Thursday, 6 February 2025

73 days before Pascha · Tone 7 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Julian of Emesa

312

The Holy Martyr Julian was a native of the Phoenician city of Emesa (modern Homs in Syria). He was born into a Christian family and from his youth devoted himself to learning the healing arts. He became a skilled physician, well-trained in the knowledge of medicine and the treatment of bodily infirmities. However, his gifts extended far beyond the merely physical; through his faith in Christ and his pastoral care, he was also able to heal the spiritual wounds of those who came to him, converting many souls to faith in the Saviour. Saint Julian lived during a time of persecution, when the Roman authorities sought to suppress the Christian faith and compel the faithful to abandon Christ. During the reign of the Emperor Numerian, when the civil authorities arrested the bishop of Emesa for his Christian faith, Saint Julian, moved by his love for Christ and his bishop, hastened to embrace and encourage the imprisoned bishop. For this act of Christian compassion and loyalty, he was immediately arrested. During the persecution, a terrible storm arose over the region, with hail covering the city. The force of this storm frightened away the wild beasts that had been assembled to devour the Christian prisoners, providing temporary deliverance from death. However, the governor of Emesa, seeking to eliminate the Christian witness, ordered the execution of all captured Christians. Remarkably, through God's providence, Saint Julian was spared from immediate execution while others suffered martyrdom. The persecutors sought to exploit his gifts as a physician, compelling him to serve their purposes. However, Saint Julian remained faithful to Christ despite the threats and pressures he faced. Ultimately, the governor of Emesa, seeing that Saint Julian would not renounce his faith, condemned him to death. The holy martyr received the crown of martyrdom in the year 312 under the emperor Maximian, sealing his witness with his blood. Saint Julian is venerated as a Holy Unmercenary, a physician who did not take money for the cures he performed, but rather offered his healing gifts freely in the name of Christ and for the glory of God.

Saint Bukolus, Bishop of Smyrna

The Holy Father Bukolus was a disciple of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, who ministered in Asia Minor. Through the instruction of the Apostle, Saint Bukolus received the faith of Christ and was prepared for great service in the Church. After the death of the Apostle John, the Church in Asia Minor grew and expanded, and Saint Bukolus was ordained as a bishop to shepherd the flock in the city of Smyrna. Saint Bukolus became the first Bishop of Smyrna and laboured tirelessly to establish the Church in that great city. By the grace of God working through him, he converted many pagans from their false worship to faith in Christ and baptized them into the Church. He was adorned with all Christian virtues, manifesting especially gentleness and meekness toward all whom he encountered, following the example of the Apostles and of Christ Himself. Through his ministry and witness, the Church in Smyrna flourished and grew strong. Saint Bukolus served faithfully as bishop for many years, providing pastoral care and spiritual guidance to the faithful. As his life drew to a close, recognizing the need for continuity in the apostolic succession, he designated the holy Polycarp as his successor in the episcopate. Polycarp would later become one of the most celebrated bishops of the early Church, known for his martyrdom and his letters to the faithful. Saint Bukolus peacefully departed this life between the years 100 and 105, having completed his faithful labours. A myrtle tree grew at his grave, and the Lord granted through this tree the gift of healing to many who came with faith seeking relief from their infirmities. After his death, churches dedicated to Saint Bukolus were built in Smyrna and elsewhere, serving as centres of worship and pilgrimage. Today, a church dedicated to Saint Bukolus still stands in operation in Smyrna (the modern city of Izmir, Turkey), testifying to the enduring veneration of this holy apostolic bishop. A portion of his holy relics is preserved in the Monastery of Saint Theodosios in Argos, where the faithful continue to venerate his memory and seek his intercession.

Saint Photius the Great, Patriarch of Constantinople

The Holy Father Photius the Great was one of the most brilliant and influential church leaders and theologians of the Byzantine Church. Born in Constantinople, he came from an aristocratic family and received an exceptional education. From his youth, he demonstrated exceptional intellectual gifts and a profound knowledge of sacred learning, classical literature, and theology. He rose to prominence in the imperial court and in the Church through his learning, wisdom, and spiritual gifts.

Saint Photius served as Patriarch of Constantinople during two periods: first from 858 to 867, and again from 877 to 886. His tenure as Patriarch occurred during a crucial and turbulent period in the history of the Church, marked by theological disputes, ecclesiastical controversies, and tensions between Constantinople and Rome. Despite these challenges, Saint Photius proved himself to be a stalwart defender of Orthodox doctrine and the apostolic traditions of the Eastern Church.

He was renowned for the power of his theological teaching and preaching. His contemporaries called him "the Second Chrysostom" for the eloquence and strength of his homilies and his pastoral care for the flock of Christ. His written works display profound theological learning and scriptural insight. He was a defender of sacred images (icons) against those who opposed their veneration, and he stood firm against the pretensions of Rome to universal jurisdiction over the Church.

Saint Photius was also a great scholar and accomplished author. He composed the Myriobiblon (or Bibliotheca), a remarkable work cataloguing and summarizing numerous ancient texts, thereby preserving much learning that would otherwise have been lost. He was a leading figure of the ninth-century Byzantine renaissance, a time of remarkable intellectual and cultural achievement. Historians regard him as "the leading light of the ninth-century renaissance" and as the most important intellectual of his time.

Saint Photius was also instrumental in the evangelization of the Slavic peoples. He worked to establish the Church among the Slavs and supported missionary efforts to bring the Gospel to these peoples. His theological and pastoral leadership extended far beyond Constantinople, influencing the life of the entire Orthodox Church.

Saint Photius departed this life on 6 February, the date on which his feast day is observed. Though the exact year of his repose is not certain, some sources indicate it occurred around 893, or perhaps earlier. His memory is venerated in the Orthodox Church as one of the greatest Patriarchs of Constantinople and as a defender of Orthodox faith and learning.

Sts Barsanuphius and John the Prophet, monks of Palestine

6th c.

‘Saint Barsanuphius the Great, who was from Egypt, and his disciple, Saint John the Prophet, struggled in very strict reclusion during the sixth century at the monastery of Abba Seridus at Gaza of Palestine, and were endowed with amazing gifts of prophecy and spiritual discernment. They are mentioned by Saint Dorotheus of Gaza, their disciple, in his writings. Many of the counsels they sent to Christians who wrote to them are preserved in the book which bears their names. Once certain of the Fathers besought Saint Barsanuphius to pray that God stay His wrath and spare the world. Saint Barsanuphius wrote back that there were “three men perfect before God,” whose prayers met at the throne of God and protected the whole world; to them it had been revealed that the wrath of God would not last long. These three, he said, were “John of Rome, Elias of Corinth, and another in the diocese of Jerusalem,” concealing the name of the last, since it was himself.’ (Great Horologion) Saint Barsanuphius lived in such reclusion that only Abbot Seridus ever saw him: once a week the Abbot would bring him three loaves and some water, and would write down the Saint’s counsels. Some of the brethren came to suspect that Barsanuphius was an invention of the Abbot, and to relieve their minds he came out of his cell for the only time, greeted them, washed their feet, and withdrew again. It is unknown when St Barsanuphius reposed. When it was suspected that he had died in his cell, the Patriarch of Jerusalem ordered that it be opened, but fire blasted forth from the door, preventing any from entering.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Peter — 1 Peter 4.12-5.5

¹²Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you:

¹²Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: ¹³but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. ¹³But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. ¹⁴If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you. ¹⁴If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. ¹⁵For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men’s matters: ¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. ¹⁶Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. ¹⁶but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. ¹⁷For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? ¹⁷For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? ¹⁸And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? ¹⁸And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? ¹⁹Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator. ¹⁹Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

¹The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

¹The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: ²Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; ²Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; ³Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. ³neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock. ⁴And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. ⁴And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. ⁵Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. ⁵Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

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.