Sunday, 10 November 2024

20th Sunday after Pentecost

189 days after Pascha · Tone 3 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

★ Holy great-martyr Constantine-Kakhi, prince of Georgia

768

Saint Constantine, surnamed Kakhi, was born in the year 768 into a noble family of Kartli in eastern Georgia. The byname Kakhi indicates his descent from the princely houses of Kakheti. He grew up in great wealth and was famed throughout his country for his openhanded almsgiving, his patronage of churches, and his pilgrimages to the Holy Land, where he made generous donations to the holy places and to the Christians of Jerusalem. By the middle of the ninth century the Caliphate of the Abbasids had imposed a heavy yoke upon the lands of Georgia. In 853 the Arab general Bugha al-Kabir invaded the country at the head of a large Muslim army, sacking Tbilisi and laying waste the surrounding regions. The aged Prince Constantine, then in his eighty-fifth year, took up arms together with his son Tarkhuji at the head of the troops of Kartli. After a fierce campaign he was captured in battle and sent in chains to the city of Samarra, then capital of the caliphate, to be presented to the Caliph Jafar al-Mutawakkil (847 to 861). The caliph offered him riches and honours if he would renounce Christ and embrace Islam, but Constantine answered, "I fear only Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." He was kept in prison for many days and subjected to threats and entreaties, all of which he met with steadfast confession. Enraged at his constancy, the caliph ordered that he be beheaded. He was martyred on 10 November 852. A few years afterwards, faithful Georgian Christians recovered his relics from the Muslims and brought them home to Kartli, where they were enshrined with great honour. The Georgian Orthodox Church numbered him among the saints in the same century, and he is venerated as a martyr-prince and protector of the Georgian land.

Holy apostles Erastus, Olympas, Rodion, Sosipater, Quartus and Tertius of the Seventy

The Orthodox Church commemorates together on 10 November six of the Seventy Apostles, all of them mentioned in the Epistles of Saint Paul.

Saint Erastus had been the steward of the city of Corinth, as Saint Paul writes in his Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:23). After leaving his civic post he laboured with the Apostle in the work of the Gospel and ended his life as bishop of Paneas in Palestine, or, according to other traditions, of Philippi.

Saint Olympas, named in Romans 16:15, was a companion of the Apostle Peter at Rome. Together with Saint Rodion he suffered beheading on the very day and hour that Saint Peter was crucified under the emperor Nero.

Saint Rodion (Herodion), a kinsman of the Apostle Paul (Romans 16:11), left the bishop's throne at Patras to follow Saint Peter to Rome. He was bound and tortured for refusing to sacrifice to idols, and was finally beheaded with Saint Olympas.

Saint Sosipater, a native of Achaia and another kinsman of Saint Paul (Romans 16:21), was bishop of Iconium, where together with Saint Jason of Tarsus he preached the Gospel and was buried.

Saint Quartus (Romans 16:23) endured many sufferings for his faith and converted many pagans to Christ. He reposed in peace as bishop of Beirut.

Saint Tertius, the scribe to whom Saint Paul dictated the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:22), succeeded Saint Sosipater as bishop of Iconium and there reposed in peace, having shepherded his flock with apostolic zeal.

Holy martyr Orestes the physician of Cappadocia

304

Saint Orestes lived in the city of Tyana in Cappadocia during the reign of the emperor Diocletian (284 to 305). Of noble birth and excellent education, he became a learned and skilful physician, freely treating the sick and using his profession to bring many to the knowledge of Christ. He combined the work of healer with that of soldier, and was renowned for his courage and uprightness of life. When the emperor sent the magistrate Maximinus to Cappadocia to stamp out Christianity, Orestes was among the first to be brought before him. With great boldness he confessed Christ as the true God and refused to offer sacrifice to idols. The judge handed him over to torturers, who took turns to beat him with rods, lashes, and rawhide whips, and afterwards burned his body with fire. They then drove twenty iron nails into the soles of his feet and tied him to the back of a wild horse, which dragged him over rough and stony ground for many miles. Mortally wounded, Saint Orestes commended his soul to the Lord and reposed in the year 304. The torturers cast his broken body into the sea, but Christians later recovered his relics. Several centuries afterwards, the saint appeared in a vision to Saint Dimitri of Rostov, showing him the wounds upon his body, that the Russian hierarch might write his life with greater accuracy. He is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on 10 November.

Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia, the wonderworker

“Cappadocia (in eastern Turkey) is virtually devoid of Christians now, but in 1840, when St Arsenios was born there, there were still vital Orthodox communities. He became a monk and was sent to his native town, Farasa, to serve the people. He became known as a mighty intercessor before God, praying for all who came to him, Muslims as well as Christians. His countless miracles of healing became known throughout Cappadocia; those who could not come to see him would sometimes send articles of clothing for him to pray over. He became known as Hadjiefendis, a Muslim term of honour for pilgrims, because he made pilgrimage to the Holy Land every ten years on foot. He never accepted any gifts in return for his prayers and healings, saying ‘Our faith is not for sale!’

“He concealed his holiness as much as he could beneath a rough and sharp-tempered exterior. If anyone expressed admiration for him, he would reply “So you think I’m a saint? I’m only a sinner worse than you. Don’t you see that I even lose my temper? The miracles you see are done by Christ. I do no more than lift up my hands and pray to him.” But as the Scriptures say, the prayers of a righteous man avail much, and when St Arsenios lifted up his hands, wonders often followed.

“He lived in a small cell with an earthen floor, fasted often and was in the habit of shutting himself in his cell for at least two whole days every week to devote himself entirely to prayer.

“Father Arsenios predicted the expulsion of the Greeks from Asia Minor before it happened, and organized his flock for departure. When the expulsion order came in 1924, the aged Saint led his faithful on a 400-mile journey across Turkey on foot. He had foretold that he would only live forty days after reaching Greece, and this came to pass. His last words were “The soul, the soul, take care of it more than the flesh, which will return to earth and be eaten by worms!” Two days later, on November 10, 1924, he died in peace at the age of eighty-three. Since 1970, many apparitions and miracles have occurred near his holy relics, which reside in the Monastery of Souroti near Thessalonica. He was officially glorified by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1986.”

— Source: Orthodox Parish of St John of Kronstadt (UK)

The primary source for the life of St Arsenios is Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian, compiled by Elder Païsios of the Holy Mountain, who was baptized as an infant by the Saint.

Daily readings

9th Matins Gospel

John — John 20.19-31

¹⁹Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

¹⁹When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ²⁰And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. ²⁰And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. ²¹Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ²¹Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: ²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: ²³whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. ²³Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

²⁴But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

²⁴But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. ²⁵The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

²⁶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

²⁶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. ²⁷Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. ²⁷Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. ²⁸Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. ²⁸And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. ²⁹Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. ²⁹Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

³⁰And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

³⁰Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: ³¹but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name. ³¹But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Galatians — Galatians 1.11-19

¹¹For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man. ¹¹But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. ¹²For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹²For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹³For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it: ¹³For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: ¹⁴and I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁴And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, ¹⁵But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, ¹⁶To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: ¹⁶to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood: ¹⁷Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. ¹⁷neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.

¹⁸Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days. ¹⁸Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. ¹⁹But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. ¹⁹But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 10.25-37

²⁵And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

²⁵And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? ²⁶He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? ²⁶And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? ²⁷And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. ²⁷And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. ²⁸And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. ²⁸And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. ²⁹But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? ²⁹But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? ³⁰Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. ³⁰And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³¹And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³²And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. ³²And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, ³³But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion, ³⁴and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁴And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee. ³⁵And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. ³⁶Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? ³⁶Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers? ³⁷And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. ³⁷And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.