Tuesday, 27 May 2025

Tuesday of the 6th Sunday of Pascha

37 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Red squigg (doxology typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Hieromartyr Therapon, Bishop of Sardis

The Hieromartyr Therapon, Bishop of Sardis in Lydia of Asia Minor, suffered for Christ in the third century, about the year 259, during the persecution of the emperor Valerian. In his pastoral office Saint Therapon enlightened many of the pagan Greeks with the light of the Christian faith and brought them to baptism. He was for this reason brought to trial before the governor Julian, before whom he fearlessly declared himself a Christian and a bishop. Cast into prison, he was tormented by hunger and thirst, then handed over to cruel tortures which could not break his confession. Bound in chains, he was led from city to city, to Sinaon in Phrygia and on to Ancyra, where he was tortured anew. At the river Astala he was stretched naked upon the ground, fastened to four stakes, and beaten with terrible blows; afterwards he was taken to the borders of the diocese of Satala in the metropolitan region of Sardis, where, under repeated scourgings, he gave up his soul to God. The four stakes to which he had been bound, soaked with his martyric blood, are said to have put forth green shoots and grown into trees whose leaves became famous for the healing of many sick.

Holy Martyrs Theodora the Virgin and Didymus the Soldier of Alexandria

The Holy Virgin Martyr Theodora and the Holy Martyr Didymus the Soldier suffered together at Alexandria during the persecution of the emperor Diocletian, in either 303 or 304. Theodora, brought before the prefect Eustratius and openly confessing herself a Christian, gave answer when asked why she had not married that she was a bride of Christ and had resolved to remain a virgin for His name. The prefect cast her into prison, granting her three days to change her mind, and threatening, if she remained firm, to send her to a house of ill fame. The holy maiden poured out fervent prayer to God for her deliverance from defilement, and the Lord heard her prayer; while she was praying, a young Christian soldier called Didymus came to her, exchanged his soldier's cloak for her woman's garment, and bade her go forth in his place, while he himself remained in the brothel to draw the wrath of the persecutors upon his own head. When this exchange was discovered, Didymus was haled before the judge and sentenced to death. The holy Theodora hearing this came to the place of execution and asked to die first, that she might not survive him; she bent her neck beneath the sword and was beheaded, and Saint Didymus followed her in the same death.

Saint Bede the Venerable, the Church Historian

Saint Bede the Venerable was an English monk, scholar, and historian, born about 672 or 673 in the kingdom of Northumbria. At the age of seven he was given by his parents to the monastery of Saint Peter at Wearmouth under the holy abbot Benedict Biscop, and was afterwards transferred to the new daughter monastery of Saint Paul at Jarrow under Abbot Ceolfrith, where he remained for the rest of his life. There he was ordained deacon at nineteen and priest at thirty, and from that monastery he scarcely ever travelled, devoting his days to the chanting of the divine office, the reading of holy Scripture, and the writing of books. He composed commentaries on nearly the whole of the Old and New Testaments, lives of saints, hymns, treatises on chronology, the times and seasons of the Church, and on the natural world; his most famous work, the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, has earned him the title Father of English History. He reposed in the Lord on the eve of the Ascension, 25 May 735, while dictating the last words of his translation of Saint John's Gospel into English. Because the feast of Saint Augustine of Canterbury falls on 26 May, his commemoration is kept on the day following, 27 May.

Translation of the Relics of Saints Cyprian, Photius and Jonah, Metropolitans of Moscow

1406

On 27 May 1472, during the reign of the Great Prince Ivan III and the metropolitanate of Saint Philip I, the relics of three holy hierarchs of the Russian Church were uncovered together in the cathedral of the Dormition in the Moscow Kremlin. While the workmen were dismantling the old stone cathedral to make room for the new one which still stands today, they came upon the tombs of three Metropolitans of Kiev and All Russia who had ruled the Russian Church from Moscow in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries: Saint Cyprian, of Bulgarian birth, who reposed in the year 1406, a learned hierarch and translator of liturgical books; Saint Photius, a Greek by birth, who reposed in 1431, the saintly successor to Cyprian and a wise shepherd in days of trial; and Saint Jonah, the first metropolitan to be elected by a council of Russian bishops without confirmation from Constantinople, who reposed in 1461 and whose relics were found incorrupt. The Russian Church appointed this commemoration on 27 May in remembrance of that solemn translation, when the holy hierarchs were laid in the new cathedral, where their relics rest to this day as a treasure of Moscow and a sign of God's care for the Russian land.

Holy Martyrs Theodora and Didymus

304

“In the reign of the wicked Emperor Maximilian, there lived in Alexandria a maiden, Theodora, well-educated and of noble lineage. She was brought to trial before the pagans for her Christian faith. After long interrogation and torture for the Faith, the prince, her tormentor, ordered that she be thrown into a brothel and the soldiers given free access to her to indulge their carnal lusts. Theodora prayed fervently to God to save her from defilement, and, when she had prayed, a soldier called Didymus came in to her and told her that he was a servant of Christ. He dressed her in his soldier’s garb and himself in her dress, then let her out and remained in the brothel himself. He was seized and brought before the judge, where he acknowledged that he was a Christian and had saved Theodora, and was now prepared to die for Christ. He was condemned to death and taken out to the place of execution. Theodora ran up to him there and cried out: ‘Although you saved my honour, I did not ask you to save me from death. Yield the martyr’s death to me!’ Didymus replied: ‘My beloved sister, do not hinder my death for Christ, nor the washing of my sins in my blood.’ Hearing this exchange, the pagans condemned them both to death, and they were beheaded and their bodies burned. They suffered with honour and received eternal wreaths of glory in Alexandria in the year 304.” (Prologue)

Holy New Confessor John the Russian

1730

He was captured during a Russian campaign against the Turks in 1711, and sold into slavery in Asia Minor. As a slave he strove to serve God faithfully, while serving his earthly master in everything honorable. Despite many enticements offered by the Muslims to renounce his faith, he remained steadfast, and was permitted to work miracles through his prayers. He reposed in peace in 1730. His relics remained incorrupt.

Saint David of Garesjei

6th c.

“This David is one of the thirteen Georgian Fathers (May 7). He is thus named for the Garajeli desert near Tiflis, where he lived the ascetic life. In old age, David decided to visit the Holy Land with several of his disciples. He left the direction of the monastery to two elders, Lucian and Dodo, and set out on the way. When they came to a hill from which Jerusalem was visible, David burst into tears and said: ‘How can I dare to walk in the steps of God incarnate with these sinful feet?’, and he told his disciples to go and worship at the holy places, but he himself took up three stones and set off to return. But the Lord did not let such humility remain hidden from the world, and an angel appeared to Elias, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and said to him: ‘Send at once for the elder who is even now returning to Syria; he has taken with him three stones, and is carrying with him all the Holy Land’s grace. One stone is a sufficient blessing for him; let him return the other two to Jerusalem. He is called Abba David of Garesjei.’ The Patriarch quickly sent men off to overtake the elder. They took two stones from him, and let him go on his way. The third stone lies on his grave to this day, and possesses miraculous healing power.” (Prologue)

Venerable Bede

735

He spent almost his entire life as a monk in England, and is known primarily for his many writings. He entered the monastery at Wearmouth at the age of seven, and later moved (perhaps as one of the founders) to the monastery of Jarrow, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was ordained to the priesthood in his thirtieth year. In addition to many works of biblical exegesis, very popular in the middle ages, he compiled the Ecclesiastical History, still the primary source for the history of Christianity’s establishment in the British isles. He reposed in peace. A problem: Bede lived during the time of the undivided Church, but was only canonized, in the west, in 1899, centuries after the Great Schism. Presumably, then, he has never been formally glorified by the Orthodox Church. Is he a Saint of the Church? We leave the answer to wiser heads.

Also commemorated: Trans. Rel. Ven. Nilus of Stolbensk

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 17.19-28

¹⁹And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? ¹⁹And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee? ²⁰For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. ²⁰For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. ²¹(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) ²¹(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)

²²Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

²²And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are very religious. ²³For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you. ²³For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. ²⁴The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; ²⁴God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; ²⁵neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; ²⁵Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; ²⁶And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; ²⁶and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; ²⁷That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: ²⁷that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us: ²⁸For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. ²⁸for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 12.19-36

¹⁹The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him. ¹⁹The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing; lo, the world is gone after him.

²⁰And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

²⁰Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast: ²¹The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. ²¹these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. ²²Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. ²²Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus. ²³And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

²³And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. ²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. ²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. ²⁵He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. ²⁵He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. ²⁶If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. ²⁶If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor. ²⁷Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour. ²⁷Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. ²⁸Father, glorify thy name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. ²⁸Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. ²⁹The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, An angel hath spoken to him. ²⁹The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. ³⁰Jesus answered and said, This voice hath not come for my sake, but for your sakes. ³⁰Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. ³¹Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. ³¹Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. ³²And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. ³²And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself. ³³This he said, signifying what death he should die. ³³But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die. ³⁴The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? ³⁴The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? ³⁵Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. ³⁵Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. ³⁶While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

³⁶While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.