Thursday, 20 March 2025

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent

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

Saints commemorated

Saint Cuthbert, Wonderworker of Lindisfarne

‘Saint Cuthbert was born in Britain about the year 635, and became a monk in his youth at the monastery of Melrose by the River Tweed. After many years of struggle as a true priest of Christ, in the service both of his own brethren and of the neglected Christians of isolated country villages, he became a solitary on Farne Island in 676. After eight years as a hermit, he was constrained to leave his quiet to become Bishop of Lindisfarne, in which office he served for almost two years. He returned to his hermitage two months before he reposed in peace in 687.

‘Because of the miracles he wrought both during his life and at his tomb after death, he is called the “Wonderworker of Britain.” The whole English people honoured him, and kings were both benefactors to his shrine and suppliants of his prayers. Eleven years after his death, his holy relics were revealed to be incorrupt; when his body was translated from Lindisfarne to Durham Cathedral in August of 1104, his body was still found to be untouched by decay, giving off “an odour of the sweetest fragrancy,” and “from the flexibility of its joints representing a person asleep rather than dead.” Finally, when the most impious Henry VIII desecrated his shrine, opening it to despoil it of its valuables, his body was again found incorrupt, and was buried in 1542. It is believed that after this the holy relics of Saint Cuthbert were hidden to preserve them from further desecration.’ (Great Horologion)

Saint Niketas the Confessor, Archbishop of Apollonias

Saint Niketas was Archbishop of Apollonias in Bithynia, on the southern shore of Lake Apolloniatis in Asia Minor, in the late eighth and early ninth centuries. Trained from his youth in the study of the holy Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers, he was raised to the episcopate in his own region for the depth of his learning, the soundness of his faith, and the gentleness of his pastoral care. He governed his see as a tender father to his flock and as a steadfast champion of the Orthodox faith. His ministry fell during the second great outbreak of the iconoclast heresy. When the emperor Leo the Armenian renewed the persecution against the holy icons, demanding that bishops and abbots subscribe to the iconoclast policy of the court, Saint Niketas refused to betray the tradition of the Church. He defended the veneration of the holy images by reference to Holy Scripture and to the teaching of the Fathers, showing that the honour rendered to the icon passes to the prototype. For this confession he was seized, deprived of his see, and sent into exile, where, after enduring many hardships for the sake of Christ and the holy icons, he reposed in peace about the year 813. The Orthodox Church commemorates him on 20 March together with the other holy confessors of his generation, who by their patient suffering preserved the faith of the seven Ecumenical Councils.

Saint Wulfram, Archbishop of Sens

703

Saint Wulfram was born about the year 640 at Milly in the region of Fontainebleau, the son of an officer in the household of King Dagobert. Brought up at the Frankish court, he excelled in piety and learning, and embraced the clerical state. About the year 692 he was elected Archbishop of Sens, but after only a short time on that ancient throne he was drawn by the example of the saints to a more retired life and resigned the see in favour of his successor, Saint Amatus. He withdrew to the great abbey of Fontenelle in Normandy, where he received the monastic habit. There he heard reports of the heathen Frisians and was filled with apostolic zeal to bring them to Christ. With companions from Fontenelle he sailed to Frisia in the days of King Radbod, preaching the Gospel along the coasts and rivers, baptising those who believed, and rescuing children whom the Frisians, by ancient custom, exposed to the rising tide as offerings to the sea. By his prayers more than one such victim was preserved alive. He converted Radbod's son and many of the people, although the king himself in the end drew back from the font. Worn out by his labours, Saint Wulfram returned to Fontenelle, where he reposed in peace on 20 March in the year 703 or thereabouts. His relics were afterwards translated to Abbeville. He is honoured among the apostles of the Frisians and is commemorated on 20 March by the Orthodox Church among the western saints of the undivided faith.

The Holy Fathers Slain at the Monastery of Saint Sabbas

The Martyred Holy Fathers John, Sergius, Patrick and others were slain at the Monastery of Saint Sabbas (also called the Lavra of Saint Sabbas) during the eighth century. The area around Jerusalem was subjected to frequent incursions of the Saracens (Arab raiders).

On Great Thursday, 20 March, the Saracens descended upon the Lavra with a large force and began to assault the monks. The survivors were driven into the church, where they were tortured in order to force them to reveal where any treasure might be hidden.

The barbarians seized Saint John, a young monk who had cared for vagrants and the poor with great compassion. They beat him fiercely, then they cut the sinews of his hands and feet and dragged him over stones by his feet, tearing the skin from his back.

The keeper of the church vessels, Saint Sergius, hid the sacred vessels and attempted to flee, but he was captured and beheaded by the cruel raiders. Saint Patrick and seventeen other monks also fell under the swords of the barbarians. Eighteen men perished in a cave within the monastery.

The wicked Saracens who plundered the monastery and murdered these holy fathers were punished by God with a sudden illness, and they all perished. Their bodies were devoured by wild beasts, demonstrating divine justice.

St Photine the Samaritan Woman

See her commemoration on February 26.

Also commemorated: Holy Fathers Slain at St Sabbas Monastery

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 11.10-12.2

¹⁰And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

¹⁰And it shall come to pass in that day, that the root of Jesse, that standeth for an ensign of the peoples, unto him shall the nations seek; and his resting-place shall be glorious. ¹¹And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

¹¹And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, that shall remain, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. ¹²And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. ¹²And he will set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. ¹³The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. ¹³The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and they that vex Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. ¹⁴But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. ¹⁴And they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines on the west; together shall they despoil the children of the east: they shall put forth their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. ¹⁵And Jehovah will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his scorching wind will he wave his hand over the River, and will smite it into seven streams, and cause men to march over dryshod. ¹⁵And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. ¹⁶And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, that shall remain, from Assyria; like as there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. ¹⁶And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

¹And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

¹And in that day thou shalt say, I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah; for though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me. ²Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. ²Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid: for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 7.11-8.3

¹¹In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. ¹¹In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. ¹²And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. ¹²And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

¹³In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

¹³In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark; ¹⁴They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. ¹⁴they, and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort. ¹⁵And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh wherein is the breath of life. ¹⁵And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. ¹⁶And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him: and Jehovah shut him in. ¹⁶And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

¹⁷And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. ¹⁷And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth. ¹⁸And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. ¹⁸And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. ¹⁹And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. ¹⁹And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered. ²⁰Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. ²⁰Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

²¹And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: ²¹And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both birds, and cattle, and beasts, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: ²²all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died. ²²All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. ²³And every living thing was destroyed that was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark. ²³And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. ²⁴And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days. ²⁴And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days.

¹And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;

¹And God remembered Noah, and all the beasts, and all the cattle that were with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged; ²The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; ²the fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; ³And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. ³and the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters decreased.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 10.1-22

¹The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

¹The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. ²Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivereth from death.

²Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death. ³The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked. ³Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; But he thrusteth away the desire of the wicked. ⁴He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich. ⁴He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. ⁵He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. ⁵He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. ⁶Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. ⁶Blessings are upon the head of the righteous; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. ⁷The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. ⁷The memory of the righteous is blessed; But the name of the wicked shall rot. ⁸The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. ⁸The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall. ⁹He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. ⁹He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known. ¹⁰He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. ¹⁰He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall. ¹¹The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. ¹¹The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. ¹²Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. ¹²Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions. ¹³In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. ¹³In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. ¹⁴Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction. ¹⁴Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. ¹⁵The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty. ¹⁵The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. ¹⁶The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin. ¹⁶The labor of the righteous tendeth to life; The increase of the wicked, to sin. ¹⁷He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. ¹⁷He is in the way of life that heedeth correction; But he that forsaketh reproof erreth. ¹⁸He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool. ¹⁸He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. ¹⁹In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. ¹⁹In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely. ²⁰The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth.

²⁰The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. ²¹The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. ²¹The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding. ²²The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. ²²The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich; And he addeth no sorrow therewith.