Monday, 25 November 2024

Leavetaking of the Entry

Monday of the 23rd week after Pentecost

204 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Liturgy · Nativity Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Apodosis of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple

On this day the Holy Church concludes the great feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, which is celebrated on 21 November. According to ancient tradition recorded in the Protoevangelium of James and in the writings of Saint Gregory Palamas, the righteous Joachim and Anna, having vowed to dedicate to God the child of their old age, brought the three-year-old Mary to the Temple in Jerusalem, where she was received by the high priest Zachariah and led into the Holy of Holies, into which only the high priest could enter, and that only once a year. There she was nourished by an angel until the time of her betrothal to the righteous Joseph. The apodosis or leave-taking is the day on which the Church repeats the principal hymns of the feast and gathers up its spiritual fruits. The hymns sing of the Theotokos as the living temple who is offered up in the Temple, the heaven on earth who comes to dwell in the house of God, the gate through which the Lord shall come for the salvation of the world. Together with this conclusion of the Marian feast the Church on this day also commemorates the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria, joining the praise of the Mother of God to that of the great hierarchs and witnesses of Christ.

★ Holy Great Martyr and Most Wise Catherine of Alexandria and those with her

305

“Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine.” (Great Horologion) So great was St Catherine’s eloquence that the fifty orators assigned to debate her recognized their error and, as a body, asked for baptism, for which Maximinus condemned them all to death. The Saint was then subjected to torture on a specially-constructed spiked wheel (with which she is usually shown in her icon), but an angel loosed her and miraculously smashed the wheel. Maximinus’ own wife and 200 soldiers, seeing her sufferings and the nobility with which she bore them, were moved to profess their faith in Christ and their yearning to be baptized. All of them were put to death. Finally Catherine herself was led outside the walls of Alexandria and, after a prayer of thanksgiving to God, was beheaded.

Hieromartyr Clement, Pope of Rome

Saint Clement was born at Rome into a rich and illustrious family but was separated from his parents and brothers in childhood by a series of misfortunes. Brought up in Rome, he received an excellent education in the liberal arts, but the wisdom of the philosophers gave him no peace concerning the soul and the meaning of life. Travelling to the East in search of the truth, he met the Apostle Barnabas at Alexandria and through him came to the Apostle Peter, by whom he was baptised and made a zealous disciple and constant companion. By divine providence he was reunited with his lost family, all of whom were baptised. After the martyrdom of the apostles he served as Bishop of Rome, the third or fourth in succession from Saint Peter, from about 92 to 101. As bishop Saint Clement laboured tirelessly for the Church, ordained presbyters and deacons, and wrote his celebrated Epistle to the Corinthians, the earliest Christian writing outside the New Testament. Through his zeal many pagans, even members of noble Roman houses, came to the faith. The Emperor Trajan, hearing of his success, banished him to the marble quarries in the Crimea, where the saint found two thousand Christian confessors already labouring. He cheered them by his preaching, and through his prayers a spring of fresh water gushed from the ground for their relief. So many were converted that seventy-five new churches were founded in those parts. Trajan therefore commanded that the bishop be drowned in the sea with an anchor tied about his neck, which sentence was carried out about the year 101. Each year on the day of his repose the sea was said to withdraw, revealing the relics of the saint resting in a stone chapel made by angels.

Hieromartyr Peter, Archbishop of Alexandria

300

Saint Peter was born and raised at Alexandria, where he was distinguished from his youth for piety and learning, and became head of the famed catechetical school of the city. Ordained deacon by Theonas, the previous archbishop, he succeeded him on the throne of Saint Mark in the year 300 and proved himself an exemplary shepherd, defending the flock against both the persecutors and against the schism of Meletius of Lycopolis, whose lax discipline he firmly opposed. Among the irregular ordinations of Meletius was that of the future heretic Arius, whom Saint Peter foresaw in spirit and warned the faithful against, excommunicating him when he refused to submit. The Diocletianic persecution, beginning in 303 and renewed in 306, fell with great violence upon the Egyptian Church. Saint Peter strengthened the martyrs and confessors, fled into hiding for a time, and issued his famous Canonical Epistle to guide the reception of the lapsed. He fasted, slept little, and laboured by night in the writing of letters and instructions. In the year 311, after he had emerged from concealment, the Emperor Maximinus Daia caused him to be seized in his hiding place near the tomb of Saint Mark and beheaded. Because his blood was the last to be shed in Alexandria under that long persecution, the Church honours him as the seal and limit of the persecution.

Great Martyr Mercurius

c. 259

He was born in the province of Asia, to a Scythian who had secretly converted to Christianity. Like his parents, he was a secret follower of Christ, serving as a legionary in the Roman army during the reign of the Emperor Decius. During a campaign, an Angel appeared to him, gave him a sword and told him to go into battle trusting in Christ’s help. Mercurius plunged into battle, fought his way alone through the enemy lines, and reached the barbarian commander Rigas, whom he killed. Upon the death of their chief the barbarians scattered and the victory was won. The Emperor, hearing of the young soldier’s exploits, promoted him to a position at court. There, lulled by the pleasures and honors of the court, Mercurius forgot his duties to Christ his King. One night the same Angel who had given him the sword appeared to him once again and reminded him of the sword that Christ had given him, an emblem of the battle of martyrdom that he was about to enter. The next day Mercurius, now returned to his senses, refused to offer sacrifice to the gods. When called before the Emperor, he boldly proclaimed Christ and threw off his badges of office. He was thrown in prison and subjected to cruel tortures, all of which he bore with peace and joy, encouraged by the Angel who appeared to him again to offer comfort and encouragement. After long torment he was beheaded in Caesarea in Cappadocia, at the age of twenty-five.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Thessalonians — 1 Thessalonians 1.1-5

¹Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

¹Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

²We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; ²We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; ³remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; ³Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; ⁴Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. ⁴knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election, ⁵how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake. ⁵For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Epistle

— Theotokos

Hebrews — Hebrews 9.1-7

¹Now even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, a sanctuary of this world.

¹Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. ²For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein were the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy place. ²For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. ³And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies; ³And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; ⁴having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; ⁴Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; ⁵and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally. ⁵And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. ⁶Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services; ⁶Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. ⁷but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people: ⁷But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 19.37-44

³⁷And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; ³⁷And as he was now drawing nigh, even at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen; ³⁸Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. ³⁸saying, Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. ³⁹And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. ³⁹And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples. ⁴⁰And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. ⁴⁰And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

⁴¹And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

⁴¹And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it, ⁴²Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. ⁴²saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. ⁴³For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, ⁴³For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, ⁴⁴And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. ⁴⁴and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

Gospel

— Theotokos

Luke — Luke 10.38-42, 11.27-28

³⁸Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

³⁸Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet, and heard his word. ⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. ⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. ⁴¹But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: ⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: ⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. ⁴²but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

²⁷And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

²⁷And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck. ²⁸But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. ²⁸But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.