Sunday, 11 August 2024

7th Sunday after Pentecost

98 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Liturgy · Dormition Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyrs Basil and Theodore of the Kiev Caves

Saints Basil and Theodore were ascetics of the Near Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra in the eleventh and early twelfth centuries. Theodore came from a wealthy family and, having distributed his riches to the poor, took the monastic habit and settled in the Varangian Cave that adjoined the cells of Saint Theodosius, where he lived a life of strict fasting and labour. Basil joined him as a fellow ascetic, and they laboured together in spiritual struggle for many years. The prince Mstislav, son of Sviatopolk, having heard a rumour that a treasure was hidden in the Varangian cave, demanded that Theodore reveal it to him; the saint refused, and the prince in anger had Theodore tortured. Basil, coming to console his fellow struggler, was also seized; Mstislav grew so enraged that he shot him with an arrow. Saint Basil drew the arrow from his side, gave it back to the prince and foretold the prince's own violent death. Both ascetics fell asleep in the Lord on 11 August 1098. Their incorrupt relics rest in the Near Caves of the Lavra, and they are commemorated on 11 August together with the synaxis of the Kiev Caves fathers.

Holy Martyr Euplus the Archdeacon of Catania

304

The Martyr Euplus was a deacon of the Sicilian city of Catania who suffered in the year 304 during the persecution of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian. He devoted himself to preaching Christ openly to the pagans, always carrying a copy of the holy Gospel with him. While he was reading and explaining the sacred text to a crowd, he was seized and brought before Calvisianus, the governor of the city. Asked why he had not handed over his book of Scriptures as the imperial edict required, Euplus answered that he carried it because he was a Christian and would not be parted from it. He was thrown into prison, where he remained seven days at prayer; the Lord caused a spring of fresh water to well up in the cell to slake his thirst. Brought again to trial he was tortured and condemned to death; when led to execution his Gospel book was hung around his neck, and he was beheaded outside the city. With Saint Agatha he is honoured as a co-patron of Catania, and is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on 11 August.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Euplus of Catania

304

He was a deacon from Catania in Sicily during the reign of Diocletian. During a persecution of Christians there, Euplus presented himself to the governor and proclaimed himself a Christian. While he was being tortured on the rack, the governor ordered him to worship Mars, Apollos, and Aeculapius, but he answered that he worshipped the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He was beheaded in 304. His wonderworking relics are preserved in the village of Vico della Batonia near Naples.

Holy Virgin Martyr Susanna of Rome

Saint Susanna was a daughter of the presbyter Gabinius and a niece of Pope Caius of Rome (283 to 296), reared from childhood in strict Christian piety. As a young woman she dedicated her virginity to God. Her family was related to the emperor Diocletian, who, hearing reports of her virtue and beauty, resolved to give her in marriage to his co-emperor Maximian. He sent his kinsman Claudius and afterwards his brother Maximus to negotiate the match with the priest Gabinius, but both of these men, together with Claudius's wife Praepedigna and her sons Alexander and Cuthias, were converted by the household and accepted holy baptism. When Diocletian learned that all his envoys had become Christians, he banished them and ordered Susanna brought to his palace. She was placed in the care of his wife Serena, who was secretly a Christian, and instructed to reverence the household idols, but she refused. Diocletian then gave Maximian permission to defile her, but an angel protected her. The official Macedonius pressed her to sacrifice, and when she answered, "I offer myself in sacrifice to my Lord," he beheaded her in her father's house. Her uncle Caius, her father Gabinius, and the others of the household were also crowned with martyrdom, and their bodies were buried by Christians at the cemetery of her family's estate. She is commemorated on 11 August.

Saint Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople

1508

Saint Niphon II was born in the Peloponnese to pious parents Manuel and Maria, and was named Nicholas at his baptism. As a youth he was drawn to the monastic life and was tonsured at Epidaurus by his elder Anthony, receiving the name Niphon. After his elder's repose he travelled to Mount Athos, where he laboured as a copyist of sacred books, was ordained, and was renowned for his strict ascetic life. Brought from the Holy Mountain to serve in the church of Thessaloniki, he was elected metropolitan of that city, and in 1486 was raised to the patriarchal throne of Constantinople. He occupied the see three times: from 1486 to 1488, again from 1497 to 1498, and briefly in 1502. During his first patriarchate he uncovered a scandal involving false witnesses; for his refusal to compromise the truth Sultan Bayezid II confiscated the patriarchate's properties and exiled him. Banished in 1488, he made his way back to Athos, first to Vatopedi and then to the Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner, called Dionysiou, where he concealed his rank and took the lowliest place among the monks. When in 1502 the Holy Synod called him a third time to Constantinople, he resolutely refused and remained at Dionysiou. He reposed in 1508, and only nine years later, in 1517, the Holy Synod proclaimed him a saint. His relics rest in a shrine at Dionysiou, where a chapel is dedicated to him. He is commemorated on 11 August.

The Holy Martyr Susanna the Virgin, and those with her

c. 296

She was the daughter of Gavinius, a Christian priest in Rome, and the niece of Pope Gaius. The Emperor Diocletian’s adopted son Maximian wished to marry Susanna, but she had no desire to marry any one, least of all a pagan. The patricians Claudia and Maxima were sent to Susanna by the Emperor to present Maximian’s suit; but instead she turned both of them, and all their households, to the Faith. The enraged Emperor had Claudia, Maxima and their families executed, then had Susanna herself beheaded. The Emperor’s wife, Serena, was a secret Christian, and took Susanna’s body secretly and buried it. Soon after this Susanna’s father Gavinius and her uncle Pope Gaius also met martyrdom.

Repose of Fr Georges Florovsky

1979

Daily readings

7th Matins Gospel

John — John 20.1-10

¹The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

¹Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. ²Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. ²She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him. ³Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. ³Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. ⁴So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. ⁴And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; ⁵and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. ⁵And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. ⁶Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, ⁶Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, ⁷and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁷And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. ⁸Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. ⁸Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. ⁹For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ⁹For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. ¹⁰So the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Romans — Romans 15.1-7

¹We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

¹Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ²Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. ²Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying. ³For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. ³For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me. ⁴For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. ⁴For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope. ⁵Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: ⁵Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus: ⁶That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁶that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. ⁷Wherefore receive ye one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 9.27-35

²⁷And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

²⁷And as Jesus passed by from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out, and saying, Have mercy on us, thou son of David. ²⁸And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. ²⁸And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. ²⁹Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. ²⁹Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done unto you. ³⁰And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. ³⁰And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. ³¹But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. ³¹But they went forth, and spread abroad his fame in all that land.

³²And as they went forth, behold, there was brought to him a dumb man possessed with a demon.

³²As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. ³³And when the demon was cast out, the dumb man spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. ³³And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. ³⁴But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. ³⁴But the Pharisees said, By the prince of the demons casteth he out demons. ³⁵And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

³⁵And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.