Wednesday, 7 May 2025

St Alexis Toth, Confessor and Defender of Orthodoxy in America

Wednesday of the 3rd Sunday of Pascha

17 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Red cross half-circle (vigil typikon symbol) · Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Apparition of the Sign of the Precious Cross over Jerusalem

On 7 May 351, in the early years of the reign of the emperor Constantius, son of Saint Constantine, a luminous sign of the Cross appeared in the sky over Jerusalem. The vision began at the third hour, around nine in the morning, stretching from Golgotha to the Mount of Olives, brighter than the sun and visible to all the inhabitants of the city. It remained for several hours, and the entire population, Christians, Jews, and pagans alike, ran to the churches glorifying Christ.

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, the archbishop of the city, wrote a letter to the emperor describing the event in detail and interpreting it as a heavenly seal upon the doctrine of the homoousion confessed at Nicaea, against the Arians whom Constantius favoured. Many were converted by what they had seen. The Church received the apparition as a fulfilment of the Lord's word that the sign of the Son of Man would appear in heaven, and from early times has kept this day in joyful commemoration, singing of the Cross 'shining brighter than the sun' over the holy city.

Holy Martyr Acacius the Centurion of Byzantium

Saint Acacius the Centurion was a soldier-martyr of the early fourth century. Born in Cappadocia, he was a centurion of the Martesian regiment under the tribune Firmus, and during the persecution of Diocletian, around 303, he openly confessed himself a Christian. Brought before Firmus, he refused to sacrifice to the gods and was beaten cruelly with rods until his sides were laid bare.

Sent in chains to Bizyes in Thrace, where the governor Bibianus continued the trial, Acacius was scourged with bull's-pizzles, his face crushed with stones, and his body burnt with torches, yet his wounds were healed in the night by an angel. Dragged from one tribunal to another and at last brought to Byzantium, he was beheaded for the name of Christ. His relics worked many miracles, and a great church was later raised over them in Constantinople, the church of Saint Acacius at Heptaskalon, where the emperors came to venerate him.

New Hieromartyr Pachomius of Mount Athos

Saint Pachomius the New Martyr was born around 1690 in the village of Aghia near Pelekas, in the region of Little Russia of Asia Minor. As a young man he was carried off as a captive by Turkish raiders to the city of Usaki near Philadelphia and sold as a slave to a Turkish tanner. For twenty-seven years he served his master, refusing all attempts to compel him to deny Christ, and preserving his Christian faith in secret. When he fell ill of a serious sickness his master falsely declared him to have professed Islam during a delirium, and on his recovery the Turks tried to claim him as one of their own. Pachomius rejected the claim, fled to Mount Athos, and was tonsured a monk at the Skete of the Holy Trinity at Kavsokalyvia, where the spiritual elder Akakios received him. Burning with desire to atone publicly for the apparent shadow on his confession, with his elder's blessing he returned to Usaki and openly confessed Christ before the same Turks. After many tortures he was beheaded on Ascension Day, 7 May 1730, and so received the double crown of monk and martyr.

Saint John the Psichaite, Confessor

Saint John the Psichaite was a ninth-century confessor for the holy icons. Born in Constantinople of pious parents, he was drawn from his youth to the monastic life and entered the Psicha Monastery on the Bosphorus, from which he took his name. There he advanced in obedience and ascesis, and was in time ordained a priest and chosen abbot of the community. Under the iconoclast emperor Leo the Armenian (813 to 820), Saint John stood firm in defence of the veneration of the holy icons. Refusing to subscribe to the heretical edicts, he was seized, beaten, and exiled, suffering many hardships for the truth. With the death of Leo and the restoration of more moderate policies he was allowed to return to his monastery, but the years of imprisonment and ill-treatment had broken his health. He spent his last days in prayer and instruction of his disciples, and reposed in peace around 825, numbered among the confessors of the second iconoclast period.

Our Holy Fathers of Georgia

6th c.

“In the sixth century, two hundred years after St Nina had preached the Gospel in Georgia, the most holy Mother of God appeared to John, an ascetic of Antioch, and commanded him to choose twelve of his disciples and go to Georgia, to strengthen the Orthodox faith there. John did so. Reaching Georgia, these twelve missionaries were formally welcomed by the prince of that country and the Catholicos, Eulalius, and immediately began their work with great zeal. The people gathered around them in hordes, and they strengthened them in the Faith with great wisdom and many miracles. The chief of these Christ-loving missionaries was St John of Zedan, and the names of the others were: Abidus, Antony, David, Zeno, Thaddeus, Jesse, Isderius, Joseph, Michael, Pyrrus, Stephen and Shio. With apostolic zeal, they all strengthened the Christian faith in Georgia, founded many monasteries and left many disciples to follow them. Thus they became worthy of glory in heaven and power on earth.” (Prologue)

St Alexis Toth of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

1909

This light of Orthodoxy in North America was born in Austro-Hungary in 1854, to poor Carpatho-Russian parents. His father was a priest in the Eastern-rite Roman Catholic church and, following in his father’s footsteps, he was ordained in 1878. In 1889 he was appointed to serve as pastor to a Uniate parish in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prompted partly by the strong hostility of the American Roman Catholic hierarchy at that time to Eastern-rite practices, he convened a meeting of about ten Eastern-rite priests in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania, where the divinely-led decision was made to seek to return to the Orthodox faith. Fr Alexis contacted Bishop Vladimir of the Russian church in San Francisco, who, in 1891, received Fr Alexis and 361 of his parishioners back into the faith of their ancestors. From that time forward, Fr Alexis worked tirelessly, at great personal sacrifice, to proclaim the truths of the Orthodox faith, especially to those still attached to its mimic, Byzantine Catholicism. For long periods of time he received little or no salary and (despite claims that he had embraced Orthodoxy to enrich himself) worked in a bakery to support himself. Through his work, thousands of Christians in North America were led into the fullness of the Orthodox Faith during his lifetime. St Alexis reposed in 1909. He was officially glorified in 1994. His holy relics can be venerated at St Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.

St Lydia of Philippi

1st c.

She is mentioned in chapter 16 of the Acts of the Apostles. A seller of purple cloth and a believer in God, she was baptized along with her household by St Paul, who stayed at her house during his missionary travels. She is the first recorded convert to Christianity in Europe.

Daily readings

Vespers

OT — Composite 2 - Proverbs 10, 3, 8

The memory of a just man is praised, and the Lord’s blessing is upon his head. Blessed is one who has found wisdom; a mortal who knows understanding. To import her is better than treasures of gold and silver. She is more valuable than precious stones; nothing of value equals her worth. Justice proceeds from her mouth; she bears law and mercy on her tongue. Therefore, my children, listen to me, for I speak weighty things. And blessed is the one who keeps my ways. For my goings out are the goings out of life, and favour is prepared from the Lord. Therefore I exhort you, and utter my voice to the children of humankind. Because I, Wisdom, have prepared counsel, knowledge and understanding. I have called on them. Counsel and sureness are mine; prudence is mine, strength is mine. I love those who are my friends, while those who seek me will find grace. You innocent, then, understand cunning; you untaught, take it to heart. Listen to me, for I will speak weighty things, and I will open right things from my lips. Because my throat will meditate truth; lying lips are abominable before me. All the words of my mouth are with justice, there is nothing crooked in them nor twisted. They are all straight for those who understand, and right for those who find knowledge. For I teach you what is true, that your hope may be in the Lord and that you may be filled with spirit.

Vespers

OT — Composite 4 - Proverbs 10; Wisdom of Solomon 6, 7, 8, 9

The mouth of a just man distils wisdom; the lips of men know graces. The mouth of the wise meditates wisdom; justice delivers them from death. When a just man dies hope is not lost; for a just son is born for life, and among his good things he will pluck the fruit of justice. There is light at all times for the just, and they will find grace and glory from the Lord. The tongue of the wise knows what is good, and wisdom will take its rest in their hearts. The Lord loves holy hearts; while all who are blameless in the way are acceptable to him. The wisdom of the Lord will enlighten the face of the understanding; for she anticipates those who desire her before they know it, and is easily contemplated by those who love her. One who rises for her at dawn will not toil, and one who keeps vigil because of her will be without care. For she goes about seeking those who are worthy of her, and shows herself favourably to those on her paths. Wickedness will never prevail against wisdom. Because of this I too became a lover of her beauty and became her friend, and I sought her out from my youth, and I sought to take her as my bride, because the Master of all things loved her, for she is an initiate of the knowledge of God and one who chooses his works. Her toils are virtues; she herself teaches sobriety and prudence; justice and courage, than which things nothing is more useful in human life. If anyone longs for much experience, she knows how to compare things of old and those that are to come. She knows the twists of words and the explanations of riddles. She foresees signs and wonders and the outcomes of seasons and times. And to all she is a good counsellor. Because immortality is in her, and fame in the fellowship of her words. Therefore I appealed to the Lord and besought him and said from my whole heart, ‘God of my Fathers and Lord of mercy, who made all things by your Word, and established humanity by your Wisdom to be sovereign over the creatures that had come into being by you, and to order the world in holiness and justice, give me Wisdom who sits by your throne, and do not reject me from among your children, for I am your servant and the son of your maid servant. Send her out from your holy dwelling and from the throne of your glory, that she may be present with me and teach me what is well pleasing before you. And she will guide me with knowledge and guard me with her glory. For all the thoughts of mortals are wretched and their ideas are unstable.’

Vespers

OT — Composite 5 - Wisdom of Solomon 4, 6, 7, 2

When a just man is praised, peoples will be glad; for immortality is his memory, because it is known both to God and humankind, and his soul is pleasing to the Lord. Therefore, O men, desire wisdom, and long for it and be instructed. For her beginning is love and keeping of laws. Honour Wisdom, that you may reign for ever. I will declare the mysteries of God to you and not hide them from you. Because he is both the guide of Wisdom and the One who sets right the wise. In his hand are all prudence, and knowledge of works. Wisdom, the artificer of all things, taught me, for in her is an understanding spirit, holy, brightness of the eternal light and image of the goodness of God. She makes friends of God and prophets. She is more lovely than the sun, and beyond every order of the stars. If compared to light, she is found before it. She delivered her devotees from toils, and guided them in straight paths. She gave them holy knowledge and protected them from those who lay in ambush for them. She awarded them a mighty contest, that all might know that true religion is more powerful than all, and that wickedness can never prevail against Wisdom, nor will justice in passing sentence overlook evil people. For they said in themselves, not reasoning correctly, ‘Let us overpower the just one, let us not spare his saintliness, nor feel reverence for the aged grey hairs of an elder. Let our strength be law. Let us lie in ambush for the just, for he is a hindrance to us and he is opposed to our works and alleges the sins of our upbringing. He claims to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. He has become a reproof to our thoughts. He is grievous for us even to look at, for his life is not like others and his paths are quite different. We are reckoned by him to be counterfeit, and he keeps away from our ways as from filth. He calls the end of just people blessed. Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen to him at the end. Let us examine him by insult and torture, that we may know his forbearance and make trial of his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for he will have protection from his own words.’ This was how they argued, and they were deceived, for their wickedness had blinded them. And they did not know the mysteries of God, nor did they judge that you alone are God, who have authority over life and death, who save in time of tribulation and deliver from every ill; pitying and merciful, giving grace to your holy ones, and by your right arm resisting the proud.

Matins Gospel

John — John 10.9-16

⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ⁹I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. ¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. ¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. ¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. ¹²He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: ¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. ¹³he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, ¹⁵even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. ¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 8.18-25

¹⁸And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, ¹⁸Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. ¹⁹saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. ²⁰But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. ²⁰But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. ²¹Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. ²¹Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God. ²²Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. ²²Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. ²³For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. ²³For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. ²⁴And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me. ²⁴Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. ²⁵And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

²⁵They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

Epistle

— St Alexis

Galatians — Galatians 1.11-19

¹¹For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man. ¹¹But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. ¹²For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹²For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹³For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it: ¹³For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: ¹⁴and I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁴And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, ¹⁵But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, ¹⁶To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: ¹⁶to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood: ¹⁷Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. ¹⁷neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.

¹⁸Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days. ¹⁸Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. ¹⁹But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. ¹⁹But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 6.35-39

³⁵And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. ³⁵Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. ³⁶But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. ³⁶But I said unto you, that ye have seen me, and yet believe not. ³⁷All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. ³⁷All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. ³⁸For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. ³⁸For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. ³⁹And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. ³⁹And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

Gospel

— St Alexis

John — John 10.1-9

¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

¹Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ²But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ²But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. ³To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. ⁴And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. ⁴When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. ⁵And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. ⁵And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. ⁶This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. ⁶This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

⁷Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁷Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁸All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. ⁹I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.