Daily Devotional

Scripture Readings

Paschalion — Movable Calendar

Saturday of the Twentieth Week

Epistle

The Reading is from the Second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians [§ 168].

1 ⁸Brethren, we wish you not to be ignorant concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down excessively, beyond our power, so as for us to have been utterly at a loss even of living. ⁹But we ourselves have had the sentence of death in ourselves, in order that we should not have trust in ourselves, but in God Who raiseth the dead, ¹⁰Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver; in Whom we have hope that He shall yet deliver, ¹¹ye also helping together by entreaty on our behalf, that for the gracious gift, by means of many persons toward us, thanks might be given by many on our behalf.

Gospel

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [§ 22]. At that time:

6 ¹On the sabbath, Jesus was going through the sown fields; and His disciples were plucking the ears of grain and eating them, rubbing them small in their hands. ²And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?” ³And answering Jesus said to them, “Did ye not read even this, that which David did, when he himself hungered and those who were with him: ⁴“how he entered into the house of God, and took the loaves set forth before the presence of God, and ate, and gave also to those with him, which it is not lawful to eat, except for the priests only?” ⁵And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord also of the sabbath.” ⁶And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that He entered into the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand also was withered. ⁷And the scribes and the Pharisees were watching closely whether He would cure on the sabbath, in order that they might find an accusation against Him. ⁸But He knew their reasonings, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand in the midst.” And he arose and stood. ⁹Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing, whether it is lawful on the sabbath days to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” ¹⁰And after He looked round about at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch forth thy hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as the other.

Menaion — Fixed Calendar

The commemoration of the holy Martyrs Probos, Tarachos and Andronikos, and our holy father among the saints, Martin, Bishop of Tours (commemorated on Gk. calendar on the 12^th of November).

Epistle

For the Martyrs:

The Reading is from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians [§ 233].

6 ¹⁰Brethren, keep on being empowered in the Lord and in the strength of His might. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, for you to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; ¹²because for us the wrestling is not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the cosmic rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of evil on account of the heavenly things. ¹³For this cause take up the full armor of God, in order that ye might be able to withstand in the evil day, and having counteracted all things, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having girt your loins with truth, and having put on for yourselves the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having shod your feet in readiness of the Gospel of peace; ¹⁶on the whole, take up the shield of faith, with which ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

For the Hierarch:

The Reading is from the First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians [§ 151]. Brethren:

12 ⁷To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given to the profit of all: ⁸for to one is given by the Spirit a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹and to another faith in the same Spirit; and to another free gifts of healings in the same Spirit; ¹⁰and to another operations of works of power; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to another interpretation of tongues; ¹¹but the one and the same Spirit energizeth all these things, distributing to each separately as He will.

Gospel

For the Martyrs:

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [§ 106]. The Lord said to His disciples, “Be taking heed of men:

21 ¹²“For they shall lay their hands upon you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors on account of My name; ¹³“but it shall prove to be a testimony for you. ¹⁴“Therefore settle it for yourselves in your hearts not to premeditate to make a defense; ¹⁵“for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all those who oppose you shall not be able to contradict nor withstand. ¹⁶“And ye shall be delivered up also by parents, and kinfolk, and friends, and brethren; and they shall put some of you to death. ¹⁷“And ye shall be hated by all for My name’s sake. ¹⁸“But a hair of your head in no wise shall perish. ¹⁹“In your patience win your souls.”

For the Hierarch:

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John [§ 36]. The Lord said to the Jews who had come to Him:

10 ⁹“I am the door; by Me if anyone should enter, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰“The thief cometh not, except that he might steal, and slay, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. ¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. ¹²“But the hireling, who indeed is not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep and fleeth; and the wolf seizeth them and scattereth the sheep. ¹³“Now the hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling and careth not about the sheep. ¹⁴“I am the good shepherd; and I know those that are Mine, and am known of those that are Mine. ¹⁵“Even as the Father knoweth Me, I also know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶“And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; them also it is needful for Me to bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.”

Lives of the Saints (Prologue)

October 25th – Civil Calendar
October 12th – Church Calendar

The Holy Martyrs Tarachos, Provos and Andronikos.

Tarachos was born in Syrian Claudiopolis, Provos in Pamphylian Side, and Andronikos was the son of an eminent citizen of Ephesus. They were all three martyred together by the proconsul, Hymerius Maximus, in the time of the Emperor Diocletian (284-305). Tarachos was sixty-five years old when he was martyred. When the proconsul asked him three times for his name, he answered all three times: ‘I am a Christian.’ They were first beaten with rods, then, all bloody and wounded, thrown into prison. After that, they were brought out again for further torture. When the proconsul urged Provos to deny Christ, promising him honors from the emperor and his own friendship, holy Provos replied: ‘I neither desire imperial honors nor seek your friendship.’ When he put St. Andronikos to even greater physical torture, Christ’s young martyr replied: ‘My body is before you; do with it what you will.’ After long-drawn-out torture in various places, these three holy martyrs were thrown into the theater before the wild beasts. Before them, others were torn to pieces by the animals in this same theater, but the beasts would not touch the saints; both the bear and the ferocious lioness fawned around them. Seeing this, many people believed in Christ the Lord and cried out against the proconsul. Wild with anger, and more ferocious than the beasts, the proconsul ordered soldiers to go in and cut Christ’s soldiers to pieces, and their bodies lay mingled with the bodies of the others who had been slain. Three Christians: Makarios, Felix and Verianos, who witnessed the slaughter of the holy martyrs, came that night to take their bodies. All the bodies being mixed up and the night being very dark, they, in uncertainty about how to distinguish the martyrs’ bodies, prayed to God, and three lights suddenly appeared above the bodies of the saints. They then took them and gave them burial.

2. St. Martin, Bishop of Tours.

Born in 316 in Pannonia, in a town called Sabaria, he was the son of pagan parents. His father was a Roman officer, and the young Martin was therefore put, against his will, into the army. He was, however, already a catechumen in the Christian Church, which he had loved with all his heart from his early youth. Travelling one winter with his companions to the town of Amiens, he saw a beggar, almost naked and freezing with cold, in front of the gates. Martin was distressed, and parting from his companions, took off his soldier’s cloak, and with his saber, cut it in half. He gave half to the beggar and wrapped himself in the other, and went on his way. That night, the Lord Jesus appeared to him in a dream, clad in the other half of his cloak, and said to His angels: ‘Martin is only a catechumen, and behold, he clothes Me in his garment!’ Leaving the army, Martin was immediately baptized, and baptized his mother. After that, he became a monk in the diocese of St. Hilary of Poitiers, and spent his life in true asceticism. He had a rare meekness, and for this God gave him abundant wonder-working gifts, so that he could raise the dead and drive out evil spirits. He was made Bishop of Tours against his will. After abundant toil in the Lord’s vineyard and after a mighty struggle with both pagans and Arian heretics, St. Martin gave his holy soul into the hands of his Lord in 397.

3. Our Holy Father Kosmas of Maiuma.

Born in Jerusalem, he was a friend of St. John Damascene, whose parents took him in as an orphan and educated him. As a monk, he helped St. Damascene to compile the Octoechos*, and he himself composed many canons to the saints. The especially lovely canons for Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and the Sunday of the Judgement are ascribed to him. He was bishop of the town of Maiuma, near Gaza. He outlived St. Damascene and died in great old age. * The Octoechos: the book of the Eight Modes, which change weekly and comprise the basis of the Offices—Tr.

FOR CONSIDERATION

In what have the saints been most exalted and glorified by heaven and by men? Chiefly in their humility and service. St. Martin, even as an officer before his Baptism, had one servant whom he regarded more as a brother than a servant. He often served his servant, feeling no shame at this, but rather joy. When St. Hilary wanted to make him a priest, he refused this honor with tears, and begged the bishop to let him be a monk in some remote place. St. Martin was once travelling from France to Pannonia, to see his parents. When he was crossing the Alps, brigands seized him and made to kill him. When one of the brigands took up a sword to behead him, Martin was unafraid and stayed motionless without asking for mercy, being utterly at peace as though nothing were happening. The brigand was astonished at such a reaction, put his sword away and asked Martin who he was. Martin said that he was a Christian, and that it was because of this that he was not afraid, knowing that God, in His great mercy, is near to men, and especially in the hour of danger. All the brigands were amazed at the rare virtues of this godly man, and he who had drawn his sword against Martin came to faith in Christ, was baptized and later became a monk. When the episcopal seat in Tours became vacant, everyone wanted to have St. Martin as bishop, but Martin was unwilling. Some citizens of Tours got him out of his monastery by craft, and took him off. This was how they did it: they came to the gate of Martin’s monastery and told the abbot that a sick man was waiting outside, asking that he come out and give him his blessing. When St. Martin came out, they seized him and carried him off to Tours, and made him bishop. Foreseeing his approaching death in old age, he told his brethren and they, with many tears, begged him not to leave them. The saint, to comfort them, prayed to God in their presence, saying: ‘Lord, if I am still needed by Thy people, I do not refuse the toil. May Thy holy will be done.’

Daily Scripture Readings taken from The Orthodox New Testament, translated and published by Holy Apostles Convent, Buena Vista, Colorado, copyright © 2000, used with permission, all rights reserved.

Daily Prologue Readings taken from The Prologue of Ochrid, by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic, translated by Mother Maria, published by Lazarica Press, Birmingham, England, copyright © 1985, all rights reserved. Edited by Dormition Skete.