Thursday, 24 July 2025

Martyrs Boris and Gleb, Passionbearers

Thursday of the 7th week after Pentecost

95 days after Pascha · Tone 5 · Red cross (polyeleos typikon symbol) · No Fast

Saints commemorated

★ Holy great-martyr Christina of Tyre

She was from Tyre in Syria, the daughter of a pagan named Urban. She is a miraculous example of one brought to faith in Christ without any human intervention. When she was about eleven years old, her father, seeing her great beauty and wanting to protect her from men until she was grown, made her live alone on the top floor of a fine house, with slaves, all worldly comforts, and gold and silver idols. Passing the time by looking out the window, Christina came by her meditations on the beauty and order of nature to believe in the one, living God. An Angel of the Lord then came to her, who marked her with the sign of the Cross and instructed her in the truth of the Gospel. The newly-enlightened Christina smashed all the idols in her room, so infuriating her father that he sent her to be tortured and beheaded for her faith. Her father, though in good health and in the prime of life, died that night. Christina was subjected to horrible tortures and mutilations, and finally died by the sword, her faith unshaken.

Troparion to St Christina: O Lord Jesus, unto Thee Thy lamb doth cry with a great voice:* O my Bridegroom, Thee I love;* and seeking Thee, I now contest, and with Thy baptism am crucified and buried.* I suffer for Thy sake, that I may reign with Thee;* for Thy sake I die, that I may live in Thee:* accept me offered out of longing to Thee as a spotless sacrifice.* Lord, save our souls through her intercessions,* since Thou art great in mercy.

Holy martyr Hermogenes

Saint Hermogenes is among those commemorated by the Church on 24 July, suffering martyrdom in the early centuries of the Church. According to the synaxaria, he was a Christian of noble bearing who confessed Christ openly during one of the imperial persecutions and was arrested with several companions. Refusing every persuasion to deny his faith, he was beaten, scourged and at length put to death by the sword. His name is preserved in the calendars of the Orthodox Church together with those of other martyrs of his day, and the faithful invoke him among the chorus of those who shed their blood for the Lord. Although the more detailed accounts of his life have not come down to us, the brief notice in the menaia preserves his confession and his crown.

Holy passion-bearers Boris and Gleb, princes of Russia, in holy baptism Romanus and David

Saints Boris and Gleb were the younger sons of the holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Vladimir, who in 988 brought Rus' to the baptismal font. Boris received the principality of Rostov, Gleb that of Murom, and both were known from their youth for piety, almsgiving, and love of the Scriptures. After the death of Saint Vladimir in 1015, their elder half-brother Sviatopolk seized Kiev and resolved to remove every rival to his throne. Boris, returning from a campaign against the Pechenegs, was warned of the plot by his retainers, but refused to lift his sword against his brother and elder. Sending his army away, he kept the night vigil in his tent on the river Alta, was struck down by Sviatopolk's assassins as he prayed, and pierced through with a spear, completing his life on 24 July 1015.

A few weeks later Sviatopolk lured Saint Gleb from Murom by a false summons, and the young prince was killed in his boat on the Dnieper near Smolensk by his own cook on the orders of the assassins, again offering no resistance. Their relics were translated to a church built in their honour at Vyshgorod, and many miracles were worked there. The Church glorified them as the first native saints of Rus', not as warrior-martyrs but as passion-bearers, who chose to die rather than to take up arms against a brother and so kept the commandment of Christ. The principal feast of both saints is celebrated together on 24 July; a separate translation of their relics is also kept on 2 May.

Saint Athenagoras the apologist of Athens

Saint Athenagoras was a Christian philosopher of Athens in the second century. Trained in the schools of Greek learning and a master of Platonic philosophy, he was led to faith in Christ through reading the Scriptures while himself searching out arguments to refute them. Having put on the yoke of the Gospel, he turned the whole strength of his learning to the service of the Church. About the year 177, in the reign of the emperor Marcus Aurelius, he composed his Embassy on Behalf of the Christians, addressed to the emperor and his son Commodus. In it he answered the three principal slanders brought against the Christians of his time, that they were atheists, cannibals and incestuous, showing the slanders to be groundless and setting forth the chaste morals and the pure worship of the Church. He also wrote a treatise On the Resurrection of the Dead, defending that doctrine on philosophical grounds. Tradition relates that he taught at Alexandria and then returned to Athens, where he reposed in peace in old age. The Greek Church remembers him among the holy fathers of the second century on 24 July.

Saint Polycarp the hymnographer

Saint Polycarp lived in the ninth century and laboured as a presbyter and archimandrite of the Great Church of Constantinople. Trained from his youth in the Scriptures and in the chant of the Church, he was numbered among the foremost defenders of the holy icons during the second iconoclast persecution. He suffered exile and want for the sake of the truth, was eventually returned to the capital after the restoration of the icons in 843, and entrusted with the care of one of the great communities of the imperial city. He is remembered above all as a hymnographer. Many canons and stichera of his composition were received into the service books of the Orthodox Church, and his name appears as the author of several offices for saints and feasts of the calendar. He was also a confessor and a teacher of monks, training his disciples in the patient labour of prayer, fasting, and obedience. Saint Polycarp reposed in peace in advanced old age, and the Church keeps his memory on 24 July.

Daily readings

Vespers

Isaiah — Isaiah 43.9-14

⁹Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. ⁹Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth. ¹⁰Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ¹⁰Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ¹¹I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. ¹¹I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour. ¹²I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. ¹²I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God. ¹³Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? ¹³Yea, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it?

¹⁴Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

¹⁴Thus saith Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

¹But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.

²In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,

³And their going from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.

⁴For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.

⁵And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself.

⁶As gold in the furnace hath he tried them, and received them as a burnt offering.

⁷And in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and run to and fro like sparks among the stubble.

⁸They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever.

⁹They that put their trust in him shall understand the truth: and such as be faithful in love shall abide with him: for grace and mercy is to his saints, and he hath care for his elect.

Vespers

Wisdom of Solomon — Wisdom of Solomon 4.7-15

⁷But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest.

⁸For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years.

⁹But wisdom is the gray hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age.

¹⁰He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.

¹¹Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul.

¹²For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind.

¹³He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time:

¹⁴For his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked.

¹⁵This the people saw, and understood it not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen.

Matins Gospel

Luke — Luke 21.12-19

¹²But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. ¹²But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ¹³And it shall turn to you for a testimony. ¹³It shall turn out unto you for a testimony. ¹⁴Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: ¹⁴Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer: ¹⁵For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. ¹⁵for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay. ¹⁶And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. ¹⁶But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. ¹⁷And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. ¹⁷And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. ¹⁸And not a hair of your head shall perish. ¹⁸But there shall not an hair of your head perish. ¹⁹In your patience possess ye your souls. ¹⁹In your patience ye shall win your souls.

Epistle

weekly cycle

1 Corinthians — 1 Corinthians 7.24-35

²⁴Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. ²⁴Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

²⁵Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

²⁵Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy. ²⁶I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. ²⁶I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is. ²⁷Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. ²⁷Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. ²⁸But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you. ²⁸But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. ²⁹But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; ²⁹But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; ³⁰and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; ³⁰And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; ³¹And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. ³¹and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away. ³²But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: ³²But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: ³³But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. ³³but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴and is divided. So also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁴There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. ³⁵And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Epistle

— Boris and Gleb

Romans — Romans 8.28-39

²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁸And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. ²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ²⁹For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: ³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. ³⁰and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. ³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

³¹What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? ³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? ³³Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. ³³Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth; ³⁴who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. ³⁴Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁶Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel

weekly cycle

Matthew — Matthew 15.12-21

¹²Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? ¹²Then came the disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying? ¹³But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. ¹³But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up. ¹⁴Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. ¹⁴Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit. ¹⁵Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. ¹⁵And Peter answered and said unto him, Declare unto us the parable. ¹⁶And he said, Are ye also even yet without understanding? ¹⁶And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? ¹⁷Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth into the mouth passeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? ¹⁷Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? ¹⁸But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. ¹⁸But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. ¹⁹For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: ¹⁹For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: ²⁰These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. ²⁰these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man.

²¹Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

²¹And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon.

Gospel

— Boris and Gleb

John — John 15.17-16.2

¹⁷These things I command you, that ye love one another. ¹⁷These things I command you, that ye may love one another. ¹⁸If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁸If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. ¹⁹If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. ²⁰Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. ²⁰Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. ²¹But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. ²¹But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. ²²If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²²If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. ²³He that hateth me hateth my Father also. ²³He that hateth me hateth my Father also. ²⁴If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁴If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. ²⁵But this cometh to pass, that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. ²⁶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me: ²⁶But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: ²⁷and ye also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. ²⁷And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

¹These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

¹These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble. ²They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God. ²They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.