Monday, 7 July 2025

Monday of the 5th week after Pentecost

78 days after Pascha · Tone 3 · Liturgy · No Fast

Saints commemorated

★ Holy great martyr Kyriake of Nicomedia

282

Dorotheos and Eusebia, a devout, aging Christian couple who lived in Anatolia, had no children. After many years, their fervent prayers for a child were answered, and they were blessed with a daughter, whom they named Kyriake (‘Sunday’ in Greek) because she was born on the Lord’s day. The child grew up beautiful in body and soul and, though she had many suitors, chose to consecrate herself entirely to God and remain single. One of her suitors, angered at her refusal, denounced her and her parents to the Emperor Diocletian. Dorotheos and Eusebia were subjected to cruel tortures, then sent into exile, where they died under further torture. Kyriake was sent to Maximian, Diocletian’s son-in-law, for trial. By his orders, she was subjected to a horrifying series of torments; but Christ Himself appeared to her in prison, healing and comforting her. Many pagans came to believe in Christ when they saw her miraculously saved from death by fire or from wild beasts; all of these were beheaded. Kyriake told Apollonius, the general who supervised her tortures: ‘There is no way that you can turn me from my faith. Throw me into the fire — I have the example of the Three Children. Throw me to the wild beasts — I have the example of Daniel. Throw me into the sea — I have the example of Jonah the Prophet. Put me to the sword — I will remember the honored Forerunner. For me, to die is life in Christ.’ Apollonius then ordered that she be beheaded. At the place of execution, she raised her hands in prayer and gave up her soul to God before the executioner could take her life.

Note: St Kyriake is also known as Dominica or Nedelja, Latin and Slavonic words for ‘Sunday’.

Holy martyrs Peregrinus, Lucian, Pompeius, Hesychius, Papius, Saturninus and Germanus of Dyrrachium

The holy martyrs Peregrinus, Lucian, Pompeius, Hesychius, Papius, Saturninus and Germanus were natives of Italy who suffered for Christ in the early second century, under the emperor Trajan, in the city of Dyrrachium on the shores of the Adriatic. They had fled there from the persecution then raging in Italy, hoping to find a place of refuge in which to live their faith in peace. In Dyrrachium, however, they witnessed the public crucifixion of the bishop of that city, Saint Astius, who had been smeared with honey and exposed to the bees by the prefect. Unable to keep silence at so great an outrage, they openly praised the courage and firmness of the holy confessor and made known their own faith in Christ. They were at once seized; and as confessors of Christ they were taken in a boat out to sea and drowned in the deep. Their bodies, carried back to shore by the waves, were hidden in the sand by Christians and so escaped further outrage. About ninety years later they appeared in a vision to the bishop of Alexandria, instructing him to recover their bodies and to build a church over them, which he did. They are commemorated together on 7 July, the day after the holy hieromartyr Astius.

St Thomas of Mt Maleon

10th c.

He was a renowned general, known for his great size and courage, his many victories against barbarian enemies, and his considerable wealth. But, forsaking wealth and reputation to follow Christ, he retired to the desert to live in asceticism. The Prophet Elias appeared to him and, accompanied by a pillar of fire, led him to Mount Maleon, near the Holy Mountain. There he lived in solitude, giving his days and nights to prayer. Like so many who seek to hide their holiness from the world, he was discovered, and people began to come to him for healing of their ailments and those of their loved ones. The saint healed countless ailments, drove out demons, cured the blind, and made water to pour forth from barren earth. In prayer he appeared as a pillar of fire. He reposed in peace, and his relics continued to be a powerful source of healing.

Venerable Acacius of Sinai, who is mentioned in the Ladder

Saint Acacius lived in the sixth century and was a young novice in a coenobitic monastery in Asia. Though gentle and meek in spirit, he was placed under a harsh and dissolute elder, who treated him with extreme severity. For nine years Acacius bore without complaint blows, insults, and ceaseless reproaches, accepting all as from the hand of God and never once relaxing his obedience. Worn out by sufferings, he reposed in the Lord while still very young. Five days after his burial, his elder told another holy old man of his disciple's death. The latter doubted that Acacius had truly fallen asleep, and at his entreaty the elder went with him to the grave. Standing beside it, the elder called out, "Brother Acacius, are you dead?" From within the tomb came the answer: "Father, how can he who labours in obedience be dead?" Trembling, the elder fell to the ground in tears, and from that day forth shut himself up in a cell beside the grave of his disciple, ending his days in repentance. Saint John Climacus records the story of Saint Acacius in The Ladder of Divine Ascent (Step 4), as a perfect example of the rewards of obedience and patient endurance. The Orthodox Church commemorates Acacius both on 29 November and on 7 July, together with other ascetics of the holy Ladder.

Venerable Thomas, hermit of Mount Maleon

Saint Thomas of Mount Maleon was in his earlier years a soldier of high rank in the Byzantine army. Strong, brave, and wise in counsel, he took part in many battles and brought victories to his countrymen, for which he won much glory and honour from the emperor. Yet in the midst of worldly success he came to despise the vanity of military glory and longed for the solitary life. Forsaking all, he was tonsured a monk and after some years of cenobitic obedience received a blessing to live as an anchorite in the wilderness. Setting out with no certain destination, he was led, as his biographers relate, by a pillar of fire and by the holy prophet Elijah himself, whose zealous way of life he chose to emulate, to Mount Maleon (Maleos) in the Peloponnese. There, in unbroken solitude and prayer, he laboured for many years in the manner of the ancient desert fathers, fed and protected by divine providence. By the grace of God he wrought wonders, casting out demons, giving sight to the blind, causing springs of fresh water to gush forth in dry places, and healing many infirmities; while at prayer he was sometimes seen as a pillar of fire reaching up to heaven. People began to flock to his solitude seeking spiritual counsel, and the sick to be healed of their afflictions. The exact century of his life is uncertain, but he is generally placed in the tenth century. He reposed in peace, and his tomb continued to pour forth healings.

Daily readings

Epistle

weekly cycle

Romans — Romans 12.4-5, 15-21

⁴For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: ⁴For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: ⁵So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. ⁵so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. ¹⁵Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. ¹⁵Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. ¹⁶Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. ¹⁶Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. ¹⁷Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. ¹⁷Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. ¹⁸If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁸If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. ¹⁹Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. ¹⁹Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. ²⁰Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. ²⁰But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. ²¹Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. ²¹Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 12.9-13

¹⁰And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. ¹⁰and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him. ¹¹And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? ¹¹And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? ¹²How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day. ¹²How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. ¹³Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other. ¹³Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.