Saturday, 28 June 2025

Saturday of the 3rd week after Pentecost

69 days after Pascha · Tone 1 · Black squigg (6-stich typikon symbol) · Apostles Fast (Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed)

Saints commemorated

★ Sts Sergius and Herman, abbots of Valaam

1353

After helping to establish Orthodoxy among the Karelian Finns, they founded the famous Valaam Monastery on Lake Ladoga in northern Russia. Both reposed in the same year.

Holy Martyr Papias the Soldier

The Holy Martyr Papias was a Roman soldier of the third century who, when the persecution of Diocletian fell upon the army, was unmasked as a Christian by his refusal to take part in the customary sacrifices to the idols. Brought before the tribunal, he confessed Christ openly before his fellow soldiers and the magistrate, was deprived of his rank, and after enduring scourgings and other torments was at last beheaded for the name of Jesus. He is numbered among the soldier martyrs whose witness in the Roman barracks bore fruit in the conversion of many of their comrades, and his memory is preserved on this day in the Greek and Slavonic Synaxaria.

Saint Magnus the Wonderworker

Saint Magnus is commemorated by the Church as a venerable monk who reposed while at prayer to the Lord, and who through the gift of unceasing intercession was glorified as a wonderworker for the help he afforded those who called upon him. According to the tradition preserved in the Synaxaria of the Church, he is remembered together with the holy Martyr Magnus who is numbered among the Nine Martyrs of Cyzicus and to whom the Patriarch Germanus of Constantinople composed a hymn; some calendars distinguish them, while others bring their commemorations together on this day. Whether identified with the soldier of Cyzicus martyred under Diocletian or with a later monastic of the same name, Saint Magnus is honoured among those whose hidden life of prayer was made known by the wonders worked through their relics.

Saints Sergius and Germanus, Wonderworkers of Valaam

Saints Sergius and Germanus were Greek hieromonks who came from the territories of Constantinople into the lands of the north and settled, according to the Valaam tradition, on the island of Valaam in Lake Ladoga about the year 1329. Of their ascetic struggles few details are recorded, but they are remembered as the founders of the celebrated Valaam Monastery dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Saviour, which from their cell grew into one of the chief monastic centres of the Russian north and a school of holiness for many later saints, including Saint Arsenius of Konevits, Saint Sabbatius of Solovki and the Apostle of Alaska, Saint Herman. They reposed in the Lord about the year 1353. Their relics, by reason of repeated invasions of Karelia by the Swedes, were translated more than once for safe-keeping; according to a chronicle of the eighteenth century, in 1163 their relics had already been removed to Novgorod for protection, and the Church of Finland keeps the translation of their holy relics on 11 September. The chief commemoration of their repose is observed on this day in the Russian and Finnish Orthodox calendars, and again on 28 September in remembrance of their second translation.

Translation of the relics of the Holy Unmercenaries Cyrus and John

311

The holy Unmercenaries Cyrus and John suffered martyrdom in Egypt in the year 311 in the city of Canopus near Alexandria. Cyrus had been a celebrated physician in Alexandria who, after embracing Christ and refusing to worship the idols, withdrew to Arabia and there continued his medical work, treating both bodies and souls; John, a soldier who heard of his fame, sought him out and joined his life of asceticism. When the holy virgin Athanasia and her three daughters Theoctista, Theodota and Eudoxia were arrested at Canopus, Cyrus and John came to comfort them and to fortify them in their confession; thereupon they too were seized, scourged and beheaded for Christ. Their bodies were buried at Canopus by the faithful and worked many miracles. The pagan temple at Manuphis on the western branch of the Nile was a place possessed by demons; Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria desired to cleanse it but died before he could do so. His successor, Saint Cyril of Alexandria, was directed by an angel to translate the relics of Cyrus and John from Canopus to Manuphis, which he did in the year 412, building over them a church and dispersing the demons by their presence. From that time the place became famous throughout the Christian world for healings, and the saints worked countless wonders, often appearing to the sick in dreams to instruct them in their cure. Their chief feast is kept on 31 January, and on this day the Church remembers the translation of their relics.

Synaxis of the Icon of our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos "Of the Three Hands"

Saint John of Damascus (December 4), the great defender of Orthodoxy against the iconoclasts, was falsely accused of plotting against the Caliph of Damascus through the intrigues of the iconoclast Emperor Leo the Isaurian (reigned 717-741). The Caliph ordered St John’s hand to be cut off for his suspected treachery. The saint asked for the severed hand, and passed the night praying fervently for aid before an icon of the most holy Theotokos. Waking in the morning, he found his hand miraculously restored, with only a scar around the wrist where it had been completely severed. In thanksgiving, St John had a silver hand mounted on the icon. When he became a monk in the monastery of St Sabbas in the Holy Land, he took the icon with him. It remained there until it was given to St Sabbas (Sava) of Serbia (January 14), who brought it to Serbia. Later it was miraculously taken to the Hilandar Monastery on the Holy Mountain (carried, according to legend, from Serbia to Mt Athos by an unguided donkey), where it may now be found.

Our Holy Father Sennuphius the Standard-Bearer

4th c.

“A great ascetic and wonderworker of the Egyptian desert, he was a contemporary of Patriarch Theophilus and the Emperor Theodosius the Great. He is called ‘the Standard-Bearer’ because he once helped the Emperor Theodosius to gain a victory over enemy forces by his prayers. When the Emperor summoned him to Constantinople, he replied that he was unable to go, but sent his torn and patched monastic habit and his staff. Going out to battle, the Emperor put on Sennuphius’s habit and carried his staff in his hand, and returned victorious from the battle.” (Prologue)

Also commemorated: Trans. Rel. Ven. Cyrus and John

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Romans — Romans 3.28-4.3

²⁸Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. ²⁸We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. ²⁹Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: ²⁹Or is God the God of Jews only? is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also: ³⁰Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. ³⁰if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith. ³¹Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

³¹Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.

¹What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

¹What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh? ²For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. ²For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God. ³For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. ³For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 7.24-8.4

²⁴Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

²⁴Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock: ²⁵And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. ²⁵and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. ²⁶And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: ²⁶And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: ²⁷And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. ²⁷and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof.

²⁸And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching: ²⁸And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: ²⁹for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. ²⁹For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

¹And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

¹When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. ²And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ²And behold, there came to him a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ³And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ³And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed. ⁴And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. ⁴And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.