Monday, 12 August 2024

Monday of the 8th week after Pentecost

99 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Liturgy · Dormition Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyrs Pamphilus and Capiton

The Holy Martyrs Pamphilus and Capiton suffered for Christ in the early centuries of the Church and were beheaded by the sword at Olivria, a place near Constantinople. Little is preserved concerning their lives, but the synaxarion records that they were faithful confessors of the Christian faith who refused to deny Christ when challenged, and so received the crown of martyrdom. They are reckoned among the early martyrs of the Bithynian region and are commemorated by the Orthodox Church on 12 August.

Holy Martyrs Photius and Anicetus of Nicomedia

The Holy Martyrs Anicetus and Photius were natives of Nicomedia, related to one another as uncle and nephew. Anicetus was a senior officer in the imperial guard. When the emperor Diocletian set up in the city square new instruments of execution to terrify the Christians and ordered all to sacrifice to the idols, Anicetus stepped forward and openly denounced the cruelty of the persecution and confessed Christ as God. The emperor, enraged, ordered him to be tortured: his tongue was torn out, his teeth were broken, but he continued to confess Christ. He was thrown to lions, but they grew gentle and lay down at his feet; he was bound to a wheel, but the wheel stopped; he was cast into a heated furnace, but emerged unharmed. While these tortures were inflicted his nephew Photius came forward and embraced his kinsman, declaring that he too was a Christian. The emperor commanded the two to be tied by the legs and dragged behind wild horses, but they were preserved. Finally a great furnace was prepared; many other Christians, inspired by the constancy of Anicetus and Photius, came forward crying, "We too are Christians," and entered the flames with them. The two saints died together praying, and their bodies were not consumed by the fire, even their hair remaining whole. They suffered around the year 305 and are commemorated on 12 August.

Saint Castor the Venerable

Saint Castor is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on 12 August as a venerable father, that is, an ascetic who reposed peacefully rather than as a martyr. He is named in the synaxaria of the day among the saints of the early Church and is honoured for the ascetic life he led in service to Christ. The synaxaria preserve no detailed life of him, but his memory has continued to be kept on this date in the Eastern Orthodox calendar.

Hieromaryr Alexander, Bishop of Comana

3rd c.

“He lived in the town of Comana near Neocaesarea as a simple charcoal-burner. When the Bishop of Comana died, St Gregory of Neocaesarea, the Wonderworker (Nov. 17), was invited to preside over the Council to choose a new bishop. At the Council there were both clergy and laymen. They were unable to come to agreement on one person, estimating the candidates they selected according to their outward worth and behaviour. St Gregory told them that they must not give so much weight to the outward impression as to the soul and the spiritual aptitude. Then some wag called out mockingly: ‘Then let’s choose Alexander the charcoal-burner as bishop!’, and there was general laughter. St Gregory asked who this Alexander was. Thinking that his name would not have come up before the Council except by the providence of God, he commanded that he be brought. Being a charcoal-burner, he was black with soot and in rags, and his appearance provoked further mirth in the Council. Then Gregory took him aside and asked him to tell the truth about himself. Alexander told him that he had been a Greek philosopher, enjoying great honour and position, but that he had set it all aside, demeaned himself and made himself as a fool for Christ from the time that he had read and understood the Holy Scriptures. Gregory commanded that he be bathed and clad in new clothes, then went into the Council with him and, before them all, began to examine him in the Scriptures. All were filled with amazement at the wisdom and grace of Alexander’s words, and were quite unable to recognize the former charcoal-burner in this wise man. With one voice, they chose him as bishop, and he received the love of his flock for his holiness, his wisdom and his goodness. He died a martyr for Christ under Diocletian.” (Prologue)

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 9.13-18

¹³Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? ¹³Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? ¹⁴Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. ¹⁴Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel. ¹⁵But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. ¹⁵But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. ¹⁶For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! ¹⁶For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel. ¹⁷For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. ¹⁷For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me. ¹⁸What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. ¹⁸What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 16.1-6

¹The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

¹And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven. ²He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. ²But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the heaven is red. ³And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? ³And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times. ⁴A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. ⁴An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed. ⁵And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

⁵And the disciples came to the other side and forgot to take bread.

⁶Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. ⁶And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.