Tuesday, 8 April 2025

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Lent

12 days before Pascha · Tone 8 · Liturgy · Lenten Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Apostle Agabus the Prophet

Saint Agabus was numbered among the Seventy Apostles and was endowed by the Holy Spirit with the gift of prophecy. The Acts of the Apostles records two of his prophecies. While visiting Antioch he foretold a great famine that would come upon the whole Roman world, which duly occurred during the reign of the Emperor Claudius (Acts 11:27-28); this prompted the Christians of Antioch to send relief to the brethren in Judaea. Later, at Caesarea, Agabus met Saint Paul and, taking the Apostle's belt, bound his own hands and feet with it, foretelling that the Jews would deliver Paul into the hands of the Gentiles at Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11). After the Ascension of the Lord, Saint Agabus preached the Gospel in many lands, converting numerous pagans to Christ, and at last received a martyr's crown for his witness. He is also commemorated with the Seventy on 4 January.

Holy Apostle Herodion of the Seventy

Saint Herodion was one of the Seventy Apostles chosen by Christ and sent out to preach the Gospel. He was a kinsman of the Apostle Paul, who greets him as "my relative" in the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 16:11), and accompanied Paul on many of his apostolic journeys. Together with the foremost Apostles Peter and Paul he laboured in Rome, where he assisted in the work of evangelisation and was eventually established as Bishop of Patara, in the province of Lycia. Through his fervent preaching and personal example he turned many pagans away from the worship of idols and brought them to faith in Christ. Saint Herodion suffered for the Name of the Lord on the same day that Saint Peter was crucified, around the year 67 in Rome, when, together with Saint Olympas, he was beheaded by the sword. He is also commemorated, with the rest of the Seventy, on 4 January and on 10 November.

Holy Apostles Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon and Hermas of the Seventy

These four holy apostles were numbered among the Seventy disciples whom the Lord Jesus Christ sent out before His face to preach the Gospel (Luke 10:1). All four are greeted by Saint Paul in the sixteenth chapter of his Epistle to the Romans. Saint Rufus, whom Paul calls "chosen in the Lord" (Romans 16:13), became Bishop of the Greek city of Thebes. Saint Asyncritus, whose name means "incomparable", was set apart as Bishop of Hyrcania in Asia, where he laboured to turn the pagans from idolatry. Saint Phlegon was made Bishop of Marathon in Thrace and there suffered for his preaching of Christ. Saint Hermas was Bishop of Philippopolis in Thrace; tradition identifies him with the author of the early Christian work known as The Shepherd. Each of these apostles endured persecutions, sufferings and finally a martyric end for the sake of the Gospel they had received from Christ. Together with the rest of the Seventy they are also commemorated on 4 January.

Saint Celestine, Pope of Rome

Saint Celestine, Pope of Rome from 422 to 432, was a zealous champion of Orthodoxy who lived during the reign of the holy Emperor Theodosius the Younger. Of Roman origin, he received an excellent education and was learned in philosophy, but devoted himself above all to the study of Holy Scripture and to theological reflection. After the death of Saint Boniface in 422 he was chosen Bishop of Rome, in which office he laboured tirelessly for the unity and purity of the faith. When the heresy of Nestorius arose, denying to the Most Holy Virgin Mary the title Theotokos, Saint Celestine convened a local council in Rome in 430, condemned the false teaching, and wrote to Saint Cyril of Alexandria entrusting him with executing the sentence: if Nestorius did not recant within ten days, he was to be deposed and excommunicated. Saint Celestine sent legates, the bishops Arcadius and Projectus and the priest Philip, to the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus in 431, where Nestorius was condemned and the Orthodox doctrine of the Mother of God was upheld. Saint Celestine also sent missionaries to Britain and Ireland, dispatching Saint Palladius as the first bishop to the Irish. He reposed in peace on 27 July 432 and is commemorated by the Eastern Orthodox Church on 8 April.

Saint Niphon, Bishop of Novgorod

Saint Niphon was a monk of the Kiev Caves Monastery, where he embraced the ascetic life in imitation of the Holy Fathers, uprooting the passions through fasting, vigil and unceasing prayer, and adorning himself with every virtue. When Bishop John of Novgorod retired to a monastery after twenty-five years of episcopal service, the people of Novgorod chose Niphon as their hierarch. He took up his archpastoral duties with great zeal, strengthening his flock in the Orthodox faith and labouring to keep them from being separated from the universal Church. He built and repaired many churches, raising in the centre of Novgorod a new stone church dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos. Saint Niphon strenuously opposed the uncanonical consecration of Metropolitan Clement of Kiev, insisting that no metropolitan could be installed without the blessing of the Patriarch of Constantinople, since Russia had received the Faith from that throne. For his stand he was placed under house arrest at the Kiev Caves Monastery. Some thirteen days before his death he saw in a dream Saint Theodosius of the Caves, who announced his coming repose. He fell asleep in peace on 8 April 1156 and was buried in the Caves Monastery, where his relics rest to this day.

Also commemorated: Apostles of the Seventy Herodion, Agabus, Asyncritus, Rufuf, Phlegon, Hermes

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 49.6-10

⁶And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. ⁶yea, he saith, It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

⁷Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. ⁷Thus saith Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of Jehovah that is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee. ⁸Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

⁸Thus saith Jehovah, In an acceptable time have I answered thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; ⁹saying to them that are bound, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture. ⁹That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. ¹⁰They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. ¹⁰They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water will he guide them.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 31.3-16

³And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. ³And Jehovah said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. ⁴And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, ⁴And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, ⁵And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. ⁵and said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as beforetime; but the God of my father hath been with me. ⁶And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. ⁶And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. ⁷And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. ⁷And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. ⁸If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the flock bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstreaked shall be thy wages; then bare all the flock ringstreaked. ⁸If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked. ⁹Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. ⁹Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. ¹⁰And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. ¹⁰And it came to pass at the time that the flock conceive, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the he-goats which leaped upon the flock were ringstreaked, speckled, and grizzled. ¹¹And the angel of God said unto me in the dream, Jacob: and I said, Here am I. ¹¹And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. ¹²And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see: all the he-goats which leap upon the flock are ringstreaked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. ¹²And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. ¹³I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst a pillar, where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy nativity. ¹³I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. ¹⁴And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? ¹⁴And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? ¹⁵Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. ¹⁵Are we not accounted by him as foreigners? for he hath sold us, and hath also quite devoured our money. ¹⁶For all the riches which God hath taken away from our father, that is ours and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do. ¹⁶For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 21.3-21

³To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. ³To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice. ⁴An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. ⁴A high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin. ⁵The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. ⁵The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want. ⁶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. ⁶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death. ⁷The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice. ⁷The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. ⁸The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right. ⁸The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. ⁹It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. ⁹It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house. ¹⁰The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. ¹⁰The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes. ¹¹When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. ¹¹When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. ¹²The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin. ¹²The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. ¹³Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. ¹³Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard. ¹⁴A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. ¹⁴A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath. ¹⁵It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. ¹⁵It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. ¹⁶The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. ¹⁶The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead. ¹⁷He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. ¹⁷He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. ¹⁸The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. ¹⁸The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright. ¹⁹It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. ¹⁹It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman. ²⁰There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. ²⁰There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up. ²¹He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. ²¹He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.