Sunday, 8 December 2024

24th Sunday after Pentecost

217 days after Pascha · Tone 7 · Liturgy · Nativity Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Holy Apostles of the Seventy: Sosthenes, Apollos, Cephas, Tychicus, Epaphroditus, Caesar and Onesiphorus

These seven Apostles were among the Seventy chosen and sent out by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself to preach, after the calling of the Twelve. Sosthenes, formerly the chief of the synagogue at Corinth (Acts 18:17), was converted by the preaching of the Apostle Paul and became bishop of Colophon in Asia Minor; he is named with Paul as co-author of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Apollos, a learned Jew of Alexandria mighty in the Scriptures (Acts 18:24-28), preached fervently in Ephesus, Corinth and Crete and is counted bishop of Caesarea. Cephas, distinct from the Apostle Peter, was bishop of Iconium and was rebuked at Antioch as recorded by Saint Paul (Galatians 2:11-14). Tychicus, called by Paul a beloved brother and faithful minister (Ephesians 6:21), succeeded Sosthenes as bishop of Colophon. Epaphroditus, a fellow worker and fellow soldier of Paul (Philippians 2:25), became bishop of Andriake in Lycia. Caesar was bishop of Dyrrachium in Greece, and Onesiphorus, who often refreshed Paul and was not ashamed of his chains (2 Timothy 1:16-18), shepherded Colophon and afterwards Cyrene before being martyred. All laboured to plant the Church among the nations and are commemorated together also on 30 March in the synaxis of the Seventy.

Saint Sophronius, Archbishop of Cyprus

Saint Sophronius was born on Cyprus into a Christian family in the sixth century. Educated in many sciences, he gave himself above all to the reading of the Holy Scriptures, in which he made such progress that he became renowned for his wisdom and piety. After the death of Saint Damian, bishop of Cyprus, the clergy and people of the island unanimously elected Sophronius to succeed him on the episcopal throne. As archbishop he distinguished himself by mercy to the poor, fearlessness in the defence of his flock and zeal in upholding the apostolic faith. He governed the Church of Cyprus with wisdom and gentleness, was granted the gift of working miracles, and reposed in peace. His commemoration on this day is widely observed in the Greek and Slavic synaxaria alongside Saint Patapius.

Venerable Cyril of Chelmogorsk

1367

Saint Cyril of Chelmogorsk was a Russian ascetic of the fourteenth century, born around 1286 in the city of Beloozero. Drawn from his youth to the monastic life, he entered the Antoniev-Siysk type of northern wilderness asceticism and was tonsured at a monastery on Lake Kubensk, where he lived for some years in obedience and prayer. Seeking deeper solitude, he travelled north into the forests of the Kargopol region and at length settled on Mount Chelma near the river Onega, where he lived for fifty-two years in great austerity, struggling against the elements, hostile pagan tribes and demonic temptation. Through his patient witness he converted many of the local Chud peoples to Christ, baptising them and instructing them in the Faith, and built a small church and cells which became the Chelmogorsk monastery. He reposed in 1367 at the age of eighty-two, and his relics later became a source of healing for pilgrims drawn to the remote forest community he had founded.

Venerable Patapius of Thebes

He was born at Thebes in Egypt, and at a young age left his pious parents, his inheritance and his acquaintances to dwell in the Egyptian desert, devoting himself to ceaseless prayer. After many years, he reputation spread and, despite his desire for solitude, throngs of pilgrims would seek him out for his prayers and counsel. To escape the attentions of men, he did a surprising thing: he abandoned the desert and moved to Constantinople, settling in the Blachernae district, where, amid the bustle of the city, he was able to pass unnoticed, more secure in his solitude than he had been in the caves of Egypt.

As he grew in obedience to the commandments of Christ, the grace of working miracles grew in him, and once again he gradually became known. Once a blind man cast himself before Patapius on the street, and the Saint cured him instantly by calling on the name of Christ. Once he healed a man crippled by dropsy, anointing him with the oil from a vigil lamp and signing him with the Cross.

After blessing the Church for many years with his prayers and miracles, St Patapius fell asleep in peace, and was buried in the church of the Monastery of the Egyptians near Constantinople. In 1904 his precious and incorrupt relics were uncovered in the course of some building at a small monastery near Corinth. From that time the monastery has been dedicated to St Patapius, and many miracles are worked there.

Daily readings

2nd Matins Gospel

Mark — Mark 16.1-8

¹And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

¹And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. ²And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. ²And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen. ³And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? ³And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb? ⁴And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. ⁴and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great. ⁵And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. ⁵And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed. ⁶And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. ⁶And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him! ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. ⁷But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. ⁸And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid. ⁸And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Ephesians — Ephesians 2.14-22

¹⁴For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, ¹⁴For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; ¹⁵Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ¹⁶And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ¹⁷and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: ¹⁷And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. ¹⁸for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father. ¹⁸For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ¹⁹So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, ²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²⁰being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; ²¹In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²²in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. ²²In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 17.12-19

¹²And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: ¹²And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off: ¹³And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. ¹³and they lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. ¹⁴And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. ¹⁴And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed. ¹⁵And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, ¹⁵And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God; ¹⁶And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. ¹⁶and he fell upon his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? ¹⁷And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine? ¹⁸Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger? ¹⁸There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. ¹⁹And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. ¹⁹And he said unto him, Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.