Tuesday, 7 January 2025

Synaxis of St John the Baptist

Tuesday of the 29th week after Pentecost

247 days after Pascha · Tone 3 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

The Synaxis of the Baptist is a feast celebrated on 7 January, the day following the great feast of Theophany. The word synaxis means a gathering of the faithful in church for purposes of honouring and venerating the saint or saints commemorated. This feast honours the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John, who is called the greatest of the prophets by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The Church established this synaxis following the ancient custom of glorifying those righteous servants of God who most closely served in or witnessed great and celebrated events of Christ's life. Saint John the Baptist was the one whom the Lord chose to baptise Him in the Jordan River, and it was John who prepared the way for the Saviour's public ministry through his preaching of repentance and his baptism of the people. Saint John came before Christ, proclaiming that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand and calling men to repentance and the remission of sins. He was the bridge connecting the Old Testament and the New Testament, and thus he concluded the history of the Old Testament and opened the era of the New Testament. Of John, Christ said, "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist." Saint John was martyred for his courageous witness and his rebuke of King Herod Antipas, who had unlawfully taken his brother Philip's wife, Herodias, as his own. The holy Forerunner was imprisoned and eventually beheaded because he would not compromise his prophetic witness to the truth. The Synaxis of John honours and celebrates his glorious life, his ministry as the Forerunner of Christ, his steadfast faith, and his martyrdom.

New-Martyr Athanasius of Attalia

1700

New-Martyr Athanasius of Attalia was a Christian martyr who lived in the later centuries of the Ottoman occupation and died for his steadfast confession of the Orthodox faith. He was condemned to death for his refusal to renounce Christ and embrace Islam, remaining faithful to his baptismal vows despite threats and torture. He was beheaded in the year 1700 in Smyrna, sealing his witness with his blood. As a "New Martyr" of the post-Byzantine period, Saint Athanasius exemplified the perseverance and courage of Orthodox Christians living under religious oppression, maintaining their faith and transmitting it to future generations despite grave persecution.

Venerable Paisius of Uglich

Venerable Paisius was a Russian monastic saint who lived in or near the city of Uglich in Russia. Through ascetical labours, fasting, prayer, and obedience to the monastic rule, he attained great holiness and became a model of Orthodox monasticism. His life exemplifies the Russian tradition of hesychasm and deep spiritual commitment to union with God through the veneration of the mystery of Christ and the intercession of the Theotokos and the saints. Though specific details of his life are limited in the surviving historical records, his memory is preserved in the Orthodox calendar as a testament to his sanctity and monastic virtue.

Our Venerable Father Cedd, Bishop of Essex and Abbot of Lastingham

664

He and his brother Chad (Mar. 2) were from an English family, educated under Saint Aidan (Aug. 31) of Lindisfarne. Both brothers entered monastic life at Lindisfarne and later became bishops. Cedd travelled as an evangelist among the people of Essex, where Saint Finan (Feb. 17) consecrated him to be their first bishop. He founded two monasteries in Essex, one of whose churches still stands; he built yet another monastery at Lastingham in Yorkshire, where he lived until his repose. He spoke both Irish and Anglo-Saxon, and served as a translator for the Irish at the Synod of Whitby in 664. He reposed at Lastingham not long after the Synod.

Daily readings

Epistle

— Forerunner weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 19.1-8

¹And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

¹And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: ²He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. ²and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given. ³And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. ³And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John’s baptism. ⁴Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. ⁴And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus. ⁵When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁵And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. ⁶And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. ⁷And they were in all about twelve men. ⁷And all the men were about twelve. ⁸And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

⁸And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Epistle

Hebrews — Hebrews 4.1-13

¹Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

¹Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. ²For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. ²For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. ³For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

³For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴For he hath said somewhere of the seventh day on this wise, And God rested on the seventh day from all his works; ⁴For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. ⁵and in this place again, They shall not enter into my rest. ⁵And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. ⁶Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

⁶Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience, ⁷he again defineth a certain day, To-day, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before), To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts. ⁷Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. ⁸For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

⁸For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. ⁹There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. ⁹There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God. ¹⁰For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. ¹⁰For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. ¹¹Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience. ¹¹Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. ¹²For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹²For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. ¹³And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Gospel

— Forerunner weekly cycle

John — John 1.29-34

²⁹The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

²⁹On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. ³⁰This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is become before me: for he was before me. ³¹And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. ³¹And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing in water. ³²And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. ³²And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. ³³And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. ³³And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize in water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit. ³⁴And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. ³⁴And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.

Gospel

Luke — Luke 21.12-19

¹²But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. ¹²But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ¹³And it shall turn to you for a testimony. ¹³It shall turn out unto you for a testimony. ¹⁴Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: ¹⁴Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer: ¹⁵For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. ¹⁵for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay. ¹⁶And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. ¹⁶But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. ¹⁷And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. ¹⁷And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. ¹⁸And not a hair of your head shall perish. ¹⁸But there shall not an hair of your head perish. ¹⁹In your patience possess ye your souls. ¹⁹In your patience ye shall win your souls.