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The Sunday of the Holy Fathers
According to Gk. usage, if the 11th of October should fall on Sunday, we commemorate the service of The Holy Fathers of the Seventh Œcumenical Synod. If not, we commemorate the service on the following Sunday. According Sl. usage, if the 11th of October should fall on Wednesday or earlier, the service is commemorated on the preceding Sunday. If the 11th should fall on Thursday or later, then the service is commemorated on the following Sunday.
Sunday of the Twentieth Week
Mode Three — Ninth Eothinon
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 12th of November).
No Fasting.
The Reading is from the Epistle of Saint Paul to Saint Titus [§ mid 302 A]: Child Titus:
3 8Faithful is the word. And concerning these things I desire thee to be affirming, in order that they who have believed God may give heed to set before themselves good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9But be shunning foolish inquiries, and genealogies, and strifes, and contentions relating to points of the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10A heretical man, after a first and second admonition, be rejecting, 11knowing that such a one hath been perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.
12Whenever I should send Artemas to thee, or Tychikos, hasten to come to me in Nicopolis, for I have decided to winter there. 13Send forth with haste Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, in order that nothing may be lacking to them. 14And let ours also be learning to set before themselves good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.
15All those with me salute thee. Greet those who love us in faith.
Grace be with you all. Amen.
For Sl. usage, see [Heb. 13:7-16].
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew [§ 11]. The Lord said to His disciples:
5 14“Ye are the light of the world. A city situated on the top of a mountain cannot be hid. 15“Nor do they light a lamp and put it under the bushel, but upon the lampstand, and it giveth light to all those in the house. 16“Thus, let your light shine before men, that they might see your good works, and might glorify your Father Who is in the heavens.
17“Do not begin to think that I came to abolish the law or the prophets; I came not to abolish, but to fulfill. 18“For verily I say to you, until the heaven and the earth shall have passed away, one iota or one tittle in no wise shall pass away from the law, until all shall have taken place. 19“Whosoever then shall break one of the least of these commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whosoever shall do and teach them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.”
for Sl. usage, see [Jn. 17:1-13].
The Reading is from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Galatians [§ 200].
1 11Brethren, I make known to you the Gospel which was preached as good tidings by me, that it is not according to man; 12for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but by a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13For ye heard of my manner of life at one time in Judaism, that according to excess, I used to persecute the Church of God, and was ravaging her. 14And I kept on advancing in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in mine own race, being more exceedingly a zealot of the traditions of my fathers. 15But when it pleased God, Who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, 16to reveal His Son in me, that I be preaching Him as good tidings among the nations, immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood, 17neither did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and again returned to Damascus. 18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and remained with him fifteen days; 19but of the other apostles I saw none, except Iakovos the brother of the Lord.
The Reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [§ 30]. At that time:
7 11Jesus was going into a city which is called Nain; and a considerable number of His disciples were going with Him, and a great crowd. 12Now as He drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was also being carried out one who had died, an only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a considerable crowd from the city was with her. 13And after the Lord saw her, He was moved with compassion toward her, and said to her, “Cease weeping.” 14And He approached and touched the bier, and those bearing it stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to thee, arise.” 15And the dead man sat up and began to talk. And He gave him to his mother. 16And fear took hold of all, and they were glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet hath been raised up among us”; and, “God visited His people.”
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.
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.”
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.”
October 25th — Civil Calendar October 12th — Church Calendar
The Holy Martyrs Tarachus, Probus and Andronicus.
Tarachus was born in Syrian Claudiopolis, Probus in Pamphylian Side, and Andronicus 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). Tarachus 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 Probus to deny Christ, promising him honours from the Emperor and his own friendship, holy Probus replied: ‘I neither desire imperial honours nor seek your friendship.’ When he put St Andronicus 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 theatre before the wild beasts. Before them, others were torn to pieces by the animals in this same theatre, 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: Macarius, Felix and Verianus, 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 sabre, 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 see, he clothes Me in his garment!’ Leaving the army, Martin was immediately baptised, and baptised 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 wonderworking 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 Cosmas 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 Tones, 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 honour 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 baptised 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.
