Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Tuesday of the 20th week after Pentecost

184 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy apostle Hermas of Philippopolis

Saint Hermas, one of the Seventy Apostles greeted by Saint Paul in his Epistle to the Romans (16:14), was a Greek who spent some years at Rome before being sent forth to preach the Gospel in Thrace. He was appointed bishop of Philippopolis (now Plovdiv in Bulgaria), where he laboured tirelessly to enlighten the pagan inhabitants of the region, baptizing many and establishing the Church among the Thracian peoples. According to the tradition recorded in the synaxaria, he was wealthy in his earlier life but fell into poverty through his own sins and the misdeeds of his sons; visited by an angel of repentance who remained with him, he turned wholly to God. Some Orthodox sources identify him with the Hermas to whom is ascribed the early second-century work "The Shepherd," though others distinguish the two. He ended his earthly course as a martyr for Christ. He is honoured today with the four other apostles of the Seventy commemorated on 5 November, and again on 31 May among his fellow apostles.

Holy apostles Patrobus, Hermas, Linus, Gaius and Philologus of the Seventy

The five holy apostles commemorated on this day were among the Seventy chosen by the Lord and sent out to preach the Gospel, and all are greeted by name by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans. Saint Patrobus, mentioned in Romans 16:14, was appointed bishop of Pottole near Naples in Italy, where he baptized many pagans and built up the Church. Saint Hermas, also greeted in Romans 16:14, became bishop of Philippopolis in Thrace, where he preached the faith and ended his life as a martyr; he is sometimes identified by tradition with the Hermas to whom is ascribed the early Christian work "The Shepherd." Saint Linus, mentioned by Paul in 2 Timothy 4:21, succeeded the Apostle Peter as bishop of Rome, where he laboured and was eventually martyred. Saint Gaius, named in Romans 16:23 as Paul's host at Corinth, became bishop of Ephesus after the Apostle Timothy. Saint Philologus, greeted in Romans 16:15, was consecrated by the Apostle Andrew the First-Called as bishop of Sinope on the Black Sea. All five reposed in the Lord after fruitful apostolic labour, and the Church honours them together as faithful labourers in the first Christian mission.

Holy martyrs Galaction and Episteme of Emesa

A pagan couple, Cleitophon and Leucippe, who lived in Emesa in the reign of the Emperor Decius, were grieved that they were unable to have children. One day a monk named Onuphrius came to their door seeking alms to give to the poor, and seeing Leucippe’s downcast face, asked her what was wrong. When she replied that she was barren, Onuphrius told her that this was by God’s providence, to prevent their child from being given over to idolatry, and that if they accepted Christ she would bear a child. Leucippe was baptized into the Faith and bore a son not long after, which in turn brought her husband to faith in Christ. The son was named Galaction in baptism.

Years later, Galaction’s father, now widowed, decided that Galaction should marry a pagan maiden named Episteme. Galaction married out of obedience, but would not approach Episteme’s bed since she was a pagan. In time, he convinced her of the truth of the Faith and baptised her himself. Not long after she was told in a dream of the glory that awaits those who consecrate themselves wholly to God. When she told her husband of the dream, they both resolved to remain in virginity, settling in separate monastic communities near to one another.

In one of the Emperor’s persecutions of Christians, Galaction was seized by imperial soldiers and taken away to be killed. Episteme, told in a vision of his arrest, asked the blessing of her abbess to join him in martyrdom. Receiving it, she hurried to Galaction’s place of imprisonment, boldly announced her faith in Christ, and after many tortures and humiliations husband and wife were beheaded together.

Saint Jonah, archbishop of Novgorod

Saint Jonah, archbishop of Novgorod, was born in Novgorod the Great early in the fifteenth century and orphaned in childhood. Raised by a pious widow who provided for his Christian formation, he received an unusual blessing in his boyhood from the holy fool Michael Klopsky, who prophesied that he would one day be archbishop of Novgorod. Tonsured a monk at the monastery of Saint Onuphrius on the Volkhov, he advanced to the priesthood and eventually to the office of hegumen, ruling his community with humility and gentleness. In 1458 he was elected archbishop of Novgorod and consecrated by Saint Jonah of Moscow. As archbishop he was a vigorous defender of Orthodox piety, a builder of churches and monasteries, and a peacemaker who repeatedly interceded with the grand prince of Moscow on behalf of his city. He was the spiritual father of Saint Zosima of Solovki, whom he supported in founding the great northern monastery. After fifteen years of fruitful labour, he reposed in peace on 5 November 1470, and his incorrupt relics were uncovered some years later, granting healings to many.

Our Holy Father Gregory the Confessor, Patriarch of Alexandria

early 9th c.

This much-loved shepherd of the Church at Alexandria was unanimously elected to the Patriarchate by the Bishops and people of that city. Though meek and humble, he was a fierce defender of holy Orthodoxy, which was then under attack by the Emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820). For his fearless defense of the holy Icons, Gregory was arrested at the Emperor’s orders and brought in chains to Constantinople. Brought before Leo, the holy Patriarch told him clearly that he was a heretic and an enemy of the Church. The enraged Emperor had Gregory scourged, then sent into exile, where he reposed three years later.

Also commemorated: Repose St Jonah of Novgorod

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Philippians — Philippians 2.16-23

¹⁶holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain. ¹⁶Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. ¹⁷Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all: ¹⁷Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸and in the same manner do ye also joy, and rejoice with me. ¹⁸For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

¹⁹But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

¹⁹But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. ²⁰For I have no man likeminded, who will care truly for your state. ²⁰For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. ²¹For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. ²¹For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. ²²But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. ²²But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child serveth a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel. ²³Him therefore I hope to send forthwith, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me: ²³Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 12.42-48

⁴²And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? ⁴²And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? ⁴³Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. ⁴³Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. ⁴⁴Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. ⁴⁴Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath. ⁴⁵But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; ⁴⁵But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; ⁴⁶The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. ⁴⁶the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful. ⁴⁷And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. ⁴⁷And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; ⁴⁸But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. ⁴⁸but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.