Wednesday, 12 February 2025

67 days before Pascha · Tone 8 · Red cross (polyeleos typikon symbol) · No Fast (Fast Free)

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Christos

Christos was a Christian martyr of the early Church who gave his life in witness to Christ. He steadfastly refused to deny his faith or to offer sacrifice to idols, remaining firm in his confession of Christ despite persecution and torture. His unwavering commitment to the Gospel and his willingness to die for his faith made him a powerful witness to the redemptive power of Christ. Christos exemplified the virtues of faithfulness and courage in the face of suffering. He is remembered in the Orthodox Church as a holy martyr whose blood cried out as a testimony to Christ's victory over sin and death.

Saint Alexis of Moscow, Wonderworker

Alexis was a Metropolitan of Moscow and one of the most venerated saints of the Russian Church. He lived in the fourteenth century and was renowned for his holiness, his spiritual discernment, and his miraculous powers of healing and intercession. Alexis served the Church with great devotion and was instrumental in strengthening the Orthodox faith among the Russian peoples. He was known for his ascetic life, his pastoral care, and his miraculous deeds. According to tradition, Alexis was healed of blindness through prayer and intercession of the Mother of God. He spent his later years in the Simonov Monastery, where he continued his spiritual labours. He is deeply venerated in the Russian Church and is invoked for healing and protection.

Saint Anthony II of Constantinople

Anthony II was a patriarch of Constantinople and a prominent ecclesiastical figure of the Byzantine Church. He was known for his theological learning, his pastoral care, and his leadership of the Church during a significant period of Byzantine history. Anthony served faithfully as patriarch, guiding the flock entrusted to him and maintaining Orthodox doctrine against heretical threats. He is remembered as a devoted servant of the Church and an upholder of the apostolic traditions.

Saint Meletius of Antioch, Patriarch of Antioch

Meletius was a patriarch of Antioch and one of the great theologians of the fourth century. He served as bishop during a complex period of theological controversy and ecclesiastical division. Known for his Orthodox theology and pastoral wisdom, Meletius worked to maintain the integrity of the Nicene Faith against the Arian heresy. He was twice exiled from his see due to his unwavering commitment to Orthodox doctrine. Despite the difficulties of his episcopate, he remained steadfast in his faith and served faithfully as a shepherd of his people. He is remembered for his theological contributions and his commitment to guiding the Church through a period of theological turmoil.

St Meletios, archbishop of Antioch

381

Our holy father Meletios, an Armenian by birth, became archbishop of Antioch at the height of the Arian controversy. Though he was appointed by influential Arians who thought that he shared their views, as soon as he was raised to the throne he began to preach the consubstantiality of the Son with the Father. “At this, the archdeacon, an Arian, put his hand over the bishop’s mouth; Meletios then extended three fingers towards the people, closed them, and extended one only, showing by signs the equality and unity of the Trinity. The embarrassed archdeacon then seized his hand, but released his mouth, and Meletios spoke out even more forcibly in defense of the Council of Nicea” (Great Horologion). It was St Meletios who ordained St John Chrysostom reader and deacon in Antioch. He presided at the Second Ecumenical Council in 381. At his repose, St Gregory of Nyssa gave his funeral oration, lamenting: “Our Elijah has been caught up, and no Elisha is left behind in his place.”

St Alexis, metropolitan of Moscow and wonder-worker of all Russia

1378

He was born early in the 14th century to a family of court dignitaries in Moscow. Despite a fine education, he was not drawn to worldly success and became a monk at the age of twenty. In time Alexis was consecrated Bishop of Vladimir, then Metropolitan of Moscow, at that time the highest rank in the Russian church (which was still under the Patriarchate of Constantinople). Russia was then under the cruel domination of the Tatars. Saint Alexis traveled twice to the Golden Horde, where the Tatar Khan kept court. On his first visit (1359), he healed the Khan’s wife of a blindness which had afflicted her for three years — a miracle that did much to soften the Tatars’ treatment of their Russian vassals, and to preserve the liberty of the Church. His ceaseless labors in the world did not deprive the Saint of his love for monasticism: he conferred with holy monks at every opportunity, and founded many new monasteries. As he neared the end of his life he tried without success to persuade his friend St Sergius of Radonezh (September 25) to succeed him. He reposed in peace in 1378. His incorrupt relics are venerated in the Cathedral of the Theophany in Moscow.

Also commemorated: St Aleksy, Metr. of All Russia

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

2 Peter — 2 Peter 3.1-18

¹This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;

¹This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: ²that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles: ²That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: ³knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, ³Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, ⁴and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. ⁴And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. ⁵For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: ⁵For this they wilfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God; ⁶Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: ⁶by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: ⁷but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. ⁷But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

⁸But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁸But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. ¹¹Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ¹¹Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, ¹²Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ¹²looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ¹³But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. ¹³Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

¹⁴Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight. ¹⁴Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. ¹⁵And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; ¹⁵And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; ¹⁶as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. ¹⁶As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. ¹⁷Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness. ¹⁷Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. ¹⁸But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen. ¹⁸But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 13.24-31

²⁴But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

²⁴But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, ²⁵And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. ²⁵and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken. ²⁶And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. ²⁶And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. ²⁷And then shall he send forth the angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. ²⁸Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:

²⁸Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; ²⁹So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. ²⁹even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors. ³⁰Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, until all these things be accomplished. ³⁰Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. ³¹Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. ³¹Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.