Thursday, 31 October 2024

Hieromartyr John Kochurov

Thursday of the 19th week after Pentecost

179 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy apostles Stachys, Amplias, Urban, Narcissus, Apelles and Aristobulus of the seventy

These six holy apostles of the seventy are commemorated together on this day, along with Saint Andrew the First-Called who appointed them to their sees. Saint Stachys, mentioned by the apostle Paul in Romans 16:9 as "my beloved", was consecrated by Saint Andrew the first bishop of Byzantium (later Constantinople), where he ruled the Church for sixteen years and converted many to Christ before reposing in peace. Saint Amplias (Romans 16:8) was bishop of Odyssopolis on the Black Sea coast and was put to death by pagans for the destruction of their idols. Saint Urban (Romans 16:9) was bishop of Macedonia, where, like Amplias, he sealed his apostolic preaching with martyrdom. Saint Narcissus (Romans 16:11) was bishop of Athens (or by some accounts of Patras), and likewise died for Christ. Saint Apelles (Romans 16:10) was bishop of Heraclea in Thrace, where he reposed in peace after converting many. Saint Aristobulus (Romans 16:10), brother of the apostle Barnabas, was sent to preach in Britain, where he is honoured as the first bishop and apostle of the British Isles, and where he reposed having endured many sufferings at the hands of the pagans. The names of these apostles are inscribed by Saint Paul among his fellow labourers in the closing chapter of the Epistle to the Romans.

Holy martyr Epimachus of Pelusium

Saint Epimachus was an Egyptian who lived as a hermit on Mount Pelusium for many years in great asceticism. When he heard of the persecution of Christians at Alexandria under the emperor Decius, he was filled with zeal and came down from his mountain to the city, where he openly overturned the altars of the idols and confessed Christ before the magistrate. He was seized, tortured with great cruelty, and finally beheaded about the year 250. According to the synaxaria, when his blood touched the eye of a blind woman who stood weeping nearby she was instantly healed, and many other miracles were wrought through his relics. His memory is kept on 31 October in the Greek and Slavonic calendars, and on the 8th of the Coptic month Pashons in the Egyptian Church.

Holy martyrs Stephen, Barnabas, Trophimus, Dorymedon, Cosmas, Damian, Sabbas, Bassa, Abramius and their companions

This group of nine holy martyrs of unknown native country suffered for Christ together with their companions during one of the persecutions of the early Church. Their names, preserved in the Greek synaxaria under 31 October, are Stephen, Barnabas, Trophimus, Dorymedon, Cosmas, Damian, Sabbas, Bassa and Abramius. According to the brief notice that survives, after professing Christ before the persecuting magistrate they were variously beaten with clubs, flayed, scorched with fire and at last beheaded for their refusal to deny the faith and offer sacrifice to the idols. Though little detail of their individual lives is preserved, the Church honours them as a single chorus of confessors and adds their memory to the great host of martyrs of the early centuries.

Saints Spyridon and Nikodemos, the prosphora-bakers of the Kiev caves

Saints Spyridon and Nikodemos served the brotherhood of the Kiev Caves Lavra in the twelfth century as prosphora-bakers, that is, those who prepare the loaves used in the Divine Liturgy. Spyridon, although unlettered, learned the entire Psalter by heart and recited it daily as he kneaded the dough and stoked the oven. Once, when a flame leapt out of the oven and threatened to burn down the bakehouse, he covered it with his cassock and stopped the fire with his bare hands without himself being harmed. Nikodemos was his fellow ascetic and labour-companion in the same humble obedience, sharing his prayer and his rule for thirty years. Both reposed in peace, and their incorrupt relics rest in the Near (Antoniev) Caves of the Lavra. Their memory is kept on 31 October, together with the other fathers of the Caves who served the brotherhood by hidden labours rather than by word.

New Martyr Nicholas of Chios

1754

Raised in piety, he worked as a stone-mason until an accident deprived him of his reason and of the power of speech. The local Turkish rulers took advantage of his condition to declare him a Muslim. For years thereafter he was employed as a shepherd until he met a monk named Cyril, who prayed fervently that he be restored to his senses. He was miraculously restored, and almost immediately was filled with the desire to repent and to live only for Christ, devoting himself to prayer, fasting and vigil. Some time later he was falsely suspected of a crime by the (Christian) people of his village, and brought before the Turkish authorities. When he was questioned, he declared ‘I was born a Christian, I was brought up as a Christian, I have never denied Christ for Islam, and I never will deny Him, but will die a Christian.’ For this he was brutally tortured. Many local Christians, including the village priest, feared for their own safety and urged him to deny Christ, but Nicholas only rebuked them and stood firm. After many days of torture he was finally slain by the sword. The Synaxarion tells how a thick darkness fell on the whole island of Chios. When the dismayed Turks burned the Martyr’s body to be rid of this miracle, they were further dismayed when a heavenly scent rose from the flames, revealing the Saint’s entry into eternal glory.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Philippians — Philippians 1.20-27

²⁰according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death. ²⁰According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. ²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²²But if to live in the flesh,—if this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not. ²²But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. ²³But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better: ²³For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: ²⁴yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake. ²⁴Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. ²⁵And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith; ²⁵And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; ²⁶That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. ²⁶that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again. ²⁷Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel; ²⁷Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Epistle

— St John Kochurov

Hebrews — Hebrews 13.7-16

⁷Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.

⁷Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever. ⁸Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ⁹Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. ⁹Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited. ¹⁰We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle. ¹⁰We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. ¹¹For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp. ¹¹For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. ¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate. ¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. ¹³Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹³Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹⁴For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. ¹⁴For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come. ¹⁵Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name. ¹⁵By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. ¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 11.47-12.1

⁴⁷Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. ⁴⁷Woe unto you! for ye build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. ⁴⁸Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres. ⁴⁸So ye are witnesses and consent unto the works of your fathers: for they killed them, and ye build their tombs. ⁴⁹Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: ⁴⁹Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send unto them prophets and apostles; and some of them they shall kill and persecute; ⁵⁰That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; ⁵⁰that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; ⁵¹From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. ⁵¹from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary: yea, I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation. ⁵²Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. ⁵²Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

⁵³And when he was come out from thence, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press upon him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things; ⁵³And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: ⁵⁴Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him. ⁵⁴laying wait for him, to catch something out of his mouth.

¹In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

¹In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Gospel

— St John Kochurov

Luke — Luke 12.32-40

³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³²Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. ³³Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

³⁵Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning; ³⁶And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. ³⁶and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. ³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them. ³⁷Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. ³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁸And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ³⁹And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. ³⁹But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through. ⁴⁰Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. ⁴⁰Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.