Wednesday, 12 March 2025

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

39 days before Pascha · Tone 4 · Presanctified · Lenten Fast

Presanctified Liturgy

Saints commemorated

Righteous Phineas, Grandson of Aaron

The righteous Phineas was the son of Eleazar and the grandson of Aaron the High Priest, and is honoured by the Church as one of the holy ancestors of Christ. He lived in the days of the Prophet Moses and Joshua the son of Nun, while the people of Israel were on the threshold of the Promised Land. When the Israelites were drawn into the worship of Baal of Peor through the wiles of the daughters of Moab, and a plague broke out among them so that thousands perished, Phineas in his zeal for the Lord rose up from the midst of the assembly and slew an Israelite man and the Midianite woman with whom he had openly transgressed the commandment of God. By this act of fervent zeal the plague was stayed, and the wrath of God turned away from His people. The Lord declared, through Moses, that He gave Phineas His covenant of peace and the everlasting covenant of priesthood, "because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the people of Israel". At the divine command Phineas afterwards led the army of Israel against the Midianites, who had drawn the people into idolatry, and brought upon them the just chastisement of heaven. After the death of his father Eleazar he was unanimously chosen to succeed him as High Priest, and ministered before the Lord in great holiness for many years. He died at an advanced age, around the year 1500 before the coming of Christ, and his memory is celebrated on 12 March.

Saint Gregory the Dialogist, Pope of Rome

He was born in Rome to a wealthy senatorial family. He received a good education in secular and spiritual learning, and became Prefect of Rome. While still in the world, he used his great wealth mostly for the good of the Church, building six monasteries in Sicily and another in Rome itself. At this monastery, dedicated to the Apostle Andrew, Gregory was tonsured a monk. He was appointed Archdeacon of Rome, then, in 579, Papal legate to Constantinople, where he lived for nearly seven years. He returned to Rome in 585 and was elected Pope in 590.

He is famed for his many writings, his generous charity (he gave almost all his income to the poor, and often invited the poor to share his table), and for initiating missionary work among the Anglo-Saxon peoples. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, celebrated on Wednesday and Friday evenings during Great Lent, was compiled by him. St Gregory introduced elements of the chanting that he had heard in Constantinople into Western Church chant: The Gregorian Chant which beautified the Western churches for many years is named for him. Its system of modes is related to the eight tones of the Eastern church. He is called ‘the Dialogist’ after his book The Dialogues, an account of the lives and miracles of Italian saints.

Saint Gregory reposed in peace in 604.

Saint Symeon the New Theologian

Saint Symeon was a great ascetic and mystic of the Orthodox Church who lived in the tenth and eleventh centuries. He was abbot of the Monastery of Saint Mamas in Constantinople and was renowned for his profound spiritual experiences and his teaching on the possibility of direct experiential knowledge of God. Saint Symeon emphasised the necessity of inner transformation through prayer, particularly the Jesus Prayer, and the cultivation of hesychasm, the mystical practice of inner silence and contemplation. Though some of his teachings were questioned by ecclesiastical authorities in his lifetime, the Church has since recognised the soundness of his doctrine and the depth of his spiritual insight. His writings, including his Hymns of Divine Love and his ethical discourses, provide guidance for those seeking the mystical encounter with God that is the heart of Orthodox spirituality. Saint Symeon is venerated as a great teacher and saint whose life exemplified the principles he taught.

Venerable Theophanes the Confessor of Sigriane

818

Saint Theophanes was born at Constantinople about the year 759, of a noble family related to the imperial house. His father, the governor of the Aegean theme, died when the boy was but three years old, and Theophanes was raised at the court under the protection of the emperor. In due course he was constrained to enter into marriage, but with his bride's consent the two preserved their virginity and lived as brother and sister. After a few years they parted by mutual agreement: his wife took the veil in a convent in Bithynia, and Theophanes withdrew to the district of Sigriane, near the Sea of Marmara, where he embraced the monastic life.

There he founded a monastery known as the "Great Acre" and became its abbot. By his prayers, his fasts, and his works of mercy he shone forth as a beacon of Orthodoxy. When the Seventh Ecumenical Council was convoked at Nicaea in 787 to vindicate the veneration of the holy icons, Theophanes was summoned and appeared in his patched and humble monastic dress, but his words confirmed the assembled bishops in the truth.

In his later years he composed his celebrated "Chronographia", a continuation of the chronicle of George Synkellos covering the events from the reign of Diocletian to his own day, which remains a precious source for the history of the Church. When the iconoclast heresy revived under the emperor Leo the Armenian, the aged confessor was summoned to the capital, refused with great firmness to renounce the holy icons, and was cast into prison. After two years' confinement he was banished to the island of Samothrace, where, worn out with sufferings, he reposed in peace in the year 818.

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 5.16-25

¹⁶But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. ¹⁶but Jehovah of hosts is exalted in justice, and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness. ¹⁷Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat. ¹⁷Then shall the lambs feed as in their pasture, and the waste places of the fat ones shall wanderers eat.

¹⁸Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

¹⁸Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, and sin as it were with a cart rope; ¹⁹That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! ¹⁹that say, Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!

²⁰Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²⁰Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! ²¹Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! ²²Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: ²²Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink; ²³Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! ²³that justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! ²⁴Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

²⁴Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the dry grass sinketh down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Jehovah of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. ²⁵Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ²⁵Therefore is the anger of Jehovah kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them; and the mountains tremble, and their dead bodies are as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 4.16-26

¹⁶And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

¹⁶And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. ¹⁷And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. ¹⁷And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. ¹⁸And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael; and Mehujael begat Methushael; and Methushael begat Lamech. ¹⁸And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. ¹⁹And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

¹⁹And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. ²⁰And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle. ²⁰And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. ²¹And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. ²¹And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe. ²²And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. ²²And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. ²³And Lamech said unto his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: For I have slain a man for wounding me, And a young man for bruising me:

²³And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. ²⁴If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. ²⁴If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

²⁵And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For, said she, God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel; for Cain slew him.

²⁵And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. ²⁶And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then began men to call upon the name of Jehovah. ²⁶And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 5.15-6.3

¹⁵Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. ¹⁵Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well. ¹⁶Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. ¹⁶Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, And streams of water in the streets? ¹⁷Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. ¹⁷Let them be for thyself alone, And not for strangers with thee. ¹⁸Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. ¹⁸Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth. ¹⁹As a loving hind and a pleasant doe, Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And be thou ravished always with her love. ¹⁹Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. ²⁰And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? ²⁰For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a foreigner? ²¹For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he maketh level all his paths. ²¹For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

²²His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. ²²His own iniquities shall take the wicked, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sin. ²³He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. ²³He shall die for lack of instruction; And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

¹My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, ¹My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor, If thou hast stricken thy hands for a stranger; ²Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. ²Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. ³Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, Seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbor: Go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbor; ³Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.