Friday, 16 May 2025

Friday of the 4th Sunday of Pascha

26 days after Pascha · Tone 3 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Blessed Musa, child of Rome

The blessed child Musa lived at Rome in the fifth century. Her short life is recorded by Saint Gregory the Dialogist, pope of Rome, who heard the account from Musa's own brother Probus. From her earliest years she was distinguished by her purity and her love for prayer. One night the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to her in a dream, surrounded by maidens robed in white, and asked her whether she wished to dwell with them in her court. The child answered that she did, and from that hour her life was wholly changed. She withdrew from childish amusements, gave herself to prayer and fasting, and lived with great strictness for twenty-five days. On the twenty-fifth day she was seized by a fever; on the thirtieth day the Mother of God appeared to her again with the same maidens, calling her to come to them. Musa answered, "I am coming, I am coming to you, my Lady," and surrendered her pure soul to God. She is honoured among the saints as a model of childhood holiness.

Holy Martyrs Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia

The Holy Martyrs Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia suffered for Christ in the reign of the emperor Diocletian about the year 303. Saint Vitus was the son of Gelas, a noble pagan in Sicily. He was secretly baptised in childhood by his tutor Modestus and his nurse Crescentia, both of whom were Christians, and from the age of about twelve gave himself to a life of prayer, fasting and works of mercy, and received from God the gift of healing the sick. When his father discovered his Christian faith and could not turn him from it, his love changed to hatred and he sought to kill the boy. To save his life, Modestus and Crescentia secretly bore him away in a small boat down the river, an angel guiding them to the region of Lucania in southern Italy. There they lived in hiding, but the holy youth could not be silent about Christ, and many were healed and converted through him. His fame at length reached Rome, and Diocletian summoned him to the capital, where he healed the emperor's son of an evil spirit. When Vitus refused to offer sacrifice to the idols, the three saints were tortured: cast into a cauldron of boiling pitch and lead, exposed to a lion and to other torments, but were preserved unharmed. At last, after a voice from heaven assured them that their prayer was heard, they joyfully gave up their souls to God.

Saint Brendan the Navigator, abbot of Clonfert

Saint Brendan, one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, was born in the kingdom of Munster about the year 484, near the present town of Tralee in County Kerry. As a child he was entrusted to the holy abbess Ita of Killeedy, who reared and taught him for several years; afterwards he studied under Bishop Erc and the abbot Jarlath of Tuam, and is said also to have visited Wales to learn from Saint Gildas. He was ordained to the priesthood about the year 512.

Saint Brendan founded a number of monasteries in Ireland, of which the chief was Clonfert in County Galway, established about 557, where he gathered a community said to have numbered some three thousand monks. His other foundations included Ardfert in Kerry, Annaghdown in Galway, and Inishdadroum in Clare. He is best remembered, however, for the great seven-year voyage by which, with a small group of fellow monks in a hide-bound boat, he set out across the western ocean in search of the promised land of the saints. The story of this voyage, recorded in the Navigatio Sancti Brendani, made his name famous throughout medieval Europe and led some later writers to suppose that he had reached the shores of America. Saint Brendan reposed about the year 577 at Annaghdown while visiting his sister Briga, and was buried at Clonfert. He is patron of mariners and travellers.

Venerable Theodore the Sanctified, disciple of Saint Pachomius the Great

368

Saint Theodore was born about the year 314 in Egypt to wealthy and illustrious Christian parents. From his childhood he was drawn to the ascetic life, and at the age of fourteen he secretly left his home and entered a monastery near his birthplace. Hearing of the great Pachomius and his community at Tabennisi, the young Theodore burned with desire to see him. Saint Pachomius, forewarned by God of his coming, received him with love and admitted him to the brotherhood.

Theodore advanced quickly in the monastic life, distinguished above all by his perfect obedience to his elder and his compassion towards his fellow monks, and Saint Pachomius came to regard him almost as a second self. He was appointed overseer of the monastery of Tabennisi while his teacher withdrew to greater solitude. After the repose of Pachomius, Saint Theodore took up the direction of all the houses of the Pachomian federation, holding the brotherhood together at a moment when it was in danger of disintegration. He was renowned for the gift of clairvoyance and of working miracles, and was honoured as a friend of Saint Athanasius the Great, patriarch of Alexandria, who held him in high esteem. Because of the abundance of grace which rested upon him he received the title "the Sanctified". He reposed in old age in the year 368.

St Nicholas Mystikos, Patriarch of Constantinople

930

He was known for the purity and austerity of his life. When the Emperor Leo VI married a fourth time (his three previous wives having died), the Patriarch barred him from the church. The Emperor sent the Patriarch into exile and had his marriage approved by delegates of the Roman Pope. When the Emperor died, Nicholas was restored to the Patriarchal throne, and called a Council in 925, at which fourth marriages were forbidded in the Church under any circumstance. He died peacefully. The title Mystikos was given to some high-ranking members of the Imperial council (perhaps because they met in secret). The Patriarch was a courtier with this title before he forsook the world and was tonsured a monk. Note: From early times, the Eastern and Latin churches have differed in their views on marriage. The Latin church held, and still holds, that marriage is dissolved by death, so in theory any number of re-marriages is permissible (a view that the Emperor Leo sought to exploit). The Eastern Church has traditionally been uncomfortable with any second marriage — some of the Fathers even call the re-marriage of widows or widowers “bigamy”. Still the Eastern church tolerates re-marriage (even after divorce) as a concession for the salvation of those who cannot sustain the single state.

Blessed Musa the Maiden

5th c.

“St Gregory the Dialogist relates of her that she was a mere nine years old when the most holy Mother of God appeared to her on two occasions, surrounded by virgins bathed in light. When Musa expressed her desire to be included in the resplendent company of the Queen of heaven, the Mother of God told her that she would come for her and take her within a month, outlining for her how she should spend those thirty days. On the twenty-fifth day, Musa took to her bed and on the thirtieth day the most pure and holy Mother again appeared to her, calling to her in a quiet voice, to which Musa replied: ‘Here I am waiting, my Lady! I’m ready!’, and she breathed forth her spirit. She passed from this life to life eternal in the fifth century.” (Prologue)

Also commemorated: Trans. Rel. Ephraim, Abbot of Perekop

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 10.44-11.10

⁴⁴While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

⁴⁴While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word. ⁴⁵And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁴⁵And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. ⁴⁶For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, ⁴⁶For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, ⁴⁷Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? ⁴⁷Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? ⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. ⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

¹Now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judæa heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

¹And the apostles and brethren that were in Judæa heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. ²And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, ²And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, ³Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. ³saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. ⁴But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, ⁴But Peter began, and expounded the matter unto them in order, saying, ⁵I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even unto me: ⁵I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: ⁶Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. ⁶upon which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the heaven. ⁷And I heard also a voice saying unto me, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. ⁷And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. ⁸But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth. ⁸But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. ⁹But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. ⁹But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. ¹⁰And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven. ¹⁰And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 8.21-30

²¹Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.

²¹He said therefore again unto them, I go away, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come. ²²Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. ²²The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come? ²³And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. ²³And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. ²⁴I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. ²⁵They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? Jesus said unto them, Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning. ²⁵Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. ²⁶I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you: howbeit he that sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these speak I unto the world. ²⁶I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. ²⁷They perceived not that he spake to them of the Father. ²⁷They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. ²⁸Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. ²⁸Jesus therefore said, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things. ²⁹And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. ²⁹And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him. ³⁰As he spake these words, many believed on him. ³⁰As he spake these things, many believed on him.