Wednesday, 19 February 2025

Wednesday of Meatfare

60 days before Pascha · Tone 1 · Liturgy · Fast

Saints commemorated

Apostles Archippus and Philemon of the Seventy, and Martyr Apphia

Archippus was the son of Saints Philemon (Nov. 22) and Apphia (Feb. 15), and, like them, was a disciple of the Apostle Paul, who calls him “our fellow soldier” (Philm. 2). He and his father preached the Gospel at Colossae, and Archippus probably served as a priest for the church that gathered there at his family’s house (Col. 4:17). Archippus’ fervor in preaching the Gospel of Christ so angered the pagans that they seized him and brought him before the governor Androcles. When the Saint refused to sacrifice to Artemis, he was stripped, beaten, tormented in various ways, and finally stoned to death.

Holy Apostle Archippus

Saint Archippus was one of the faithful companions of the Apostle Paul and is mentioned in Paul's epistles as a beloved fellow worker in Christ. He laboured with Philemon and Apphia in spreading the Gospel and strengthening the Church. Saint Archippus was devoted to the apostolic ministry and proclaimed Christ with courage and faithfulness. According to Church tradition, he suffered persecution and hardship for the sake of the Gospel. The Orthodox Church honours Saint Archippus as one of the faithful apostolic companions who contributed to the establishment and growth of the early Church.

Holy Apostle Philemon

Saint Philemon was a faithful Christian beloved by the Apostle Paul and mentioned in the epistle bearing his name. Philemon opened his home to the apostles and supported the ministry of the Gospel through his hospitality and generosity. He is remembered as a man of sincere faith whose home became a gathering place for the faithful. Philemon laboured for the Gospel alongside his wife Apphia and their household, including their son Archippus. The Orthodox Church reveres him as an exemplar of Christian hospitality, stewardship, and household holiness in service to Christ.

Holy martyr Apphia, equal to the apostles

Saint Apphia was the wife of the holy apostle Philemon of Colossae and a fellow worker of the apostle Paul. She is greeted by name in the apostle's epistle to her husband (Philemon 2), where Paul calls her "our beloved sister", a sign of her standing in the apostolic community. Together with Philemon she opened her house as a gathering place for the church at Colossae and was diligent in works of mercy, receiving strangers, caring for the sick and providing for the poor and for the wandering preachers of the Gospel. According to the tradition received in the Church, during the persecution under the emperor Nero a heathen festival of Artemis was kept at Colossae. The faithful were assembled in the house of Philemon for prayer when an enraged crowd of pagans broke in upon them. The ruler Artocles ordered Philemon, Apphia and the holy apostle Archippus to be brought before him for confessing Christ. After torments, Apphia and Philemon were buried in the earth up to the waist and stoned to death, while Archippus was pierced with knives. They thus sealed their preaching of the Gospel by their blood. Saint Apphia is honoured by the Church together with the apostles Archippus and Philemon on 19 February, and again on 22 November.

Venerable Theodore, abbot of Sanaxar

1719

Saint Theodore of Sanaxar was born in the year 1719 near the town of Romanov in the province of Yaroslavl, the son of the pious nobleman Prince Ignatius Ushakov and his wife Paraskeva. At his baptism he received the name John. Brought up in piety, he entered the imperial guard at Saint Petersburg and seemed destined for a brilliant career, but a sudden death at table among his fellow officers shook him profoundly, and he resolved to renounce the world. Withdrawing in secret, he lived for some time as a hermit in the forests near Lake Ladoga. When his absence was discovered the empress Elizabeth had him sought out, but on hearing of his desire for the monastic life she forgave him and allowed him to enter the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. There he was tonsured with the name Theodore. After receiving the priesthood and gathering disciples, he was sent in 1759 to restore the deserted Sanaxar monastery in the diocese of Tambov, of which he became abbot. Saint Theodore guided his community by the strict cenobitic rule of the holy fathers, and his counsel was sought by many, among them his nephew the future admiral Saint Theodore Ushakov. For a time he was unjustly exiled to the Solovki monastery on a slander, but he was vindicated and returned to Sanaxar, where he reposed in peace on 19 February 1791. He was canonised by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1999.

Our Venerable Mother Philothea of Athens

1589

“This bright star of compassion arose in the dark days of the Turkish occupation to shed God’s mercy upon the oppressed people of Athens and to guide many endangered souls onto the path of righteousness.” (Synaxarion) She was born in 1528 to the prominent Venizelou family, miraculously answering her mother’s prayer of many years. Though even in childhood she showed a love for ascesis and prayer, she was much sought-after as a wealthy heiress, and was married at the age of twelve to a rough, violent man. She endured his ill-treatment nobly, and prayed daily for his conversion. After three years, the brutal husband died, and Philothea gave herself entirely to a life of prayer and fasting, living like a hermitess though still in her parents’ house. When her parents died ten years later, she used her entire fortune to found a convent. Its design had been given her in a vision by the Apostle Andrew, and it was dedicated to him. Alongside the monastery, she founded a hospital, a hospice for the poor, and schools where boys and girls could receive a Christian education, something obviously not provided by the Turkish rulers. As soon as the monastery was begun, she took monastic vows under the name of Philothea, and she, her own maidservants, and many young women of the city, became the first nuns there. Philothea continued in her boundless compassion for the poor and infirm, whom she visited and tended. She was so free in her almsgiving that more than once the monastery was left without food or other necessities of life, and the sisters began to complain about her. But each time, large donations appeared unexpectedly and saved the community from starvation. Philothea offered asylum and refuge to Christian slave women who had fled their masters to preserve their faith and chastity. This angered the Turks, who surrounded the monastery, seized Philothea, and brought her before the judge. She was told to deny Christ or die, and when she refused was sentenced to death; but some influential Athenian Greeks were able to intervene on her behalf and to obtain her release. Immediately upon her release she redoubled her prayers, her apostolic labors and her works of mercy, and was soon granted the gift of working miracles and healings. So many disciples came to join her that she established a second monastery. Her growing influence aroused the hatred of some of the Turks, who broke into the monastery one night and beat her violently, leaving her half-dead. She bore the effects of her injuries patiently, and after a short time gave back her soul to God in 1589. Twenty years after her repose, a beautiful scent began to issue from her tomb. Her precious relics, venerated at the Cathedral in Athens, remain incorrupt to this day.

Also commemorated: Apostles of the Seventy Archippus and Philemon

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 John — 1 John 3.21-4.6

²¹Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; ²¹Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. ²²and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. ²²And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. ²³And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment. ²³And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. ²⁴And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us. ²⁴And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

¹Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

¹Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ²Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ²Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. ³and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already. ⁴Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. ⁴Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. ⁵They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them. ⁵They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. ⁶We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. ⁶We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 14.43-15.1

⁴³And straightway, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

⁴³And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. ⁴⁴Now he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; take him, and lead him away safely. ⁴⁴And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. ⁴⁵And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him. ⁴⁵And when he was come, straightway he came to him, and saith, Rabbi; and kissed him. ⁴⁶And they laid hands on him, and took him.

⁴⁶And they laid their hands on him, and took him. ⁴⁷But a certain one of them that stood by drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear. ⁴⁷And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. ⁴⁸And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? ⁴⁸And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves to seize me? ⁴⁹I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but this is done that the scriptures might be fulfilled. ⁴⁹I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. ⁵⁰And they all forsook him, and fled. ⁵⁰And they all left him, and fled. ⁵¹And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:

⁵¹And a certain young man followed with him, having a linen cloth cast about him, over his naked body: and they lay hold on him; ⁵²but he left the linen cloth, and fled naked. ⁵²And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

⁵³And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and there come together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.

⁵³And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. ⁵⁴And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. ⁵⁴And Peter had followed him afar off, even within, into the court of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire. ⁵⁵And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. ⁵⁵Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found it not. ⁵⁶For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. ⁵⁶For many bare false witness against him, and their witness agreed not together. ⁵⁷And there stood up certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, ⁵⁷And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, ⁵⁸We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. ⁵⁸We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands. ⁵⁹But neither so did their witness agree together. ⁵⁹And not even so did their witness agree together. ⁶⁰And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? ⁶⁰And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? ⁶¹But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and saith unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? ⁶¹But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? ⁶²And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. ⁶²And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. ⁶³And the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What further need have we of witnesses? ⁶³Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? ⁶⁴Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. ⁶⁴Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be worthy of death. ⁶⁵And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands. ⁶⁵And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the officers received him with blows of their hands.

⁶⁶And as Peter was beneath in the court, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest;

⁶⁶And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: ⁶⁷And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. ⁶⁷and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and saith, Thou also wast with the Nazarene, even Jesus. ⁶⁸But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. ⁶⁸But he denied, saying, I neither know, nor understand what thou sayest: and he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. ⁶⁹And the maid saw him, and began again to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. ⁶⁹And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. ⁷⁰And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. ⁷⁰But he again denied it. And after a little while again they that stood by said to Peter, Of a truth thou art one of them; for thou art a Galilæan. ⁷¹But he began to curse, and to swear, I know not this man of whom ye speak. ⁷¹But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. ⁷²And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. ⁷²And straightway the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word, how that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

¹And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

¹And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.