Wednesday, 2 October 2024

Wednesday of the 15th week after Pentecost

150 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Black squigg (6-stich typikon symbol) · Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Cyprian and Holy Virgin Martyr Justina of Antioch

304

The Hieromartyr Cyprian, the Virgin Martyr Justina, and the Martyr Theoctistus suffered for Christ at Nicomedia in the year 304, under the Emperor Diocletian. Cyprian was a native of Carthage who became a renowned pagan magician and priest, dedicated from childhood to the demons; he was famed for his sorceries, summoning of pestilence and conjuring up of the dead, and led many to ruin. The holy virgin Justina lived in Antioch and, having converted her parents from paganism, dedicated herself to Christ in fasting, prayer and the keeping of virginity. A certain pagan youth, Aglaides, conceived a passion for Justina and hired Cyprian to draw her by sorcery; but each demonic snare was broken by her sign of the Cross and her invocation of the name of Jesus. Recognising the impotence of the demons before Christ, Cyprian repented, burned his magical books before the bishop, was received into the Church, and rose through the ranks of reader, deacon and priest, finally becoming Bishop of Antioch. With Justina, who became abbess of a women's community, he was arrested, tortured and beheaded at Nicomedia. The soldier Theoctistus, moved by their courage, confessed Christ and was beheaded with them.

Holy Blessed Andrew, Fool-for-Christ of Constantinople

Blessed Andrew the Fool-for-Christ was a Slav by birth, brought as a young captive to Constantinople in the tenth century. He was bought by the imperial bodyguard Theognostus, who, seeing his diligence and piety, had him taught to read and freed him for the work of the Church. While praying one night, Andrew received a vision in which the Lord called him to take up the difficult struggle of foolishness for Christ. Casting off respectable dress, he wandered the streets of Constantinople in rags, suffering hunger, cold, beatings and mockery, sleeping among the poor and giving away whatever he received. The Lord rewarded his hidden labour with the gifts of prophecy and discernment of hearts, by which he turned many sinners to repentance. With his disciple Saint Epiphanius he beheld the great vision at the Blachernae church of the Most Holy Theotokos sheltering the people with her veil, an event commemorated as the feast of the Protection on 1 October. Saint Andrew reposed in the city about the year 936.

Holy Martyr Theoctistus of Nicomedia

The Holy Martyr Theoctistus suffered for Christ at Nicomedia in 304, together with the Hieromartyr Cyprian and the Virgin Martyr Justina. He was a soldier present at the trial of Saints Cyprian and Justina, who, beholding their patient endurance under torture and the power of their confession of Christ, was so moved that he openly declared himself a Christian and embraced the saints before the judgement seat of Count Eutolmius. The count, enraged, ordered him to share their punishment. Theoctistus was tortured and then beheaded together with Cyprian and Justina, and the three were carried to Rome by pious Christians, where their relics were laid to rest near the basilica of Saint Peter. The Orthodox Church remembers him each year together with his fellow martyrs on 2 October.

Holy Martyrs David and Constantine, princes of Argveti

740

The brothers David and Constantine were eighth-century princes of the Mkheidze family who ruled the region of Argveti in western Georgia. Devout Christians and able military commanders, they led the defence of their land against the Arab invasion of Marwan ibn Muhammad, called by the Georgians "the Deaf" for his cruelty. After an initial victory at Mount Persati, the brothers were eventually overcome when Marwan returned with an enormous army. Taken captive, they were tortured for ten days and pressed to renounce Christ for Islam, but they remained steadfast and answered every threat with the confession of the Holy Trinity. Their captors led them to a riverbank near the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, beat them mercilessly, hung heavy stones around their necks and drowned them in the year 740. Their relics were miraculously preserved, and in the early twelfth century King Bagrat IV built the Motsameta Monastery (the Monastery of the Martyrs) over their burial place near Kutaisi, where their incorrupt relics are venerated to this day.

Holy Right-believing Princess Anna of Kashin

Saint Anna of Kashin was the daughter of Prince Demetrius Borisovich of Rostov and became the wife of the holy Great Prince Michael Yaroslavich of Tver. Her life was marked by sorrow: her husband was martyred at the Horde in 1318, and her sons Demetrius (1325) and Alexander (1339) and grandson Theodore (1339) likewise perished by Tatar violence. She bore each loss with deep faith, and after the death of her husband withdrew from the world, taking monastic tonsure with the name Euphrosyne in the Tver convent of Saint Sophia. Later she transferred to the Dormition convent in Kashin, where she received the great schema and resumed her baptismal name, Anna. She reposed there on 2 October 1338. Her relics were uncovered incorrupt in 1611 and she was glorified in 1649. Her veneration was suspended in 1677 because the Old Believers exploited certain details of her life, but she was solemnly re-glorified by the Russian Church in 1909, and her feast on 2 October is widely kept.

St Andrew the Fool for Christ

911

St Andrew was bought as a slave by Theognostos,a wealthy citizen of Constantinople, during the reign of the Emperor Leo the Wise. Theognostos recognized Andrew’s unusual ability and taught him to read and write. Despite this, Andrew, obeying a divine revelation, took up the ascesis of folly for Christ, behaving as a madman all day and secretly praying most of the night. His master endeavored to have him cured of his apparent madness, having prayers read over him in church, but to no avail. Finally he discharged Andrew, who thereafter lived in absolute poverty in Constantinople, clothing himself in rags and living on the bread given him by kindly Christians. Anything that he received, beyond that needed for bare survival, he gave to beggars, usually mocking and insulting them at the same time so as not to be thanked or praised for his deeds. Such was the wholeheartedness of his prayers that he was given grace to see angels and demons, to discern the secrets of others, thereby turning them from their sins. It was he who, with his disciple Epiphanius, saw the vision of the Protecting Veil of the Mother of God (see October 1). After a life of profound ascetic struggle, he reposed in peace.

St Cassian the Greek, Wonderworker of Uglich

1504

In 1473, Princess Sophia Paleologos came to Russia with a large retinue to marry Prince Ivan III. One of this retinue was a certain nobleman named Constantine, a relative of the last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI Paleologos. Constantine entered into the service of Archbishop Joasaph of Rostov, and in 1489 went with him on his retirement to the Monastery of St Therapont at White Lake. Constantine himself had no plans to become a monk; but on his first night at the monastery St Martinian (January 12) appeared to him, exhorting him to renounce the world immediately. Constantine reported his vision to the Archbishop, who confirmed its authenticity, and Constantine was tonsured a monk with the name Cassian. The new monk entered into the ascetic struggle with fervor: though he had spent his life as a prince, he gladly undertook the lowliest tasks and the most onerous obedience. At the encouragement of his friend St Nilus of Sora (Nil Sorsky, May 7), he took up a hermit’s life by the River Uchma in the Uglich district. In time various disciples gathered around him, and St Cassian, against his own will, became the head of a skete. His teachings to his disciples always emphasized obedience, care for the poor, and prayer for the departed. He reposed in peace.

Also commemorated: Hieromartyr Cyprian, Martyrs Justina and Theoctistus

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Galatians — Galatians 3.15-22

¹⁵Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto. ¹⁵Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. ¹⁶Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. ¹⁶Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. ¹⁷Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. ¹⁷And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. ¹⁸For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. ¹⁸For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. ¹⁹What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. ¹⁹Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. ²⁰Now a mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one. ²⁰Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. ²¹Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. ²¹Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. ²²But the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. ²²But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 6.46-7.1

⁴⁶And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

⁴⁶And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? ⁴⁷Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: ⁴⁷Every one that cometh unto me, and heareth my words, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: ⁴⁸He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. ⁴⁸he is like a man building a house, who digged and went deep, and laid a foundation upon the rock: and when a flood arose, the stream brake against that house, and could not shake it: because it had been well builded. ⁴⁹But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that built a house upon the earth without a foundation; against which the stream brake, and straightway it fell in; and the ruin of that house was great. ⁴⁹But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

¹Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

¹After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, he entered into Capernaum.