Saturday, 2 November 2024

Saturday of the 19th week after Pentecost

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

Saints commemorated

Holy martyrs Acindynus, Pegasius, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus and Anempodistus

The Holy Martyrs Acindynus, Pegasius, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus and Anempodistus suffered for Christ in Persia during the reign of King Shapur II (310-381), under whose long persecution thousands of Christians were tortured and killed. Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus were courtiers of the king, secret Christians who taught the faith openly and converted many. When their confession became known they were arrested and subjected to fearsome torments: they were thrown into fire, flogged, hung up, and exposed to wild beasts, but in each ordeal divine grace preserved them, and many witnessing the miracles came to faith in Christ, including the courtier Aphthonius and the senator Elpidephorus, who joined them in confessing the Saviour. Aphthonius was beheaded; Elpidephorus and seven thousand who confessed Christ at his example were also put to the sword; finally Acindynus, Pegasius and Anempodistus, together with the king's own mother who had been converted by their witness, were burned to death. Christians came secretly by night, found their bodies unharmed by the flames, and buried them with reverence.

Holy martyrs Attikus, Eudoxius, Agapius and companions of Sebaste

The Holy Martyrs Attikus, Eudoxius, Agapius and their companions were soldiers in the Roman army stationed in the region of Sebaste in Armenia who suffered for Christ during the persecutions of the early fourth century. Refusing to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods at the command of their officers, they openly confessed faith in the one true God and were subjected to torture. After enduring beatings, scourging and imprisonment without yielding their confession, they were finally put to death by the sword and received the crown of martyrdom. They are commemorated together with the other martyrs of this day as steadfast witnesses to Christ within the ranks of the imperial army.

Saint Marcian of Cyrrhus

Saint Marcian was a fourth-century ascetic born of a noble family in Cyrrhus in Syria. He left behind a position at the imperial court and a promising military career to embrace the life of a hermit in the desert of Chalcis, near Antioch. There he built a small cell and shut himself within it, devoting his days and nights to unceasing prayer, the singing of psalms, the reading of Scripture, and strict fasting. His holiness drew many disciples, among them Eusebius and Agapetus, who later founded their own monastic communities under his guidance, so that he is reckoned a father of Syrian monasticism. Despite his desire for solitude, the fame of his miracles brought visitors from far and wide, and bishops sought his counsel. He confronted the heresies of his time, including Eunomianism, with calm and discerning Orthodoxy. He reposed around 387 in his desert hermitage, and was honoured by Theodoret of Cyrrhus in his "History of the Monks of Syria" written in 423.

Saints Cyprian and Juliana of Bisibis

Saints Cyprian and Juliana suffered together for Christ in the Persian region around the city of Bisibis (Nisibis) in the persecutions of the fourth century. Husband and wife, they refused to abandon their Christian confession at the demand of the Persian magi and were arrested with other believers. After enduring imprisonment and torture without renouncing the Saviour, they were put to death and received the crown of martyrdom alongside the more famous companions of this day. Their joint witness as a married couple is honoured by the Church together with the other Persian and Syrian martyrs commemorated on 2 November.

Also commemorated: Martyr Acindynus of Persia and Others

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 15.58-16.3

⁵⁸Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord. ⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

¹Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

¹Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. ²Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. ²Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. ³And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem: ³And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 9.1-6

¹Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

¹And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. ²And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. ²And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. ³And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. ³And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats. ⁴And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. ⁴And into whatsoever house ye enter, there abide, and thence depart. ⁵And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. ⁵And as many as receive you not, when ye depart from that city, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them. ⁶And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. ⁶And they departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.