Wednesday, 9 April 2025

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Lent

11 days before Pascha · Tone 8 · Presanctified · Lenten Fast

Presanctified Liturgy

Saints commemorated

Holy Hieromartyr Audas and the Martyrs of Persia

The holy hieromartyr Audas, Bishop of Susa in Persia, suffered together with a great company of clergy and faithful during the persecution unleashed against the Christians of Persia. Saint Audas had pulled down a Zoroastrian fire-temple, and when the king Yazdegerd I demanded that he rebuild it, the bishop refused, declaring that he could not raise up an altar to false gods. For this the king put him to death, and a fierce persecution followed in which churches throughout Persia were destroyed. Together with Saint Audas the Orthodox Church commemorates Audjesus the Bishop, the deacon Benjamin and many priests, deacons, monks and consecrated virgins who were martyred at Beth-Kashkar and the surrounding regions. The synaxaria record sixteen priests, nine deacons, six monks and seven virgins among them, all of whom endured every kind of torment rather than deny Christ and worship the sun and fire. Their blood watered the seed of the Persian Church, and their memory has been kept by the Eastern Orthodox Church from earliest times.

Holy Martyr Eupsychius of Caesarea

The holy martyr Eupsychius was born in the city of Caesarea in Cappadocia and brought up in piety by his Christian parents. He suffered during the brief reign of Julian the Apostate (361-363), at a time when paganism was officially restored throughout the empire. As Saint Eupsychius was on his way to his own Christian wedding, he learned that the pagans of the city were offering sacrifice to the goddess Fortuna, whose temple Julian himself revered. Filled with zeal for the Lord, the saint and a number of other Christians fell upon the temple and tore it down. When the Emperor heard what had happened he was filled with rage and ordered that the citizens of Caesarea be punished. He had the city's Christian leaders flogged and the whole community heavily fined, and the city itself was deprived of its name and reduced to the rank of an ordinary town. Saint Eupsychius, having distributed his property to the poor and given the rest of his goods to his bride, gladly went to martyrdom. After enduring varied tortures with unshaken faith, he was beheaded by the sword. From the place where his blood was shed there sprang up a healing spring, and his relics worked many miracles for those who came to honour them.

Saint Acacius the Confessor, Bishop of Amida

Saint Acacius lived in the fifth century and was the holy bishop of Amida in Mesopotamia. He is remembered above all for an act of pastoral charity that became famous throughout the Christian East. After a war between the Roman and Persian armies, some seven thousand Persian prisoners were brought into Roman territory and held in conditions of great privation, many of them dying of hunger. Saint Acacius, moved by their suffering, gathered his clergy and declared that God needed neither dishes nor cups, since He neither eats nor drinks. He therefore ordered that the gold and silver vessels of the church be melted down and sold so that the captives might be ransomed and sent home with provisions. The bishop himself escorted them across the frontier. The Persian king, astonished by such mercy from a Christian bishop towards his enemies, asked to see Saint Acacius, received him with great honour, and (according to tradition) invited the holy emperor Theodosius the Younger to make peace. Saint Acacius reposed in peace and is venerated by the Orthodox Church on 9 April. He is sometimes confused with another Saint Acacius, Bishop of Melitene (commemorated 17 April).

Venerable Vadim the Archimandrite, of Persia

376

Saint Vadim, also called Bademus, was born in the fourth century in the Persian city of Bithlapata to a wealthy and illustrious family. Drawn from his youth to the love of God, he gave away all his wealth to the poor and withdrew into the wilderness, where he founded a monastery that he governed as archimandrite with paternal care. During the reign of the Persian king Shapur II (310-381), a fierce persecution arose against the Christians of Persia. Saint Vadim and seven of his disciples were arrested and confined in a foul dungeon, where they were daily beaten and pressed to renounce Christ and worship the sun and fire. Saint Vadim was kept in chains for four months, receiving stripes day after day, but his constancy never wavered. In the same prison was held a Christian nobleman named Nersan, Prince of Aria, who at first appeared resolute but, terrified by the threat of torture, agreed to apostatise. To prove his sincerity, the king ordered Nersan to behead Saint Vadim with his own hand. Trembling with shame and remorse, Nersan struck the saint with so unsteady a hand that it took several blows to sever his head, while the bystanders marvelled at the martyr's invincible patience. Saint Vadim received the crown of martyrdom on 9 April in the year 376; Nersan, falling soon after into public disgrace, perished by the sword.

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 58.1-11

¹Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

¹Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and declare unto my people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins. ²Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. ²Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways: as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God, they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near unto God.

³Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. ³Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find your own pleasure, and exact all your labors. ⁴Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. ⁴Behold, ye fast for strife and contention, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high. ⁵Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? ⁵Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Jehovah? ⁶Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? ⁶Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? ⁷Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? ⁷Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

⁸Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. ⁸Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall be thy rearward. ⁹Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

⁹Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly; ¹⁰And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: ¹⁰and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thine obscurity be as the noonday; ¹¹And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. ¹¹and Jehovah will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in dry places, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 43.26-31, 45.1-16

²⁶And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

²⁶And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down themselves to him to the earth. ²⁷And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? ²⁷And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? ²⁸And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. ²⁸And they said, Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive. And they bowed the head, and made obeisance. ²⁹And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. ²⁹And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son. ³⁰And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. ³⁰And Joseph made haste; for his heart yearned over his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. ³¹And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. ³¹And he washed his face, and came out; and he refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

¹Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.

¹Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. ²And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. ²And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard. ³And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. ³And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. ⁴And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. ⁴And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. ⁵And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. ⁵Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. ⁶For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest. ⁶For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. ⁷And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ⁷And God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance. ⁸So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. ⁸So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. ⁹Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not; ⁹Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: ¹⁰And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: ¹⁰and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: ¹¹And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. ¹¹and there will I nourish thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to poverty, thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast. ¹²And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. ¹²And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. ¹³And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. ¹³And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen: and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. ¹⁴And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. ¹⁴And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. ¹⁵Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him. ¹⁵And he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

¹⁶And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

¹⁶And the report thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 21.23-22.4

²³Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. ²³Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles. ²⁴Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. ²⁴The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride.

²⁵The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. ²⁵The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor. ²⁶He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. ²⁶There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not. ²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind! ²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? ²⁸A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure. ²⁸A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. ²⁹A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. ²⁹A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways.

³⁰There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. ³⁰There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah. ³¹The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. ³¹The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah. ¹A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favor rather than silver and gold.

¹A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. ²The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all. ²The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. ³A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. ³A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it. ⁴The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life. ⁴By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.