Tuesday, 9 July 2024

Tuesday of the 3rd week after Pentecost

65 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Cyril, bishop of Gortyna in Crete

The hieromartyr Cyril served as bishop of Gortyna on the island of Crete for fifty years. He had been raised to the episcopate at the venerable age of sixty eight, after a long life of asceticism and pastoral labour, and he governed his flock with wisdom and gentleness. By the testimony of the early sources he suffered either under the emperor Decius (249-251) or, according to other accounts, under Maximian (284-305). The aged hierarch was brought to trial before a governor named Lucius, who demanded that he offer sacrifice to the idols. The holy elder steadfastly confessed his faith in Christ and refused to fulfil the soul-destroying command. The governor sentenced Saint Cyril to be burned alive, but when he was cast into the flames the fire would not touch him, and he stood unharmed in the midst of the blaze. Witnessing this miracle, many pagans came to believe in Christ. Lucius himself was struck with awe, gave glory to the Christian God, and set the saint free. Saint Cyril returned to his preaching, leading many pagans to Christ, but he grieved that he had not been counted worthy to suffer for the Saviour. When it was reported to the new governor that he continued to convert the people from the darkness of idolatry to the light of Christ, he was again brought to trial and sentenced to death. Hearing the sentence, Cyril rejoiced that he was at last to be granted a martyr's end, and the eighty four year old elder willingly placed his head beneath the sword.

Hieromartyr Methodius, bishop of Patara

Saint Methodius was bishop of Patara in Lycia in the late third and early fourth centuries, and one of the most learned and eloquent fathers of his age. He was renowned for his deep knowledge of philosophy and the Holy Scriptures, and he wrote a number of works that became classics of early Christian literature. The best known of these is his Symposium, or Banquet of the Ten Virgins, a treatise in praise of virginity composed in the manner of Plato's dialogues. He also composed treatises against the teachings of Origen on the resurrection and on the eternity of the world, and works on free will and the distinction between created and uncreated being. Methodius opposed certain elements of Origen's speculative theology with great vigour, defending the bodily resurrection and the Christian doctrine of creation. His writings were widely read in the Eastern Church and profoundly influenced later patristic thought. When the persecutions of Diocletian broke out, the holy bishop was seized for his confession of Christ. After many torments he was beheaded for the faith, around the year 312, in Chalcis of Greece, where he had laboured in the latter part of his life. Some sources name his see as Olympus or Myra in addition to Patara. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on 20 June and 9 July as an alternate feast.

Hieromartyr Pancratius, bishop of Tauromenium in Sicily

The hieromartyr Pancratius was born when our Lord Jesus Christ yet lived upon the earth. His parents were natives of Antioch in Syria. Hearing of the great Teacher, Pancratius's father took his young son with him to Jerusalem in order to see Christ. There the family came to know the Lord and his disciples, and especially the holy apostle Peter, who became the spiritual father of the youthful Pancratius.

After the Saviour's resurrection and ascension, when his parents had died, Pancratius left behind his inherited possessions and went to Pontus, where he settled in a cave. There he spent his days in unceasing prayer and deep spiritual contemplation. The holy apostle Peter sought him out, finding him in his solitude, and together with the apostle Paul they consecrated Saint Pancratius bishop of Tauromenium in Sicily.

Arriving in his see, the saint set about preaching the Gospel with apostolic zeal. In the space of a single month he built a church where he celebrated the divine services. The number of believers quickly grew, and in time almost all the inhabitants of Tauromenium and the surrounding cities accepted the Christian faith, casting down their idols. Pancratius cured many of the sick and worked great miracles by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

The pagans plotted against him, and seizing an appropriate moment, they fell upon the saint and stoned him to death. Thus the apostle of Sicily ended his life as a martyr.

Saint Theodore, bishop of Edessa

Saint Theodore was born in the Syrian city of Edessa. At the age of twelve, after losing both his parents and giving away his inheritance to the poor, he travelled to Jerusalem and was tonsured a monk at the great lavra of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified. There he passed twelve years in fervent monastic obedience, followed by another twenty four years in strict seclusion and great abstinence, mastering himself by prayer, fasting, and vigil. After the death of the bishop of Edessa, the Lord called Theodore from his solitude to enlighten the world as a hierarch. With the mutual consent of the patriarchs of Antioch and Jerusalem, and of the clergy and faithful, no worthier successor could be found, and Theodore was consecrated bishop. At his consecration the people beheld a snow white dove flying about beneath the cupola of the church, which then alighted upon the head of the new bishop, witnessing to the descent of the Holy Spirit upon him. As bishop, Theodore exerted great labours in the struggle against heresy, particularly the Manichaean error, and with a firm hand he guarded his flock from temptations and false teachings. With the blessing of his elder, he travelled to Baghdad to petition the caliph Mavias against unjust treatment of the Orthodox of his see, and through his prayers the caliph himself was illumined by the faith and was secretly baptised, taking the name John. For openly confessing Christ before the Muslims, this caliph was put to death together with three of his companions. Returning at length to the lavra of Saint Sabbas, Theodore reposed peacefully in 848. In the Slavic churches his memory is kept on 9 July; in the Greek tradition he is commemorated on 19 July.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Romans — Romans 7.14-8.2

¹⁴For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁴For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁵For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. ¹⁵For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do. ¹⁶If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. ¹⁶But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good. ¹⁷Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ¹⁷So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me. ¹⁸For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good is not. ¹⁸For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. ¹⁹For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise. ¹⁹For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ²⁰Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ²⁰But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me. ²¹I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. ²¹I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present. ²²For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²²For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²³but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. ²³But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? ²⁴O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ²⁵I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. ²⁵I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

¹There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

¹There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. ²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. ²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 10.9-15

⁹Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, ⁹Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses; ¹⁰Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. ¹⁰no wallet for your journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food. ¹¹And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. ¹¹And into whatsoever city or village ye shall enter, search out who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go forth. ¹²And when ye come into an house, salute it. ¹²And as ye enter into the house, salute it. ¹³And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹³And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. ¹⁴And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet. ¹⁵Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. ¹⁵Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.