Friday, 19 July 2024

Unc. Rel. Ven. Seraphim of Sarov

Friday of the 4th week after Pentecost

75 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Red cross (polyeleos typikon symbol) · Fast

Saints commemorated

★ Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov

On 19 July 1903, the day of the saint's birth, the relics of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov were solemnly uncovered at the Sarov monastery, seventy years after his repose. The canonisation had been long urged by the people and was at last set in motion by the Holy Synod under the personal entreaty of the emperor Saint Nicholas II. The Tsar himself, with his wife the empress Saint Alexandra, his mother the dowager empress Maria Feodorovna, the Grand Duchess Saint Elizabeth and other members of the imperial family, came as pilgrims to Sarov, and more than two hundred thousand people gathered from across Russia. At the Little Entrance of the Divine Liturgy on 19 July, twelve archimandrites bore the coffin from the middle of the church around the altar and laid it in a new shrine of cypress within an oak case, prepared at the cost of the imperial couple. The festal days were filled with reported healings of the sick, who flocked in great numbers to the monastery. The first churches dedicated to Saint Seraphim were consecrated at this time, one over his cell at Sarov and another at the convent of Diveyevo, which the saint had loved. The relics, hidden by the Soviets after 1922 in an anti-religious museum, were rediscovered in 1991 and triumphantly translated again to Diveyevo, where they remain to this day.

Venerable Dius, abbot of Antioch and Constantinople

Saint Dius (Dios) was born in Antioch of Syria toward the end of the fourth century into a devout Christian family. From boyhood he was given to fasting and prayer, eating little, and that not every day, and humbling his body with constant vigil. After embracing the monastic life he was granted, in a vision, a command from the Lord to depart for Constantinople, there to serve God among the people. He settled beyond the walls of the imperial city in a wild and lonely spot which the people shunned for fear of demons; thrust a wooden staff into the ground and lived by his own labour, contending with the evil spirits who strove to drive him out. His staff put forth roots, sprouted leaves and grew at length into an immense oak, which stood for many years after his repose as a witness to his sanctity. The fame of his virtue reached the emperor Theodosius the Younger, who came with the patriarch Atticus of Constantinople (406-425) to seek his blessing. The emperor built a monastery on the site of his cell, and the patriarch ordained him priest and made him its abbot. He shepherded his community with great gentleness, was granted miracles in his lifetime, and reposed in deep old age about the year 430. His tomb in the monastery he had founded continued to be a place of healing.

Venerable Macrina the Younger, sister of Saint Basil the Great

380

Saint Macrina the Younger was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia about the year 327, the eldest of the ten children of Saint Basil the Elder and Saint Emmelia and granddaughter of the holy martyr Macrina the Elder. She was nurtured from her cradle by her saintly mother, who chose her reading not from the heathen poets but from the Wisdom of Solomon and the Psalms of David. Betrothed at twelve to a noble youth, she was set free when he died before the wedding, and she resolved to consider herself widowed in spirit and to remain a virgin for Christ. As her brothers grew, she watched over their souls with a mother's care: by her counsel and example her younger brother Peter, later Bishop of Sebaste, became a monk; her brother Naucratius retired to a hermitage; and even Saint Basil, returning from his studies puffed up by learning, was persuaded by her to embrace the ascetic life. After their father's death she persuaded Saint Emmelia to free their slaves, sell their possessions, and join her in founding a monastery on the family estate at Annesi by the river Iris in Pontus, where Macrina lived in great austerity, sleeping on boards and possessing nothing of her own. She received the gift of healing and through her prayers her community was preserved through famines. In her last hours her brother Saint Gregory of Nyssa came to her bedside and recorded her final discourse on death, the soul and the resurrection in his treatise "On the Soul and the Resurrection," and her Life. She reposed in 380.

St Macrina, sister of St Basil the Great and St Gregory of Nyssa

380

She was sought as a bride by many because of her exceptional beauty and wisdom as well as her noble birth. She was betrothed at a young age, and when her betrothed died, she refused to consider any more suitors, saying that since her betrothed was alive in Christ, it was not right for her to turn to another. Instead she turned to a life of virginity, ascetic struggle and prayer. She greatly influenced her younger brothers, turning them from worldly things to monastic life. She established a monastery and, with her mother Emilia, became a nun. She reposed in peace in 379. Her brother St Gregory of Nyssa held her in special honor. He was present at her death and gave a moving oration at her funeral. He describes how, in her last moments, she prayed thus to God: ‘Thou, O Lord, givest rest to our bodies in the sleep of death for a little time, then Thou wilt waken them again with the Last Trumpet. Forgive me, and grant that, when my soul is parted from my body, it may be presented before Thee stainless and without sin, and that it may be as incense before Thee.’ Then she made the sign of the Cross on her brow, eyes, face and heart, and died. St Gregory’s work on the resurrection of the dead (available in English as On the Soul and Resurrection) is cast in the form of a dialogue between himself and his sister Macrina in which he is the earnest but ignorant student and she the wise and patient teacher. So do the Saints honor the Saints.

Daily readings

Vespers

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

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

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.

Matins Gospel

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 11.25-36

²⁵For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

²⁵For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in; ²⁶and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: ²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: ²⁷And this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins. ²⁷For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. ²⁸As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.

²⁸As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sake. ²⁹For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. ²⁹For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of. ³⁰For as ye in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience, ³⁰For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: ³¹even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy. ³¹Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. ³²For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. ³²For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!

³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! ³⁴For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? ³⁴For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? ³⁵Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? ³⁵or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? ³⁶For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen. ³⁶For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Epistle

— St Seraphim

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 12.1-8

¹At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

¹At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat. ²But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. ²But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath. ³But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; ³But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him; ⁴How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? ⁴how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? ⁵Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? ⁵Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless? ⁶But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. ⁶But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here. ⁷But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁷But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. ⁸For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.

Gospel

— St Seraphim

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.