Friday, 11 April 2025

Friday of the Sixth Week of Lent

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

Presanctified Liturgy

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum

The holy hieromartyr Antipas was a disciple of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian and was bishop of the Church of Pergamum during the reign of the Emperor Nero (54-68). He is the same Antipas to whom the Lord Himself bears witness in the Apocalypse, calling him "Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells" (Revelation 2:13). By the example of his life, by his unwavering faith and by his constant preaching about Christ, Saint Antipas began to turn the people of Pergamum away from their offerings to the demons. The pagan priests, seeing their temples emptied and the sacrifices to the idols left untouched, accused him before the governor of insulting the gods. When threats and flattery alike failed to shake his confession, the enraged priests dragged him to the temple of Artemis and cast him into a red-hot brazen bull, the very vessel in which sacrifices were customarily offered to the demons. From within that fiery furnace the saint prayed aloud to God, asking that He would receive his soul and strengthen the faith of the Christians of Pergamum. By night the faithful gathered up his body, untouched by the flames, and buried it within the city. His tomb at once became a fount of miracles and of healings from many sicknesses, and the holy myrrh that flowed from his relics is to this day a source of grace for those who venerate him.

Saint Tryphaena of Cyzicus

Saint Tryphaena was a Christian woman of noble birth who lived in the city of Cyzicus on the Sea of Marmara in the first century. She was the daughter of Anastasius and Socratia, members of a Roman senatorial family, and from her youth she was zealous for the Faith of Christ. Tryphaena openly preached the Gospel in her native city and brought many of her pagan neighbours to belief, until she was denounced to the local Roman governor, Caesarius. Refusing to honour the gods of the empire and confessing herself a Christian, she was condemned to death. According to her synaxarion she was first cast into a fiery furnace, but came forth unharmed; she was then thrown from a high tree onto a bed of iron nails and given over to wild beasts, which would not touch her; finally she was gored to death by an enraged bull and so received the crown of martyrdom. From the place where her blood was shed there welled up a spring of pure water, and tradition holds that nursing mothers who lacked milk to feed their children received this gift through her prayers. The Church of Constantinople and the Greek Church commemorate her among the venerable on 11 April, while the Slavic tradition keeps her memory among the martyrs on 31 January.

Venerable Pharmuthius of Egypt

Saint Pharmuthius was a desert anchorite who lived in Egypt during the fourth century, in the great age of Egyptian monasticism. He laboured in the same desert as Saint John the Anchorite (commemorated 29 March), the holy ascetic who had hidden himself in an abandoned well that had been infested with snakes and scorpions. According to the synaxarion, when the young John first came out into the wilderness in search of a guide, he made his way to Saint Pharmuthius and received from him the blessing to live alone in solitary prayer. From that time Saint Pharmuthius cared for John as a spiritual father, providing him with bread and water in his hidden cell. Pharmuthius himself remained in the desert in unceasing prayer, fasting and silence, attaining to a high degree of contemplation and dispassion, and was vouchsafed the gift of foresight. After many years of struggle he reposed in peace and was numbered among the venerable Fathers of the Egyptian desert. His memory is kept by the Orthodox Church on 11 April.

Holy Martyrs Processus and Martinian

1st c.

They were jailers in the Roman prison that held Sts Peter and Paul, and came to faith in Christ through the witness of the two holy Apostles. After receiving baptism, Processus and Martinian released the saints from prison. As the Apostles were leaving Rome, the Lord appeared to Peter on the Appian way. When Peter asked him where he was going, he replied, ‘To Rome, to be crucified once again.’ Abashed, the Apostles returned to Rome to face their martyrdom. Processus and Martinian were beheaded along with St Paul.

Daily readings

6th Hour

weekly cycle

Isaiah — Isaiah 66.10-24

¹⁰Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

¹⁰Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her; ¹¹That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. ¹¹that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. ¹²For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. ¹²For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and ye shall suck thereof; ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the knees. ¹³As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. ¹³As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. ¹⁴And ye shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Jehovah shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies. ¹⁴And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

¹⁵For, behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

¹⁵For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. ¹⁶For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. ¹⁶For by fire will Jehovah execute judgment, and by his sword, upon all flesh; and the slain of Jehovah shall be many. ¹⁷They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. ¹⁷They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go unto the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together, saith Jehovah. ¹⁸For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

¹⁸For I know their works and their thoughts: the time cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall see my glory. ¹⁹And I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations. ¹⁹And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. ²⁰And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. ²⁰And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an oblation unto Jehovah, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring their oblation in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah. ²¹And of them also will I take for priests and for Levites, saith Jehovah. ²¹And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

²²For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Jehovah, so shall your seed and your name remain. ²²For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. ²³And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. ²³And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Jehovah. ²⁴And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead bodies of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. ²⁴And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Genesis — Genesis 49.33-50.26

³³And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. ³³And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

¹And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

¹And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. ²And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. ²And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. ³And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of embalming: and the Egyptians wept for him threescore and ten days. ³And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. ⁴And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,

⁴And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found favor in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ⁵My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. ⁵My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. ⁶And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. ⁶And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. ⁷And Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,

⁷And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, ⁸And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. ⁸and all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. ⁹And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. ⁹And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. ¹⁰And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days. ¹⁰And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days. ¹¹And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim, which is beyond Jordan. ¹¹And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. ¹²And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: ¹²And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: ¹³For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. ¹³for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burying-place, of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. ¹⁴And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

¹⁴And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

¹⁵And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

¹⁵And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. ¹⁶And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, ¹⁶And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, ¹⁷So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. ¹⁷So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. ¹⁸And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. ¹⁸And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we are thy servants. ¹⁹And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? ¹⁹And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? ²⁰And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. ²⁰But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. ²¹Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. ²¹Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

²²And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.

²²And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. ²³And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees. ²³And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph’s knees. ²⁴And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. ²⁴And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. ²⁵And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. ²⁵And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. ²⁶So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. ²⁶So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Vespers

weekly cycle

Proverbs — Proverbs 31.8-31

⁸Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate. ⁸Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. ⁹Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy. ⁹Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. ¹⁰A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.

¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. ¹¹The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain. ¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. ¹²She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life. ¹³She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands. ¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. ¹⁴She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar. ¹⁴She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar. ¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. ¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens. ¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. ¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. ¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms. ¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. ¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable; Her lamp goeth not out by night. ¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. ¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. ¹⁹She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle. ²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. ²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. ²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. ²²She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. ²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. ²³Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land. ²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. ²⁴She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. ²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. ²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come. ²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue. ²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness. ²⁸Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying: ²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. ²⁹Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all. ²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. ³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. ³⁰Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised. ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates. ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.