Sunday, 12 January 2025

Sunday after Theophany

29th Sunday after Pentecost

252 days after Pascha · Tone 4 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Tatiana

c. 230

She was the daughter of a wealthy Roman consul. She became a deaconess in Rome, and was seized as a Christian during the reign of Alexander Severus. Before the tribunal she fearlessly confessed Christ and, when she was taken to the temple in an effort to force her to make sacrifice, she cast down the idols by the power of her prayer. At this, the soldiers seized her and subjected her to many indignities and tortures, finally throwing her into a raging furnace. When this did not harm her, she was thrown to the wild beasts, but they refused to harm her. At last she was beheaded and thus gained her crown.

Martyr Mertios

Martyr Mertios was an early Christian saint of the patristic period who suffered martyrdom for the faith during the era of imperial persecutions against Christians. Little is known of his specific biographical details, though he is commemorated in the Orthodox Church as a witness to Christ who refused to renounce his faith despite torture and imprisonment. His steadfast devotion and ultimate sacrifice for the Gospel stand as a testimony to the courage of the early Christian martyrs. His feast day is celebrated on 12 January in the Eastern Orthodox Church, where he is venerated alongside other witnesses of the faith who demonstrated unwavering commitment to Christ during times of persecution.

Martyr Peter Apselamus

Martyr Peter Apselamus was an early Christian martyr of the first centuries of the Church who endured persecution and imprisonment for his faith in Christ. His life reflects the courage and constancy of the early martyrs who stood firm against the demands to renounce Christianity and participate in pagan worship. Though details of his specific trials and martyrdom are limited in surviving historical sources, his name is preserved in the Orthodox synaxarion as a faithful witness to the Gospel. He is commemorated on 12 January in the Eastern Orthodox Church calendar, where he is honoured amongst those who gave their lives as a testimony to Christ and the faith of the Apostles.

Virgin Martyr Tatiana of Rome

Virgin Martyr Tatiana of Rome was born into an illustrious Roman family around the third century. Her father was elected consul three times and was a secret believer in Christ. He raised his daughter in the Christian faith and she devoted herself entirely to God, vowing virginity and betrothing herself to Christ. Appointed a deaconess in one of the Roman churches, Tatiana devoted herself to a life of fasting, prayer, and service to the poor and sick, tending to those in need with apostolic charity. During the persecutions of Christians, she was arrested for her faith and endured torture for refusing to renounce Christ and offer worship to pagan idols. Through her steadfast confession and endurance under torture, she became a martyr for Christ, numbered amongst the holy witnesses of the early Church. She is commemorated on 12 January in the Orthodox Church calendar as a virgin martyr and faithful servant of the Lord.

Venerable Benedict Biscop, Abbot of Wearmouth

c. 690

He came from a noble Northumbrian family in Britain, and was tonsured a monk in 653 at Lerins in Gaul. In 669 he was made Abbot of the Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul in Canterbury. He traveled to Rome in 671 to be instructed in monastic practice according to the Rule of Saint Benedict (of Nursia). Returning to Northumbria he established two new monasteries, the first to follow St Benedict’s Rule in the British Isles. He went to Rome once again in 678-679, this time bringing back the archcantor of St Peter’s, who taught the monks of St Benedict’s monasteries the chant and liturgical practices used in Rome. Under the holy abbot’s guidance, these monasteries became flourishing centers of Christian worship, scholarship and art. The Venerable Bede (May 26) was one of his disciples. Saint Benedict reposed in peace in 689 or 690, having greatly strengthened the Church and the Christian faith in Britain.

Also commemorated: St Sava, Archbishop of Serbia

Daily readings

7th Matins Gospel

John — John 20.1-10

¹The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

¹Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. ²Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. ²She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him. ³Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. ³Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. ⁴So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. ⁴And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; ⁵and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. ⁵And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. ⁶Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, ⁶Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, ⁷and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁷And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. ⁸Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. ⁸Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. ⁹For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ⁹For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. ¹⁰So the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Epistle

— Sunday after Theophany weekly cycle

Ephesians — Ephesians 4.7-13

⁷But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁷But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁸Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men. ⁸Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

⁹(Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? ⁹(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹⁰He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹¹And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹²for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: ¹²For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Gospel

— Sunday after Theophany weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 4.12-17

¹²Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

¹²Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee; ¹³And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: ¹³and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: ¹⁴That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, ¹⁴that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, ¹⁵The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; ¹⁵The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, ¹⁶The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. ¹⁶The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up.

¹⁷From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

¹⁷From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.