Tuesday, 18 March 2025

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

33 days before Pascha · Tone 5 · Liturgy · Lenten Fast

Saints commemorated

Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem

386

Saint Cyril was a great ascetic and a steadfast champion of Orthodoxy who lived during a time of intense theological struggle in the Church. He died in the year 386.

In 351 at Jerusalem, the Holy Cross appeared in the heavens on the Feast of Pentecost, stretching from Golgotha above the Mount of Olives. Saint Cyril reported this portent to the Arian Emperor Constantius, hoping through this miracle to convert him to the Orthodox faith. This miraculous sign strengthened the faith of the Orthodox people and testified to the power of Christ.

During an intense famine in Jerusalem, Saint Cyril expended all his personal wealth in charitable works for the suffering. When the famine did not abate, he pawned church utensils and used the money to purchase wheat for the starving people. His compassion for the poor reflected his deep commitment to Christ's commandment to love one's neighbour.

Saint Cyril is venerated as a Doctor of the Church for his theological teaching and pastoral wisdom.

Saint Edward the Martyr, King of England

978

Edward the Martyr (c. 962-978) was King of the English from 8 July 975 until he was killed in 978. He was the eldest son of King Edgar (r. 959-975). Though his reign was brief, Edward became a martyr saint, glorified as Saint Edward the Martyr in 1001. On 18 March 978, while hunting with dogs and horsemen near Wareham in Dorset, King Edward decided to visit his younger half-brother Ethelred who was staying at Corfe Castle near Wareham. Separating from his royal retinue, Edward arrived alone at the castle. As he remained mounted at the lower part of the castle, Queen Elfrida, his stepmother, offered him a glass of mead in welcome. Whilst Edward drank from the cup, one of the queen's attendants stabbed him in the back with a knife, mortally wounding him. He fell from his horse and died from his wound. The perpetrators of this foul deed acted at the instigation of Queen Elfrida, who sought the throne for her own son Ethelred. Edward soon came to be revered as a saint and martyr. His feast of 18 March is listed in the festal calendar of the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. The Eastern Orthodox Church venerates him as a holy martyr. His authentic relics were uncovered in 1931 at Shaftesbury Abbey.

The Holy Martyrs Trophimus and Eucarpus of Nicomedia

The Holy Martyrs Trophimus and Eucarpus were soldiers at Nicomedia during the persecution against Christians under Emperor Diocletian (284-305). They distinguished themselves by their great ferocity in carrying out all of the emperor's cruel decrees against the faithful. One day, when these soldiers caught up with some Christians whom they were pursuing, they suddenly saw a large fiery cloud descend from the heavens. From within the cloud came forth a Voice calling them to stop threatening God's servants. The soldiers fell to the ground in fright, overwhelmed by the divine manifestation. Spiritually reborn after this miraculous encounter with God's power, the soldiers experienced a complete transformation of heart. They released all the jailed Christians from the prisons where they had been detained. For this righteous act of mercy, Saints Trophimus and Eucarpus were handed over to terrible torments: they were suspended by their limbs and their bodies were torn with iron hooks. When a great fire was kindled, the holy martyrs went willingly into the flames and there gave up their souls to God, sealing their witness to Christ with their blood and suffering.

St Ananias the Wonderworker

“Born in Chalcedon, he was little of stature, like Zaccheus, but great in spirit and faith. He denied himself to the world at the age of fifteen and settled near the River Euphrates in a little hut, where he atoned for his sins, and prayed to God, at first with his teacher Mayum and then, after Mayum’s death, alone. By the power of his prayers he filled an empty well with water, healed the sick of various pains and tamed wild beasts. There was a tamed lion with him as his servant. He had insight into distant happenings. When robbers attacked a stylite, Pionius, at some distance from him, and beat him up to such an extent that he decided to come down from his pillar and go to complain to the judges, St Aninus saw his intention in his soul and sent him a letter by means of his lion, telling him to set aside his intention, to forgive his assaulters and to continue in his asceticism. He was inexpressibly generous. The bishop of Neo-Caesarea made a gift to him of a donkey, to ease his carrying of water from the river, but he gave this donkey to some poor man who had complained to him of his poverty. The bishop gave him a second donkey, but he gave that away. Then the bishop gave him a third donkey, not for his own but only to serve as a water-carrier, to be kept and returned. At the time of his death, he saw Moses, Aaron and Or coming to him and calling: ‘Aninus, the Lord is calling you. Get up and come with us.’ This he revealed to his disciples, and gave his spirit to the Lord whom he had served so faithfully. He was 110 years old when he finished his earthly course.” (Prologue)

Saint Nikolai, Bishop of Ochrid and Zica, Serbia

1956

He has been called ‘The New Chrysostom’ for his many grace-filled sermons and writings. He was born in 1880 in the Serbian village of Lelich. After attending the Seminary of St Sava in Belgrade, he obtained doctoral degrees from both the University of Berne and Oxford University. In 1919, Archimandrite Nikolai was made Bishop of Zica. In 1941 Bishop Nikolai was arrested by the Nazis and, after three years’ imprisonment in Ljubostir Vojlovici Monastery, was sent to the infamous Dachau concentration camp along with the Serbian Patriarch Gavrilo. He both witnessed and personally underwent many tortures there until the camp was liberated by the US army in 1945. After the war he fled Communist-controlled Yugoslavia and emigrated to the United States, where he taught at St Sava’s Seminary, St Vladimir Seminary and St Tikhon seminary. It was at St Tikhon Seminary that he reposed in 1956. His relics rested for awhile at St Sava’s Seminary in Libertyville IL, then were returned to Serbia, where they now reside. Throughout his adult life, the holy monk and bishop poured forth a steady stream of beautiful homilies and theological and spiritual writings. He is the author of the Prologue from Ochrid, a Slavic Synaxarion. The luminous homilies included therein, one for each day of the year, give a good sample of his inspired writing. His feast is kept on this day (March 5 OC, March 18 NC) by Orthodox Christians on both the Old and New Calendars. Note: With the blessing of Bishop Jovan of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Mitrophan Chin is engaged in a project to translate St Nikolai’s Prologue into Chinese. To learn more about this worthy project, see his web site: http://chineseorthodox.n3.net

Also commemorated: Rep. St Nikolaj of Zhicha

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 9.9-10.4

⁹And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, ⁹And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and in stoutness of heart, ¹⁰The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars. ¹⁰The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycomores are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place. ¹¹Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together; ¹¹Therefore Jehovah will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies, ¹²The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹²the Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

¹³Yet the people have not turned unto him that smote them, neither have they sought Jehovah of hosts.

¹³For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts. ¹⁴Therefore Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day. ¹⁴Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. ¹⁵The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. ¹⁵The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. ¹⁶For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. ¹⁶For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. ¹⁷Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ¹⁷Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

¹⁸For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

¹⁸For wickedness burneth as the fire; it devoureth the briers and thorns; yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. ¹⁹Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. ¹⁹Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burnt up; and the people are as the fuel of fire: no man spareth his brother. ²⁰And one shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: ²⁰And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: ²¹Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ²¹Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

¹Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;

¹Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write perverseness; ²To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! ²to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey! ³And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? ³And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? ⁴Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. ⁴They shall only bow down under the prisoners, and shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 7.1-5

¹And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

¹And Jehovah said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. ²Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. ²Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee seven and seven, the male and his female; and of the beasts that are not clean two, the male and his female: ³Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. ³of the birds also of the heavens, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. ⁴For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground. ⁴For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

⁵And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. ⁵And Noah did according unto all that Jehovah commanded him.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 8.32-9.11

³²Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. ³²Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways. ³³Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. ³³Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not. ³⁴Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. ³⁴Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. ³⁵For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. ³⁵For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah. ³⁶But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death. ³⁶But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. ¹Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:

¹Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: ²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. ²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table: ³She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, ³She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city: ⁴Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him, ⁴Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ⁵Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. ⁵Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled. ⁶Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. ⁶Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding. ⁷He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. ⁷He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot. ⁸Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. ⁸Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee. ⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. ⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. ¹⁰The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. ¹⁰The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. ¹¹For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. ¹¹For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.