Saturday, 15 March 2025

Memorial Saturday

Second Saturday of Lent

36 days before Pascha · Tone 4 · Liturgy · Lenten Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Martyr Agapius and seven with him

303

These holy Martyrs contested during the reign of Diocletian 284-305), in Palestinian Caesarea. All eight were very young; only Agapius was a baptized Christian. Urbanus, the governor of the region, observed a pagan festival by having some Christians publicly tortured and executed: some by fire, others on the gallows, some by being thrown to wild beasts in the arena. Six of the youths (Timolaus, Dionysius, Romulus, Plesius, and two named Alexander), seeing the patience and serenity with which the Christians endured their torments, were reached by the Holy Spirit and, tying their own hands, presented themselves to Urbanus saying ‘We too are Christians!’ They were immediately cast into prison. A few days later Agapius, a prominent Christian in that town, also presented himself along with a second Dionysius. All eight were beheaded together at Caesarea. Their martyrdom is recorded in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History.

The Apostle Aristobulus of the Seventy, Bishop of Britain

Saint Aristobulus, a native of Cyprus and one of the Seventy Apostles, was the brother of the Apostle Barnabas and a companion of Saint Paul on his missionary journeys. Saint Paul mentions him in his Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:10). Saint Paul made Aristobulus a bishop and sent him to preach the Gospel in Britain, Scotland, and Ireland, where he converted many people to Christ. He built churches, baptised converts, and ordained clergy—presbyters and deacons—for the spiritual wellbeing of his flock. He had to endure many torments and afflictions from hostile pagans, who beat him and mocked him. Eventually, he won them over and brought them to the Christian faith. Saint Aristobulus preached and died in Roman Britain. Whilst some Orthodox traditions say he died in peace, others say he was martyred in Wales.

The Hieromartyr Alexander of Side, Pamphylia

The Hieromartyr Alexander was a priest from Sidi (Side) in Pamphylia. He suffered for Christ during a time of persecution in the reign of Emperor Aurelian (270-275). When the prefect Antoninus arrived at Sidi he ordered Alexander to be brought before him for interrogation. During his interrogation, the Saint replied, "I am a Christian, a priest, a shepherd of Christ's rational flock." Alexander endured various tortures. He was beaten and tormented on a wheel, and plunged into a vessel of boiling resin and oil. He was then placed in a fiery furnace, where the tormentors saw in the flames two young men with handsome faces, praising God alongside the Holy Martyr. These were Angels, cooling the flames of the furnace. His body was pierced with iron needles and his intestines fell out. He was then thrown to wild animals to be devoured, but the beasts did not touch him. Finally, the Hieromartyr Alexander was beheaded with a sword.

The Holy Martyr Agapius and Seven Companions

The holy martyrs Agapius, Publius, Timolaus, Romulus, and two each named Alexander and Dionysius suffered together in Caesarea, Palestine. All eight were very young at the time of their martyrdom. Only Agapius was initially a baptised Christian. Six of the youths (Timolaus, Dionysius, Romulus, and two named Alexander), witnessing the patience and serenity of the Christians under torment, were reached by the Holy Spirit and, binding their own hands, presented themselves to the prefect Urbanus, declaring "We too are Christians!" He cast them into prison alongside the already imprisoned Agapius and his servant Dionysius. All eight were beheaded together at Caesarea under the persecution of Emperor Diocletian.

Holy Martyr Alexander

c. 275

“He was from the town of Side in Pamphylia. The Emperor Aurelian’s governor asked him who he was, to which Alexander replied that he was a pastor of the flock of Christ. ‘And where is this flock of Christ’, further enquired the evil and suspicious governor. Alexander replied: ‘Over the whole world live the people whom Christ the Lord created, among whom those who believe in Him are His sheep, but those who have fallen away from their Creator, who are enslaved to creation and the work of men’s hands, to dead idols, such as you, are strangers to His flock, and at the Dreadful Judgement of God will be put to the left with the goats.’ The wicked judge first commanded that he be whipped with iron flails and then thrown into a burning furnace. But the fire could in no way harm him. Then he was flayed and after that thrown to the wild beasts. But the beasts would not touch him. At last the governor ordered that he be beheaded. But as soon as the judge pronounced the sentence, an evil spirit took hold of him and made him rabid. He was led howling to his gods, the idols, but on the way the evil spirit wrested his wicked soul from him. St Alexander suffered between 270 and 275.’ (Prologue) He is commemorated March 14 on the Greek calendar.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Hebrews — Hebrews 3.12-16

¹²Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: ¹²Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. ¹³but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: ¹³But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end: ¹⁴For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; ¹⁵While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. ¹⁵while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

¹⁶For who, when they heard, did provoke? nay, did not all they that came out of Egypt by Moses? ¹⁶For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

Epistle

— Departed

1 Thessalonians — 1 Thessalonians 4.13-17

¹³But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.

¹³But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. ¹⁵For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁶For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; ¹⁷then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁷Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 1.35-44

³⁵And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

³⁵And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. ³⁶And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. ³⁶And Simon and they that were with him followed after him; ³⁷And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. ³⁷and they found him, and say unto him, All are seeking thee. ³⁸And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. ³⁸And he saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth. ³⁹And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons. ³⁹And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

⁴⁰And there cometh to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ⁴⁰And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ⁴¹And being moved with compassion, he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou made clean. ⁴¹And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. ⁴²And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. ⁴²And straightway the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean. ⁴³And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; ⁴³And he strictly charged him, and straightway sent him out, ⁴⁴And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. ⁴⁴and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Gospel

— Departed

John — John 5.24-30

²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. ²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life. ²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. ²⁵Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. ²⁶For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; ²⁶For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself: ²⁷And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. ²⁷and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. ²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, ²⁸Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, ²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. ²⁹and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. ³⁰I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

³⁰I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.