Sunday, 22 September 2024

13th Sunday after Pentecost

140 days after Pascha · Tone 4 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Phocas, Bishop of Sinope

404

Saint Phocas was born in the city of Sinope on the southern shore of the Black Sea. From youth he led a virtuous Christian life, and was made worthy from a young age to receive the grace of the Holy Spirit, working many miracles. In his adult years he became Bishop of Sinope, where he laboured zealously, converting many pagans by his preaching and by the wonders God worked through him. During the persecution under the emperor Trajan, the governor demanded that he renounce Christ. After enduring fierce torments, the saint was enclosed in a hot bath, where he died a martyr's death about the year 117. Before his suffering, a dove came to him and placed a crown on his head, saying with a human voice that a cup was prepared for him to drink. Saint Phocas is especially venerated as a defender against fires and as a helper of those in danger of drowning at sea, and a homily in his honour was composed by Saint John Chrysostom. In the year 404 his relics were translated to Constantinople, an event commemorated on 22 July.

Holy Prophet Jonah

The Holy Prophet Jonah, son of Amathi, lived in the eighth century before the birth of Christ and was a successor of the Prophet Elisha. The Book of the Prophet Jonah, one of the twelve Minor Prophets of the Old Testament, recounts how he was sent by God to the great pagan city of Nineveh to preach repentance. Refusing this commission, Jonah took ship for Tarshish and was cast into the sea during a violent storm, where he was swallowed by a great sea creature. After three days and three nights in its belly, calling on the Lord in prayer, he was cast up alive on dry land and went to Nineveh to deliver his message; the king and people repented in sackcloth and ashes, and the city was spared. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself spoke of Jonah as a sign of His own three-day burial and Resurrection, saying that as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so the Son of Man would be in the heart of the earth. The prophet reposed in great old age and was buried in his native land. In the Slavic tradition his commemoration falls on 22 September, and the Greek tradition observes it on 21 September.

Saint Phocas the Gardener of Sinope

Saint Phocas the Gardener lived near the gates of Sinope, where he tended a small garden by his own labour. From the produce of his garden he refreshed all the passersby, giving to the poor and to strangers and feeding their souls at the same time with the word of God. He used to say that the soul is also a garden which requires care, lest it produce thorns and thistles. By his words and his example he led many pagans to faith in Christ. During a persecution against Christians, the governor sent soldiers to find and kill him; not knowing him, they arrived at his house, and he received them as guests with great kindness. That night, having learned their errand, he secretly dug a grave in his own garden and prepared his belongings for the poor. The next morning, he disclosed to the soldiers that he was the man they sought; reluctant after such hospitality, they nevertheless carried out their orders at his own request and beheaded him. He suffered about the year 320. A church was soon raised over his relics, and he is especially venerated by seafarers, gardeners, farmers and all who travel by sea, who invoke his protection against storms and dangers.

Venerable Cosmas, desert-dweller of Zographou, Mt Athos

1323

“Saint Cosmas came from Bulgaria where his devout parents provided him with a good education in Slavonic and Greek. They wanted him to marry but he was drawn by the love of Christ and, unknown to them, made his way to the Holy Mountain of Athos to become a monk at the Bulgarian monastery of Zographou. On the feast of the Annunciation at the Monastery of Vatopedi, he saw a woman among those serving in the Church and in the refectory, and he was grieved at first to observe this breach of the monastic rule, but overjoyed when he realized that it was the Mother of God who had appeared to him in this way. “He was clothed in the holy angelic Habit and, after some time, was ordained priest. One day, as he was praying before the icon of the Mother of God, asking her with tears how to achieve his salvation, he heard a voice saying, ‘Let my servant withdraw to the desert outside the monastery.’ He was obedient to the will of God and, with the blessing of his Abbot, lived in silence from then on. Some years later, he was found worthy of the grace of discernment of thoughts and of beholding things happening elsewhere, as well as of other spiritual gifts. In the course of many years, he was the spiritual helper of a great number of monks. At the end of his life, Christ appeared to him saying that he would shortly have a great trial to endure from the Devil. Indeed, the prince of demons made his appearance next day with a host of his servants bewailing and bemoaning their inability to annihilate their great enemy Cosmas, who had held them in check for so long and gained possession, by his virtue, of the throne in Heaven that had once been Lucifer’s. Taking a heavy stick, the demon beat the Saint so violently that he left him half-dead. As God allowed, Saint Cosmas died in peace two days later, on 22 September 1323. When the fathers came from the monastery to bury him, the wild animals gathered round. They kept silent until the end of the service, but howled unusually loud as his body was covered with earth. Then having paid their respects, they made off into the wilderness. Forty days later, the monks came to take up the body of Saint Cosmas and translate it to the monastery, but it was no longer in the grave. Where it now is God alone knows.” (Synaxarion)

Daily readings

2nd Matins Gospel

Mark — Mark 16.1-8

¹And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

¹And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. ²And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. ²And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen. ³And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? ³And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb? ⁴And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. ⁴and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great. ⁵And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. ⁵And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed. ⁶And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. ⁶And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him! ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. ⁷But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. ⁸And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. ⁸And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 16.13-24

¹³Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. ¹³Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. ¹⁴Let all that ye do be done in love. ¹⁴Let all your things be done with charity.

¹⁵Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints), ¹⁵I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) ¹⁶that ye also be in subjection unto such, and to every one that helpeth in the work and laboreth. ¹⁶That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. ¹⁷I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. ¹⁷And I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they supplied. ¹⁸For they refreshed my spirit and yours: acknowledge ye therefore them that are such. ¹⁸For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

¹⁹The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

¹⁹The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. ²⁰All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss. ²⁰All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

²¹The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. ²¹The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. ²²If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha. ²²If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. ²³The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ²³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. ²⁴My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. ²⁴My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 5.1-11

¹And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

¹Now it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; ²And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. ²and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. ³And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. ³And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat. ⁴Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. ⁴And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. ⁵And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. ⁵And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets. ⁶And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking; ⁶And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. ⁷and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. ⁷And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. ⁸When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. ⁸But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. ⁹For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: ⁹For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken; ¹⁰And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. ¹⁰and so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. ¹¹And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. ¹¹And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him.