Thursday, 2 January 2025

Forefeast of Theophany

Thursday of the 28th week after Pentecost

242 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Red cross (polyeleos typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

★ St Seraphim of Sarov

1833

“Saint Seraphim was born in the town of Kursk in 1759. From tender childhood he was under the protection of the most holy Mother of God, who, when he was nine years old, appeared to him in a vision, and through her icon of Kursk, healed him from a grave sickness from which he had not been expected to recover. At the age of nineteen he entered the monastery of Sarov, where he amazed all with his obedience, his lofty asceticism, and his great humility. In 1780 the Saint was stricken with a sickness which he manfully endured for three years, until our Lady the Theotokos healed him, appearing to him with the Apostles Peter and John. He was tonsured a monk in 1786, being named for the holy Hieromartyr Seraphim, Bishop of Phanarion (Dec. 4), and was ordained deacon a year later. In his unquenchable love for God, he continually added labours to labours, increasing in virtue and prayer with titan strides. Once, during the Divine Liturgy of Holy and Great Thursday he was counted worthy of a vision of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who appeared encompassed by the heavenly hosts. After this dread vision, he gave himself over to greater labours. “In 1794, Saint Seraphim took up the solitary life in a cell in the forest. This period of extreme asceticism lasted some fifteen years, until 1810. It was at this time that he took upon himself one of the greatest feats of his life. Assailed with despondency and a storm of contrary thoughts raised by the enemy of our salvation, the Saint passed a thousand nights on a rock, continuing in prayer until God gave him complete victory over the enemy. On another occasion, he was assaulted by robbers, who broke his chest and his head with their blows, leaving him almost dead. Here again, he began to recover after an appearance of the most Holy Theotokos, who came to him with the Apostles Peter and John, and pointing to Saint Seraphim, uttered these awesome words, ‘This is one of my kind.’ “In 1810, at the age of fifty, weakened by his more than human struggles, Saint Seraphim returned to the monastery for the third part of his ascetical labours, in which he lived as a recluse, until 1825. For the first five years of his reclusion, he spoke to no one at all, and little is known of this period. After five years, he began receiving visitors little by little, giving counsel and consolation to ailing souls. In 1825, the most holy Theotokos appeared to the Saint and revealed to him that it was pleasing to God that he fully end his reclusion; from this time the number of people who came to see him grew daily. It was also at the command of the holy Virgin that he undertook the spiritual direction of the Diveyevo Convent. He healed bodily ailments, foretold things to come, brought hardened sinners to repentance, and saw clearly the secrets of the heart of those who came to him. Through his utter humility and childlike simplicity, his unrivalled ascetical travails, and his angel-like love for God, he ascended to the holiness and greatness of the ancient God-bearing Fathers and became, like Anthony for Egypt, the physician for the whole Russian land. In all, the most holy Theotokos appeared to him twelve times in his life. The last was on Annunciation, 1831, to announce to him that he would soon enter into his rest. She appeared to him accompanied by twelve virgins martyrs and monastic saints with Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Theologian. With a body ailing and broken from innumerable hardships, and an unspotted soul shining with the light of Heaven, the Saint lived less than two years after this, falling asleep in peace on January 2, 1833, chanting Paschal hymns. On the night of his repose, the righteous Philaret of the Glinsk Hermitage beheld his soul ascending to Heaven in light. Because of the universal testimony to the singular holiness of his life, and the seas of miracles that he performed both in life and after death, his veneration quickly spread beyond the boundaries of the Russian Empire to every corner of the earth. See also July 19.” (Great Horologion) July 19 is the commemoration of the uncovering of St Seraphim’s holy relics, which was attended by Tsar Nicholas II. Saint Seraphim’s life became a perpetual celebration of Pascha: in his later years he dressed in a white garment, greeted everyone, regardless of the season, with “Christ is Risen!” and chanted the Pascha service every day of the year.

Patriarch Cosmas Atticus

Patriarch Cosmas Atticus served as Patriarch of Constantinople in the fifth century and is commemorated among the great hierarchs of the Orthodox Church. His tenure as primate of the patriarchal see occurred during a significant period in the history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He is remembered in the Orthodox tradition as a worthy shepherd of the flock of Christ and a defender of Orthodox doctrine.

Righteous Juliana of Lazarevo

1604

Righteous Juliana was born in 1530 in Moscow to wealthy Christian parents named Justin and Stefanida Nedyurev. From her youth she was devoted to prayer and the things of God, and though she was very fair of face, she turned away suitors, wishing to preserve her virginity and serve God. After her parents reposed, Juliana distributed her inheritance to the poor and needy. She was then married to a pious man named Giorgi Osorgin, owner of the village of Lazarevo near the city of Murom. Throughout her married life, which encompassed the care of children, the management of household affairs, and service to her spouse, Juliana remained steadfast in prayer and works of mercy. She became known throughout the region for her untiring dedication to serving the poor, the sick, the hungry, and the destitute. She lived a life of righteousness and virtue, demonstrating that Christian holiness can be attained not only in monastic seclusion but also within family life and secular duties. Her example shows that lay people living in the world can please God through faithfulness, prayer, and charity. She became a patron saint of the kitchen and the home, remembered especially for her tireless service to those in need. Righteous Juliana reposed on 10 January 1604 at an advanced age. She is venerated as an exemplar of virtue, mercy, and obedience to the will of God, showing that the spiritual life is accessible to all, regardless of one's station.

Righteous Mark the Deaf

Saint Mark the Deaf was a righteous ascetic of the Orthodox Church who, though afflicted by deafness, became renowned for his holiness and spiritual wisdom. Through the grace of God and his own devoted ascetical labours, he attained great spiritual advancement and was accounted among those who pleased God despite their physical infirmities. His life stands as a testimony to the Orthodox principle that bodily afflictions do not impede the soul's progress toward salvation when united with faith and labour in Christ.

Saint Sylvester, Pope of Rome

Saint Sylvester was born at Rome to Christian parents named Rufinus and Justa. He became the Bishop of Rome during the reign of the Christian Emperor Constantine, serving from approximately 314 to 335. Saint Sylvester is one of the few popes of the early Church whose reign was marked by peace and the growth of the Christian faith rather than persecution. During his tenure, he witnessed the Council of Arles in 314, which condemned the separatist Donatist schism, and more significantly, the First Council of Nicaea in 325, which was convened to resolve the Arian heresy that threatened the unity of the Church. Although he did not attend Nicaea in person due to his advanced age, his legates represented him and the Roman Church. Saint Sylvester was renowned for his biblical learning and apologetic skill. He demonstrated to many the truth of Christianity through his knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures, using the Old Testament prophecies to show that Christ was the promised Messiah, and that through His voluntary suffering and death mankind would be redeemed and His glorious Resurrection would bring salvation. He guided the Roman Church with pastoral care for more than twenty years, earning the esteem and reverence of his flock. Saint Sylvester reposed in the Lord around the year 335 and is commemorated on 2 January in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, Wonderworker

Venerable Seraphim of Sarov was born Prochorus Moshnin on 30 July 1754 (Old Style 19 July) in the city of Kursk, Russia, to pious Christian parents. From his earliest childhood he was devoted to prayer and the reading of Holy Scripture and the lives of the saints. At the age of ten, he fell gravely ill, but in a vision he saw the Mother of God, who promised to visit and heal him. Soon after, a procession bearing the miraculous Kursk Root Icon of the Theotokos passed by his home. Upon venerating this holy icon, the young Prochorus was healed. In 1777, at the age of nineteen, he entered the Sarov Monastery as a novice. He was formally tonsured in 1786 and given the monastic name Seraphim, derived from the Seraphim (the highest order of angels mentioned in Sacred Scripture). In 1793 he was ordained to the priesthood as a hieromonk. After his ordination, he withdrew to a forest hermitage near the monastery, where he lived as a solitary ascetic for twenty-five years, engaged in intense prayer, fasting, and spiritual labour. In 1815, following a spiritual experience he attributed to the Mother of God, he returned to the monastery to engage in active pastoral ministry as a spiritual father to the monks and later to many lay people. Seraphim became the most renowned spiritual elder (startsy) of the nineteenth century, extending traditional monastic teachings to the laity. He taught that the purpose of the Christian life was to acquire the Holy Spirit and that prayer and the pursuit of holiness were possible for any Christian, not merely monks. He died on 2 January 1833, his body discovered in a kneeling position before an icon of the Mother of God. Seraphim was glorified as a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1903 at a canonisation attended by two hundred thousand people, including Tsar Nicholas II and the Imperial Family. He remains the most beloved and popular saint of Russia.

Holy New Martyr George the Georgian

1770

A native of Georgia, he was sold as a slave to a Turk and made a Muslim in his youth. He lived a long life as a Muslim, seemingly having no memory of the faith or language of his parents. Without warning, however, when he had reached the age of seventy, his conscience awakened, he presented himself to the judge and stated that he had been born a Christian and wished to die a Christian. The old man remained immovable under questioning, exhortation, threats and, finally, torture; he would only say ‘I am a Christian; I want to die a Christian!’ The executioners hanged him, then cut him down to see if this last trial would change his mind. When he assured them once again that he was a Christian, they hanged him again, and he was allowed to claim his martyrdom.

Daily readings

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

¹But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.

²In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,

³And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.

⁴For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.

⁵And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.

⁶As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.

⁷And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.

⁸They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

⁹They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 5.15-6.3

¹⁵But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the most High.

¹⁶Therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord’s hand: for with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them.

¹⁷He shall take to him his jealousy for complete armour, and make the creature his weapon for the revenge of his enemies.

¹⁸He shall put on righteousness as a breastplate, and true judgment instead of an helmet.

¹⁹He shall take holiness for an invincible shield.

²⁰His severe wrath shall he sharpen for a sword, and the world shall fight with him against the unwise.

²¹Then shall the right aiming thunderbolts go abroad; and from the clouds, as from a well drawn bow, shall they fly to the mark.

²²And hailstones full of wrath shall be cast as out of a stone bow, and the water of the sea shall rage against them, and the floods shall cruelly drown them.

²³Yea, a mighty wind shall stand up against them, and like a storm shall blow them away: thus iniquity shall lay waste the whole earth, and ill dealing shall overthrow the thrones of the mighty.

¹Hear therefore, O ye kings, and understand; learn, ye that be judges of the ends of the earth.

²Give ear, ye that rule the people, and glory in the multitude of nations.

³For power is given you of the Lord, and sovereignty from the Highest, who shall try your works, and search out your counsels.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

⁷But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.

⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.

⁹But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.

¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.

¹¹Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.

¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.

¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:

¹⁴For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.

¹⁵This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Matins Gospel

Matthew — Matthew 11.27-30

²⁷All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. ²⁷All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him. ²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Titus — Titus 1.5-2.1

⁵For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;

⁵For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: ⁶if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly. ⁶If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. ⁷For the bishop must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; ⁷For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; ⁸but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled; ⁸But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; ⁹Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. ⁹holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers. ¹⁰For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:

¹⁰For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, ¹¹whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. ¹¹Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. ¹²One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons. ¹²One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.

¹³This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹³This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; ¹⁴Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. ¹⁴not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. ¹⁵Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. ¹⁵To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. ¹⁶They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. ¹⁶They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

¹But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

¹But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine:

Epistle

— St Seraphim

Galatians — Galatians 5.22-6.2

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. ²⁴And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. ²⁶Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

¹Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. ²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 12.38-44

³⁸And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

³⁸And in his teaching he said, Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and to have salutations in the marketplaces, ³⁹And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: ³⁹and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts: ⁴⁰Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. ⁴⁰they that devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; these shall receive greater condemnation.

⁴¹And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

⁴¹And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. ⁴²And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. ⁴²And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing. ⁴³And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: ⁴³And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury: ⁴⁴For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. ⁴⁴for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Gospel

— St Seraphim

Luke — Luke 6.17-23

¹⁷and he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judæa and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

¹⁷And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; ¹⁸and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed. ¹⁸And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. ¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. ¹⁹And all the multitude sought to touch him; for power came forth from him, and healed them all.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. ²³Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. ²³Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.