Thursday, 29 May 2025

Ascension of the Lord

The Ascension of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ

39 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Major feast Lord · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Virgin Martyr Theodosia of Tyre

307

The Holy Virgin Martyr Theodosia of Tyre suffered for Christ in the year 307 or 308 during the persecution of the emperor Diocletian and his successors, when she was only seventeen years of age. On the day of Holy Pascha she went to the praetorium at Caesarea in Palestine, where Christians condemned for the faith were held in chains, and she greeted them and asked them, when they should stand before the throne of God, to remember her in their prayers. The soldiers, seeing her bow before the prisoners, seized her and brought her before the governor Urban, who urged her to offer sacrifice to the idols. Saint Theodosia firmly confessed Christ. She was subjected to dreadful tortures: her sides and breasts were torn with iron claws until her bones were laid bare, all of which she bore in silence with marvellous courage. Asked again to renounce Christ, she replied, "Madman, I have been counted worthy to join the company of God's martyrs," and was thereupon cast into the sea, where she received the crown of martyrdom. The translation of her relics first to Constantinople and afterwards to Venice is also commemorated on 29 May, while her actual repose is kept on 3 April.

Holy Virgin Martyr Theodosia the Nun of Constantinople

Saint Theodosia of Constantinople was born in the latter part of the seventh century in answer to the long prayers of her parents. Left an orphan in childhood, she was raised in the women's monastery of the holy Martyr Anastasia in Constantinople, and there received the angelic schema. With the inheritance left her by her parents she gave alms to the poor and commissioned gold and silver icons of the Saviour, of the Theotokos, and of Saint Anastasia, devoting her life to prayer and obedience. When the iconoclast emperor Leo the Isaurian (717 to 741) issued his decree against the holy icons, an officer of the imperial guard was sent in 730 to remove the great bronze icon of Christ which had stood for four hundred years above the Bronze Gate of the imperial palace. Saint Theodosia and other women rushed to defend the icon and overturned the ladder upon which the soldier was climbing, and the soldier fell to his death. Saint Theodosia and her companions were arrested. For seven days she was scourged with one hundred lashes daily; on the eighth she was led through the city while being beaten without mercy, and at last a soldier struck her in the throat with a ram's horn, by which blow she gave up her soul to God. The faithful buried her relics with honour at the monastery of Saint Euphemia, and afterwards in the church of Saint Theodosia at Dexiokratis, where many wonders were wrought.

Saint Alexander, Archbishop of Alexandria

320

Saint Alexander, Archbishop of Alexandria, was born about the year 250, probably at Alexandria, and ruled the great Egyptian see from 313 until his repose in 328. He guided the Church of Alexandria as it emerged from the long persecutions of Diocletian and Maximian into the new freedom of the reign of Constantine the Great. Two great trials marked his episcopate, the renewal of the question of the proper date of Pascha, and the rise of the heresy of Arius, a presbyter of his church who denied the eternal divinity of the Son and proclaimed that there was a time when the Son was not. Saint Alexander summoned a synod at Alexandria in the year 320 which condemned the teaching of Arius, and he wrote and circulated encyclical letters warning the bishops of the East against the new heresy. When the emperor Constantine convoked the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325, Saint Alexander was a leader of the Orthodox Fathers, and he brought with him as his deacon the youthful Athanasius, whom he afterwards designated as his successor. He reposed five months after the Council, on 17 April 328, and is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on 29 May together with Saints Cyril and other patriarchs of the Egyptian see.

Saint John the Russian, the New Confessor

Saint John the Russian, the New Confessor, was born about the year 1690 in Little Russia and raised in piety and love for the Church of God. He served as a simple soldier in the army of Peter the Great and was taken prisoner by the Tatars during the Pruth campaign of 1711, after which he was sold to a Turkish cavalry officer who carried him home to the village of Procopion in Cappadocia of Asia Minor. There the Turks tried by threats and bribes to make their Christian captives convert to Islam, and many gave way; but Saint John, refusing to be moved by the promise of earthly comforts or the terror of beatings, replied that he was a Christian and would die a Christian, and asked only that he be allowed to perform the labour required of him. Set to work in the master's stable, he slept upon straw beside the horses, fasted continually, and spent the nights at prayer. The Lord softened the heart of his master, who eventually offered him his liberty, but the saint chose to remain a slave for Christ's sake. He reposed in peace on 27 May 1730, and his relics were soon found incorrupt. They are venerated to this day on the island of Euboea in Greece, where they were brought by his Greek countrymen who fled Asia Minor in 1924, and where countless miracles have been wrought through his prayers.

Commemoration of the First Ecumenical Council

325

The council was called by the Emperor Constantine the Great and held in Nicea in 325. The teaching of the Alexandrian priest Arius — that Christ is not co-eternal with the Father, but is His divine creation — was attracting many followers throughout the empire, and the Emperor wished for a statement of correct doctrine from the Church. Present at the council were 318 holy hierarchs, including St Nicholas of Myra, St Athanasius the great, and St Spyridon. The council clearly condemned the Arian heresy, formulated the first version of the Symbol of Faith (often called the Nicene Creed), and propounded twenty canons. The Fathers of the Council are commemorated on the Sunday after Ascension.

The Fall of Constantinople; "Blessed Constantine XII, last of the Byzantine emperors, martyred by the Turks "

1453

On this date in 1453, Constantinople, the capital city of the Christian world, was sacked by the forces of Sultan Mehmet (Mohammed) II, bringing it under Turkish rule, where it remains to this day. Constantine XII, the last Byzantine Emperor, died defending the city. Sources are sharply divided as to whether he is to be counted as a Christian Martyr. The designation “Blessed Constantine”, above, is from the St Herman Calendar, whose compilers cite Russian martyrologies which list him as a saint. However, the Prologue cites the fall of Constantinople while pointedly omitting any praise of Constantine. He accepted (and never publicly renounced) the false “union” of Florence, and so is counted by some as a heretic. Many Orthodox Christians, including many of the people of Constantinople, saw the city’s fall as divine retribution for the Empire’s acceptance of the union. Before his death the Emperor donned soldier’s armor and helped to man the ramparts of the City; his body was never found. Though various legends abound, the most likely explanation is that he died with many other defenders and was cast with them into a common grave.

Also commemorated: Rep. Bl. John of Ustiug

Daily readings

Vespers

Isaiah — Isaiah 2.2-3

²And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

²And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. ³And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. ³And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

Vespers

OT — Composite 21 - Isaiah 62.10-63.3, 7-9

Thus says the Lord: Walk, go through my gates; prepare my way and make a way for my people, and cast the stones out of the way; raise up a standard for the nations. For see, the Lord has made it heard to the ends of the earth: Say to the daughter of Sion: See, your Saviour has come, and his reward is with him, and his work before his face. And he will call it a holy people, redeemed by the Lord; while you will be called a city sought after, and not forsaken. Who is this who comes from Edom, the scarlet of his garments from Bosor, thus beautiful in his apparel? He cries out with much strength. I reason of justice and judgement of salvation. Why are your garments red, and your clothing as from a trodden winepress? I am full of the trodden grape; I have trampled the winepress quite alone, and no man from the nations was with me. I have remembered the mercy of the Lord, I will recall the Lord’s virtues, the Lord’s praise for all the things with which He rewards us. The Lord is a good judge for the house of Israel; he deals with us according to his mercy and according to the multitude of his justice. And he said: Are you not my people? Children will surely not be rebellious; and he became for them salvation out of their every distress. It was not an emissary, not an Angel, but the Lord himself saved them because he loved them and spared them. He redeemed them and took them up and exalted them all the days of the age.

Vespers

OT — Composite 22 - Zechariah 14.1, 4, 8-11

Thus says the Lord: See, the day of the Lord is coming, and on that day his feet will stand upon the mount of Olives, opposite Jerusalem, where the sun rises. And on that day living water will come out from Jerusalem, half towards the first sea and half towards the last sea; in spring and in summer it shall be so; and the Lord will be for a King over all the earth; in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name, compassing all the earth and the wilderness from Gabaa as far as Remmon, south of Jerusalem; and he shall be exalted and remain on his place from the gate of Benjamin as far as the place of the first gate, as far as the gate of Gomor and as far as the tower of Anameël and as far as the tower of the corners and as far as the king’s winepresses; they shall dwell in it and there shall be no more curse and Jerusalem shall dwell confidently.

Matins Gospel

Mark — Mark 16.9-20

⁹Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

⁹Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. ¹⁰And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. ¹⁰She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. ¹¹And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. ¹¹And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.

¹²After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

¹²And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. ¹³And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them. ¹³And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

¹⁴Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

¹⁴And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen. ¹⁵And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁵And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. ¹⁷And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁷And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. ¹⁸they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

¹⁹So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

¹⁹So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. ²⁰And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. ²⁰And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 1.1-12

¹The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

¹The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, ²Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: ²until the day in which he was received up, after that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen: ³To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: ³to whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God: ⁴And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. ⁴and, being assembled together with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, ye heard from me: ⁵for John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence. ⁵For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. ⁶When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

⁶They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? ⁷And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within his own authority. ⁷And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. ⁸But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ⁸But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ⁹And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ⁹And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; ¹⁰And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; ¹¹who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven. ¹¹Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

¹²Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey off. ¹²Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Luke — Luke 24.36-53

³⁶And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

³⁶And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ³⁷But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit. ³⁷But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. ³⁸And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart? ³⁸And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? ³⁹Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. ³⁹See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having. ⁴⁰And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. ⁴⁰And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat? ⁴¹And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? ⁴²And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. ⁴²And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish. ⁴³And he took it, and did eat before them. ⁴³And he took it, and ate before them.

⁴⁴And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. ⁴⁴And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. ⁴⁵Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, ⁴⁵Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures; ⁴⁶And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: ⁴⁶and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; ⁴⁷and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁷And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸Ye are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁸And ye are witnesses of these things.

⁴⁹And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. ⁴⁹And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.

⁵⁰And he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

⁵⁰And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. ⁵¹And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. ⁵¹And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: ⁵²And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: ⁵³and were continually in the temple, blessing God. ⁵³And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.