Thursday, 12 September 2024

Thursday of the 12th week after Pentecost

130 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Liturgy · No Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Leavetaking Nativity Theotokos

Saints commemorated

★ Apodosis of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

On 12 September the Orthodox Church keeps the apodosis, or leave-taking, of the great feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos which was celebrated on 8 September. According to ancient liturgical practice, the principal feasts of the Mother of God and of the Lord are extended over a period of days, during which the proper hymns and readings of the feast are repeated, so that the faithful may be nourished gradually by the depth of what is celebrated. The Nativity of the Theotokos has a forefeast on 7 September and a five-day afterfeast culminating in the apodosis on this day. With the leave-taking the Church takes a final and solemn farewell of the festal joy of the Nativity before turning, on the following day, to the forefeast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The hymnography of the apodosis recalls once more that from the holy and barren Anna a virgin daughter has been given to the world, and that through her the salvation prepared from before the ages is about to be revealed. The placing of the Marian feast at the gateway of the year and its leaving-off only on the eve of the Cross teaches that the Theotokos and the Cross belong together as the two pillars of the dispensation of our salvation.

Holy Hieromartyr Autonomus, bishop in Italy

Saint Autonomus was a bishop in Italy in the late third and early fourth centuries, during the reign of the emperor Diocletian. To escape the fierce persecution then raging in the West, and following the directions of the Lord, he left his see and travelled to Bithynia in Asia Minor, settling in the village of Soreoi near Nicomedia in the house of a hospitable Christian named Cornelius. There he laboured as a missionary, baptising many of the local pagans, building a church in honour of the Archangel Michael, and ordaining Cornelius to the diaconate and later to the priesthood. When persecution was renewed, Autonomus moved for a time to Claudiopolis on the Black Sea coast and then returned to Soreoi to continue his work. The newly converted Christians, in their zeal, on one of the pagan feasts overturned the idols and broke up an altar, which roused the rage of the heathen. While Saint Autonomus was offering the Divine Liturgy in his church, a mob burst in and stoned him to death at the holy altar, around the year 313. His relics were preserved and translated, and a church was built over his tomb; in the sixth century, in the reign of Justinian, the church was restored and the saint's incorrupt relics were rediscovered. He is honoured as a missionary bishop and a martyr at the altar.

Holy Hieromartyr Cornutus, bishop of Iconium

Saint Cornutus was bishop of Iconium in Lycaonia, sometimes also remembered as bishop of Nicomedia, who suffered martyrdom for Christ in the persecution of Decius, around the year 249, or, according to other sources, under Diocletian. Already advanced in age, he was renowned among his flock for the holiness of his life, the zeal of his preaching, and his pastoral care for the poor and the imprisoned. When the imperial edicts of persecution were posted in Iconium, the governor Perennius summoned Cornutus and ordered him to offer sacrifice to the gods. The bishop replied with great courage that he had served Christ from his youth and could not now in old age betray the Lord who had given him the priesthood. He was scourged, shod with iron sandals studded with sharp nails, and dragged through the streets of the city. Yet he continued to give thanks and to encourage the faithful who came to see him, and he was finally beheaded by the sword. His martyric witness strengthened the Christians of Iconium during the persecution, and his memory has been kept in the synaxaria of the Greek Church on this day.

Holy Martyrs Macedonius, Tatian, and Theodulus

The holy martyrs Macedonius, Tatian, and Theodulus were Christians of Phrygia who suffered for Christ around the year 362 during the brief but bitter persecution under the emperor Julian the Apostate. While Julian was attempting to restore the worship of the old gods throughout the empire, his governor in Phrygia rebuilt and reopened a pagan temple in the city of Meros. The three friends, burning with zeal for the true God, entered the temple by night, broke up the idols, and overthrew the altars. The next morning, when the deed was discovered, innocent men were arrested in their place; learning of this, Macedonius, Tatian, and Theodulus came forward and confessed openly that they alone were responsible. Brought before the governor Amachius, they were scourged, hung up, and torn with iron hooks. Because they continued to confess Christ, they were finally laid upon iron beds heated by fire and roasted to death. Even in their torments they jested with the governor, telling him that if he wished to enjoy roasted flesh he should turn them on the other side, that he might find them well cooked on every part. Thus with cheerful courage they completed their martyrdom and received the crown.

Our Holy Father Athanasius the Elder of Vysotsk, and his disciple Athanasius the Younger

1395

He was reared in piety by his father, a priest in Novgorod. One day, hearing the words of the Gospel, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me, he renounced the world and entered the Monastery of St Sergius of Radonezh. He became St Sergius’ disciple and, after a few years, became known for his virtue and his knowledge of Scripture. In 1374, with the blessing of his spiritual father, he founded the Monastery of Vysotsk, becoming its first abbot. After heading the monastery for fourteen years, he traveled to Kiev and then, in 1401, to the Monastery of the Stoudion in Constantinople. There he devoted himself to translating books from Greek to Slavonic, sending his translations back to his monastery in Russia. It was he who translated the Jerusalem Typikon and several collections of the writings of the Fathers of the Church, immeasurably enriching the life of the Church in Russia. He reposed in peace in Constantinople. His disciple Athanasius the Younger was made Abbot of Vysotsk on the elder’s departure for Constantinople, and served as Abbot for eight years, reposing in peace in 1395. He was called ‘perfect in fasting, strong in self-restraint, zealous in prayer, patient in privations and tribulations.’ The Synaxarion says that “He taught his monks to keep careful watch on every movement of the heart so as to drive away every thought displeasing to God.”

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Corinthians — 2 Corinthians 7.1-10

¹Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

¹Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

²Open your hearts to us: we wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we took advantage of no man.

²Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. ³I say it not to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together. ³I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. ⁴Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our affliction. ⁴Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. ⁵For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

⁵For even when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. ⁶Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; ⁶Nevertheless he that comforteth the lowly, even God, comforted us by the coming of Titus; ⁷And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. ⁷and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more. ⁸For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it: though I did regret it (for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season), ⁸For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. ⁹I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing. ⁹Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. ¹⁰For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. ¹⁰For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Epistle

— Theotokos

Philippians — Philippians 2.5-11

⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁵Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁶who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; ⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; ⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, ¹⁰That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ¹¹And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 1.29-35

²⁹And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

²⁹And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. ³⁰Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell him of her: ³¹And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. ³¹and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. ³²And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

³²And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with demons. ³³And all the city was gathered together at the door. ³³And all the city was gathered together at the door. ³⁴And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. ³⁴And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him. ³⁵And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

³⁵And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.

Gospel

— Theotokos

Luke — Luke 10.38-42, 11.27-28

³⁸Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

³⁸Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet, and heard his word. ⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. ⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. ⁴¹But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: ⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: ⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. ⁴²but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

²⁷And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

²⁷And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck. ²⁸But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. ²⁸But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.