Monday, 7 October 2024

Monday of the 16th week after Pentecost

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

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Osyth, Abbess of Chich

Saint Osyth (Osgyth) was an Anglo-Saxon princess of the seventh century, daughter of Frithuwald, sub-king of Mercia in Surrey, and his wife Wilburh, who was of the royal house of Mercia. She was raised in the care of her devout aunts, Saint Edith of Aylesbury and Edburga of Bicester, and from childhood desired to consecrate her virginity to Christ in monastic life. Her family, however, judged her too valuable for political alliance and gave her in marriage to Sighere, King of the East Saxons. Tradition tells that on the day of the wedding feast a magnificent white stag appeared and Sighere went after it; in his absence Osyth went to two passing bishops and received from them the veil. When her husband returned and saw what had happened he gave way to her vocation and granted her a portion of land at Chich on the Essex coast near Colchester, where she built a monastery and ruled as its first abbess. About the year 700 the place was attacked by sea-borne raiders, and Osyth was beheaded for refusing to deny Christ. Her cult flourished in medieval England, and the village in Essex still bears her name.

Holy Martyr Polychronius the Presbyter

Saint Polychronius was born in the district of Gamphanitus in the early fourth century, the son of pious country folk who raised him in the love of God and a life of honest labour. As a young man he made his way to Constantinople and took employment as a day-labourer in the vineyard of a wealthy citizen, where he combined the toil of the day with severe ascetic practice, eating only bread and water, sleeping little and giving over the night to prayer. His master, marvelling at his bearing, more than doubled his wages, and Polychronius used the money to build a small church. About the time of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325 he became a reader, and on account of his zeal for Orthodoxy and his learned defence of the homoousios against the Arians he was ordained presbyter. He continued to oppose the heresy with all his strength. While celebrating the Divine Liturgy at the holy altar a band of armed Arians broke into the church, struck him down where he stood and crowned him with the death of a martyr.

Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus

“These holy and wonderful martyrs and heroes of the Christian faith were at first nobles at the court of the Emperor Maximian. The Emperor himself valued them greatly for their courage, wisdom and zeal, but, when he heard that these great nobles of his were Christians, his love for them turned to fury. And once, when there was a great offering of sacrifices to idols, the Emperor summoned Sergius and Bacchus to offer sacrifice together with him, and they openly refused to obey him in this. Beside himself with anger, the Emperor ordered that their robes, rings and marks of eminence be stripped from them and they be dressed in women’s clothing. He then put iron yokes on their necks and led them thus through the streets of Rome, to be mocked by each and all. The Emperor then sent them to Asia, to Antiochus the governor, for torture. Antiochus had achieved his distinguished rank with the help of Sergius and Bacchus, who had at one time recommended him to the Emperor. When Antiochus began to urge them to deny Christ and save themselves from dishonourable suffering and death, the two saints replied: ‘Both honour and dishonour, both life and death — all are one to him who seeks the heavenly Kingdom.’ Antiochus threw Sergius into prison and ordered that Bacchus be tortured first. The servants took turns beating holy Bacchus until his whole body was broken into fragments. His holy spirit went forth from his broken and bloodstained body and was borne to the Lord by angels. St Bacchus suffered in the town of Varvallis. Then holy Sergius was led out. Iron shoes studded with nails were put on his feet, and he was driven out into the Syrian town of Resapha, and there beheaded with the sword. His soul went to Paradise where, together with his friend Bacchus, he received the wreath of immortal glory from Christ his King and Lord. These two glorious knights suffered for the Christian faith in about 303.” (Prologue) The Great Horologion gives 296 as the date of their repose. One of the most beautiful churches in Constantinople, still standing, is dedicated to Sts Sergius and Bacchus.

Venerable Sergius, Abbot of Nurma

1412

Saint Sergius of Nurma was a Greek by birth who in the fourteenth century left Mount Athos to come to Russia in search of holy men of his own age. He came to Saint Sergius of Radonezh and, although already an experienced elder, he placed himself under his obedience for several years, learning from the great wonderworker the discipline of cenobitic life and the inner work of unceasing prayer. With his teacher's blessing he then withdrew north into the wilderness of the Vologda region, settling beside the Nurma River, a tributary of the Obnora, where he built a hermit's cell and a small wooden chapel. Twice he was attacked by robbers; the first time he was beaten almost to death, but the second time the band fled at the sight of an angel standing beside him. Disciples gathered around him, and when their number reached forty he organised them into a coenobium, building a larger church dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord. He governed the community in the spirit of his master and was granted the gifts of clairvoyance and healing. He reposed in 1412 and is honoured as one of the great northern lights of Russian monasticism.

Holy Hieromartyr Polychronius

4th c.

The son of peasants, he was known from his childhood for his piety and asceticism. Once, by his prayers, a spring of water sprang up near his village, where it was needed for the town’s survival. When he came of age, Polychronius went to work in some vineyards near Constantinople. Even though he labored all day, he would eat only every two or three days. The master of the vineyard, seeing his strict and prayerful way of life, gave him a large sum of money and said ‘Man of God, go home and pray for me.’ With the money, Polychronius built a church, settled near it, and a few years later was ordained to be a priest in the church he had built. Polychronius appeared at the First Ecumenical Council in 325 as a fervent defender of Orthodoxy. Because of this, some Arian heretics determined to take revenge. One day, after the death of the Emperor Constantine, the Arians attacked Polychronius at the altar as he was celebrating the Divine Liturgy, thus mingling his blood with the very blood of the Savior.

The Ninety-nine Fathers of Crete

Saint John the Hermit and thirty-five companions lived in Egypt, but took ship as a group for Cyprus in order to practice ascesis in exile. At Cyprus they met a party of thirty-nine others who also sought to live the ascetic life more fully, and the two groups joined. “In order that these ascetics, too, might taste of the graces of voluntary exile” (Synaxarion), they travelled to Attalia in Pamphylia. There, twenty-four more monks joined them, so that their company now numbered ninety-nine. (This number was ordained by God, so that Christ Himself, their Head, would complete their number at one hundred.) After some time they took ship again for Crete, where they lived in two caves in a remote, deserted area, living only on the plants that grew wild there. Saint John sought his brothers’ blessing to live as a hermit. On the day of his departure they prayed that they all might repose on the day of John’s death, and enter together into the Kingdom of God. John’s asceticism was so severe that after awhile he could no longer walk, but crawled from his cave to gather the small quantities of food he allowed himself. A shepherd, seeing him from a distance, thought that he was some animal, and shot him with an arrow. Finding the dying John, the shepherd was stricken with horror and grief, and threw himself at the hermit’s feet, begging forgiveness. The saint only lived long enough to give the young man his pardon and blessing before surrendering his soul to God. The prayer of his ninety-eight brethren was mysteriously granted: between the third and seventh hour of that day, they all, one after another, fell asleep in peace.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Galatians — Galatians 4.28-5.10

²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. ²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. ²⁹But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. ²⁹But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now. ³⁰Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. ³⁰Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. ³¹Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman. ³¹So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

¹Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

¹For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

²Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

²Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. ³Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. ³For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. ⁴Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. ⁴Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. ⁵For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁵For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love. ⁶For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. ⁷Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? ⁷Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth? ⁸This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. ⁸This persuasion came not of him that calleth you. ⁹A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. ⁹A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. ¹⁰I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. ¹⁰I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 7.36-50

³⁶And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

³⁶And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. ³⁷And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, ³⁷And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment, ³⁸And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ³⁸and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner. ⁴⁰And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on. ⁴⁰And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. ⁴¹A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty. ⁴¹There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. ⁴²And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? ⁴²When they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? ⁴³Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. ⁴³Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. ⁴⁴And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. ⁴⁴And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁵Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁶My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. ⁴⁷Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. ⁴⁸And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. ⁴⁸And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. ⁴⁹And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? ⁴⁹And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins? ⁵⁰And he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. ⁵⁰And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.