Friday, 31 January 2025

Friday of the 32nd week after Pentecost

271 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cyrus and John

Saint Cyrus was a noted physician in the city of Alexandria, where he had been born and raised. He was a devout Christian and devoted his medical skills to healing the sick without charge, treating both bodily afflictions and spiritual infirmities. He was renowned throughout Alexandria for his compassion, his skill as a healer, and his Christian charity in serving the poor and the suffering.

Saint John was a pious Christian soldier from the city of Edessa. When the persecution of Christians by Emperor Diocletian began, John was deeply moved by reports of the holy physician Cyrus and his dedication to serving others in Christ's name. John went first to Jerusalem seeking guidance, then to Alexandria and subsequently to Arabia to find Cyrus. He desired to become a companion and fellow-martyr with this great physician and Christian saint.

The two saints were eventually arrested by the pagan authorities during the Diocletian persecution (284-305). When they steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ and refused to renounce their religion, they were brought before the magistrate along with the pious Christian woman Athanasia and her three young daughters: Theoctista (aged fifteen), Theodota (aged thirteen), and Eudoxia (aged eleven). The magistrate sought to use the suffering and threats against the children to weaken the resolve of Cyrus and John.

However, the faith of all the saints proved unshakeable. They endured terrible torments with unwavering courage. They were flogged mercilessly and then all five were beheaded, receiving the glorious crown of martyrdom. These three young girls preserved their virginity and their faith unto death. The holy martyrs Cyrus and John became known as Unmercenaries—healers who worked miracles without accepting payment—and as Wonderworkers through the miracles worked through their intercession after their martyrdom. They are venerated as the patron saints of physicians and healers in the Orthodox Church.

Martyr Tryphaena of Cyzicus

Tryphaena was born in Cyzicus on the Hellespont, a city in what is now Turkey, to devout Christian parents named Anastasios, a senator of high rank, and his virtuous wife Sokratia. She was raised in the Christian faith and grew up as a faithful follower of Christ, being instructed from childhood in Christian virtue and piety. During her lifetime, when she came of age, she was known throughout the city for her Christian devotion and her courage in witnessing to her faith. During a period of persecution of Christians, Tryphaena revealed her Christian upbringing and extraordinary courage. In order to strengthen those whose faith was wavering, she boldly confessed Jesus Christ before the authorities and refused to deny Him or to make offerings to the pagan gods and idols. When the ruler Caesarius heard of her steadfast confession and refusal to renounce her faith, he became enraged and ordered her arrest. The holy martyr endured a series of terrible torments. She was pushed into a fiery furnace, but by the grace of God she was miraculously preserved from the flames. She was then thrown from a tall tree onto a bed of iron nails, yet she was not destroyed. Afterwards, she was given to wild animals to be devoured, but the beasts would not harm her. Finally, she was gored by a maddened bull. Through all these trials, Tryphaena displayed unwavering faith and courage, and in this manner she received the glorious crown of martyrdom in the first century. After her martyrdom, according to the Church's tradition, a spring of pure water welled up at the place where Saint Tryphaena's blood was shed. Women who had given birth but had no milk were able to nurse their infants after drinking this water, which flowed forth as a testimony to her holiness and her continued intercession. Saint Tryphaena became the patroness saint of Cyzicus and is invoked by women who have difficulty in nursing their infants. Her feast day is celebrated on 31 January in the Orthodox Church.

Saint Arsenius of Paros

Arsenius was a holy man venerated in the Orthodox tradition of the island of Paros in the Aegean Sea. He devoted himself to the Christian life with fervour and dedication, exemplifying the virtues of faith, prayer, and pastoral concern. Arsenius is remembered in the liturgical tradition as a saint whose holiness and spiritual witness contributed to the spiritual life of his island community. Though specific biographical details remain sparse in the historical record, his memory persists in the commemoration on 31 January as a testament to God's grace working in all who seek Him with sincere hearts.

Saint Marcella of Chios

Marcella was a holy woman venerated in the Orthodox tradition, associated with the island of Chios in Greece. Little detailed biographical information survives regarding her life, but she is commemorated as a saint whose faith and virtue bore witness to the transformative power of grace. Marcella exemplified Christian commitment and spiritual discipline, and her memory is preserved in the liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church as a testament to the possibility of holiness for all the faithful. She is venerated as an intercessor and saint, commemorated on 31 January.

Saint Nikita the Recluse of Pechersky

Nikita was a Russian Orthodox monk of the Kiev Pechersky Monastery (the Monastery of the Caves) and later Bishop of Novgorod. He devoted himself to the monastic life with great dedication and ascetic fervour, pursuing spiritual perfection through prayer, fasting, and obedience to the monastic rule. Nikita became known for his spiritual wisdom and pastoral care, eventually being elevated to the episcopate as Bishop of Novgorod, where he oversaw the spiritual welfare of his diocese with integrity and pastoral concern. He maintained his monastic discipline even as a bishop, exemplifying the integration of episcopal authority with ascetic practice. Whether in his earlier monastic years or his subsequent role as a bishop, Nikita remained a faithful servant of God and His Church, committed to the propagation of Orthodox faith and the spiritual edification of his people. He is venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church as a holy monk and bishop, commemorated on 31 January.

Venerable Nicetas, hermit of the Kiev Caves and Bishop of Novgorod

1108

His is a remarkable story of spiritual delusion (prelest in Russian) and repentance of delusion. Nicetas was a young and zealous monk of the Lavra of the Kiev Caves who, against the advice of his abbot St Nikon (March 25), retired alone to a cave and walled himself in. Some time later, the young monk experienced a delightful scent filling his cave. Believing himself to be receiving a divine revelation, he cried out ‘Lord, show Thyself to me, that I might worship Thee face to face!’ A voice answered, ‘I am sending you an angel: do whatever he tells you.’ The Devil soon appeared to him as an ‘angel of light’ and Nicetas, completely taken in, prostrated before him. The Devil ordered him to stop praying and to devote all his time to reading and memorizing the Old Testament. Nicetas obeyed without question. After awhile, the Devil began to reveal to him things that were happening in the outside world, so that the young monk acquired a reputation for prophecy among visitors to his cave. When the Elders of the Caves realized that Nicetas never spoke to his visitors or anyone else of the New Testament, they decided that he was beguiled by the Devil. Breaking down the door of his cave, they drove out the deceiver by their prayers and forcibly took the young hermit back to the monastery. As soon as the evil angel had been driven off, Nicetas became like a young child: he instantly forgot the entire Old Testament (which he had virtually memorized) and even lost the ability to read, so that he had to be sent to school again. Slowly he returned to himself, realized his former delusion and repented in tears. Thereafter he devoted himself to humility and obedience in the monastic community. Such was his repentance and progress in the virtues that he was later made Bishop of Novgorod. He reposed in peace in 1108 and became known for working many miracles, especially healing of blindness.

Marcella of Rome

410

The daughter of a prominent Roman family, she was given in marriage despite her reluctance, but was widowed after less than a year. Following the example of the prophetess Anna, she dedicated her widowhood to God and turned her fine house in Rome into a monastery, living there in strict asceticism. “When the Church was riven by controversies about the doctrines of Origen, Saint Marcella kept silent for a while but, deciding at length to take up the cause of Orthodoxy, and maintaining a sweet and gentle manner in the exchanges, she succeeded in confounding the arguments of the heretics.” (Ormylia Synaxarion) When the Goths invaded and pillaged Rome in 410 they broke into her house. Marcella received them calmly, but when they demanded money she answered that no one as poorly clothed as she was could be expected to have any money. At this the invaders beat her mercilessly despite her great age. She bore their blows without complaint, asking only that they spare her spiritual daughter Principia. Struck to the heart by her response, the barbarians took her and her disciple to the Church of St Paul, where she reposed two days later.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Peter — 1 Peter 1.1-2, 10-12, 2.6-10

¹Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

¹Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ²according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. ²Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. ¹⁰Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: ¹⁰Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: ¹¹searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them. ¹¹Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. ¹²To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into. ¹²Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. ⁶Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. ⁶Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

⁷For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; ⁷Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

⁸and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. ⁸And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. ⁹But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: ⁹But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: ¹⁰who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. ¹⁰Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

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.