Thursday, 10 April 2025

Thursday of the Sixth Week of Lent

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

Saints commemorated

Holy Hieromartyr Gregory V, Patriarch of Constantinople

He was born on the Peloponnese, and became Archbishop of Smyrna in 1785. He served at a time when revolutionary feeling and activity was increasing among the Greek people, and witnessed the cruel retribution that the Ottoman Turks visited on any evidence of rebellion among their subject people.

Once in Smyrna, seeing that an action he had taken was causing discord in his dioceses, he came down from the hierarchical throne during a service, prostrated himself before the faithful and asked their forgiveness.

He was elected Patriarch of Constantinople in 1797. Under the Turkokratia, the Patriarch was not only the head of the Greek churches but the secular ruler of the Greek people, bound by oath to respect the authority of the Sultan. This, combined with Gregory’s personal experience of the treatment of Greek rebels, made him a staunch opponent of revolutionary activity among his people. Still, when revolutionaries on the Peloponnese declared Greek independence from Turkey on March 25, 1821, Turkish retribution was harsh: On Pascha, April 10, after serving the Paschal Liturgy, the aged Patriarch was arrested by the Turkish authorities. He was tortured in an effort to have him reveal the names of those heading the revolution, then was offered his freedom if he would convert to Islam. Gregory answered, ‘You ask in vain: the Patriarch of Christians dies a Christian.’ He (along with other clergy and hierarchs) was hanged as a traitor on the gate of the patriarchal compound. An eyewitness, a British clergyman visiting Constantinople, wrote: ‘His body, attenuated by abstinence and emaciated by age, had not sufficient weight to cause immediate death. He continued for a long time in pain which no friendly hand dared abridge, and the darkness of night came on before his final convulsions were over.’ His body was left hanging for three days, then sold by the Turkish authorities to a Jewish mob, who mutilated the body, then weighted it about the neck with a stone and threw it into the sea. Despite this, the body was found floating at sea by a Greek merchant ship captain. When the body was identified as that of the martyred Patriarch, it was secretly taken to Odessa, where Orthodox church leaders took it under their care. Tsar Alexander I ordered a state funeral for the holy hierarch, which was celebrated on June 17 1821 in Odessa.

In 1871 the relics were returned to Greece by Tsar Alexander III. They were incorrupt, though fifty years had passed since his death. Saint Gregory was officially glorified in 1921. His relics may be venerated at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens.

Holy Martyrs Maximus, Quintilian and Dadas

Saints Maximus, Quintilian and Dadas were natives of Dorostolum, on the Danube in modern Bulgaria, and suffered for Christ around the year 303, during the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian. According to tradition Maximus was a presbyter, and Dadas and Quintilian his disciples. When the imperial decree was issued requiring all subjects to take part in the public sacrifices to the gods, the three brethren refused to comply and were brought before the governors Tarquinius and Gabinius, before whom they openly confessed themselves Christians. Threats and promises proved equally useless against their resolve. After being scourged and tormented in various ways for the Name of Christ, they were finally beheaded together at Ozobia, near Dorostolum, and so received the unfading crown of martyrdom. Some Orthodox synaxaria commemorate them on 13 April and others on 28 April, while their names are kept on this day in many menologia.

Holy Martyrs Terence, Africanus, Maximus, Pompeius and the Forty with them

These holy martyrs suffered at Carthage during the persecution of the Emperor Decius (249-251). When the imperial decree commanded all citizens of the empire to offer sacrifice to the idols, the governor Fortunianus had Christians arrested and brought before him in chains. About forty of them were assembled, with Saint Terence at their head. The governor, struck by Terence's noble bearing and eloquent profession of Christ as the Saviour who had freely accepted death on the Cross and had risen on the third day, separated him from the others. Thirty-six of the company were beheaded after refusing to renounce Christ. Fortunianus then concentrated his efforts on Terence and his three closest companions, Africanus, Maximus and Pompeius. He had them weighed down with heavy chains and confined in prison, where he gave orders that they should be starved to death. By night, however, an angel of the Lord came into the dungeon, loosed their chains and fed them, so that the guards in the morning found them cheerful and full of strength. Sorcerers were then summoned, who carried snakes, scorpions and every kind of poisonous creature into the cell; through an opening in the ceiling the soldiers saw the saints standing at prayer, untouched, the venomous beasts crawling harmlessly at their feet. When the prison door was opened, the snakes turned and bit the sorcerers themselves. Enraged at his failure, Fortunianus finally ordered the four to be beheaded by the sword, and so they received their crowns together with the rest of their company.

Six Thousand Holy Martyrs in Georgia

1615

“In the wilderness of David-Garejeli in Georgia there were twelve monasteries, in which monks had lived the ascetic life for centuries. In 1615, Shah Abbas I invaded Georgia, laid it waste and slew innumerable Christians. One day, while out hunting at dawn on Easter Day intself, he saw the light of many candles shining in the hills. This was the monks of all twelve monasteries in procession all round the Church of the Resurrection, walking with candles in their hands. When the Shah discovered that it was monks, he asked in disbelief: ‘Isn’t the whole of Georgia put to the sword by now?’, and ordered his generals to go and slaughter the monks at once. An angel of God appeared to Abbot Arsenius, and revealed their imminent death to him, and Arsenius informed the brethren. They then all received Communion in the Holy Mysteries and prepared for death. Then the attackers arrived, hacked the abbot to pieces when he came out ahead of the others, and then killed all the rest. They all suffered with honour and were crowned with unfading wreaths in 1615. Thus ended the history of these famous monasteries, which had been like a flame of spiritual enlightenment in Georgia for more than 1,000 years. There remain just two today: St David and St John the Baptist. The King of Georgia, Archil, gathered the remains of all the martyrs and buried them. Their relics are to this day full of myrrh for the healing of those in sickness.” (Prologue)

Also commemorated: Martyrs Terence, Pompeius, Africanus and Companions

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 65.8-16

⁸Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.

⁸Thus saith Jehovah, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sake, that I may not destroy them all. ⁹And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. ⁹And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. ¹⁰And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. ¹⁰And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

¹¹But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. ¹¹But ye that forsake Jehovah, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune, and that fill up mingled wine unto Destiny; ¹²Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. ¹²I will destine you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.

¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be put to shame; ¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: ¹⁴behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall wail for vexation of spirit. ¹⁴Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. ¹⁵And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: ¹⁵And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen; and the Lord Jehovah will slay thee; and he will call his servants by another name: ¹⁶That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. ¹⁶so that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 46.1-7

¹And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.

¹And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. ²And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. ²And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. ³And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: ³And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: ⁴I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. ⁴I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

⁵And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ⁵And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ⁶And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: ⁶And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: ⁷His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. ⁷his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 23.15-24.5

¹⁵My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine: ¹⁵My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. ¹⁶Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things. ¹⁶Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

¹⁷Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. ¹⁷Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day long: ¹⁸For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off. ¹⁸For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

¹⁹Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. ¹⁹Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way. ²⁰Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh: ²⁰Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: ²¹For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. ²¹For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags. ²²Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old. ²²Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. ²³Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. ²³Buy the truth, and sell it not; Yea, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. ²⁴The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him. ²⁴The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. ²⁵Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. ²⁵Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice. ²⁶My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. ²⁶My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways. ²⁷For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit. ²⁷For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. ²⁸She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. ²⁸Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men. ²⁹Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

²⁹Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? ³⁰They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. ³⁰They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine. ³¹Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly: ³¹Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. ³²At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. ³²At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. ³³Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things. ³³Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. ³⁴Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. ³⁴Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. ³⁵They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. ³⁵They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. ¹Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:

¹Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. ²For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. ²For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief. ³Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is established;

³Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: ⁴And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. ⁴And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches. ⁵A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. ⁵A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.