Saturday, 10 May 2025

Apostle Simon the Zealot

Saturday of the 3rd Sunday of Pascha

20 days after Pascha · Tone 2 · Red cross (polyeleos typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

★ Holy apostle Simon the Zealot

Saint Simon, called the Cananite by Saint Matthew and the Zealot by Saint Luke, was one of the twelve apostles of the Lord. He was from Cana of Galilee, and tradition holds that he was the bridegroom at the wedding where the Saviour worked His first sign by changing the water into wine. So struck was he by the miracle, and by the words of the Lord, that he abandoned his bride and his home and followed Christ, becoming so fervent in his discipleship that he received the name "the Zealot". He was numbered among the twelve, was a witness of the Lord's ministry, passion and resurrection, and received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost together with the other apostles. After Pentecost he preached the Gospel widely, and tradition records his labours in Egypt, Cyrene, Mauritania and the further west, with some accounts taking him as far as Britain. According to the most widespread tradition he afterwards joined Saint Jude in Persia and the Caucasus, where after winning many pagans to Christ he received the crown of martyrdom by being crucified or, in some accounts, sawn asunder.

Holy martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus, Cyprian, Onesimus, Erasmus and the fourteen with them

251

These holy martyrs lived in the third century and came from Italy. The brothers Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyprian were the sons of a noble man named Vitalius, governor in Italy. They were instructed in the Christian faith and baptised by the holy martyr Onesimus. During the persecution under the Emperor Decius (249 to 251) they were arrested with their companions Erasmus and fourteen others and brought first to Rome, then sent to the city of Mesopolis Leontini in Sicily, where they confessed Christ before the prefect Tertyllus. Saint Alphius had his tongue cut out and reposed shortly afterwards from the loss of blood. Saint Philadelphus was burned upon an iron grating, and Saint Cyprian was cast into a fiery furnace. The other companions also received the crown of martyrdom by various torments. They suffered for Christ in the year 251. In the year 1517 their incorrupt and fragrant relics were uncovered at Leontini, where they continue to be venerated.

Saint Isidora the fool-for-Christ of Tabenna

Saint Isidora struggled in the convent of Tabenna in Egypt during the sixth century. Taking upon herself the great podvig of folly for Christ, she behaved as one mad and witless, eating not at table with the other sisters but only the scraps and leftovers, and serving all in the meanest tasks. She wore upon her head a wretched rag while the other nuns wore the monastic veil, and she was reviled, struck and despised by all. To one of the great desert ascetics, Saint Pitirim, an angel of the Lord revealed that there was in the convent a sister greater than himself, who was crowned with the diadem of holiness. He went to Tabenna and asked to see all the sisters, and when none of them seemed to him the one shown by the angel, he asked whether any was missing. They brought forward the despised Isidora, and Saint Pitirim cast himself at her feet, calling her amma, and told the sisters all that the Lord had revealed. From then on the nuns honoured her, but she, unable to bear the praise of men, secretly left the monastery, and the place of her further struggles and her repose was known only to God.

Saint Simon, bishop of Vladimir and Suzdal, of the Kiev Near Caves

1206

Saint Simon was a monk of the Kiev Caves Monastery from the second half of the twelfth century, where he learned the monastic life under the great fathers of the Lavra. In the year 1206 he was appointed igumen of the Vladimir Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos, and in 1214, at the request of Prince George Vsevolodovich, he was made the first bishop of Vladimir-on-the-Klyazma and Suzdal. He was renowned as a learned teacher, an austere ascetic, and a humble pastor who preferred the Caves cell to his episcopal see. His epistle to the monk Polycarp of the Caves, in which he extols the holiness and labours of the Caves fathers, was placed at the beginning of the Kiev Caves Paterikon, of which he is one of the principal authors. On the eve of his repose in 1226 the saint received the great schema. Although his body was first buried at Vladimir, in accordance with his wish his relics were afterwards translated to the Kiev Caves Lavra, where they rest incorrupt in the Antoniev (Near) Caves to this day.

Holy Martyrs Alphaeus, Philadelphus and Cyprinus of Sicily

251

They were brothers living in southern Italy, of noble family and devout faith in Christ. (They were the sons of Vitalius, a pagan governor.) Arrested for their confession of Christ, they were taken before a series of judges, subjected to torture each time. Finally they were taken to Sicily and tortured to death there, during the reign of Licinius. Their incorrupt relics were found in 1517. They once appeared in a vision to St Euthalia (March 2).

Blessed Thaïs of Egypt

4th c.

“Thaïs was a rich maiden, a Christian in Egypt. She decided not to marry, but to give her possessions to the hermit monks. But, when she had given away all her goods, she gave herself to a life of debauchery. Hearing of this, the hermits begged Abba John the Dwarf to do something, and he went to Alexandria and began to weep in Thaïs’ hearing. When she heard the old man weeping for her sins, she repented at once, left her house and everything she had and went into the desert after the saint. One night when she was sleeping and John was standing in prayer, he saw an angel in a nimbus of light coming down to take Thaïs’ soul. And John saw that her sudden but deep repentance was more pleasing to God than the years-long but shallow repentance of many of the hermits.” (Prologue)

Daily readings

Vespers

1 John — 1 John 3.21-4.6

²¹Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; ²¹Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. ²²and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. ²²And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. ²³And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment. ²³And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. ²⁴And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us. ²⁴And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

¹Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

¹Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ²Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ²Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. ³and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already. ⁴Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. ⁴Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. ⁵They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them. ⁵They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. ⁶We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. ⁶We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Vespers

1 John — 1 John 4.11-16

¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. ¹²No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us: ¹²No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. ¹³hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. ¹³Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. ¹⁴And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. ¹⁵Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God. ¹⁵Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. ¹⁶And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him. ¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Vespers

1 John — 1 John 4.20-5.5

²⁰If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen. ²⁰If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? ²¹And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also. ²¹And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

¹Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

¹Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. ²Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. ²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. ⁴For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. ⁴For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ⁵And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? ⁵Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Matins Gospel

John — John 21.15-25

¹⁵So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

¹⁵So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. ¹⁶He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁶He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep. ¹⁷He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁷He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. ¹⁸Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. ¹⁸Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. ¹⁹This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. ¹⁹Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. ²⁰Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also leaned back on his breast at the supper, and said, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee? ²⁰Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? ²¹Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? ²¹Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? ²²Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. ²²Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. ²³Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? ²³This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? ²⁴This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

²⁴This is the disciple that beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness is true. ²⁵And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

²⁵And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 9.20-31

²⁰And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. ²⁰And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God. ²¹But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? ²¹And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests. ²²But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. ²²But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

²³And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

²³And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him: ²⁴but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night that they might kill him: ²⁴But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. ²⁵Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket. ²⁵but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

²⁶And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. ²⁶And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. ²⁷But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. ²⁷But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. ²⁸And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem, ²⁹And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. ²⁹preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they were seeking to kill him. ³⁰And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. ³⁰Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

³¹So the church throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied. ³¹Then had the churches rest throughout all Judæa and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Epistle

— St Simeon

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 4.9-16

⁹For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. ⁹For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men. ¹⁰We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. ¹⁰We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor. ¹¹Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; ¹¹Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; ¹²And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: ¹²and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; ¹³Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. ¹³being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now. ¹⁴I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

¹⁴I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. ¹⁵For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel. ¹⁵For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. ¹⁶Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. ¹⁶I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 15.17-16.2

¹⁷These things I command you, that ye love one another. ¹⁷These things I command you, that ye may love one another. ¹⁸If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁸If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. ¹⁹If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. ²⁰Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. ²⁰Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. ²¹But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. ²¹But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. ²²If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²²If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. ²³He that hateth me hateth my Father also. ²³He that hateth me hateth my Father also. ²⁴If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁴If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. ²⁵But this cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. ²⁶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me: ²⁶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: ²⁷and ye also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. ²⁷And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

¹These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

¹These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble. ²They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God. ²They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

Gospel

— St Simeon

Matthew — Matthew 13.54-58

⁵⁴And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

⁵⁴And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? ⁵⁵Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁵Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? ⁵⁶And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? ⁵⁷And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house. ⁵⁷And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. ⁵⁸And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. ⁵⁸And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.