Tuesday, 25 February 2025

Cheesefare Tuesday

54 days before Pascha · Tone 2 · Liturgy · Fast (Meat Fast)

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Reginus, Bishop of Skopelos

355

Hieromartyr Reginus was born in the city of Livadia in central Greece during the late third century to devout Christian parents who instilled in him a profound love of virtue and ardent devotion to Orthodox truth. As he matured, he became recognised for his exceptional theological learning and ability to refute heretical teachings. He subsequently became Bishop of the island of Skopelos, a position he assumed in the year 355, and served the faithful there with pastoral dedication. During his episcopate, Reginus distinguished himself at the Council of Sardica (held at Sofia, Bulgaria) in the year 343, where he powerfully defended the Orthodox faith against the Arian heresy that threatened the Church's unity and doctrine. Through his eloquent arguments and theological precision, he confounded the heretics and upheld the Nicene teaching that Christ is consubstantial with God the Father. His unwavering commitment to Orthodoxy was ultimately tested unto death under the reign of the pagan emperor Julian the Apostate. In the year 362 AD, as part of imperial persecution of Christian bishops, Reginus and forty other confessors were tortured and finally beheaded. The island of Skopelos has venerated him as their patron and protector, celebrating his feast day with special solemnity and gratitude for his witness and intercession on behalf of his flock.

Saint Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople

784

He was a nobleman born in Constantinople, and distinguished himself in a secular career, rising in the year 780 to the rank of protasecretis, Principal Secretary of State to the Emperor Constantine VI and his mother the Empress Irene, who was serving as regent.

His life took a sudden turn when, in 784, Patriarch Paul IV resigned, recommending Tarasios as the only man capable of restoring the Patriarchate, ravaged by the iconoclast heresy, to true Faith and full communion with the other Patriarchates. Tarasios, though unwilling, was virtually forced to accept the Patriarchate by the rulers and the Senate: he agreed at last on condition that an Ecumenical Council be summoned immediately to put an end to the iconoclast heresy. In a few days he was raised from a layman through all the degrees of the clergy and on December 25 784, was consecrated Archbishop of Constantinople.

At Saint Tarasios’ insistence, the Imperial rulers summoned a Church Council, which met at Constantinople in 786. Before its sessions had even begun, iconoclasts burst into the church and drove out the Fathers, who were forced to reconvene in Nicaea, where the first session opened. Patriarch Tarasios presided, and the Council concluded with a condemnation of the iconoclast heresy and the restoration of veneration of the holy images.

As Archbishop, the Saint was a model of humility, compassion, and firmness in the Faith. He refused to have any servants and dressed simply, a living rebuke to the luxury that had corrupted the clergy at that time. His works of charity were so great that he became known to the people as ‘the new Joseph’: he founded hospices and shelters, distributed the Church’s wealth freely to the poor, and often invited the poor to his own table to share his simple fare. He insisted on exercising all gentleness and mercy in restoring repentant heretics to the Church, a policy that met with opposition from the more severe leaders of the Studion monastery. At the same time he was unbending in the defense of the Faith: when the Emperor Constantine came of age he repudiated his wife Mary in order to marry Theodota, one of her servants. The Patriarch refused to bless the adulterous union and threatened the Emperor with excommunication if he persisted in sin. The Emperor had Tarasios imprisoned, forced his licit wife to enter a monastery, and found a priest, Joseph, to bless his second marriage. The following year Constantine was blinded and dethroned, and Tarasios regained his freedom.

The holy Patriarch continued to serve his Church faithfully, occupying the episcopal throne for a total of twenty-six years. In his last years, despite a long and painful illness, he continued to serve the Divine Liturgy daily, supporting himself with his staff. In the year 806, serving at the altar, he began to chant from Psalm 85, Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me, and gave up his soul to God.

“In 820, the Emperor Leo the Armenian, who for seven years had supported the iconoclasts and had fiercely persecuted the Orthodox, had a disturbing dream. He saw a stern-looking Saint Tarasius ordering a man by the name of Michael to run Leo himself through with a sword. Six days later, Leo was in fact assasinated by Michael the Stammerer, who seized power… In physical appearance, Saint Tarasius is said to have closely resembled Saint Gregory the Theologian.” (Synaxarion)

Saint Walburga of Heidenheim

760

Saint Walburga was a venerable abbess of the pre-schism Western Church whose holy life and witness are honoured by the Orthodox Church. She entered the double monastery of Heidenheim in what is now Bavaria, which had been founded by her brother Saint Willibald. Her brother, recognising the exceptional spiritual qualifications and administrative abilities of his sister, appointed Walburga as his successor in the governance of the monastic community. Upon the death of her brother Winibald in the year 760, Saint Walburga assumed the position of superintendant of the entire Heidenheim monastery complex, overseeing both the communities of monks and nuns with wisdom and pastoral care. She led the sisters and brothers in the monastic life with gentle authority, maintaining the spiritual disciplines whilst fostering a community characterised by charity and fidelity to the rule of Saint Benedict. Her tenure as abbess was marked by spiritual growth and the increasing reputation of Heidenheim as a centre of learning and sanctity. Saint Walburga fell asleep in the Lord on 25 February in either the year 777 or 779, according to various historical records. Her holy remains were interred at Heidenheim, and her memory became widely venerated throughout Christendom. The Orthodox Church recognises her as a saint of the undivided Church from the period before the East-West schism of 1054, when Eastern and Western Christians still shared the fullness of Orthodox faith and practice.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Jude — Jude 1-10

¹Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

¹Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: ²Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. ²Mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied.

³Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

³Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints. ⁴For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. ⁴For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

⁵Now I desire to put you in remembrance, though ye know all things once for all, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. ⁶And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ⁶And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. ⁷Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. ⁷Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. ⁸Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities. ⁸Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. ⁹But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. ⁹Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. ¹⁰But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. ¹⁰But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 22.39-42, 45-23.1

³⁹And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

³⁹And he came out, and went, as his custom was, unto the mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴⁰And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴¹And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, ⁴¹And he was parted from them about a stone’s cast; and he kneeled down and prayed, ⁴²Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ⁴²saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. ⁴⁵And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁵And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁶and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. ⁴⁶And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

⁴⁷And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

⁴⁷While he yet spake, behold, a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them; and he drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. ⁴⁸But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? ⁴⁸But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? ⁴⁹And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? ⁴⁹When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

⁵⁰And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. ⁵⁰And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his right ear. ⁵¹But Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye them thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. ⁵¹And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. ⁵²Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? ⁵²And Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, that were come against him, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves? ⁵³When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. ⁵³When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

⁵⁴And they seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed afar off.

⁵⁴Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off. ⁵⁵And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. ⁵⁵And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them. ⁵⁶But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. ⁵⁶And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking stedfastly upon him, said, This man also was with him. ⁵⁷And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. ⁵⁷But he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not. ⁵⁸And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou also art one of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not. ⁵⁸And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. ⁵⁹And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this man also was with him; for he is a Galilæan. ⁵⁹And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilæan. ⁶⁰And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. ⁶⁰But Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. ⁶¹And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice. ⁶¹And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. ⁶²And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. ⁶²And he went out, and wept bitterly.

⁶³And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and beat him.

⁶³And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. ⁶⁴And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? ⁶⁴And they blindfolded him, and asked him, saying, Prophesy: who is he that struck thee? ⁶⁵And many other things blasphemously spake they against him. ⁶⁵And many other things spake they against him, reviling him.

⁶⁶And as soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying,

⁶⁶And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, ⁶⁷Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: ⁶⁷If thou art the Christ, tell us. But he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: ⁶⁸and if I ask you, ye will not answer. ⁶⁸And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. ⁶⁹Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. ⁶⁹But from henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God. ⁷⁰And they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. ⁷⁰Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. ⁷¹And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth. ⁷¹And they said, What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth.

¹And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

¹And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before Pilate.