Sunday, 4 August 2024

6th Sunday after Pentecost

91 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Liturgy · Dormition Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Holy Seven Youths of Ephesus

The seven holy youths of Ephesus, Maximilian, Iamblichus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus and Antoninus, were the sons of distinguished citizens of the city in the third century. Brought up together as Christians, they served in the imperial guard. When the emperor Decius (249 to 251) came to Ephesus and ordered every citizen to offer sacrifice to the idols, the youths were denounced as Christians. Brought before Decius, they confessed their faith and removed the soldiers' belts and insignia. The emperor, at first astonished by their youth and beauty, gave them time to reconsider while he continued his journey, and the seven friends withdrew to a cave on Mount Ochlon outside the city. There they devoted themselves to fasting and prayer, sending the youngest, Iamblichus, in disguise to buy bread for them. Hearing on his return that Decius had come back and was searching for them, they prepared to confess their faith and lay down to rest after partaking of bread and water. The Lord, foreseeing that their confession would later strengthen many, sent upon them a deep and miraculous sleep. Decius, learning where they were hidden, ordered the entrance of the cave to be sealed up with great stones, that they might die of hunger. Two secret Christians at his court, Theodore and Rufinus, recorded the names and the manner of their suffering on lead tablets and concealed these among the stones. Almost two centuries later, in the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger (408 to 450), at a time when some were denying the resurrection of the body, a landowner ordered the stones removed for use in building a sheepfold. The youths awoke as if from a single night's rest, sent Iamblichus once more for bread, and were astonished when he returned to tell them that the city was now Christian and crosses were raised over its gates. The bishop, the magistrates and the emperor came to the cave and heard their testimony; they then took leave of the elders and lay down again, this time falling asleep in the Lord. Their relics, transferred to Constantinople, became a sign of the resurrection.

Holy Venerable Martyr Eudocia of Persia

Saint Eudocia was a native of Anatolia in Asia Minor and lived in the fourth century. She was carried off into Persia in a great raid by the army of King Sapor (Shapur II), together with nine thousand other Christians whom the Persians took as captives in their campaigns against the Roman frontier. Of all the captives, Eudocia stood out for her piety and her thorough knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. In the cities and prisons of Persia she instructed her fellow prisoners, encouraging them not to lose heart amid hardships and to keep the confession of Christ. Beyond her own people, she preached to the Persian women among whom she lived, leading many of them to belief in the Saviour and to baptism. Word of her teaching reached the Persian authorities, who arrested her and demanded that she renounce Christ and offer sacrifice to fire. She refused, and after enduring various tortures she was beheaded for confessing the name of the Lord. The Church receives her with the title of venerable martyr both because of her ascetic and prayerful life in captivity and because of her witness unto blood, and her memory is kept on this day in both the Greek and the Slavonic synaxaria.

Translation of the Relics of Saint Cornelius of Pereyaslavl

Saint Cornelius of Pereyaslavl, in the world Konon, was the son of a Ryazan merchant of the seventeenth century. As a young man he left his father's house and lived for five years as a novice under the elder Paul in the Lukianov hermitage near Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. He then transferred to the Pereyaslavl monastery of Saints Boris and Gleb on the Sands, where he was tonsured a monk with the name Cornelius. From that day until his death he kept a vow of complete silence, so that the brethren took him to be deaf and dumb. He spent thirty years in continual labour, in fasting, vigil and obedience, and only as he approached the end of his life did the elders learn his speech and discover the depth of his prayer. Before his repose he made his confession to the priest Father Barlaam, received the Holy Mysteries and was clothed in the great schema. He fell asleep on 22 July 1693 and was buried in the monastery. Nine years later, when a new church was being built on the site, the workmen uncovered his relics and found them incorrupt. In 1705, when Saint Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov, came to the monastery, he venerated the relics and ordered them to be placed in the new church. The translation of the relics of Saint Cornelius to that church is commemorated by the Church on 4 August.

Daily readings

6th Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 24.36-53

³⁶And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

³⁶And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ³⁷But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit. ³⁷But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. ³⁸And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart? ³⁸And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? ³⁹Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. ³⁹See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having. ⁴⁰And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. ⁴⁰And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat? ⁴¹And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? ⁴²And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. ⁴²And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish. ⁴³And he took it, and did eat before them. ⁴³And he took it, and ate before them.

⁴⁴And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. ⁴⁴And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. ⁴⁵Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, ⁴⁵Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures; ⁴⁶And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: ⁴⁶and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; ⁴⁷and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁷And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸Ye are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁸And ye are witnesses of these things.

⁴⁹And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. ⁴⁹And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.

⁵⁰And he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

⁵⁰And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. ⁵¹And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. ⁵¹And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: ⁵²And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: ⁵³and were continually in the temple, blessing God. ⁵³And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Romans — Romans 12.6-14

⁶Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; ⁶And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; ⁷Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; ⁷or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; ⁸Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. ⁸or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.

⁹Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

⁹Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. ¹⁰Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; ¹⁰In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; ¹¹in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; ¹¹Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; ¹²rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing stedfastly in prayer; ¹²Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; ¹³Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. ¹³communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality. ¹⁴Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. ¹⁴Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 9.1-8

¹And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

¹And he entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city. ²And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. ²And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven. ³And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. ³And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. ⁴And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? ⁴And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? ⁵For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? ⁵For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk? ⁶But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. ⁶But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go unto thy house. ⁷And he arose, and departed to his house. ⁷And he arose, and departed to his house. ⁸But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. ⁸But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men.