Daily Devotional

Scripture Readings

Paschalion — Movable Calendar

Thursday of the Thirteenth Week

Epistle

The Reading is from the Second Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians [§ 190]. Brethren:

10 ⁷If anyone hath persuaded himself to be of Christ, let him consider this of himself, that even as he is of Christ, even so are we of Christ. ⁸For even if I also should boast somewhat more abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave to us for building up, and not for your pulling down, I shall not be put to shame, ⁹in order that I might not seem as if I would frighten you by means of the epistles. ¹⁰“For on the one hand, the epistles,” saith one, “are weighty and strong, but on the other hand his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” ¹¹Let such a one take this into account, that, such as we are in word by epistles when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present. ¹²For we dare not to reckon or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, do not comprehend. ¹³But we will not boast beyond measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. ¹⁴For we are not stretching ourselves overmuch, as though we did not reach to you; for we also came as far as to you in the Gospel of the Christ, ¹⁵not boasting of things beyond measure in the toils of others, but having hope, when your faith is increased, to be magnified among you according to our province unto abundance, ¹⁶to preach the Gospel to what lieth beyond you, and not to boast in another’s province, in things ready. ¹⁷“But the one who boasteth, let him boast in the Lord [cf. Jer. 9:23, 24].” ¹⁸For not the one who commendeth himself is that one who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commendeth.

Gospel

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark [§ 14]. The Lord said:

3 ²⁸“Verily I say to you, that all sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and howsoever many blasphemies they shall utter to blaspheme; ²⁹“but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath not forgiveness forever, but is liable to everlasting condemnation”— ³⁰because they were saying, “He hath an unclean spirit.” ³¹Then came His Mother and His brethren; and they stood outside, and sent off word to Him, calling Him. ³²And a crowd was sitting about Him; and they said to Him, “Behold, Thy Mother and Thy brethren outside are seeking for Thee.” ³³And He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother or My brethren?” ³⁴And He looked round about on those who sat about Him in a circle, and said, “Behold, My mother and My brethren! ³⁵“For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother and My sister and My mother.”

Menaion — Fixed Calendar

The commemoration of Hieromartyr Anthimos, Bishop of Nicomedia, and the holy Passion-bearer, Edward, King of England.

Epistle

For the Hieromartyr:

The Reading is from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Hebrews [§ 334]. Brethren:

13 ⁷Be remembering those who lead you, who spoke to you the word of God, whose faith keep on imitating, observing attentively the end of their conduct: ⁸Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and to the ages. ⁹Cease being carried about by various and strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be confirmed by grace, not by foods, in which those walking therein were not profited. ¹⁰We have an altar from which those serving the tabernacle have no authority to eat; ¹¹for the bodies of those animals, “whose blood is being brought into the holies for sins” by the high priest, “are being burned outside of the encampment [cf. Lev. 16:27].” ¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people by His own blood, suffered outside of the gate. ¹³Let us be going forth therefore to Him outside of the encampment, bearing His reproach; ¹⁴for we have no abiding city here, but we seek the coming one. ¹⁵Through Him, then, let us be offering up a “sacrifice of praise [Lev. 7:2(12)]” continually to God, that is, “the fruit of the lips [cf. Hos. 14:3(2); Is. 57:19],” giving thanks to His name. ¹⁶But cease being forgetful of doing good and of contributing; for God is well pleased with such sacrifices.

For the Passion-bearer:

The Reading is from the Second Epistle of Saint Paul to Saint Timothy [§ 291]. Child Timothy:

1 ⁸Do thou not become ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor me His prisoner, but suffer hardship with the Gospel, according to God’s power, ⁹Who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages of time, ¹⁰but now hath been made manifest by the appearance of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who brought death to nought indeed and brought to light life and incorruption through the Gospel, ¹¹to which I was appointed a herald and apostle and teacher of nations. ¹²For which cause I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know Whom I have believed, and have been persuaded that He is able to guard the deposit entrusted to me until that day. ¹³Keep on holding fast an outline of sound words which thou heardest from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴Guard thou the good deposit entrusted to thee through the Holy Spirit indwelling in us.

¹⁵This thou knowest, that all they who are in Asia were turned away from me, of whom are Phygellos and Hermogenes. ¹⁶May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphoros, for many times he refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; ¹⁷but having been in Rome, he sought me out most diligently and found me— ¹⁸may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord in that day—and in how many things he ministered in Ephesus thou knowest better than I need say.

Gospel

For the Hieromartyr:

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew [§ 43]. The Lord said to His disciples:

11 ²⁷“All things were delivered to Me by My Father. And no one doth fully know the Son, except the Father; nor doth anyone fully know the Father, except the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son is willing to reveal Him. ²⁸“Come to Me, all ye who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹“Take up My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls. ³⁰“For My yoke is good and My burden is light.”

for Sl. usage, see [Jn. 10:9-16].

For the Passion-bearer:

The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [§ 63]. The Lord said to His disciples:

12 ²“There is nothing which hath been covered up which shall not be uncovered, nor hidden which shall not be known. ³“Wherefore, whatsoever ye said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye spoke in the ear in the closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. ⁴“And I say to you, My friends, do not become afraid because of those who kill the body, and after these things are not able to do anything more. ⁵“But I will show you Whom ye should fear: fear the One Who after the killing hath power to cast into Gehenna; yea, I say to you, this One fear. ⁶“Five sparrows are sold for two assaria, are they not? And not one of them is forgotten before the face of God. ⁷“Yea, even the hairs of your head have all been numbered. Therefore cease being afraid; ye excel many sparrows. ⁸“But I say to you, everyone who shall confess in Me before men, the Son of Man also shall confess in him before the angels of God. ⁹“But the one who denieth Me before the face of men shall be denied before the face of the angels of God. ¹⁰“And everyone who shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but to the one who blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven. ¹¹“And whenever they bring you in before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, cease being anxious how or what ye should speak in defense, or what ye should say; ¹²“for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what things it is needful to say.”

Lives of the Saints (Prologue)

September 16th – Civil Calendar
September 3rd – Church Calendar

1. The Hieromartyr Anthimos.

Born in Nikomedia, he was brought up from childhood as a true Christian. ‘His body was mortified, his spirit humble; jealousy was uprooted, anger tamed, sloth banished.... He had love for all and was at peace with all, had a good understanding with all, was filled with zeal for the glory of God and was open to all.’ It is not surprising that a man of such virtues was made a bishop. St. Anthimos worked as a bishop in Nikomedia at the time of a harsh persecution of Christians under the two wicked Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Streams of Christian blood were spilled, especially in Nikomedia. One year, on the feast of the Nativity of Christ, twenty thousand martyrs were burned in one church (see Dec. 28th). This happened during Anthimos’ episcopate. The persecution did not end with this, but continued, and many Christians were thrown into prison and kept there for torture and death. St. Anthimos withdrew to a village, Omana, not to escape death but to be able thence to strengthen his flock in the path of martyrdom, that none should draw back through fear. One of his letters to the Christians in prison was seized and taken to the Emperor Maximian. The emperor sent twenty soldiers to find Anthimos and take him. The grey-beard, discerning this, went out to meet the soldiers, brought them into his house as his guests and only then revealed that he was Anthimos. The soldiers, amazed at his kindness, urged him to hide, and said that they would tell the emperor that they had been unable to find him, but Anthimos replied that he dared not allow God’s law to be violated by a lie in order to save his life. So he set out with the soldiers. On the way, all the soldiers came to faith in Christ and were baptized by Anthimos. Brought before the emperor, Anthimos was submitted to harsh and long-drawn-out torture, and was finally beheaded with an axe. He glorified God and entered into rest in the Lord at the beginning of the fourth century.

2. The Holy Martyr Vasilissa.

A nine-year-old girl, she suffered in Nikomedia not long after the death of Anthimos. The torturers covered her whole body with wounds, but she remained faithful to Christ. God preserved her unharmed in fire and before wild beasts. Her torturer, Alexander, seeing these wonders, repented and became a Christian. Vasilissa went out into a field, fell on her knees and prayed to God, thanking Him for her endurance under torture, and while thus praying, gave her soul into God’s hands. This was in the year 309.

3. St. Ioannikios (Joanikije), Archbishop and First Patriarch of Serbia.

Born in Prizren, he served at first as secretary to King Dušan. He became archbishop in 1339, and in 1346 was raised to the rank of patriarch. He was a zealous pastor, and brought order to the Serbian Church, being ‘a great upholder of the Church’s laws’. He entered into rest on September 3rd, 1349, and his relics are preserved at Peć.

4. Our Holy Father Theoktistos.

A faster and fellow-ascetic of St. Efthymios the Great, Theoktistos was abbot of Efthymios’ monastery six miles from Jerusalem, on the road to Jericho. He was in all things a disciple of Efthymios, governing the monastery under his guidance to the age of ninety. He led a godly life, and entered into rest in the middle of the fifth century, in the time of Patriarch Anastasios of Jerusalem.

FOR CONSIDERATION

He who desires to be saved must be absolutely obedient to his spiritual superior. Without this obedience, a man can perish, even with the greatest possible desire for salvation. The great saints, who held obedience to be a condition for salvation, themselves perfectly fulfilled obedience. When St. Simeon chose his ascesis on the pillar, this startled the other ascetics as being something new. They, not knowing if this way of asceticism was of the Spirit of God or the spirit of pride, sent various desert fathers and spiritual guides to discover this. Sending them, they told them to command Simeon in their name to come down from his pillar. If he refused, that would mean that his being raised up on the pillar was from the spirit of pride. If he heeded the command and was willing to come down from the pillar, then he must be left to stay where he was, because his readiness to obey showed that his ascesis was from the Holy Spirit. When the delegation arrived and told St. Simeon that the council of the desert fathers commanded him to come down from his pillar, Simeon immediately began to climb down the ladder. Seeing this, the fathers called out joyfully to him: ‘Don’t come down, holy father; stay where you are! We now see that your ascesis is from God!’

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.