Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Tuesday of Meatfare

61 days before Pascha · Tone 1 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Saint Agapetus of Sinai

Saint Agapetus was a venerable monastic ascetic who dwelt in the sacred desert of Sinai. He dedicated himself to unceasing prayer and spiritual struggle, seeking union with God through contemplation and disciplined askesis. The monks of the desert recognised in him a spiritual elder of great wisdom and holiness. Through his intercessions and prayers, Saint Agapetus became known as a protector of those who called upon him. He endured the rigours of desert monasticism with steadfastness and remained a beacon of Orthodox virtue. The Church venerates him as a model of monastic dedication and spiritual perfection.

Saint Colman of Lindisfarne, bishop and confessor

676

Saint Colman was born in the west of Ireland about the year 605 and from his youth devoted himself to the monastic life. He was educated at the great monastery of Iona, founded by Saint Columba, and there absorbed the Celtic tradition of prayer, learning and missionary zeal. About the year 661 he was sent from Iona to Northumbria and was consecrated the third bishop of Lindisfarne in succession to Saint Aidan and Saint Finan. In 664 the Synod of Whitby was held at the abbey of Saint Hilda to settle the differences between the Celtic and Roman observances of Easter and other matters of monastic discipline. Saint Colman defended with gentleness and conviction the customs received from Saint Columba and the elders of Iona, but King Oswiu of Northumbria gave his judgment in favour of the Roman practice. Unwilling to abandon the tradition of his fathers, Colman resigned the see of Lindisfarne and withdrew with all the Irish brethren and some thirty English monks. Returning by way of Iona to Ireland, he founded a monastery on the island of Inishbofin off the coast of Connaught and, when disputes arose between the Irish and English communities, established a separate house on the mainland for the English monks, known as Mayo of the Saxons, which became a centre of learning. Saint Colman reposed in peace on 18 February in the year 676 and is honoured among the saints of Ireland and the British Isles.

Saint Flavian the confessor, patriarch of Constantinople

448

Saint Flavian was patriarch of Constantinople from 446 to 449 and a champion of Orthodoxy against the Monophysite heresy of Eutyches. Before his elevation he had served as a presbyter and the keeper of the sacred vessels of the Great Church, and he was esteemed for his learning, his pastoral diligence and his austere manner of life. In the year 448 Saint Flavian convened a local council at Constantinople to examine the teaching of the archimandrite Eutyches, who confused the two natures of Christ, holding that after the union the Lord had only one nature, the divine. Saint Flavian and the bishops with him condemned Eutyches and deposed him, but the heretic, supported by the eunuch Chrysaphius and by Dioscorus of Alexandria, appealed to the emperor Theodosius II. In 449 the so-called "Robber Council" was assembled at Ephesus under the presidency of Dioscorus. There Saint Flavian was prevented from speaking, was openly assaulted in the church and trampled by armed monks. Mortally injured, he was sent into exile and died three days later from his wounds. Two years afterwards, at the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon in 451, his memory was vindicated and his teaching upheld. The Church honours him as a hieromartyr and confessor.

Saint Leo the Great, Pope of Rome

Pope Leo was one of the great bastions of Orthodoxy during the time of the monophysite heresy and its offshoots. ‘According to some, this Saint was born in Rome, but according to others in Tyrrenia (Tuscany), and was consecrated to the archiepiscopal throne of Rome in 440. In 448, when St Flavian, Archbishop of Constantinople [also commemorated today], summoned Eutyches, an archimandrite in Constantinople, to give account for his teaching that there was only one nature in Christ after the Incarnation, Eutyches appealed to St Leo in Rome. After St Leo had carefully examined Eutyches’ teachings, he wrote an epistle to St Flavian, setting forth the Orthodox teaching of the person of Christ, and His two natures, and also counseling Flavian that, should Eutyches sincerely repent of his error, he should be received back with all good will. At the Council held in Ephesus in 449, which was presided over by Dioscorus, Patriarch of Alexandria (and which Saint Leo, in a letter to the holy Empress Pulcheria in 451, was the first to call “The Robber Council”), Dioscorus, having military might behind him, did not allow Saint Leo’s epistle to Flavian to be read, although repeatedly asked to do so; even before the Robber Council was held, Dioscorus had uncanonically received the unrepentant Eutyches back into communion. Because Saint Leo had many cares in Rome owing to the wars of Attila the Hun and other barbarians, in 451 he sent four delegates to the Fourth Ecumenical Council, where 630 Fathers gathered in Chalcedon during the reign of Marcian, to condemn the teachings of Eutyches and those who supported him. Saint Leo’s epistle to Flavian was read at the Fourth Council, and was confirmed by the Holy Fathers as the Orthodox teaching on the incarnate Person of our Lord; it is also called the “Tome of Leo.” The Saint wrote many works in Latin; he reposed in 461.’(Great Horologion).

St Leo is remembered for saving Rome from conquest by Attila the Hun. When Attila drew near to Rome, preparing to pillage the city, St Leo went out to him in his episcopal vestments and enjoined him to turn back. For reasons unknown to worldly historians, the pitiless Attila with all his troops abandoned their attack and returned the way they had come.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 John — 1 John 3.10-20

¹⁰In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. ¹⁰In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. ¹¹For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. ¹¹For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: ¹²not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. ¹²Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

¹³Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

¹³Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you. ¹⁴We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death. ¹⁴We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. ¹⁵Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. ¹⁵Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. ¹⁶Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁶Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? ¹⁷But whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? ¹⁸My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth. ¹⁸My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him: ¹⁹And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. ²⁰For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. ²⁰because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 14.10-42

¹⁰And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

¹⁰And Judas Iscariot, he that was one of the twelve, went away unto the chief priests, that he might deliver him unto them. ¹¹And they, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently deliver him unto them. ¹¹And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

¹²And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the passover, his disciples say unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and make ready that thou mayest eat the passover?

¹²And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? ¹³And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. ¹³And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him; ¹⁴and wheresoever he shall enter in, say to the master of the house, The Teacher saith, Where is my guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? ¹⁴And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? ¹⁵And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. ¹⁵And he will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready: and there make ready for us. ¹⁶And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. ¹⁶And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. ¹⁷And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

¹⁷And when it was evening he cometh with the twelve. ¹⁸And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. ¹⁸And as they sat and were eating, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you shall betray me, even he that eateth with me. ¹⁹And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? ¹⁹They began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? ²⁰And he said unto them, It is one of the twelve, he that dippeth with me in the dish. ²⁰And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. ²¹The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. ²¹For the Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.

²²And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

²²And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body. ²³And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it. ²³And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. ²⁴And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. ²⁴And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. ²⁵Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. ²⁵Verily I say unto you, I shall no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

²⁶And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives.

²⁶And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

²⁷And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad. ²⁷And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. ²⁸Howbeit, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee. ²⁸But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. ²⁹But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. ²⁹But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. ³⁰And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. ³⁰And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that thou to-day, even this night, before the cock crow twice, shalt deny me thrice. ³¹But he spake exceeding vehemently, If I must die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner also said they all. ³¹But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

³²And they come unto a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I pray. ³²And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. ³³And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly amazed, and sore troubled. ³³And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; ³⁴And he saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: abide ye here, and watch. ³⁴And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. ³⁵And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. ³⁵And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt. ³⁶And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. ³⁷And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? ³⁷And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour? ³⁸Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. ³⁸Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. ³⁹And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. ³⁹And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. ⁴⁰And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. ⁴⁰And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him. ⁴¹And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴¹And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴²Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand. ⁴²Arise, let us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at hand.