Sunday, 30 March 2025

St John Climacus

Fourth Sunday of Lent

21 days before Pascha · Tone 7 · Liturgy · Lenten Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Saint Eubula of Nicomedia, mother of the great martyr Panteleimon

Saint Eubula was a noblewoman of Nicomedia in the late third century, the wife of the pagan senator Eustorgius and the mother of the holy great martyr and unmercenary healer Panteleimon. A devout Christian, she instructed her son in the faith from his earliest childhood, planting in his heart the seeds of piety, mercy, and prayer that would later flower into his great witness. She did not live to see his martyrdom, reposing peacefully while he was still a young man, but her teaching shaped him so deeply that, after a brief return to the influences of his pagan father, he embraced fully the Christian way and dedicated his medical art to the love of Christ and the service of the suffering. The Church honours Saint Eubula as a model of faithful motherhood and as a foremother in the Lord of one of the most beloved healers of the Orthodox tradition.

Saint John Climacus, the Great

He is best known as the author of the Ladder of Divine Ascent, a treasury of spiritual wisdom which is read in its entirety in monasteries during every Lenten season. He is also commemorated on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent.

Nothing is known of his life before he entered the monastery at Mount Sinai (now St Katherine’s Monastery) at the age of sixteen; he remained there until his death at the age of eighty. After he first arrived, he spent nineteen years in strict obedience to his spiritual father, Martyrios. When Martyrios died, John retired to a nearby cave, where he lived in the strictest asceticism for twenty years. (It was during these years that he wrote the Ladder.) He reluctantly returned to the monastery when he was made abbot by the brethren, and spent the rest of his days guiding his spiritual children in the way of salvation.

Once he heard a monk criticize him for speaking too much; rather than reproach the monk, he himself kept silence for a full year, never uttering a word until the brethren begged him to speak again. At another time a large company of pilgrims came to Mt Sinai. At supper they all saw a young man, dressed as a Jew, serving at table and giving orders to the other servants, then suddenly disappearing. When they wondered among themselves what this could mean, John said ‘Do not try to look for him; that was the prophet Moses serving you in his own home.’

When the holy abbot knew that his death was approaching, he appointed his own brother, George, as his successor. George grieved the approaching death of his beloved brother, but St John told him that, if he was found worthy to stand close to God after his death, he would pray that George be taken up to heaven in the same year. So it happened: ten months after St John’s death, George reposed in the Lord.

Saint Sophronius, bishop of Irkutsk and all Siberia

Saint Sophronius, in the world Stephen Kristalevsky, was born in 1703 in the Chernigov region of Ukraine to a pious family. He was tonsured at the Krasnogorsk Monastery and later served as superior of the Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra in Saint Petersburg. In 1753 he was consecrated bishop of Irkutsk, taking up the rule of one of the vastest and most arduous dioceses of the Russian Church, stretching across eastern Siberia to the Pacific. For more than seventeen years he laboured tirelessly to organise parishes, to send missionaries to the indigenous peoples of Yakutia, the Kamchatka peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands, and to raise up a native clergy. He was renowned for personal poverty, ceaseless prayer, and care for the poor. He reposed on 30 March 1771 and his incorrupt relics were glorified in 1918, when he was numbered with the saints of the Russian Church.

Commemoration of an Uncondemning Monk

“This monk died joyfully because he had never in his life condemned anyone. He was lazy, careless, disinclined to prayer, but throughout his entire life he had never judged anyone. And when he lay dying, he was full of joy. The brethren asked him how he could die so joyfully with all his sins, and he replied: ‘I have just seen the angels, and they showed me a page with all my many sins. I said to them: “The Lord said: ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged.’ I have never judged anyone and I hope in the mercy of God, that He will not judge me.” And the angels tore up the sheet of paper.’ Hearing this, the monks wondered at it and learned from it.” (From the Prologue)

Daily readings

7th Matins Gospel

John — John 20.1-10

¹The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

¹Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. ²Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. ²She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him. ³Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. ³Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. ⁴So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. ⁴And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; ⁵and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. ⁵And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. ⁶Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, ⁶Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, ⁷and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁷And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. ⁸Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. ⁸Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. ⁹For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ⁹For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. ¹⁰So the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Hebrews — Hebrews 6.13-20

¹³For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

¹³For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself, ¹⁴saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. ¹⁴Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. ¹⁵And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. ¹⁵And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. ¹⁶For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. ¹⁶For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation. ¹⁷Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; ¹⁷Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: ¹⁸That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: ¹⁸that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: ¹⁹which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; ¹⁹Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; ²⁰whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. ²⁰Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Epistle

— St John

Ephesians — Ephesians 5.8-19

⁸for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light ⁸For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: ⁹(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), ⁹(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) ¹⁰proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; ¹⁰Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. ¹¹and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; ¹¹And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. ¹²For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. ¹²for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of. ¹³But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light. ¹³But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. ¹⁴Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. ¹⁴Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.

¹⁵Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; ¹⁵See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, ¹⁶redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁶Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁷Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁸And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁹Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; ¹⁹speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Gospel

weekly cycle

Mark — Mark 9.17-31

¹⁷And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; ¹⁷And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit; ¹⁸And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. ¹⁸and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able. ¹⁹He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. ¹⁹And he answereth them and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me. ²⁰And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. ²⁰And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. ²¹And he asked his father, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? And he said, From a child. ²¹And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. ²²And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. ²²And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. ²³Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. ²³And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth. ²⁴And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. ²⁴Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. ²⁵When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. ²⁵And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. ²⁶And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and the boy became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, He is dead. ²⁶And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. ²⁷But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. ²⁷But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose. ²⁸And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, How is it that we could not cast it out? ²⁸And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? ²⁹And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer. ²⁹And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

³⁰And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

³⁰And they went forth from thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. ³¹For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he shall rise again. ³¹For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

Gospel

— St John

Matthew — Matthew 4.25-5.12

²⁵And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. ²⁵And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judæa and from beyond the Jordan.

¹And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

¹And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: ²And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, ²and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, ³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. ⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

⁶Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God. ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

¹⁰Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹⁰Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹¹Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you. ¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.