Friday, 27 December 2024

Protomartyr Stephen

Friday of the 27th week after Pentecost

236 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Black squigg (6-stich typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

★ Holy Apostle, Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen

Saint Stephen, the first martyr for Christ, was a Hellenistic Jew of the early Church and the eldest of the seven deacons appointed by the Apostles to serve the daily distribution to widows in Jerusalem, as recorded in the sixth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Because he was first among them, he is called the Archdeacon. He is also numbered among the Seventy whom the Lord sent forth. Full of grace and power, Stephen wrought great wonders and signs among the people. When members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen disputed with him and could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke, they suborned false witnesses and brought him before the Sanhedrin. Standing before the council with a face like that of an angel, Stephen rehearsed the long history of God's mercy to Israel from Abraham to Solomon, and reproved his hearers as those who had betrayed and murdered the Just One whom the prophets had foretold. When the council heard this they were cut to the heart and gnashed at him with their teeth. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and beheld the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and confessed what he saw. They cast him out of the city and stoned him while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," and again, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge", and so fell asleep in Christ around the year 34. The young Saul of Tarsus, who would later become the Apostle Paul, kept the cloaks of those who stoned him. His relics were discovered in 415 by the priest Lucian and transferred with great honour to Constantinople and Rome. The Church glorifies him as the first to follow Christ in martyrdom, the head of the army of martyrs.

Saint Maurus of Subiaco

Saint Maurus was born around the year 512 in Rome, the son of a Roman nobleman named Equitius. At the age of about twelve he was entrusted by his parents to the care of Saint Benedict of Nursia at Subiaco, becoming the first and most beloved of his disciples. Together with Saint Placid he grew up under Benedict's spiritual fatherhood, becoming an example of obedience and humility. The most famous incident of his life is recorded by Saint Gregory the Great in the Dialogues. When the young Placid fell into the lake while drawing water and was being carried away by the current, Saint Benedict, beholding the danger by the Spirit, commanded Maurus to run and save him. Maurus, in the strength of holy obedience, ran upon the surface of the water and brought Placid back unharmed, attributing the miracle to his master's prayers. He later became Benedict's chief assistant and was sent on missions to other communities. He reposed in peace around the year 584 and is venerated in both East and West. While the Latin Church keeps his memory chiefly on 15 January, in the Orthodox tradition he is also remembered on 27 December.

Venerable Theodore the Confessor and his brother Theophanes the Branded

Saints Theodore and Theophanes were brothers born in Jerusalem of pious Christian parents. From their youth they embraced the monastic life in the great Lavra of Saint Sabbas, where they were instructed in the Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers. Both were ordained, Theodore being noted for his learning and Theophanes for his gift of writing hymns. When the iconoclast persecution broke out under the emperor Leo V the Armenian (813 to 820), the Patriarch of Jerusalem entrusted them with a mission to Constantinople, where they boldly defended the veneration of holy icons before the emperor. They were beaten and exiled, suffering also under the emperors Michael II and Theophilus. Under Theophilus they were brought before the throne, scourged and finally subjected to the cruellest of indignities: twelve lines of insulting verse were inscribed upon their faces with red-hot needles. From this they came to be known as Graptoi, "the Branded". After this torment they were sent to Apamea in Bithynia, where Saint Theodore reposed around the year 840 in his place of exile. Saint Theophanes survived to see the restoration of the icons in 843, and was raised to the see of Nicaea, where he composed many beautiful canons and hymns before his repose around 845.

Our Righteous Father Theodore the Branded, brother of St Theophanes the Hymnographer

See the account of his life on October 11, when his brother St Theophanes is Commemorated.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Timothy — 2 Timothy 1.1-2, 8-18

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,

¹Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, ²to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. ²To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. ⁸Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God; ⁸Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; ⁹who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, ⁹Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, ¹⁰but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹⁰But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: ¹¹whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher. ¹¹Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. ¹²For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day. ¹²For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. ¹³Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹³Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. ¹⁴That good thing which was committed unto thee guard through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us.

¹⁵This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁵This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶The Lord grant mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus: for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; ¹⁶The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: ¹⁷but, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me ¹⁷But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. ¹⁸(the Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day); and in how many things he ministered at Ephesus, thou knowest very well. ¹⁸The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

Epistle

— St Stephen

Acts — Acts 6.8-7.5, 47-60

⁸And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

⁸And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.

⁹Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. ⁹But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. ¹⁰And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake. ¹¹Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. ¹¹Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. ¹²And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council, ¹²And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, ¹³and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law: ¹³And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: ¹⁴For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. ¹⁴for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us. ¹⁵And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. ¹⁵And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

¹Then said the high priest, Are these things so?

¹And the high priest said, Are these things so?

²And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, ²And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, ³and said unto him, Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. ³And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. ⁴Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. ⁴Then came he out of the land of the Chaldæans, and dwelt in Haran: and from thence, when his father was dead, God removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell: ⁵and he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: and he promised that he would give it to him in possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. ⁵And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child. ⁴⁷But Solomon built him a house. ⁴⁷But Solomon built him an house. ⁴⁸Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in houses made with hands; as saith the prophet, ⁴⁸Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, ⁴⁹The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet: What manner of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest? ⁴⁹Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? ⁵⁰Hath not my hand made all these things? ⁵⁰Did not my hand make all these things?

⁵¹Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

⁵¹Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye. ⁵²Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed them that showed before of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers; ⁵²Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: ⁵³Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. ⁵³ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.

⁵⁴When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

⁵⁴Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. ⁵⁵But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, ⁵⁵But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, ⁵⁶And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. ⁵⁶and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. ⁵⁷Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, ⁵⁷But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord; ⁵⁸And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. ⁵⁸and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ⁵⁹And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. ⁶⁰And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. ⁶⁰And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 12.1-12

¹And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

¹And he began to speak unto them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a pit for the winepress, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country. ²And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. ²And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruits of the vineyard. ³And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. ³And they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. ⁴And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. ⁴And again he sent unto them another servant; and him they wounded in the head, and handled shamefully. ⁵And he sent another; and him they killed: and many others; beating some, and killing some. ⁵And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. ⁶Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. ⁶He had yet one, a beloved son: he sent him last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. ⁷But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. ⁷But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. ⁸And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. ⁸And they took him, and killed him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard. ⁹What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. ⁹What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. ¹⁰And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: ¹⁰Have ye not read even this scripture: The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; ¹¹This was from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes? ¹¹This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

¹²And they sought to lay hold on him; and they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spake the parable against them: and they left him, and went away. ¹²And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Gospel

— St Stephen

Matthew — Matthew 21.33-42

³³Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

³³Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country. ³⁴And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. ³⁴And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits. ³⁵And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. ³⁵And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. ³⁶Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner. ³⁷But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. ³⁷But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. ³⁸But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance. ³⁸But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. ³⁹And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. ³⁹And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. ⁴⁰When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? ⁴⁰When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen? ⁴¹They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. ⁴¹They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. ⁴²Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? ⁴²Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes?