Fasting Rules
Meat
Allowed
Fish
Allowed
Dairy
Allowed
Oil
Allowed
Wine
Allowed
Saints & Commemorations
Hieromartyr Theodotus, Bishop of Cyrenia
St Arseny, Bishop of Tver
The Four Hundred and Forty Martyrs of Lombardy (579)
Forty of them were beheaded in one place in Lombardy (in Italy) because they refused to eat food offered to idols. Another four hundred were massacred because they refused to join with the Lombard pagans’ practice of dancing around a goat’s head that had been brought for sacrifice to the idols. Their deaths are recorded by St Gregory the Dialogist (Gregory the Great).
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Forty of them were beheaded in one place in Lombardy (in Italy) because they refused to eat food offered to idols. Another four hundred were massacred because they refused to join with the Lombard pagans’ practice of dancing around a goat’s head that had been brought for sacrifice to the idols. Their deaths are recorded by St Gregory the Dialogist (Gregory the Great).
We sometimes imagine that the Roman Empire converted almost overnight to Christianity during the reign of St Constantine the Great. This incident, more than two hundred years into Europe’s ‘Christian era’, reminds us that the progress of the Faith among the people was often slow and halting, and that paganism remained a force for many centuries.
Holy Martyr Euthalia (257)
She was a pagan maiden living in Sicily with her mother (also named Euthalia) and her brother Sermilianus. When Euthalia’s mother became ill with an issue of blood, the holy martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus (May 10) appeared to her in a dream and told her that she would only be healed if she were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. H
She was a pagan maiden living in Sicily with her mother (also named Euthalia) and her brother Sermilianus. When Euthalia’s mother became ill with an issue of blood, the holy martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyrinus (May 10) appeared to her in a dream and told her that she would only be healed if she were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heeding the dream, she believed, was baptized, and was healed. Her daughter Euthalia, seeing this wonder, was also baptised. Sermilianus, despising and hating the Christian faith, first mocked his mother and sister for their conversion, then threatened them. The mother fled the house in fear. Euthalia remained, saying to her brother ‘I am a Christian, and have no fear of death.’ The cruel Sermilianus persecuted her more and more harshly until finally, enraged by the futility of his threats, he beheaded his own sister by his own hand, unknowingly procuring for her a crown of eternal glory. “And thus in this example were fulfilled the words of Christ that He was bringing a sword among men which would divide those of one blood but not those of one faith (Matt. 10:34-35).” (Prologue)
Scripture Readings
☩Epistle
1 John 3:10-20
10
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
13
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17
But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
☩Gospel
Mark 14:10-42
10
And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
11
And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
12
And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
13
And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
14
And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
15
And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.
16
And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
17
And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
18
And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
19
And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
20
And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
21
The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
22
And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
23
And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24
And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
25
Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
26
And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
27
And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
28
But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
29
But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30
And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31
But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
32
And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
33
And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34
And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35
And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
37
And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
39
And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
40
And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
41
And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42
Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
Liturgical data sourced from OCA.org and orthocal.info