Sunday, 1 June 2025

Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council

7th Sunday of Pascha

42 days after Pascha · Tone 6 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

Holy Martyr Justin and his companions at Rome

Together with the philosopher and apologist Justin, the Church commemorates on this day his fellow martyrs who suffered with him at Rome under the prefect Junius Rusticus during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Their names are preserved in the ancient acts of the trial as Chariton, Charita his wife, Euelpistus, Hierax, Peon, Valerian and Justus. They were Christians of various stations who had been instructed in the school Justin had opened at Rome, or had been gathered around him by his preaching. When brought before the prefect they were ordered to sacrifice to the Roman gods, and each in turn confessed Christ, declaring that they would rather suffer than deny the truth. After being scourged they were beheaded together with their teacher around the year 165. The acta of their martyrdom rank among the earliest authentic court records of Christian witness.

Holy Martyr Justin the Philosopher

Born in 103, he was a philosopher from the Samaritan town of Shechem in Palestine, who had devoted his life to the search for truth, trying many philosophical schools and sources of human wisdom: the Stoics, the Peripatetics, the Pythagoreans and finally the Platonists. One day an old man (whose name and origin are unknown) appeared to him and spoke to him of the Prophets and Apostles who had learned of God not by their own wisdom, but by revelation of God Himself. He read the scriptures and was convinced of the truth of the Faith, but he would not be baptised or call himself a Christian until he had tested all the pagans’ arguments against Christianity. To this end he traveled to Rome, where he engaged in debate at philosophical gatherings, impressing all with his wisdom. In Rome he also witnessed the martyrdom of Sts Ptolemy and Lucian; this moved him to write an Apologia for the Christian faith and the Christian people, which he gave to the Emperor Antoninus and the Senate. They were so moved by this document that the Emperor ordered that persecution of Christians should cease.

For the remainder of his life, Justin devoted all his skills to the proclamation of the Gospel and the defense of Christians. To the end of his life, wherever he preached Christ, he always wore his philosopher’s garb. In addition to his Apologia, he wrote a number of other learned defenses of the faith.

Eventually he was imprisoned following the false accusations of Crescens, a jealous Cynic philosopher. He died (one source says by beheading, another by poison) in Rome in 167 under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, successor to Antoninus.

Saint Dionysius, abbot of Glushitsa

1437

Saint Dionysius of Glushitsa was a monastic founder of the Vologda region of northern Russia who reposed in 1437. Tonsured at the Spaso-Kamenny monastery on Lake Kubenskoye, he sought greater solitude and in 1393 went deeper into the Vologda forest. Resting one evening by the river Glushitsa, he heard in his sleep the ringing of bells, which he took as a sign that he should build a monastery there. He founded the Pokrov community, which became a major centre of monastic life in the region, and later established a women's house dedicated to Saint Leontius of Rostov. A skilled icon painter, copyist and carpenter, he carved the wooden cross that stood over his grave with his own hands. His disciples carried the eremitic ideal across the northern forests, and he is remembered as one of the great wonderworkers of Vologda.

Venerable Agapitus the unmercenary physician of the Kiev Caves

Saint Agapitus was a native of Kiev who became a disciple of Saint Anthony of the Caves in the eleventh century. He devoted himself to caring for the sick brethren of the monastery, treating them with simple herbs and prayer and refusing all payment, so that he came to be called "the unmercenary physician." His prayer raised many from sickbeds, and he is said to have healed the future Great Prince Vladimir Monomakh of Chernigov by sending him boiled herbs. A learned Armenian physician who at first mocked his methods came to test him during his last illness and predicted his death within three days. Saint Agapitus replied that the Lord had revealed he would be summoned only after three months, and so it was. The Armenian was so struck by the truth of the prophecy and the holiness of the saint that he received Orthodox baptism and the monastic tonsure. Saint Agapitus reposed not later than 1095 and his relics rest in the Near Caves of the Kiev Lavra.

Our Holy Father Agapitus of the Kiev Caves

1095

“A natural doctor, he was a disciple of St Antony of Kiev. He healed people by prayer and the prescribing of cabbage, which they made into a sort of bread. Prince Vladimir Monomachus was healed in this way, and this made Agapitus famed on all sides. The Prince’s doctor, an Armenian, hearing of this, began to spread slander about him. When Agapitus became ill, the Armenian came and, looking at him, said that he would die in three days and that, if he did not do so, then he, the Armenian, would become a monk. Agapitus told him that it had been revealed to him by God that he would die, not in three days but in three months. And so it came to pass. After Agapitus’s death, the Armenian went to the abbot of the Monastery of the Caves and asked him to make him a monk. He explained that Agapitus had appeared to him from the other world and reminded him of his promise. And so the one-time envier became a humble monk, by the providence of God whose care it is that all men be saved. St Agapitus entered into rest in about 1095.” (Prologue)

Daily readings

Vespers

Genesis — Genesis 14.14-20

¹⁴And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. ¹⁴And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. ¹⁵And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. ¹⁵And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. ¹⁶And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. ¹⁶And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

¹⁷And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.

¹⁷And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, at the vale of Shaveh (the same is the King’s Vale). ¹⁸And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. ¹⁸And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. ¹⁹And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: ¹⁹And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: ²⁰And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. ²⁰and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.

Vespers

Deuteronomy — Deuteronomy 1.8-11, 15-17

⁸Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. ⁸Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

⁹And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:

⁹And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone: ¹⁰The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. ¹⁰Jehovah your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. ¹¹(The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!) ¹¹Jehovah, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you! ¹⁵So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. ¹⁵So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes. ¹⁶And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. ¹⁶And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the sojourner that is with him. ¹⁷Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. ¹⁷Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.

Vespers

Deuteronomy — Deuteronomy 10.14-21

¹⁴Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’s thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. ¹⁴Behold, unto Jehovah thy God belongeth heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein. ¹⁵Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. ¹⁵Only Jehovah had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day. ¹⁶Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. ¹⁶Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. ¹⁷For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: ¹⁷For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. ¹⁸He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. ¹⁸He doth execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the sojourner, in giving him food and raiment. ¹⁹Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. ¹⁹Love ye therefore the sojourner; for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt. ²⁰Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; him shalt thou serve; and to him shalt thou cleave, and by his name shalt thou swear. ²⁰Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. ²¹He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. ²¹He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

10th Matins Gospel

John — John 21.1-14

¹After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

¹After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested himself on this wise. ²There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. ²There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. ³Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. ³Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing. ⁴But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. ⁴But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. ⁵Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No. ⁵Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. ⁶And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. ⁶And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. ⁷Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. ⁷That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea. ⁸And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. ⁸But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net full of fishes. ⁹So when they got out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. ⁹As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. ¹⁰Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now taken. ¹⁰Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. ¹¹Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent. ¹¹Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. ¹²Jesus saith unto them, Come and break your fast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. ¹²Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. ¹³Jesus cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise. ¹⁴This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. ¹⁴This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

Epistle

weekly cycle

Acts — Acts 20.16-18, 28-36

¹⁶For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. ¹⁶For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

¹⁷And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

¹⁷And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church. ¹⁸And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

¹⁸And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time,

²⁸Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. ²⁸Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood. ²⁹For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ²⁹I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. ³⁰and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. ³¹Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears. ³²And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. ³²And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified. ³³I coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. ³³I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. ³⁴Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. ³⁴Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. ³⁵I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. ³⁵In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

³⁶And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

³⁶And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.

Gospel

weekly cycle

John — John 17.1-13

¹These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

¹These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee: ²As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. ²even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life. ³And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. ³And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, even Jesus Christ. ⁴I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. ⁴I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do. ⁵And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. ⁵And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. ⁶I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word. ⁶I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. ⁷Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. ⁷Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee: ⁸For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. ⁸for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me. ⁹I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. ⁹I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine: ¹⁰and all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine: and I am glorified in them. ¹⁰And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. ¹¹And I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are. ¹¹And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. ¹²While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. ¹²While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. ¹³And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.