded the Great Lavra at the southern end of Athos, the first organised cenobium of that holy place. He composed a Typikon based on the rules of Saint Basil the Great and Saint Theodore the Studite, regulating common worship, common labour, common meals, and common life under one abbot. From this beginning sprang the entire monastic commonwealth of the Holy Mountain. Together with six of his disciples, the saint reposed about the year 1000 when the dome of the new church he was about to consecrate collapsed upon him and his fellow workers; their bodies, found uncorrupted, exhaled a sweet fragrance and many miracles followed.

Holy new martyr Cyprian of Mount Athos

Saint Cyprian was born in the village of Klitsos in the Agrapha district of Greece in the late seventeenth century. From his youth he was drawn to the monastic life and came to Mount Athos, where he was tonsured at the monastery of Koutloumousiou and afterwards lived in great asceticism in the dependent skete of the Forerunner. Inflamed with zeal for the Orthodox faith and with longing for martyrdom, he set out for Thessalonica and openly rebuked the Muslim judge for the errors of Islam, calling all to confess Christ as the only true God. He was beaten, imprisoned, and pressed to renounce his faith, but he refused with great firmness. Sent to Constantinople and brought before the Mufti and the Sultan, he again confessed Christ before all and was sentenced to death. He was beheaded at Constantinople on 5 July 1679, and his sacred relics were buried by pious Christians, working many miracles.

Venerable Lampados of Irenopolis the wonderworker

Saint Lampados (also known as Lampadus) was born at Irenopolis in Isauria and lived in the tenth century. From his earliest youth he loved Christ with a fervent love, and forsaking the world he withdrew into the wilderness of Irenopolis, where he gave himself wholly to a life of asceticism, fasting, prayer and silence. He was distinguished by his wisdom and exceeding goodness, by his patient bearing of injuries, his gentleness, and a great love for the poor and the suffering. Through long struggle he was granted by God the gifts of clairvoyance and miracle-working, healing the sick and casting out demons by his prayers. He drew many to Christ both by his teaching and by the radiance of his hidden life. After many years of labour he reposed in peace, and his tomb continued to pour forth healings upon all who came to him with faith.

Martyrdom of St Elizabeth Romanov and Nun Barbara

1918

Grand Duchess Elizabeth was a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England and the older sister of the Empress Alexandra (July 4). After marrying Grand Duke Sergei she converted to the Orthodox faith, though this was not required by her position. After her husband was assassinated in 1905, she took monastic vows and withdrew from the world, founding the Convent of Saints Mary and Martha. There she served as superior, devoting her time to prayer, fasting, and caring for the sick and the poor. During the Russian Revolution, she was seized by the God-hating Bolsheviks and taken to the Urals, where she and several with her were martyred by being thrown alive down an abandoned mine-shaft. When the fall did not kill them, soldiers threw grenades down the shaft to complete their work. Saint Elizabeth was singing the Cherubic Hymn when she died. The Nun Barbara, her cell-attendant, voluntarily followed St Elizabeth into exile and received martyrdom with her. Their relics were recovered and taken at great risk to China, then to Jerusalem, where they were deposited in the Convent of St Mary Magdalene. When their reliquaries were opened in 1981, their bodies were found to be partly incorrupt, and gave off a sweet fragrance. Footnote: After the assassination of her husband in Moscow, Grand Duchess Elizabeth had a cross erected at the site of his death, bearing the inscription “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” After the revolution, the cross remained standing through the devotion of the people of Moscow to St Elizabeth, until it was personally torn down by Lenin.

Our Holy Father the New Martyr Cyprian

1679

“Born in the village of Klitzos in Epirus, Cyprian went off to the Holy Mountain after the death of his devout parents. He became a monk there and gave himself to asceticism in a cell near the monastery of Koutloumousiou. He heaped labour upon labour on himself, asceticism upon asceticism, until he came to be known and respected all over the Holy Mountain. But he was not satisfied. He was tormented by the thought that he could not be saved but by martyrdom for Christ. He therefore left the Holy Mountain and went to Salonica, appeared before the Pasha of Salonica and urged him to discard the false, Mohammedan faith and receive the true Faith of Christ. The Pasha ordered that he be whipped and driven out of the city. Dissatisfied with such little suffering for Christ, Cyprian went to Constantinople and wrote a letter to the Grand Vizier in which he set down the falseness of Mahomet and the truth of Christ the Lord. The enraged Vizier sent him to Sheik ul-Islam, and the latter heard all that Cyprian had to say, then ordered that he be beheaded. Cyprian was filled with joy beyond measure, and went to the scaffold as to his wedding. Thus this godly man suffered for Christ on July 5, 1679, and fulfilled his strong desire.” (Prologue)

Daily readings

Vespers

— Athanasius

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

¹But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.

²In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,

³And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.

⁴For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.

⁵And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.

⁶As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.

⁷And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.

⁸They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

⁹They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

Vespers

— Athanasius

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 5.15-6.3

¹⁵But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High.

¹⁶Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them.

¹⁷He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies.

¹⁸He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet.

¹⁹He shall take holiness for an invincible shield.

²⁰His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise.

²¹Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark.

²²And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them.

²³Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.

¹Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth.

²Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.

³For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.

Vespers

— Athanasius

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

⁷But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.

⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.

⁹But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.

¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.

¹¹Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.

¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.

¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:

¹⁴For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.

¹⁵This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Vespers

— Sergius

OT — Composite 2 - Proverbs 10, 3, 8

The memory of a just man is praised, and the Lord’s blessing is upon his head. Blessed is one who has found wisdom; a mortal who knows understanding. To import her is better than treasures of gold and silver. She is more valuable than precious stones; nothing of value equals her worth. Justice proceeds from her mouth; she bears law and mercy on her tongue. Therefore, my children, listen to me, for I speak weighty things. And blessed is the one who keeps my ways. For my goings out are the goings out of life, and favour is prepared from the Lord. Therefore I exhort you, and utter my voice to the children of humankind. Because I, Wisdom, have prepared counsel, knowledge and understanding. I have called on them. Counsel and sureness are mine; prudence is mine, strength is mine. I love those who are my friends, while those who seek me will find grace. You innocent, then, understand cunning; you untaught, take it to heart. Listen to me, for I will speak weighty things, and I will open right things from my lips. Because my throat will meditate truth; lying lips are abominable before me. All the words of my mouth are with justice, there is nothing crooked in them nor twisted. They are all straight for those who understand, and right for those who find knowledge. For I teach you what is true, that your hope may be in the Lord and that you may be filled with spirit.

Vespers

— Sergius

Proverbs — Proverbs 10.31-11.12

³¹The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. ³¹The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off. ³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness. ³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked speaketh perverseness.

¹A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. ¹A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight. ²When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. ²When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom. ³The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them. ³The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. ⁴Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death. ⁴Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. ⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. ⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. ⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity. ⁷When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth. ⁷When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. ⁸The righteous is delivered out of trouble; And the wicked cometh in his stead. ⁸The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. ⁹With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered. ⁹An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. ¹⁰When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

¹⁰When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. ¹¹By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. ¹¹By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. ¹²He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

¹²He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Vespers

— Sergius

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

Matins Gospel

— either Saint

Matthew — Matthew 11.27-30

²⁷All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. ²⁷All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him. ²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Romans — Romans 5.17-6.2

¹⁷For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) ¹⁷For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ. ¹⁸Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. ¹⁸So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life. ¹⁹For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. ¹⁹For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. ²⁰Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: ²⁰And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly: ²¹That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. ²¹that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

¹What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ²God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ²God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?

Epistle

— either Saint

Galatians — Galatians 5.22-6.2

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. ²⁴And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. ²⁶Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

¹Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. ²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 9.14-17

¹⁴Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

¹⁴Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? ¹⁵And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast. ¹⁵And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. ¹⁶No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. ¹⁶And no man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment; for that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made. ¹⁷Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. ¹⁷Neither do men put new wine into old wine-skins: else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.

Gospel

— either Saint

Luke — Luke 6.17-23

¹⁷and he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judæa and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

¹⁷And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed. ¹⁸And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. ¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. ¹⁹And all the multitude sought to touch him; for power came forth from him, and healed them all.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²³Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. ²³Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.