Friday, 23 May 2025

Friday of the 5th Sunday of Pascha

33 days after Pascha · Tone 4 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · Fast (Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Salonas the Roman

The Holy Martyr Salonas the Roman is named in the synaxaria of the Orthodox Church on 23 May among those early martyrs of the city of Rome whose names alone, with the manner of their death, have come down to us. According to the brief notices preserved in the Greek Synaxaristes, Salonas suffered for his confession of Christ during one of the persecutions of the early centuries and was put to death by the sword. Nothing further of his life or trial is recorded; like many of the early Roman martyrs his memory has been kept in the prayers and hymns of the Church on the day of his death, that the faithful may share by prayer in his contest and ask his intercession. He is commemorated together with Saint Michael the Confessor of Synnada and Saint Salonas's brother martyrs in the Orthodox calendar of this day, and his witness joins that of the great cloud of unknown martyrs whom the Church remembers in her every Liturgy.

Saint Michael the Confessor, Bishop of Synnada

Saint Michael the Confessor was metropolitan of Synnada in Phrygia from about 784 until 815. He was consecrated to the See of Synnada by Saint Tarasius, Patriarch of Constantinople, and through his holy life, learning, and pastoral wisdom he won the love of his people and the high regard of the emperors Nicephorus I and Michael I Rangabe, who entrusted him with diplomatic missions to the caliph Harun al-Rashid and to the emperor Charlemagne. Saint Michael was present among the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 787, where the veneration of the holy icons was vindicated. When the iconoclast Leo the Armenian (813 to 820) seized the imperial throne and began to drive Orthodox bishops from their sees and replace them with heretics, Saint Michael fearlessly opposed the new persecution and openly denounced the heresy. For this Leo banished him to the city of Eudokias, where the Confessor reposed in exile about the year 821, having borne the loss of his see and the hardships of banishment for the sake of the holy icons of Christ and His Mother.

Translation of the Relics of Saint Leontius, Bishop of Rostov

Saint Leontius, Bishop of Rostov, was one of the first hierarchs to evangelise the still half-pagan land of Rostov in the eleventh century, and he sealed his apostolic labours with martyric blood, reposing about the year 1073. He was buried in the wooden cathedral of the Most Holy Mother of God in Rostov, and after that church was destroyed by fire a new stone cathedral was built on the same site by order of Prince Andrew Bogolyubsky. While the foundations were being dug in 1164 the incorrupt relics of Saint Leontius were uncovered, fragrant and shining with light, and many miracles of healing began at once to flow from them. The Russian Church appointed his commemoration on this day in remembrance of that uncovering and translation of the relics. By the year 1253, Saint Cyril, Bishop of Rostov, was speaking of the wonders worked at the saint's tomb to the Tatar khan, so widely had the fame of Saint Leontius spread. The holy relics rest to this day at Rostov, where Saint Leontius is honoured as the apostle and first patron of the city.

Venerable Euphrosyne, Abbess of Polotsk

Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk (1104 to 1167) was the granddaughter of Vseslav, prince of Polotsk, and the daughter of Prince Svyatoslav-George Vseslavich of Vitebsk. Baptised Predslava, she was noted from earliest childhood for her love of prayer and her zeal for sacred reading. Refusing every proposal of marriage, she ran away to the convent where her aunt was abbess, was tonsured a nun and given the name Euphrosyne. With the blessing of Bishop Elias of Polotsk, she settled near the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom and devoted herself to copying sacred books. About the year 1128 the bishop entrusted her with the founding of a women's monastery on a place called Selce, which became the Saviour-Transfiguration Monastery; there she taught the maidens to copy books, to sing, to embroider, and to practise other handicrafts, and she also founded a men's monastery dedicated to the Mother of God. The cathedral she built in 1161 stands to this day, and for it she commissioned from the master Lazar Bohsha the famed jewelled Cross of Saint Euphrosyne. Toward the end of her life she made pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where she reposed in Jerusalem on 23 May 1167 and was buried in the Lavra of Saint Sabbas; her relics were later transferred to the Kiev Caves, and finally returned to Polotsk in 1910. She is one of the patron saints of Belarus.

Holy Myrrh-bearer Mary, wife of Cleopas

Holy Martyr Michael of St Sabbas' Monastery

9th c.

When his parents died, the young Michael gave away all his goods and travelled to Jerusalem, where he entered the monastery of St Sabbas the Sanctified. Once he was sent into town to sell some handwork for the monastery. A eunuch of an Arab princess met him in the street and brought him to princess’ home to show his wares. (Jerusalem was ruled by Muslim Arabs at that time.) The princess, like Potiphar’s wife, conceived an illicit passion for the young monk and invited him to her bed. When he refused, the angry princess had him beaten and taken to the Sultan, where she accused him of blasphemy against Mohammed. The Sultan tried to make him accept Islam, but he refused. When a dose of poison had no effect on the holy Michael, the Sultan had him publicly beheaded in the center of Jerusalem. The monks retrieved his body and gave it honorable burial at his monastery.

Holy Virgin Euphrosyne, Princess of Polotsk

1173

“She was the daughter of Prince Vseslav of Polotsk. When her parents wished her to be married, she ran away to a monastery and became a nun. An angel of the Lord appeared to her three times to show her the place where she was to build a new monastery for virgins. She brought her own sister, Evdokia, into monasticism and many other young girls from the ranks of the aristocracy. One kinswoman of hers, Zvenislava, a princess of Borisov, brought all her wealth, clothing and precious jewels, and said: ‘I count all the beauty of this world as naught, and wish to give these fine things, prepared for my marriage, to the Church of the Saviour. And I desire to espouse myself to Him in a spiritual marriage, and to bow my head beneath His easy and light yoke.’ Euphrosyne professed her too, and gave her the name Evpraxia. In old age, Euphrosyne evinced a desire to die in Jerusalem, and prayed for this boon. God heard her prayer, and she did indeed die in the monastery of St Theodosius in Jerusalem on May 23rd, 1173, during a visit there.” (Prologue)

Also commemorated: Unc. Rel. St Leonty, Bishop of Rostov

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 15.5-34

⁵But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses. ⁵But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

⁶And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.

⁶And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. ⁷And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

⁷And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. ⁸And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us; ⁸And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; ⁹and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. ⁹And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. ¹⁰Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹⁰Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they. ¹¹But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

¹²Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

¹²And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.

¹³And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:

¹³And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: ¹⁴Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. ¹⁴Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. ¹⁵And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, ¹⁵And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, ¹⁶After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: ¹⁶After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up: ¹⁷That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, ¹⁷That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. ¹⁸Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. ¹⁸Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.

¹⁹Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God; ¹⁹Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: ²⁰but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. ²⁰But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. ²¹For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. ²¹For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

²²Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: ²²Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: ²³And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: ²³and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: ²⁴Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment; ²⁴Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: ²⁵It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁵it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁶men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁷We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. ²⁸For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; ²⁸For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. ²⁹that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.

³⁰So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle. ³⁰So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: ³¹Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. ³¹And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation. ³²And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. ³²And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. ³³And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. ³³And after they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth. ³⁴Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. ³⁴

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 10.17-28

¹⁷Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. ¹⁷Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. ¹⁸No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father. ¹⁸No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

¹⁹There arose a division again among the Jews because of these words.

¹⁹There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. ²⁰And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? ²⁰And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye him? ²¹Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? ²¹Others said, These are not the sayings of one possessed with a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?

²²And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

²²And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem: ²³And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. ²³it was winter; and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s porch. ²⁴The Jews therefore came round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou art the Christ, tell us plainly. ²⁴Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. ²⁵Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, these bear witness of me. ²⁵Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. ²⁶But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. ²⁶But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁸And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ²⁸and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.