Friday, 25 October 2024

Friday of the 18th week after Pentecost

173 days after Pascha · Tone 8 · Liturgy · Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyrs Marcian and Martyrius

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Both lived in Constantinople and were disciples of the Patriarch St Paul the Confessor (November 6), who was murdered in exile by the Arians. During the reign of the Arian Emperor Constantius, they fearlessly confessed that the Son of God is of one essence with the Father and is truly God. For their confession they were beheaded by the Arians and buried outside the city. Soon afterward, miracles began to be wrought at their tomb, and St John Chrysostom later built a church over it.

Holy martyr Anastasius the fuller of Salona

Saint Anastasius lived at Aquileia in northern Italy and worked as a fuller, a craftsman who cleansed and dressed cloth. Coming to Salona in Dalmatia about the year 304, during the persecution of Diocletian, he openly painted a cross upon the door of his house and went publicly about the work of preaching Christ. He was arrested, brought before the prefect, and after refusing to sacrifice to the idols he was fearfully tortured. A heavy stone was tied about his neck and he was cast into the sea. The body was miraculously discovered some days later and reverently buried by a pious matron named Asclepia, who built a basilica over his tomb. His relics were greatly venerated in Dalmatia and a portion was later translated to Aquileia and Verona. His memory is kept by both Eastern and Western Churches on 25 October.

Holy martyrs and notaries Marcian and Martyrius of Constantinople

Saints Marcian and Martyrius served the great church at Constantinople in the fourth century during the Arian troubles. Marcian was a reader and Martyrius a subdeacon, and both acted as notaries (secretaries) to the holy patriarch Paul the Confessor. After Paul's exile and martyrdom by strangulation at the hands of the Arians, Marcian and Martyrius continued to defend the Orthodox faith and to copy out the writings of the Fathers in confutation of the heretics. The Arian party, unable to win them over either by promises of preferment or by threats, condemned them to death. They were beheaded together and buried with great honour. Saint John Chrysostom, when archbishop of Constantinople, built a church over their relics, and many miracles of healing were wrought there. Their memory is kept on 25 October.

Saint Tabitha of Joppa, raised by the apostle Peter

Saint Tabitha, whose name in Greek is Dorcas, meaning "gazelle", was a disciple at Joppa in Palestine in apostolic times. The Acts of the Apostles relates that she was full of good works and almsdeeds, weaving tunics and garments with her own hands which she gave to the widows and the poor of the city. When she fell sick and died, the believers washed her body and laid her in an upper room, then sent two men to nearby Lydda to fetch the apostle Peter. Peter put them all out, knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body said, "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes, sat up, and Peter presented her alive to the saints and the widows. The miracle became known throughout Joppa and many believed in the Lord (Acts 9:36-42). Saint Tabitha is honoured as the patroness of seamstresses and tailors and of all those who work to clothe the needy. Her tomb is still shown at Jaffa. Her memory is kept on 25 October.

Saints Martyrius the deacon and Martyrius the recluse of the Kiev caves

Two ascetics named Martyrius are commemorated together at the Kiev Caves Lavra on 25 October. The first was a deacon at the Far Caves, who lived a strict life of fasting and prayer in the fourteenth century and through whom the Lord wrought many miracles, especially in casting out unclean spirits at the time of the Divine Liturgy. The second was an earlier recluse of the same monastery, of the thirteenth or fourteenth century, who shut himself up in a narrow cell and gave himself wholly to prayer and silence. Both reposed in peace and their incorrupt relics rest in the Far Caves of the Lavra, where they continue to work miracles of healing and deliverance. Their joint memory is kept with the chorus of the saints of the Caves on 25 October and at the Synaxis of the Fathers of the Far Caves on 28 August.

St Tabitha of Joppa

She was restored to life by the Apostle Peter (Acts 9:39-40), and afterwards died in peace.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Ephesians — Ephesians 6.18-24

¹⁸with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, ¹⁸Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ¹⁹and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ¹⁹And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. ²⁰For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

²¹But that ye also may know my affairs, how I do, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

²¹But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: ²²whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts. ²²Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

²³Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

²³Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ with a love incorruptible. ²⁴Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 11.23-26

²³He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. ²³He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. ²⁴The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out. ²⁴When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. ²⁵And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. ²⁵And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished. ²⁶Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. ²⁶Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first.