Fasting Rules
Meat
Abstain
Fish
Allowed
Dairy
Abstain
Oil
Allowed
Wine
Allowed
Saints & Commemorations
St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem
St Euthymius, Bishop of Novgorod
St Sophronios, patriarch of Jerusalem (638)
He was born in Damascus to an eminent family, and was well educated in his youth. Discontented with the wisdom of the world, he entered monastic life in the monastery of St Theodosius, where he became the lifelong friend and disciple of John Moschos. Together they visited the monasteries and hermitages of Egypt; they later wrote down their discoveries among the holy monks in the classic Spiritual Meadow.
He was born in Damascus to an eminent family, and was well educated in his youth. Discontented with the wisdom of the world, he entered monastic life in the monastery of St Theodosius, where he became the lifelong friend and disciple of John Moschos. Together they visited the monasteries and hermitages of Egypt; they later wrote down their discoveries among the holy monks in the classic Spiritual Meadow. After the death of his teacher, St Sophronius traveled to Jerusalem, which had just been liberated from the Persians. He was there to see the Precious Cross returned from Persia by the Emperor Heraclius, who carried it into Jerusalem on his back. A few years later, in 634, St Sophronius was elected Patriarch of Jerusalem, where he served his flock wisely for three years and three months. He was zealous in the defense of Orthodoxy against the Monothelite heresy: He convoked a Council in Jerusalem which condemned it before it was condemned at the Sixth Ecumenical Council. The holy Patriarch even traveled to Constantinople to rebuke the Patriarch Sergius and Emperor Heraclius, who had embraced the Monothelite error.
The years of peace were few for the Holy Land; for just as the Persian Empire was decisively defeated by Heraclius, the followers of Islam erupted out of Arabia, conquering most of North Africa and the Middle East in a few years. The Saint was so grieved by the capture of Jerusalem in 637 by the Caliph Omar that begged God to take him, so that he might not live to see the desecration of the holy places. His prayer was granted, and he reposed in peace less than a year later.
St Sophronios is the author of the Life of Saint Mary of Egypt, appointed to be read in the churches during every Great Lent. He also wrote the service of the Great Blessing of the Waters. Some have attributed the Vesperal hymn “Gladsome Light” to him, but we know that it dates from before the time of St Basil the Great, who mentions it in his writings. It seems though, that St Sophronios supplemented the hymn, and that its present form is due to him.
St John Moschos, author of the Spiritual Meadow (622)
He is commemorated today along with his disciple and friend St Sophronius (see above).
Holy Martyr Pionius (250)
“A priest of Smyrna, he suffered there in the time of Decius’ persecution. They condemned him to be crucified, which was a great joy to him. And as soon as the soldiers assembled the cross and laid it on the ground, Pionius laid himself on it and stretched out his arms, calling to the soldiers to put the nails into his hands. The
“A priest of Smyrna, he suffered there in the time of Decius’ persecution. They condemned him to be crucified, which was a great joy to him. And as soon as the soldiers assembled the cross and laid it on the ground, Pionius laid himself on it and stretched out his arms, calling to the soldiers to put the nails into his hands. The cross was inserted into the ground upside down, and a fire lit under the martyr’s head. There were many bystanders. Pionius closed his eyes and prayed to God within himself. The flames could not succeed in igniting even his hair, and when the fire had at last gone out and everyone thought that he was dead, Pionius opened his eyes and cried out joyfully: ‘O Lord, receive my spirit!’, and breathed his last. This saint wrote the life of St Polycarp of Smyrna, together with whom he now makes merry in the Kingdom of Christ. He suffered and was glorified in 250.” (Prologue)
Scripture Readings
☩Epistle
Jude 11-25
☩Gospel
Luke 23:2-34, 44-56
2
And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
3
And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
4
Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
5
And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
6
When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilean.
7
And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
8
And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
9
Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
10
And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
11
And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
12
And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
13
And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14
Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
15
No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
16
I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
17
(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
18
And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
19
(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
20
Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
21
But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
22
And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
23
And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
24
And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
25
And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
26
And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
27
And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
28
But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29
For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
30
Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31
For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
32
And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
44
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
47
Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
48
And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
49
And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
50
And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51
(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
52
This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53
And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54
And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55
And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Liturgical data sourced from OCA.org and orthocal.info