Friday, 16 August 2024

Image of Christ Not Made by Hands

Friday of the 8th week after Pentecost

103 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Red cross half-circle (vigil typikon symbol) · Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Translation of the Image not made by hands of our Lord Jesus Christ from Edessa to Constantinople

944

This feast, the third "Feast of the Saviour in August", commemorates the translation of the holy Image of Christ "Not Made by Hands", also known as the Holy Mandylion, from Edessa to Constantinople in the year 944. According to the ancient tradition, when King Abgar of Edessa lay sick with leprosy and heard of the wonders worked by Christ in Palestine, he sent his messenger Ananias with a letter requesting healing. The Lord, knowing the king's faith, pressed a clean cloth to His most pure face, leaving upon it the imprint of His features, and sent it to Abgar with a blessing.

Receiving the Image, King Abgar venerated it and was healed of his disease. He had the icon affixed above the gates of the city, where it was honoured by all who entered. After Abgar's death his great-grandson returned to paganism and intended to destroy the icon, but the Bishop of Edessa walled it up in a niche along with a burning lamp. With the passage of generations the location of the Image was forgotten.

In the year 545, when the Persian emperor Chosroes I besieged Edessa and the city's position seemed hopeless, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to Bishop Eulabios and ordered him to remove the Icon from the sealed niche. When he opened it the holy Mandylion was found intact, the lamp still burning before it, and an exact copy was discovered impressed upon the tile that had protected it. Through the protection of the holy Image the city was delivered from the Persians.

In 944, during the reign of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and Patriarch Theophylact, the holy Mandylion was solemnly translated from Edessa to Constantinople. On 16 August it was placed in the Pharos Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in the imperial palace. The feast of this translation entered into the liturgical calendar of the Church and the Image is the model of all icons of Christ "Not Made by Hands".

Holy New Martyr Stamatios of Volos

The New Martyr Stamatios was born in the village of Aghios Georgios Nileias in Magnesia, on the north-west slopes of Mount Pelion, and lived in the seventeenth century. He was a pious Greek Christian, well respected by his fellow countrymen for his integrity and faith, who lived under the harsh conditions of Ottoman rule. In a time of crushing taxation imposed upon the Christian populations of Thessaly, Stamatios was chosen as a member of a delegation sent to Constantinople to petition the Sublime Porte for tax relief on behalf of his people. With courage and the eloquence of an honest man he stated the grievances of the Christians before the Ottoman authorities. The Turks, however, took offence at his bold and uncompromising stand and demanded that he renounce Christ and embrace Islam, promising honour and reward. Saint Stamatios refused to deny his Saviour. Despite threats, flattery and the pressure of those who urged him to save his life by apostatising, he confessed his faith with steadfast firmness. Dragged to the great Cathedral of Hagia Sophia, before one of its massive doors he was beheaded for his confession of Christ. The exact year of his martyrdom is given variously as 1680 or 1688. Because the day of his martyric end coincided with the great Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Church transferred his commemoration to the following day. He is honoured as a New Martyr who shed his blood rather than betray Christ, and his memory is kept on 16 August.

Holy Unmercenary Physician Diomedes of Tarsus

The Holy Martyr Diomedes was born in Tarsus in Cilicia and studied the medical arts. His scientific knowledge did not make him proud, for he retained the piety in which his parents had raised him. He used his skill to treat the bodies of the sick, and at the same time, by the word of his preaching, to heal their souls. He brought many pagans to faith in Christ and is numbered among the holy Unmercenary Physicians, who took no payment for their healing. Saint Diomedes laboured in the city of Nicaea during the reign of the emperor Diocletian. When the persecution of Christians began, his missionary activity was reported to the emperor, who ordered his arrest. Before the soldiers could carry out their commission, however, the Lord called His servant to Himself: as Saint Diomedes was praying, he gave up his soul to God and the soldiers found him already dead. Even though he was deceased, the soldiers struck off his head in order to prove to Diocletian that the orders had been carried out. As they bore the head away, the soldiers were struck blind, and only when their commander returned the head to the body did they regain their sight. Witnessing this miracle, the soldiers themselves came to faith in Christ. The Church venerates Saint Diomedes as one of the Holy Unmercenaries, and his name is invoked in the Mystery of Holy Unction along with the other Unmercenary Physicians, that the Lord might heal the bodies and souls of the faithful through their prayers.

Venerable Gerasimus the New of Cephalonia

Saint Gerasimus the New, called "the New Ascetic" to distinguish him from earlier saints of the same name, was born about 1506 in the village of Trikala in the Peloponnese into the noble Notaras family. From his youth he was inflamed with love for God and, leaving worldly honours behind, he set out as a pilgrim through the lands sanctified by the footsteps of Christ. He travelled first to Constantinople and then to Mount Athos, where he embraced the monastic life. Thereafter he journeyed to Jerusalem, where he remained for some twelve years, venerating the holy places and serving the Patriarch of Jerusalem who ordained him priest. He visited the monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai, the deserts of Egypt, the island of Crete (where he lived as a hermit in a cave for two years), and the island of Zakynthos (where he spent a further five years in solitary asceticism). About 1555 he came to the island of Cephalonia and settled in a cave at Lassi near Argostoli. After some time he withdrew to the inland plain of Omala, where he discovered the ruined chapel of the Dormition of the Theotokos. He restored the chapel, dug a well with his own hands, and gathered around himself a community of nuns, founding the monastery of New Jerusalem which still stands today. Saint Gerasimus was granted by God the gift of healing the sick and casting out unclean spirits, especially those troubled by demonic possession. Forewarned of the day of his repose, he gave up his soul to God on 15 August 1579. Because that day is the great Feast of the Dormition, his commemoration is kept on 16 August. His relics remain incorrupt to this day in the monastery he founded, and he is venerated as the patron and protector of Cephalonia. His translation is also commemorated on 20 October.

Martyr Diomedes the Physician of Tarsus in Cilicia

298

He is one of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians, a physician who practiced in Tarsus during the reign of Diocletian. Around 288 he came to Nicaea, where he healed many bodies by his medical arts and many souls through his preaching of the Gospel of Christ. The Emperor Diocletian sent men to arrest him, but when they arrived they found that he had already reposed. They cut off his head to take it back to the Emperor, and for this abomination were all struck blind. When Diocletian saw St Diomedes’ head, he ordered the men to return it to the body from which they had taken it. As soon as they had done so, their sight was restored.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 11.8-22

⁸For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man: ⁸For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. ⁹for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man: ⁹Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. ¹⁰for this cause ought the woman to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. ¹⁰For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. ¹¹Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord. ¹¹Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. ¹²For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God. ¹²For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God. ¹³Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? ¹³Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled? ¹⁴Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him? ¹⁴Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? ¹⁵But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. ¹⁵But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. ¹⁶But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. ¹⁶But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

¹⁷Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

¹⁷But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it. ¹⁸For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. ¹⁹For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. ¹⁹For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you. ²⁰When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. ²⁰When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord’s supper: ²¹for in your eating each one taketh before other his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken. ²¹For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. ²²What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. ²²What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you? In this I praise you not.

Epistle

— Image

Colossians — Colossians 1.12-18

¹²giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; ¹²Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: ¹³who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; ¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins: ¹⁴In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ¹⁵who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; ¹⁵Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; ¹⁶For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: ¹⁷and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. ¹⁷And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. ¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. ¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 17.10-18

¹⁰And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? ¹⁰And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? ¹¹And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. ¹¹And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things: ¹²But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. ¹²but I say unto you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them. ¹³Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. ¹³Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

¹⁴And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,

¹⁴And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling to him, and saying, ¹⁵Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft-times into the water. ¹⁵Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. ¹⁶And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. ¹⁶And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. ¹⁷Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. ¹⁷And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him hither to me. ¹⁸And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. ¹⁸And Jesus rebuked him; and the demon went out of him: and the boy was cured from that hour.

Gospel

— Image

Luke — Luke 9.51-56, 10.22-24

⁵¹And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

⁵¹And it came to pass, when the days were well-nigh come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, ⁵²And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. ⁵²and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. ⁵³And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. ⁵³And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he were going to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? ⁵⁴And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and consume them? ⁵⁵But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. ⁵⁵But he turned, and rebuked them. ⁵⁶For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. ⁵⁶And they went to another village. ²²All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. ²²All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth who the Son is, save the Father; and who the Father is, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him.

²³And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: ²³And turning to the disciples, he said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: ²⁴For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. ²⁴for I say unto you, that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.