Sunday, 29 September 2024

14th Sunday after Pentecost

147 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Black squigg (6-stich typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyrs Dadas, Gabdelas and Casdoa of Persia

The Holy Martyrs Dadas, Gabdelas and Casdoa suffered for Christ in the fourth century in Persia under the emperor Sapor. Saint Dadas, a kinsman of the king and his chief steward, had been made governor of one of the provinces of the realm; when it was discovered that he was a Christian, he was stripped of his honours and sent for trial before the cruel torturer Andromelik, who condemned him to be burned alive. As Saint Dadas approached the pyre he sealed himself with the sign of the Cross, and the fire was at once extinguished. The king's young son Gabdelas, beholding this wonder, openly confessed Christ, for which he was subjected to fierce torments; the Lord by His angel comforted him and restored to him health and strength after each torture. His sister Casdoa, when she came to visit him in prison, was likewise brought to faith, and the chief pagan priest Gargal, having seen the constancy of the holy youth and the radiance upon his face, also confessed Christ. The four holy martyrs, after enduring still further tortures, were beheaded with the sword and received the crown of martyrdom together. Their commemoration is kept on this day with Saint Cyriacus.

Venerable Cyprian, Abbot of Ustyug

1276

Saint Cyprian of Ustyug was a wealthy landowner of the lands of Dvina who, turning from the vanities of the world, received the great schema with the name Cyprian at the monastery of the Holy Trinity at Gledeno. The pious inhabitants of the newly founded city of Ustyug entreated him to build a monastery near their town, and the saint, choosing a place by shallow lakes at the Ostrozh falls, raised first a small cell and then by the labours of those who joined him a fully ordered monastic community. By the year 1212 he had completed the great monastery in honour of the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, with a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the foundation of which became the spiritual heart of the region. There he laboured in fasting, prayer and humble service, ever giving to the poor of the goods that came to the monastery, and gathering many monks to the angelic life. He fell asleep in the Lord on 29 September 1276 and was buried within the walls of his foundation, where his memory was honoured by the people of the North as a venerable wonderworker.

Venerable Cyriacus the Anchorite of Palestine

556

Saint Cyriacus the Anchorite was born in 449 in Corinth, the son of John, a priest of the church of Saint Anastasius, and his wife Eudocia. From childhood he was brought up in piety, and as he stood in church one day, not yet eighteen, he was so struck by the words of the Gospel concerning the denial of self and the taking up of the Cross that he went directly to the harbour without returning home, embarked for Palestine, and presented himself at Jerusalem. There he was received by the holy Eustorgius and afterwards came to Saint Euthymius the Great, who tonsured him and sent him to Saint Gerasimus of the Jordan, with whom he laboured for nine years. After Gerasimus's repose he returned to the Lavra of Saint Euthymius, where he passed ten years in stillness and was made priest. He withdrew further into the desert of Souka, dwelling for many years in caves of the wilderness, and in the deepest solitude lived for seven years on bitter herbs sweetened by his prayer. A great defender of Orthodoxy, by his teaching he confounded the heresy of the Origenists then troubling Palestine, recalling many to the true faith. Receiving frequent visits from Cyril of Skythopolis, who recorded his life, he reposed in great old age, having lived one hundred and nine years, in the year 556.

Venerable Theophanes the Merciful of Gaza

Saint Theophanes the Merciful was an inhabitant of the Syrian city of Gaza, renowned in his town for his great compassion toward the poor and the homeless. From his own substance he provided shelter for vagrants and strangers, gave food and clothing to the needy, cared for the sick and ransomed prisoners, until he had spent all that he had and was himself reduced to poverty and want. Toward the end of his life he was stricken with dropsy and his body was consumed with a wasting disease, yet he bore his sufferings with thanksgiving, never ceasing from prayer or from such almsgiving as still lay within his power. After his repose a fragrant healing myrrh flowed from his body, by which many of the sick were restored to health, witness to the truth of the Lord's word that the merciful shall obtain mercy. He is commemorated on this day with Saint Cyriacus the Anchorite.

St Mary of Palestine

6th c.

“She was at first a reader of the Psalter in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, but, being beautiful, she was a source of scandal to the sinful-minded. In order not to be a cause of sin in others, Mary withdrew to the wilderness of Souka with a basket of beans and a flask of water. She spent eighteen years in the desert and, by God’s power, never lacked either beans nor water. Disciples of St Cyriacus found her during her lifetime, and later buried her.” (Prologue)

Holy Martyrs Dada and those with them

4th c.

Dada was a high Persian official serving in the court of King Shapur II, and secretly a Christian. When he was appointed governor of a province some way from the court, Dada began to worship and proclaim Christ openly. This came to the attention of the King, who sent one of his sons, Gubarlahas, to try and execute him. Dada was condemned and condemned to be thrown into a fiery furnace. But when Dada made the sign of the Cross, the fire went out, amazing the Prince and eventually leading him to convert to Christ. The outraged King had his son thrown in prison and put to torture. Gubarlahas endured days of hideous torture without complaint and, though he had been subjected to horrible mutilations, emerged from his cell unscathed. This wonder led others, including two more of the King’s own children or kin, to embrace Christ. Kazoy, the King’s daughter, was allowed to enter into rest as soon as her tortures began. Gubarlahas was miraculously baptised in the midst of further tortures: A voice from on high pronounced the words of baptism, and a shower of water and oil fell on the Martyr. Not long afterward, he perished, along with Dada and Kasdios, one of Gubarlahas’ kinsmen who had been convinced of the Truth by the miracles he had seen.

Daily readings

3rd Matins Gospel

Mark — Mark 16.9-20

⁹Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

⁹Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. ¹⁰And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. ¹⁰She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. ¹¹And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. ¹¹And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.

¹²After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

¹²And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. ¹³And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them. ¹³And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

¹⁴Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

¹⁴And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen. ¹⁵And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁵And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. ¹⁷And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁷And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. ¹⁸they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

¹⁹So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

¹⁹So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. ²⁰And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. ²⁰And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Corinthians — 2 Corinthians 1.21-2.4

²¹Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; ²¹Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; ²²who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. ²²Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

²³But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth. ²³Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. ²⁴Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast. ²⁴Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

¹But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow.

¹But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. ²For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad but he that is made sorry by me? ²For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? ³And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. ³And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. ⁴For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. ⁴For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 6.31-36

³¹And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. ³¹And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. ³²For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. ³²And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them. ³³And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. ³³And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. ³⁴And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. ³⁴And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much. ³⁵But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. ³⁵But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. ³⁶Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. ³⁶Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.